Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2009)

97 consumer complaints on file.

#10433922November 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGAN BLINKING REPEATEDLY, THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN, CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THEN DIED GIVING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION CAR GAVE NO INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION, DROVE HOME AND HAVE NOT DROVE SINCE. IF YOU GOOGLE "PT CRUISER CONSOLE GOING CRAZY" YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE MALFUNCTION THIS IS A DANGER TO NOT ONLY THE OWNER BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE CHECKING INTO THE ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD AFTER CONTACTING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, THEY TOLD ME "UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DIAGNOSE THE SITUATION YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN YOUR EMAIL...IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET RESOLVED, SEEKING A SECOND OPINION FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER MAY BE A VIABLE OPTION." WHICH I TAKE TO MEAN TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP, GET CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR THEM TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, IF THEY STILL DON'T KNOW AFTER CHARGING YOU $600 THEN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR CARS THAN WE DO. <BR> THIS IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE, SLIPSHODDY WAY TO RUN A COMPANY. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR CARS THEN THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEM HAVE TO STAND BY THEM AND NOT TRY TO SEND THEIR CUSTOMERS OFF TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AFTER CHARGING THEM AN ARM AND A LEG AND STILL NOT KNOWING HOW TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW THEIR CARS BETTER THAN SAY A HONDA DEALERSHIP WOULD. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED COMPLAINTS SO THAT CHRYSLER WILL FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BECAUSE GOING FROM 40 TO 0 ON A BUSY ROAD IS DANGEROUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433528October 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PURCHASED A USED 2009 PT CRUISER IN MAY 2011, WITH 37,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES LATER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH STARTED TO LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. FIRST THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE WHOLE CLUSTER LIT UP AND THEN THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ALSO DROPPED. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, BUT IT CHECKED OUT OK AND I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS. THIS TIME IT FLASHED ON AND OFF APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. TODAY, 10/29/11, AT 49,000 IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. I DID NOT LOSE POWER OR ACCELERATION, BUT AT ONE POINT I DID FEEL A HICCUP IN THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CANNOT EXPLAIN THIS. I LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428084September 30, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM, JUST LEFT OF CENTER. THE CRACK RAN UP THE WINDSHIELD FOR ABOUT 3 INCHES, THEN TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE CRACK RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT A-PILLAR. IT BEARS MENTIONING THAT THE CRACK STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HADN'T EVEN BEEN STARTED YET. I'VE SEEN MANY MENTIONS ON-LINE OF PT CRUISER'S WITH PROBLEMS IDENTICAL TO MINE, AND MY NEIGHBOR'S PT ALSO HAS THIS SAME CRACK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF AN ISSUE WITH PT WINDSHIELDS, AND DENIED MY REPAIR REQUEST UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED BY CHRYSLER'S 36/36 BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE, THEY AGREED, AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF WRANGLING, TO FIX MY WINDSHIELD IF I PAID A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I DID, RELUCTANTLY, BECAUSE HERE IN TEXAS, A VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER HAS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER WINDSHIELDS. IT ALSO SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER HAS THEIR HEAD BURIED IN THE SAND. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE PT CRUISER WINDSHIELD ISSUE IN A PROPER MANNER, BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY OR WORSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419317August 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 PT CRUISER PURCHASED 10/2010 FROM RENTAL FLEET. HAD 40,000 MILES THEN, HAS 45,000 NOW. WHILE DRIVING (MPH NOT RELEVANT), THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF WITHIN SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LIGHT, SOMETIMES IT'S THE ENTIRE CLUSTER. THE GAUGE NEEDLES FALL TO ZERO THEN GO BACK TO CURRENT READING. FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY SINCE 10/2010, BUT ISSUE NEVER IMPAIRED THE PERFORMANCE UNTIL 08/09/2011 WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. GOT IT TO CURB (WITHOUT GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND), TURNED OFF KEY, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, RESTARTED, AND HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC 08/13/2011; COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. CALLED CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, DESCRIBED ISSUE; THEY WANT TO PUT ON COMPUTER WHICH MY MECHANIC JUST DID. NO REPAIRS MADE. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE OF SIMILAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, I'M FEARFUL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CANNOT RESOLVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408408June 23, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURPASS THE SET SPEED, BY 2-3 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE WENT AROUND A CURVE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD WAY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402114May 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED, THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAULTY CLUTCH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399389May 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE READING ON THE GAUGES BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394419April 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 PT CRUISER HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SLOVE.WHILE DRIVING CAR ALL DASHLIGHTS FLASHES OFF AND ON GAUGES DANCE UP AND DOWN CAR LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST INVOLVED IN MANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384522February 25, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SHE DROVE OVER ICE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA EMERGENCY VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,871.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10379522January 29, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD. NOW THE CONTROL ARM HITS THE SUBFRAME WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOBBLES AT ALL SPEEDS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT, ONLY 48,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTING. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377137January 19, 2011
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
FAILURE OF ALUMINUM VALVE STEMS ON TPMS SENSORS RESULTING IN RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. CAN RESULT FROM SIMPLE SERVICE TO ADD AIR TO TIRES OR DURING HIGHWAY USE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL SIMILAR TO A BLOWOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376869January 16, 2011
SEATS
FOR 2009 PT CRUISER I CALLED THE CHRYSLER STORE REQUIRING ABOUT RECALLS ON THE SIDE PLASTIC PIECE WERE YOUR AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN OVER THOUSANDS OF CARS HAS COME IN TO GET THAT FIXED AND IS DANGEROUS DUE TO WHILE YOUR DRIVING YOU SEAT WILL MOVE CAUSE THE PLASTIC WILL READJUST YOU IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP OR STOPPING. ITS COSTING OVER 300 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARDS. IF THE SEAT MOVES EVEN MORE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN WORSE DEATH. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372191December 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOUR TIMES. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON DECEMBER 21, 2010. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED TWO REPORTS #20028521, #19428228, AND ADVISED THEM THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER ASSIST HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,806, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,407. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED. UPDATED 03/09/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364693November 3, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. MOST OF THE GLASS WENT INSIDE THE CAR. NO ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT WAS FOUND THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343248July 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IDLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUT INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE REVERSED AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341075July 2, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1.)WHEN VEHICLE HORN IS APPLIED IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNLESS STEERING WHEEL CENTER IS PUNCHED HARD SEVERAL TIMES TO RELEASE HORN. NO CRASH BUT HURT HAND AND WRIST WHILE PUNCHING STEERING WHEEL TO SHUT OFF HORN. DEALERS SERVICES DEPT. DIAGNOSED HORN SWITCH CIRCUIT OPEN AND AIR BAG SPRINGS ARE WEAK. DEALER REPLACED THE HORN PAD SWITCH AND DRIVERS SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG UNDER WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE. 2.)WIPERS WILL COME ON INFREQUENTLY IN RIGHT TURNS FOR NO REASON. STARTLING AND HIGHLY DISTRACTING SINCE IT THE WIPERS MOVEMENT IS UNEXPECTED AND COMES AND GOES WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON. DEALERS SERVICES DEPT. INSPECTED AND PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DEALER CONCLUDED: NO CODES NOTED AT THIS TIME, COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318041March 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2009 PT CRUISER, I HAVE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL, TO FIND THAT IT HAS SURGED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SPEED UP WITH OUT WARNING. I THOUGHT IT WAS ME UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT USED IT SINCE. IT DID NOT WANT TO DISENGAGE AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES REALLY HARD AND HOLD THEM DOWN TO GET THE CAR TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. CONTACTED DEALER TO ASK IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, WAS TOLD I MUST BE DRIVING A TOYOTA? DID NOT FIND THAT HUMOROUS, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. I DO SEE THAT THEY HAD AN ISSUE IN THE 2001 MODELS FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT I AM REPORTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chrysler PT Cruiser