Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2003)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10293383November 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. I GENERALLY DRIVE OUR 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY, AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS MEANS I WAS TURNING THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL UNIT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. 2. BEGINNING EARLY IN 2009 I EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH WITHOUT A LOT OF CYCLING, OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN THEMSELVES ON WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE MADE THAT HAPPEN. THEN, WHEN TRYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, THE SWITCH BEGAN TO SMOKE. TURNING OFF THE CAR CLEARED THAT, SO I STOPPED USING THE FOG LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHT PORTION OF THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. 3. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE OUT OF THE SWITCH. I THEN CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTO MAINTENANCE COMPANY I HAVE USED IN THE PAST AND TRUST. THEY QUOTED ME A BETTER SERVICE PRICE, AND THAT THE SWITCH WAS BACKORDERED. THERE WERE OVER 5000 SWITCHES ON BACKORDER AND IT WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED BEFORE WE RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND HAD IT INSTALLED. MY CONCERN IS TWO FOLD: 1. THE 5000 MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF FAILURES, AND 2. IF I HAD NOT BEEN SITTING THERE, WOULD THE LIGHTS, AFTER COMING ON BY THEMSELVES HAVE CAUSE THE SWITCH TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE? I THOUGHT THAT THE BRIEF TIME I WAS SMOKE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BLOW THE FUSE, BUT IT DIDN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284535September 18, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND WHEN HE WAS HIT T BONE AND EVENTUALLY LANDED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10280581August 16, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
NHTSA 629139 EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS, MOISTURE INSIDE VENTED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. HEADLIGHTS HAVE HARD WATER DEPOSITS ON INSIDE OF LAMP,WITH SUN EXPOSURE HAVE BECOME SO CORRODED THEY ARE NOT USABLE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276775July 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HIGH BEAMS COMING ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, AT FIRST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK THEN EVERYDAY IT WOULD HAPPEN THEN EVERYTIME USING THE VEHICLE, THE HIGH BEAMS CAME ON AFTER I TURNED THEM OFF WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR WOULD NOT CRANK, THE HIGH BEAMS WHERE STILL ON, HAD TO GET MY CAR JUMPED STARTED, REMOVED THE FUSE AND HAVEN'T HAD THE HIGH BEAMS TO COME ON AGAIN, BUT I NEED MY HIGH BEAMS ESP. FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, THERE'S A SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FUSE AND HIGH BEAMS LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275627July 2, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL LINE ABRASION AND LEAKAGE ON FUEL LINE FROM FIREWALL TO FUEL RAIL. 2003 MPT CRUISER WITH 5 SPEED AND 146,000 MILES FUEL ABRADED THRU FIRE WALL INSULATION AND RUBBED WHILE THRU PROTECTIVE SLEEVE AND FUEL LINE FUEL LINE SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER ENGINE, CONVERTER AND FIREWALL DRIVER NOTICED FUEL SMELL AND STOPPED CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270163May 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
REPEATED OVERHEATING DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ANTIFREEZE IS PROPERLY MIXED AND THE RESERVOIR IS FULL. ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, GURGLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM INSIDE THE CAR. RADIATOR WAS PRESSURE TESTED AND FOUND NO LEAKS. ANTIFREEZE SEEMS TO EVAPORATE CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE OVERHEATING ISSUE TO OCCUR AGAIN AFTER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE HAS BEEN ADDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265725April 17, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, CONTROL ARMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON MY CAR. MAY 2007, MILEAGE 40,054, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORN OUT/CONTROL ARM HOLE OBLONG: BOTH REPLACED. AGAIN TODAY, APRIL 2009, MILEAGE 55,000, CAR IS IN SHOP FOR SAME SERVICE. ALSO, APRIL 2008, MILEAGE 46,856 FRONT LEFT HUB BEARING FAILED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264883April 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN JULY 2008 IN OCT WE NOTICED LIGHTS FLICKERING HEADLIGHT SWITCH STARTED BURNING FOG LIGHTS CAME ON DIDN'T WORK BEFORE TOOK IT DODGE NEW SWITCH AND 22 PIN CONNECTOR . NEW PCM REPROGRAMMED IT STILL SAME PROBLEM LIGHTS FLICKER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264781April 9, 2009
SUSPENSION
TWO PT CRUISERS, 02-03, BOTH NEEDING TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, WATTS LINKAGE, WHEEL BEARINGS AT AROUND OR LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. BASICALLY THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS UNHEARD OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262026March 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 PT GT CRUISER IN JAN.2004 WITH 600 MILES ON IT. AT 36,000 MILES THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ( AT OUR EXPENSE) FOR THE FIRST TIME. DEALER ( PRESTON OF WARREN, OHIO ) SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES, AND 6 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THEY ARE AGAIN NEEDING REPLACED FOR THE NINTH TIME.I ALSO REPLACED TIERODS AND BUSHINGS ONCE, AND HUBS TWICE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF ONLINE POSTS FROM OTHER PT OWNERS WITH STRIKINGLY SIMILAR STORIES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261459March 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOG LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH WITHOUT MY TURNING THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD DEAD BATTERY? IS THERE A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261489March 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE TO THE CHYRSLER FORUMS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALOT OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. SOME WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART. THANKS, DARLENE SMITH *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260879March 5, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD AT 38,000 MILES. 2 WATER PUMPS WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. CAMSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. OIL PAN ON ENGINE STARTED LEAKING WHEN CAR HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256184January 24, 2009
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
WE OWNED A 2003 PT CRUISER AND I HAD A WRECK ON APRIL 18, 2008 AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH TO HOLD ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. IT THREW ME FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER WHERE I HAD MY HAD RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SHOULDER STRAP HAD CAUGHT WHEN THE COLLISION HAPPENED. WE BOUGHT ANOTHER PT CRUISER, A 2007 AND MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND WHO WAS DRIVING HAD AN ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 21, 2009. THEY SWERVED TO KEEP FROM HITTING A DOG AND HIT A GUARD RAIL ALMOST HEAD ON AND AGAIN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT CATCH. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A BAD PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISERS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10256065January 23, 2009
SUSPENSION
I OWN TWO PT CRUISERS, BOTH HAVE HAD CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURES AT 45K MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHRYSLER, ALL OVER INTERNET, FAILURES AT EARLIER MILEAGE AS WELL. THEY DO NOTHING. $650/CAR TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254777January 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A FUEL INJECTOR FLUSH, CLEANED THE BATTERY, INSTALLED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER IN THE TANK, AND ALSO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 55 TO 15 MPH BEFORE STALLING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254774January 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
POWER FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250778December 4, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I JUST FOUND A RECALL ON MY PT CRUISER ON THE WEB AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A NOTICE TO DATE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALLS. MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ARE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246495October 23, 2008
SUSPENSION, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "GET AWAY FROM HER" WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END REPAIRS WERE COMMON. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $600. THEY ALSO STATED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD BE NEEDED FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN UPDATED 11/24/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246138October 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,583. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, IN WHICH SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE THROTTLE BODY, THE RADIATOR, AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE POWERTRAIN AND STEERING UNIT. THE REPAIRS COST $4,000. TYPICALLY, THE FAILURES IMMEDIATELY RECUR AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE HER A SMALL REIMBURSEMENT OF $878. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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