Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10512935May 21, 2013
ENGINE
CAR USING ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES OF OPERATION. HEAD GASKET LEAKING. HEAD GASKET REPLACED BY DEALER. NOW USES 1 QUART OF OIL PER 880 MILES OF OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512936May 21, 2013
SUSPENSION
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. REPORTED BY DEALER REPAIR TECH WHILE REPLACING FAILED HEAD GASKET. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. DEALER REPORTS ENTIRE CONTROL ARM MUST BE REPLACED WHEN BUSHINGS FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512937May 21, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
EDGE OF PASSENGER SIDE REAR FENDER WELL PAINT IS BUBBLING UP WITH CORROSION DAMAGE UNDERNEATH PAINT. NO DAMAGE TO PAINT SURFACE. CHIPPING PAINT AWAY FROM BUBBLE REVEALS RUST. CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF FENDER WELL SHOWS SIMILAR SMALLER PROBLEMS ALONG EDGE OF FENDER WELL. NO OTHER EXTERIOR CORROSION PROBLEMS ON REST OF CAR. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE WATER IS WEEPING IN BETWEEN PAINT AND BODY SHEET METAL AT METAL EDGE INSIDE OF FENDER WELL. DAMAGE REPAIR NOT COVERED BY FACTORY CORROSION WARRANTY BECAUSE METAL IS NOT PERFORATED BY RUST. A THREE YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TYPES OF FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512847May 20, 2013
ENGINE
CRANK SHAFT MOVEMENT (APPROX. 0.025) HAMMERED OIL SEAL FROM BLOCK. ROOT CAUSE IS WORN THRUST BEARING. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CALL CENTER, EMPLOYEE'S REACTION AND INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ENGINE USED IN DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODEL YEARS, MINI VANS JEEPS....... I HAD THE OIL CHANGED FREQUENTLY AND OTHER ROUTINE MAINTENENCE PERFORMED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512613May 17, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, HAD TO PULL OVER. WHEN CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS OIL ON THE CAP. JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE.....BEFORE THIS INCIDENT MY POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL DEALING WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THE HOSE, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER PERSON HE PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND THERE IT WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE HOSE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER BUT WASN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511597May 12, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER LIMITED STARTED OPERATING BY THEMSELVES TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND HAD THE MULTIFUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM SOMETIMES OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR AT LOW SPEED BUT IT WILL ALSO OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS SETTING IN THE GARAGE WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK SEVERAL TIMES ON THEIR OWN WHILE DRIVING OR WITHOUT ANYONE BEING IN THE CAR OR TOUCHING THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. THIS CAN PRESENT PROBLEMS IF THE CAR IS LOCKED AND IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT. THE CARE SOMETIMES WILL UNLOCK ON ITS OWN. YOU CAN ALSO BE LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR KEYS WITH YOU WHEN EXITING THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER THAN DURING COOLER WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND COMPASS MOUNTED ABOVE THE FRONT WINDOW WILL ALSO GO OUT DURING HOT WEATHER. WHEN THE CAR COOLS DOWN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL START OPERATING AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THEY CHARGED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THE BATTERY CABLE WAS CORRODED AND NEED REPLACED AT $300 AND IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. AFTER THIS WORK, I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED GOING WILD AGAIN. SO I WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEY WOULD GET THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER ON THE PHONE TO SEE IF HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM. AT THAT POINT WE WENT INTO WINTER AND IT WAS OK. IT IS DOING IT AGAIN THIS SPRING SO I WILL TRY AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511346May 9, 2013
STEERING
FORTUNATELY AT A PARKING LOT INTERSECTION, THE RF TIE ROD END SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSING NO INJURY, DEATH OR ACCIDENT. THE BOLTED END WHICH FITS INTO THE SOCKET PULLED OUT FROM THE SOCKET. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AHEAD OF TIME THE TIE ROD END WAS NEAR FAILURE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE LF TIRE ROD END. IN DOING SO, I WAS APPALLED AT THE POOR DESIGN OF THE PART. CHRYSLER'S OBJECTIVE TO PRODUCE A LOW PRICE JUST BARELY ADEQUATE PART WAS OBVIOUS. TYPICALLY, THIS PART IS MADE FROM A FORGING, CHRYSLER CHOSE TO PRODUCE THE PART FROM STAMPED SHEET METAL. I REPLACED THE PART WITH A FORGED, AFTER MARKET PART FROM MOOG. IT IS MY OPINION THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHERE IT DID OTHERWISE, MY WIFE COULD HAVE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511207May 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY PT CRUISER IN JULY 2008 A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE SOME DASH PROBLEMS ALL THE DASH LIGHTS (OIL, ENGINE, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT, ABS,ETC) STARTED TURNING ON AND OFF AND DINGING I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS. THE FIRST ONE SAID IT WAS THE AIRBAGS CENSORS AND I HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED SO I DID THAT AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY. COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT SO THE SENT ME TO A DIFFERENT ONE AND THEY CHECKED IT AND STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN SO I JUST DROVE IT LIKE IT WAS FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS AND THEN LAST YEAR IT WENT AWAY AND DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN UNTIL TODAY 5/8/2013 AND ITS BEEN DOING IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT I'M WORRIED BECAUSE I DRIVE MY GRANDKIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND ITS MY ONLY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511075May 8, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BELT, AXLE DRIVE SEAL, CAMSHAFT SEAL, FRONT MAIN SEAL, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,844 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510796May 6, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME ACTIVATED. INDICATES NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLY NO SRS CAPABILITY. PER LITHIA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP #4, "WITECH TEST CODES SET, B1B57, B1B55, B1B56, B1B54". "REPLACE PASS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RECEIVER (BUCKLE), ON NATIONAL BACKORDER NO ETA AT THIS TIME". PROBLEM, REDUCED PASSENGER SAFETY, CONTINUES CHIMING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 SECOND INTERVALS AND BRIGHT RED WARNING LIGHT; NO FIX AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510266May 1, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY P.T. CRUISER WITH PROBLEM STARTING. IT HAS GONE ON FOR MANY YEARS. I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON ANY RECALLS. IT WAS SAID IT WAS THE STARTER, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED SPORADICALLY. I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE CAR WONT START BUT THERE IS CONNECTION WITH THE BATTERY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD ITS THE MANUFACTURES ALARM HAVING A KILL SWITCH, THAT IT MAY BE ELECTRICAL, THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF UNLESS THE FUSE IS PULLED AND IT DRAINS MY BATTERY. