Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10050073December 3, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TRANS SHIFTER FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK UP. *MR THE DEALER STATED THE STARTER MALFUNCTION, BUT THE CONSUMER DISAGREED.*SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047710November 28, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
PREMATURE FAILURE OF FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. DEALER STATES HE HAS SEEN THIS IN OTHER PT CRUISERS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046577November 7, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE CONSUMER CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AGAIN AS IF RESTARTING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT IT OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043502October 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED EDITION -- LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, AFTER HAVING EVERY REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP -- NEEDED A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL ON THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM SURFACED JUST PAST 36,000 MILES WHILE I WAS ON VACATION IN LATE AUGUST, AND I INITIALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 3. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. BUT THE PROBLEM DID GET WORSE AND I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT, YET I COULD NOT GET AN EARLIER APPOINTMENT. A NEW CAR, WELL CARED FOR, SHOULD NOT NEED ITS TRANSMISSION REBUILT JUST AFTER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY RUNS OUT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043310October 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER. POOR PERFORMANCE IN GAS ECONOMY, FAILED CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOW EGR VALVE HAS FAILED, I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. SINCE CHRYSLER HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE CRUISERS WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN REPAIRING THEM TO THE CUSTOMERS SATISFACTION?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042718October 10, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO TRAFFIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041490October 8, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2001 PT CRUISER, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 60,000 MILES ENGINE SURGES WHEN CAR IS MOVING, MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN GEAR. WHEN COASTING THE ENGINE RPM WILL VARY BETWEEN 1,200 AND 2,000 RPM EVERY 3-4 SECONDS UNTIL THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THEN THE ENGINE RPM FALLS TO 800. WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, BUT THAT ONLY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ONE DAY. THE CAR ENGINE CAN SURGE WHEN COASTING AND ABOUT TO MOVE INTO A PARKING SPOT OR GARAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040832September 27, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT AN EARLY 2001 PT CRUISER. ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, BATTERY FAILS, CAR WOULD NOT START, JUMP STARTING DID NOT WORK. TOWED IT IT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FAULTY. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THIS OCCURED, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER STILL SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY'S FAULT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 22, 2001 AND I PUT A SPARE BATTERY IN CAR AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039341September 23, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT BRAKE PADS CRYSTALIZE REQUIRING ROTOR REPLACEMENT EVERY 30000 MILES. BRAKE SHOP SAYS EVERY PT COMES IN THIS WAY. REAR BRAKES DO NOT ADJUST OUT AND THE FRONT BRAKES STAY PARTIALLY ENGAGED. THIS OVER HEATS THE BRAKES CAUSING MANY COMPONENTS TO FAIL. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE OF REPLACEING THEESE PARTS, I AM WORRIED THAT I COULD HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LEADING TO A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037674September 23, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE GAS PEDAL FELL OFF IT ATTACHMENT *AK THE PEDAL HAD COME OFF IT'S ATTACHMENT ON THE FLOORBOARD AND FELL BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MADE BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS USELESS. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040293September 22, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, HIT A DITCH, AND ROLLED OVER. FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRAIN DAMAGE/A BROKEN CLAVICLE, AND FRACTURED BACK. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10039149September 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON 1/22/ 03 WE TOOK OUR 2001 PT CRUISER (ODOMETER 12,000 MILES) INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE SQUEALING. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE HAD LOCKED WHEN WE TRIED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER HITTING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, THE BRAKE FINALLY UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES WERE GROOVED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE THE METAL WAS SO THIN TO BEGIN WITH THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MACHINE EVEN ON A BRAND NEW ROTOR. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD US WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPLACE THE PADS YET, JUST THE ROTORS. WE OPTED TO REPLACE BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AT THE TIME DUE TO THE LABOR COSTS. IT IS NOW 8 MONTHS AND 5,671 MILES LATER AND THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN SQUEALING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEIR HANDS WERE TIED AND THEY COULD NOT HELP US OTHER THAN TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME PARTS. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHRYSLER IS VERY MUCH AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND PREMATURE WEAR, BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY REMEDIAL STEPS. WE HAVE THE SAME TIRES THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE CAR AND THEY ARE BARELY WORN INDICATING WE ARE NOT THE KIND OF DRIVERS WHO ARE HARD ON A CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER APPEARS TO BE JUST A FRUSTRATED WITH CHRYSLER'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS WE ARE. OUR ONLY REASONABLE AND INTELLIGIBLE RECOURSE IS TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS. WE WILL NOT USE OEM ROTORS & PADS AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING OR FAULTY DESIGN OR BOTH. IN CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE FOR 2001/2002 PT CRUISERS, WE SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DISC BRAKES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MONETARY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040141September 17, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STILL VIBRATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038806September 12, 2003
WHEELS:RIM, WHEELS
CHROME CORRODING AND FLAKING OFF ON ORIGINAL 16" TIRES. FIRST NOTICED IN 6/2003. DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPLACE ONE RIM FOR A CO-PAY OF $100 DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE. BUT WILL NOT HELP WITH ONE SHOWING SLIGHTER DAMAGE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038683September 11, 2003
AIR BAGS
2001 PT CRUSIER WAS HEAD HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. $7,000.00 TO PT CRUISER AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT MADE TO GO OFF ON STOPPED VEHICLES. MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFICE LIGHT WHEN HIT HEAD ON. INJURIES RESULTED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10033336August 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2001 PT CRUISER -- KNOWN ISSUE INVOLVING FUEL LINE CHAFFING AGAINST METAL AC LINES. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER FOR RECALL, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE FUEL LINE LEAKS ANYWAY AND CAUSES MODERATE DAMAGE VIA ENGINE FIRE. FUEL EXPLOSION OCCURRED UPON SWITCHING OFF THE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034001August 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED ON THEIR OWN. *MR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOCK ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SIX TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF THIRTEEN MONTHS BY THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL OF THE VEHICLE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. THE DOORS WERE SUPPOSE TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED OVER 5 MPH AND RANDOMLY FAILED TO DO SO, AFTER ACTIVATING THE LOCK/SECURITY DEVICE AND LISTENING FOR THE BEEP IT DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY. THE PROBLEM HAD PROGRESSED RAPIDLY AND THE CORRECTION ATTEMPTS ONLY RESULTED IN PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030898August 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
5 BATTERIES, RADIO, SPEAKERS, DOOR LOCKS, PAINT, SPEED SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION, FAN MOTOR ON ENGINE, OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, T14 CIRCUIT ALL WITHIN 27 MONTHS. CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF ALL THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS NO HELP! CUSTOMER CARE HUNG UP ON ME. LEMON LAW RAN OUT 1 MONTH AGO. UPSIDE DOWN CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN. HELP!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030838August 5, 2003
WHEELS:RIM
WHEEL RIMS OUT-OF-ROUND . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030686August 3, 2003
TIRES
YOU CAN DIAL GOODYEAR AT 1-800.321.2136 PRESS 1 THEN, PRESS 3. ASK ABOUT GOODYEAR CASE # 559-496. IT INVOLVES MY PT CRUISERS, ITS ORIGINAL SETS OF TIRES AND CONTINUED PROBLEMS. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HAVING FUTURE BLOW-OUTS. ITS A MATTER OF SAFETY. GOODYEAR REASONABLY, ADJUSTED THREE TIRES FOR ME AFTER I EXPLAINED MY BLOW OUTS SITUATION. I FOLLOWED UP AGAIN WITH GOODYEAR, AND TOYO (FILE # 035253), EXPLAINED THE 16 INCH WHEEL SAGA. HOW I SPENT A YEAR GOING FROM DEALERSHIP TO DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 16 INCH WHEELS AND THE TIRE BLOW-OUTS. THEY NEVER RECORDED MY RIM COMPLAINTS NO MATTER WHICH DC 5 STAR DEALERSHIP I WENT TOO. THEY WOULD RECORD THE CRUISERS MILEAGE, AND ANY WARRANTED ITEMS THEY COULD BILL DC FOR, BUT NEVER A WHEEL OR TIRE COMPLAINT. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE MANAGERS AND THE MECHANICS AND THEY ALL REPEATED. NO ONE (WE KNOW OF) IS COMPLAINING ABOUT LOW MILEAGE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, DIFFICULTY BALANCING OR PULLING TIRES, RIMS OUT OF ROUND, BENT, CORRODED, PEELING OR RUSTED RIMS. AND NO ONE IS REPORTING TIRE BLOW-OUTS ON THE PT CRUISER. DC HAS NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I REPORTED TO GOODYEAR AND TOYO COSTUMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS A FOLLOW-UP. I REVIEWED THE FINDINGS FROM PRITZ DC S 5 STAR DEALERSHIP. AS IT GOES, ITS NOT THE TIRES--ITS THE RIMS. THESE ALLOY WHEELS ARE OUT OF ROUND, BENT, CORRODED, SOFT, RUSTED ON THE STREET FACE OF THE WHEELS WITH RUST AND PEELING CHROME AROUND LIPS RIM WHICH SEALS TO THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE WHICH YOU CANNOT SEE. OTHER PT OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE 16 IN WHEELS WHICH THEYVE ALSO REPORTED TO GOODYEAR. THEY DESERVE TO BE NOTIFIED. THE PAINT AND BODY DAMAGE ON OUR PT CRUISER IS FROM RIDING BLOWN-OUT TIRES OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOD WE ARE STILL ALIVE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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