Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10475743September 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO UNPLUG THE LIGHTS IN ORDER FOR THEM NOT TO STAY ON. NOW THEY ARE COMPLETELY OFF. WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN. I HAVE 46,000 MILES AND EVERYTHING DESCRIBED IN THESE REPORTS WENT WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475494September 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH LIGHTS START FLASHING MOTOR STARTS TO STALL AND LOSE POWER HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN PAST YEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK BRAKE LIGHTS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475423September 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE INSPECTION WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS PROGRAMMED INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE A FUEL SYSTEM READING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHERE THEY ADVISED THE DEALER TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475184September 12, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SUFFERED A DIABETIC HYPOGLYCEMIC INCIDENT AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL. THE ACCIDENT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT THAT RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER, FENDERS, ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SUSPENSION, AND FRAME. THE ACCIDENT DAMAGED APPROXIMATELY 40' OF GUARD RAIL, INCLUDING THE END SECTION. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF INTERMITTENT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATION, AND HAS UNDERGONE REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL KEY COMPONENTS OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM (I.E. SRS MODULE, CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING COLUMN, AND WIRING HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT). THE VEHICLE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN, BUT ESTIMATED AT LESS THAN 40MPH. WEATHER WAS CLEAR, SUNNY. TRAFFIC WAS NONE TO LIGHT CONDITIONS. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR WHIPLASH NECK INJURY AND WAS TREATED/RELEASED FOR THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. SHOULD THE AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT? DID THE PRIOR ISSUES AND REPAIRS OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL SYSTEM HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING? DID THE VEHICLE FRONTAL CRUSH ZONE AND THE IMPACT ATTENUATION OF THE GUARD RAIL SYSTEM AFFECT THE DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT NEED TO DEPLOY? INTERNET RESEARCH OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ISSUE (UNCONFIRMED BLOG-TYPE ENTRIES) INDICATES THAT OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR (INCLUDING 1 - 2 PRIOR MODEL YEARS) HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FRONT END COLLISIONS WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10474585September 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP, CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART BUT SOMETIMES I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND WIRES CHECKED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR JUST STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS SO UNSAFE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474471September 10, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FRONT OIL SEAL WAS BLOWING AND SPILLING OIL WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD MORE OIL TO THE VEHICLE. A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE SEAL WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT FRONT OIL SEAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CRANKSHAFT EXHAUST BEARING FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT TO MOVE FORWARD DESTROYING THE OIL PUMP. THE OIL PUMP THEN KNOCKED OUT THE CRANK SEAL DUMPING ALL THE ENGINE OIL IN MINUTES. THE OIL COVERED WINDSHIELD OF DRIVERS BEHIND THE CONSUMER, AS WELL AS THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474214September 7, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE WAS USED TO DRIVE TO LOCAL STORE AT NIGHT. FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON AT ANY TIME. I PARKED IN DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT AND CAME OUT AFTER SHOPPING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM PT CRUISER. OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ODOR BECAME MORE APPARENT. NOTICED SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. ALSO NOTICED FOG LAMP INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD WAS ON. HOWEVER, ALL LIGHTS AND SWITCHES WERE OFF. I HAD TO PULL OUT SEVERAL FUSES UNTIL I FOUND THE ONE RELATED TO THE FOG LAMPS. THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO QUICKLY POWER OFF THE FOG LAMPS AND STOP THE SMOLDERING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473777September 4, 2012
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, TIRES, WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 10/17/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472968August 29, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND EXHIBIT A RUMBLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,600. UPDATED 10/17/12 *CN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 3,000. UPDATED 10/22/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472527August 26, 2012
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
OWNED THIS CAR APPROX. 3 MONTHS WITH PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. FIRST WEEK TOOK IN FOR 3 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, CAR ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, PROBLEM NEVER FIXED. AFTER ONE MONTH WHEN SUMMER ARRIVED NO COLD AIR, HAD TO HAVE EVAPORATOR REPLACED $1,000, CAR IN SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS, AIR STILL NOT BLOWING COLD. REPLACED LOW PRESSURE SWITCH, HIGH END SWITCH, PRESSURE LINE, STILL NO COLD AIR, PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. WOULD IDLE REAL HARD AT STOPS. TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, REPLACED $150. CAR OVERHEATED, REPLACED THERMOSTAT, STILL OVERHEATING, COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY...FINALLY THE TURBO ENGINE BLEW ON THE 3 MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF OWNING THIS CAR. HAD TO CALL BANK TO VOLUNTEER A SURRENDER DUE TO COST OF REPLACING ENGINE. CAR DEALER WAS NO HELP, JUST TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DEALERS RESPONSIBILITY. WOW, I WILL NEVER OWN A CHRYSLER AGAIN, THIS WAS THE FIRST AND DEFINITELY THE LAST! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472115August 23, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR TENDS TO STALL WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50, IT WILL JERK A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN GOING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SEEKING AND TRYING ALL TYPES OF SOLUTIONS. EVEN TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVING THE SAME STALL AND ROUGH IDLING. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471454August 19, 2012
