Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10559663January 13, 2014
ENGINE, SUSPENSION, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A PT CRUISER SEDAN AND THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IF FROM SAID IT NEEDED FRONT SHOCKS AND IT WOULD BE READY IN TWO DAY. I PICK UP THE PT CRUISER AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECK OUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. IT HAS OVER 100 MECHANICAL ISSUES, FROM SHOCKS WHICH WERE NEVER PUT ON. THERE IS OIL IN THE SPARK PLUGS AND LEAVES A SMELL WHEN THE HEATER IS ON WHICH MAKES US VERY ILL. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO, THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IT FROM WHICH IT WAS SOLD FOR AROUND $2,000 DOLLARS AND NEEDS OVER $3,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK. THEN I GOT SLAPPED WITH AN EXTRA 5,000 FROM THE LOAN COMPANY. THIS IS A LEMON. I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING AND HIM AND I HAVE WENT AROUND AND AROUND ABOUT THIS PIECE OF JUNK. THEY CAN REPO IT AND THEN I AM GETTING AN ATTORNEY FOR SELLING ME A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. TOO DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557654December 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, STARTING WITH THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS, NEXT THE GAUGES ALL ZERO OUT, AND THEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A COUPLE OF CHRYSLER DEALERS AND TO A COUPLE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF CAR AND FOUND MORE THAN A FEW WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND NO SOLUTION. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. ITS REGRETTABLE THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THESE MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557658December 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM WHEN ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON - AND GAUGES DROPPED. REPEATEDLY WENT OFF AND ON. CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY IN SPITE OF HAVING MANY THINGS REPLACED (BATTERY ALTERNATOR AND IGNITION) WHEN THE WEATHER WARMED THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED BUT DURING THE FIRST SNOW THIS WINTER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY. SELDOM OCCURS BEFORE 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. RANDOMLY OCCURS MAKING DETECTION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. NO DEFINITIVE ANSWERS FROM COMPUTER TESTING. JUDGING FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556560December 18, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE APPROX. 2 YEARS. AT AN EARLIER TIME I HAD USED THE FOG LIGHTS TWICE WITH NO INCIDENT. LATER AND PRIOR TO 12/17/13 THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WASN'T EVEN TURNED ON BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I JIGGLED THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR WENT OUT, AFTER THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL. ON 12/17/13 I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO FIND THE FOG LAMPS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, THE CAR NOT RUNNING, THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. THE LIGHTS JUST CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I MANAGED TO TURN THEM OFF (FOR THE NIGHT) ONLY TO FIND WHEN I GOT TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING I COULDN'T SHUT THEM OFF. I DROVE THE CAR HOME, FINALLY PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS AND RETURNED TO WORK. I'VE ALSO HAD INCIDENCES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM SLIGHTLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE FULLY. ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE FORUMS I'VE READ, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT BURNING WIRES AND DEAD BATTERIES. I WISH THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554927December 5, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554670December 3, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
APPROXIMATELY 3 -4 MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC WAS COMPLETED AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT." A WEEK LATER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT BECAME COMING ON. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS (BATTERY, TRACTION OFF, ABS, BRAKE, AIRBAG, OIL, ETC) CAME ON AND BEGAN FLASHING AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. MY HEADLIGHTS AND DASHLIGHTS ALSO BEGAN TO FLICKER BEFORE THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY JUST WEEKS PRIOR, SO THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I AGAIN TOWED THE CAR TO THE SHOP WHERE I WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND TRYING TO IGNORE THE BATTERY AND AIRBAG LIGHTS FLASHING. LAST NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT 50 MPH, THE CAR'S LIGHTS AGAIN BEGAN FLASHING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME AND AFTER SITTING FOR AN HOUR, IT RESTARTED, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL FLICKERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554191November 30, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE WERE COMING TO A STOP AND THERE WAS A POP UNDER THE HOOD THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND THEN STARTED RIGHT BACK UP SINCE THAT INCIDENT OUR LIGHTS CONTIUNOUSLY BLINK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR AND OUR RADIO HAS A MIND OF ITSD OWN IT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO... WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE POSTS WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR... WE HAVE HAD IT TESTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES AND NOBODY CAN SEEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553029November 20, 2013
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN SHE WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF FOUR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE CRASH SITE BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG OR SEATBELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10553098November 20, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
SET CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SET AT SPEED. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF BRAKES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ONLY GOT IT DOWN TO 40 MPH. CAR HAD TO BE POPPED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING AND STOP THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552013November 12, 2013
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MILES AN HOUR, THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER BROKE AS A RESULT OF SEVERE RUST. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO STEER TOWARDS THE DITCH CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THE RUST WAS CAUSED BY WATER DRAINING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER ONTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CROSS-MEMBER. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART FROM CHRYSLER BUT SO FAR THE OUTLOOK FOR DELIVERY HAS CHANGED FOUR TIMES AND IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED FOR 12/25/2013 (2.5 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE). NOT ONLY DOES CHRYSLER IGNORE THE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS COMMONLY REPORTED DESIGN FLAW, THEY ARE PROVING TO BE INCAPABLE AT PROVIDING REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS EVIDENT AS I AM ONE OF 28 CAR OWNERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR THIS PART FROM CHRYSLER, AND THERE IS HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS PART FROM JUNKYARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550104October 30, 2013