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I WANT TO KNOW IF CHRYSLER HAS HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR.SINCE THEY ARE NOT MAKING THEM ANYMORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509985April 29, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH STARTED TO MAKE IT HARD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ARIZONA SO IT STARTS TO WARM UP TO ABOUT 100 DEGREES AROUND THIS TIME (END OF APRIL). THIS THEN OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2011 AND 2012 FROM APRIL TO THE END OF OCTOBER (WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL OFF BELOW 100 DEGREES). EVERY YEAR IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND TODAY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ALL WARM WEATHER LOCATED PT'S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508957April 21, 2013
ENGINE
CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING WHEN AC IS PUT ON. OVERHEATING WHILE IDLING SOMETIMES. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO FIX IT. IT'S NOT HEAD GASKET OR HEADS ACCORDING TO 2 SHOPS. I CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY SAID NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT COOLING SYSTEM HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED. I FILED A COMPLAINT. SHOPS HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING AND CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508414April 16, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, A VEHICLE JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF THEM AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CONCUSSION AND A COMPRESSION OF THE DISK IN HIS LOWER BACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THEM THEY WERE NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,609. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10505997April 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, REPLACED WITH NEW BULB, STILL NO LIGHT. MECHANIC STATES TICM (TOTAL INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE) WENT BAD. RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR EXCEEDS $900 AND WILL CAUSE CAR TO FAIL NYS INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507400April 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
SINCE NOVEMBER 2012, MY 2006 PT CRUISER'S DASHBOARD HAS OCCASIONALLY GONE CRAZY WITH ALL GAUGES (SPEED, GAS, ETC) GOING CRAZY AND BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH, ALL LIGHTS (ENGINE, AIRBAG, BRAKE, ETC) LIGHTING UP AT THE SAME TIME. AT THAT TIME, IT DID NOT AFFECT THE ENGINE. ON MARCH 15, 2013, THE CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN GOING CRAZY. THE CAR RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED IMMEDIATELY. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND DID A COMPUTER UPDATE. AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 22, 2013, AGAIN THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS STARTING GOING OFF AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHEN STOPPED, THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE AND IT THREATENED TO QUIT NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAD TO PUT MY WARNING LIGHTS ON TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR HOME AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK, THE MECHANIC WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE STALLING OR INTERMITTENT LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTS REPLACING THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER BUT IS NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER READING OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT REPLACING THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER DID NOT REMEDY THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER PT CRUISERS, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE CHRYSLER RESPONDING TO THIS ISSUE THAT MANY 2006 PT CRUISER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TOO PREVALENT TO IGNORE AND HAVING A CAR DIE SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IS A DANGEROUS THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505165March 31, 2013
WHEELS, TIRES
APPROXIMATELY 10-12 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, ALL FOUR TIRES BEGAN TO GET FLAT. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVERY TWO WEEKS SINCE THAT TIME. EVERY TIME I FILL THE CAR WITH FUEL, I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN ALL FOUR TIRES. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ONLINE IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2012 AND RECEIVED A RATHER FLIP RESPONSE... THANKING ME FOR TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT OFFERING NO FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY SECOND PT CRUISER.. AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY FIRST CRUISER. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE ALUMINUM WHEELS CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. I ENJOY MY PT CRUISER, BUT FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN BUYING EXPENSIVE NEW WHEELS; ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IT NOT ONLY GIVES ME BAD GAS MILEAGE, BUT ALSO IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504012March 20, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, FUEL AND OIL LEAKS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES AT NIGHT. UPDATED 05/22/13
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503713March 20, 2013
ENGINE
MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO TIRES PLUS TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX MY CAR AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. THEY ADVISED ME THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE ISSUE FOR SOME TIME BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX MY CAR AS ONCE THE GASKET FAILED INITIALLY IT WOULD LEAD TO SERIAL FAILURE OF THE GASKET AND THE REPLACED PART WOULD ONLY LAST FROM 3 TO 6 MONTHS. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CHRYSLER COULD KNOW ABOUT THIS AND NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502762March 14, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES, SIZE P195/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT ROTATED THE FRONT TIRES FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE ROTATION, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT REMOVED BOTH REAR TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE TO THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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