STEERING
WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVIEWED THE FRONT TIRES WERE POINTING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR SHOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIRE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. CAR WAS TOWED, TIE ROD END REPLACED. ( HAVE PART IF NEEDED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471380August 18, 2012
ENGINE
CONSUME TOO MUCH OIL SINCE GOT THE NEW CAR. LOST ABOUT 1 QT EVERY 3K. NOW AT 65K, LOST 1 QT ABOUT EVERY 1K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471398August 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
IN APRIL 2012 MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TURNING TO WARM AIR WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ACTING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON AUGUST 6, 2012 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE LINE, AND IF MORE PROBLEMS BRING IT BACK. ON AUGUST 8TH THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT ONLY TURNED WARM THE CAR CUT OFF. AS LONG AS I'M RUNNING STEADY ON THE HIGHWAY IT WORKS FINE.I ACTUALLY HAVE TO TURN THE AIR OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR NOT RUN IT AT ALL AROUND THE CITY,I RETURNED AGAIN TO THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. I WENT ON LINE TO JUST ANSWER TODAY, CHRYSLER EXPERT INFORMING ME THAT POSSIBLY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN NEEDS REPLACING WHICH IS COMMON IN PT CRUISER.I AM CONCERNED IT WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS TO MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471343August 17, 2012
ENGINE
WELL MAINTAIN PT CRUISER BLEW HEAD GASKET GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. CAUSED ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPRAY BOILING WATER FROM THE WATER OVERFLOW TANK BACK ON TO THE WINDSHIELD. CAR HAD RIGHT AT 32,550 MILES ON IT. THE SPRAYING WATER AND STEAM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470608August 14, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THEM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470235August 11, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, MY BATTERY WAS SUDDENLY DRAINED AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY FOR ABOUT $125. *TR WHEN MY FOG LIGHT INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. I'D JUST PRESS THE END OF TURN SIGNAL ARM INWARD TOWARDS THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF. GRADUALLY, THE PRESSING PROCESS DID NOT WORK ANYMORE AND I DISCOVERED THAT SHUTTING OFF THE CAR WITH THE LEFT HAND TURN SIGNAL PRESSED DOWN, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM (SO I COULD DO SOME RESEARCH ON ITS SOLUTION). NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND FOR $65 THEY DIAGNOSED IT AT A NEED TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WHICH THEY SAID REQUIRED THE PULLING OF STEERING WHEEL AND OVER $600 MORE TO FIX. I OPTED OUT ON THAT, SINCE CAR HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. THEN, WITH A WEEK OF VERY HOT 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES, , I FOUND THAT BRAND NEW BATTERY TOTALLY DRAINED AND BEGAN READING THE INTERNET POSTS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF PULLING THE FUSE. OF COURSE BEING A USA CAR, THE MANUAL DIDN'T IDENTIFY THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS IN THE "UNDER THE HOOD" FUSE BOX. IT SEEMS THAT THE HEAT ALLOWS THE FOG LAMPS TO STILL TURN ON WHEN THE LEFT HAND SIGNAL ARM IS PRESSED DOWNWARDS. GOING FURTHER, I FOUND THAT FUSE #8 IN THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD FUSE BOX COULD BE PULLED AND SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT FURTHER REPAIR. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT EVEN SHOW YOU A SKETCH OF THE INTERIOR FUSE BOX IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL.THIS APPROACH DOES MEAN THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT ALLOWING THE BUYER (ME) TO FULLY ENJOY ALL THE FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE! SEEMS TO ME THAT CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE CARS ON PURPOSE AND NEEDS TO HAVE A DEBACLE LIKE TOYOTA HAD BEFORE THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX A BAD DESIGN. .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469267August 5, 2012
ENGINE
MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, SO WE HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FAN FUSES, AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING. MY COUSIN HAS THE SAME CAR ONLY A 2002 WHICH IT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD TO BLOW. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE HOWEVER I AM NOT SEEING VERY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. JUST DOING A SEARCH ON LINE FOR PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THERE ARE TONS OF THEM. WHY WOULD THERE NOT BE A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE? I HAVE A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN THAT HAS NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS 90K ON IT AND THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPAIRED, LIKE DOUBLE WHAT THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR I HAVE ABOUT $10,000.00 WORTH OF REPAIR BILLS, THAT'S A LITTLE LIKE A LEMON CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469045August 2, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY BURNING OUT/BLOWING UP. HAVE TO REPLACE THEM EVERY FEW MONTHS. PUT IN CORRECT REPLACEMENT BULBS,DON'T KNOW WHY THEY KEEP BURNING OUT. WHEN I GO TO REPLACE THEM THERE IS SHATTERED GLASS LIKE THEY BLEW UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468345July 30, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTURED AND WAS CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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