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR CUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING ON STREETS 10 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR AND MISSES AND GET SLUGGISH AS IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO OR IT WILL CUT OFF A LOT WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60 MILES OR MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549927October 29, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING AT 55MPH AND ALL THE GAUGES (GAS, SPEED, TACH) WENT TO ZERO AND FLUTTERED UP AND DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I WAS ABLE TO RECORD ON MY PHONE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE IT WAS ACTING UP. THINK I HAVE ISOLATED THE PROBLEM TO THE KEY AND IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND IF I WIGGLE THE KEY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT STOPS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU LOSE POWER TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD SO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM, THEY EVIDENTLY PRODUCED A PRODUCT WITH A DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE OR BODILY DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549341October 24, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ICON ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE. THE CONTACT DEACTIVATED THE FUSE BUT LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. THERE WAS ALSO AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548718October 21, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
AFTER COMING FROM THE STORE I NOTICE A BIG SPOT OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR,I WIPE IT UP WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON SOME ERRANDS CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND SOME MORE OIL, AT THIS POINT CALL MY LOCAL PARTS HOUSE HE CAME UP WITH A BAD FRONT OIL SEAL. SO I WANTED TO DID FURTHER INTO THIS, AND FOUND A LOT OF DODGE, CHRYSLER, OWNER HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.I PULL UP AND COPY THESE PROBLEM'S SOME P/T OWNERS SAID THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THEM TO CHANGE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE THRUST BEARING WAS TO FAR OUT OF SPECS.AND PUSHING THE FRONT SEAL OUT AND CAUSING LEAK. IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS,THIS WOULD HAVE A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE PROBLEM. I THINK CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ONE CHRYSLER TECH DID SAY HE KNOWS THE 2.4L HAS A CRANK SEAL ISSUE ON A HANDFUL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW OUR P/T ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE. MOST OWNER THAT I'VE READ ABOUT HAS MILEAGE NO MORE THAN 110.000.AND SOME HAVE HAD THE SEAL REPLACE TWO-THREE TIMES. I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO PLATE AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM NOW WE ARE STUCK WITHOUT A CAR. THIS COULD COST IN THE THOUSANDS,THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE ADDRESS LONG AGO.THE HOLE UNDER CARRIAGE IS SOAK WITH OIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548509October 19, 2013
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN
UPON INSPECTION DURING A REPAIR FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER KNOWN AS THE K-FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND WILL LIKELY NOT PASS ANOTHER SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REST OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THIS CAR IS RELATIVELY RUST-FREE AND THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE FOR ITS AGE. IF THIS PART FAILS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ETC. WILL ALL DROP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548525October 19, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WON'T GO OFF DRIVER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548320October 17, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, DASHBOARD LIGHTS START FLICKERING, GAUGES START BOUNCING. SOMETIMES THIS IS ALL THAT HAPPENS, OTHER TIMES IT'S AS IF THE CAR STALLS AS I HAVE NO ACCELERATION. A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE ENGINE HAS SHUT ITSELF OFF. IN RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I FIND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF INSTANCES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING WITH PT CRUISERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548154October 16, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND HAD IT FOR LESS THEN 3 WEEKS. I DROVE IT A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES. WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO ZERO THEN BACK UP TO 80, I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND ACCELERATE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH BOARD, THE CAR FUEL GAUGES WENT UP AND DOWN, AND FINALLY THE CAR STALLED. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHICH WAS A VERY SCARY. NO CODES WERE RECORDED FOR A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, AND SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL PT CRUISERS FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER ATTEMPTING FOR A REFUND, AS I FEEL MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ARE AT RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547908October 15, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DOING ABOUT 55MPH. ALL OF MY GAUGES STARTED TO LIGHT UP, THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO ZERO THEN UP TO 65, THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF, THE CAR THEN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THEN EVENTUALLY JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, BUT ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE LANE. THE WHEELS TIGHTENED SO I COULD NOT STEER, I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 20 MINS. IT STARTED AGAIN BUT STRUGGLES TO GO OVER 40 BEFORE IT STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. I CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, NO CODES ARE RECORDED. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH PT CRUISERS AS I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546086September 29, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER, POWER TRAIN
REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE. OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT IDENTIFY FUSE LOCATION. POWER TRACE SHOWS POWER TO UNIT, SUSPECT SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHEN OVER 75 DEGREES F. CLUTCH PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VERY HARD TO SHIFT, WHEN BELOW 60 DEGREES F SHIFTS LIKE GLASS ON GLASS (VERY SMOOTH) HYD CYL. THROW VARIES WITH TEMPERATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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