Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10253522January 1, 2009
WHEELS
I HAVE A 2005 PT CRUSIER TURBO AND I RECENTLY HAD ONE OF MY TIRES GO FLAT WITH NO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE TIRE AND IN TWO WEEKS THE NEW TIRE WENT FLAT, AGAIN NO APPARENT DAMAGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE TIRE STORE, THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE, HOWEVER THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WAS PEELING OFF AND THE SEAL THAT IS FORMED COULD NOT HOLD DUE THIS PEELING OF THE COATING ON THE RIM. I ASKED FOR A NEW TIRE, THEY AGREED AND IT HELD FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, HOWEVER WHEN THE WEATHER GOT EXTREMELY COLD, THE TIRE WENT FLAT OVER NIGHT AGAIN WITH NO DAMAGE. THE RIMS ARE DEFECTIVE ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253023December 29, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVERS SIDE - SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON CRASH TO DRIVERS SIDE OF 2001 PT CRUISER. PT CRUISER T-BONED OVER CAR SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10253034December 29, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TIRES, SIZE AT205/55/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED MODERATELY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REST STOP AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DOT NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08T029000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT). THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252843December 26, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN HER STEERING COLUMN. SHE ALSO SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252748December 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS BURNED A QUART OF OIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 900 MILES OF DRIVING SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT AND STILL ONLY GETS 900 MILES TO A QUART. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CHRYSLER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BURN LESS AS I DROVE IT. IT NEVER DID. AS A RETIRED MECHANIC, I CAN SAY I HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM EITHER DIRECTLY OR VICARIOUSLY WITH A CUSTOMERS CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW. THOUSANDS OF OTHER PT OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME OIL BURNING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252280December 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I TOOK MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES, WHICH IS ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS, THE SHODY CONSTRUCTION OF THESE MOUNTS IS INSANE. WHEN INVESTIGATING THE MOUNTS MY MECHANIC SPOTTED A COOLANT LEAK WHICH HE TRACED TO A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK ITSELF. THE LEVEL OF CORROSION FROM THE LEAK INDICATED THE CRACK HAD BEEN THERE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME. DEALER DENIED ANY WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE DEFECT. AT 32,000 MILES THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CHEAP MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION, THE ROTOR WERE ACTUALLY BOWING DUE TO THE CHEAP METAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THIS AS WELL. OVERALL THE 3 MAJOR COMPLAINTS I HAVE ARE FOR SHODY MOTOR MOUNTS, INFERIOR FRONT ROTOR CONSTRUCTION, AND DEFECTS IN ENGINE COMPONENTS LEADING TO A CRACKED BLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252125December 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $539. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VIN PROVIDED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250888December 5, 2008
VISIBILITY
REAR QUARTER GLASS ON DRIVER SIDE DETACHED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTHING LED TO THIS PROBLEM. *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
#10250647December 3, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN PROPERLY AND FORCED THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE COLLISION CENTER AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 151,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10250657December 3, 2008
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE PLACED POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, BUT A NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CAP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DRIVEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,164 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 12/30/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250232December 1, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIE ROD ENDS, THAT COULD HAVE LED TO TIE ROD FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THIS 2004 PT CRUISER WAS MAINTAINED UNDER THE CHRYSLER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WHICH BRINGS INTO QUESTION WHY BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD FAIL AT THIS LOW A MILEAGE. EITHER THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE IMPROPERLY AT SOME POINT IN TIME, OR THE BEARING ASSEMBLIES WERE DEFECTIVE. AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO SERVICE LETTERS THAT ADDRESS THE PARTS MAINTENANCE OR REPLACEMENTS DUE TO WEAR, NORMAL OR OTHERWISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250237December 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED DRIVING MY 2001 PT CRUISER AND NOTICED THE FOG LAMP INDICATOR WAS ON. THE LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON, I CHECKED ALL THE SWITCHES. A COUPLE MILES DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE COLUMN THROUGH THE HAZARD BUTTON. I PULLED OVER AND PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKING BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. THE FUSE WAS VERY HOT. I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET ON THE PT. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED IF ITS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH POSSIBLE FIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250048November 28, 2008
STRUCTURE
THE DASH PAD "COVER" ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN INTO NUMEROUS SHARP PIECES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. WE HAVE OTHER CARS, OLDER AND NEWER THAT HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH CRACKING DASHBOARDS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. WE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS DEFECT/SAFETY HAZARD OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249739November 24, 2008
WHEELS
THE TIRE ON MY 2005 PT CRUISER WAS FLAT AND WHEN I WENT TO GET IT FIXED WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE BUT THE FINISH WAS COMING OFF THE RIM AND THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. I WENT TO A NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CHAIN TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD PUT A TYPE OF SEALANT AROUND THE TIRE SO IT WOULD NOT GO FLAT. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT GO FLAT AS THEY STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PT CRUISERS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET IN REGARDS TO THIS AND FOUND THAT INDEED, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR MODEL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE RIMS BEFORE A TIRE OR TIRES GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I WAS FORTUNATE AS THE CAR WAS PARKED. BUT TO BE STUCK IN WINTER WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MULTIPLE FLATS WHILE DRIVING IS A VERY RISKY VENTURE FOR ME AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. I WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO AND WHAT MY FUTURE OPTIONS ARE IN REGARD TO MY PT CRUISER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249499November 21, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOG LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CARE IS TURNED OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249207November 19, 2008
EQUIPMENT, TIRES
THIS IS THE REQUEST TO FIND ALL UNITED STATES, FOREIGN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL STATUTES. PLEASE INCLUDE IN THE INSPECTIONS ANALYSIS TOYOTA, MITSUBISHI, HONDA MOTOR CARS. PLEASE INSPECT ANALYZE FOR DEFECTS IN ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, FUEL, EMISSIONS, SUSPENSION, COOLING, TIRES DEFECTS, AND ANY,ALL OTHER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS. PLEASE FIND TO ELIMINATE AUTOMOTIVES THAT ARE NOT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249064November 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY PT CRUISER IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL OR MORE PER 1000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249093November 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED MY 2002 PT CRUISER WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON ODOMETER IN JANUARY OF 2006. WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I PAID $1,000.00 TO HAVE THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND ONCE AGAIN WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT IT WAS THE AIRBAG SENSORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249158November 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN SMOKING. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPM'S INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000. WHEN THE CONTACT EASED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SMOKING AND THE RPM'S RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TURBO WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,950.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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