Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2002)

511 consumer complaints on file.

#10284582September 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CAR WON'T START AT TIMES. HAD TO JUMP IT THEN IT STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINING THE BATTERY IF CAR SITS FOR A DAY OR TWO. CHANGED BATTERY 3 TIMES, STILL HAVING PROBLEM. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW, DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR NOT RELIABLE. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I'VE HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN AFTER A FEW DAYS WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276880July 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOUND 2002 PT CRUISER WITH DEAD BATTERY ON OCCASION, NO CONSISTENCY. REPLACED BATTERY (7.75 YEARS OLD, 90K MILES) AFTER 3RD INSTANCE OVER 2 MONTHS, ISSUE RESOLVED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. CAR PARKED IN HOT PARKING LOT, FOG LIGHTS WERE DIM WHEN APPROACHING CAR. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, HAD IT JUMPED. UPON RETURNING HOME, WENT TO TURN OFF CAR, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. FIDDLING WITH LIGHT SWITCH WOULD MAKE THEM GO OFF TEMPORARILY, THEN RIGHT BACK ON. FOUND TURNING LEFT BLINKER IN ON POSITION KEPT FOGS OFF. RESEARCHING ISSUE, FOUND THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM CHRYSLER ON REPLACEMENT PART, AS ALL ONLINE SOURCES SAY IT IS BACK ORDERED 30-60 DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275475July 1, 2009
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HOUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274220June 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SINCE MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WITH A USED ONE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TWO WEEKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272840June 4, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FAILS. LIGHTS ERRATIC, SAFETY PROBLEM BIG TIME AT NIGHT. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2001 CAN BE VIEWED ON LINE UNDER VARIOUS POSTS AND THREADS. OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS. SINCE THE COMPANY IS NOW RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD I CALL THE WHITE HOUSE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272819June 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I HAVE SENT CHRYSLER MANY LETTERS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK. MIND YOU I KEEP MY CAR GARAGED AND IT IS WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY BY A SHOP THAT I HAVE USED FOR YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WERE GONE. SO I CONTACTED MY NEXT CLOSEST DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT MY CPU WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY LASTED MORE THAN A DAY. THEN MY DASH COMPLETELY CRUMBLED. IT CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT IN THE CENTER AND ON BOTH SIDES. I WROTE A LETTER AND EMAIL WITH NO ANSWER. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY PHONE AND THE LADY TOLD ME TO F%*K OFF AND HUNG UP ON ME. SO I GAVE UP. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO IS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE SCANNED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS MY CPU AGAIN! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SO I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER BECAUSE THIS REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $1400.00 DOLLARS. NO RESPONSE. BUT THE SCARIEST WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 13 MONTH OLD NIECE IN THE CAR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I ALMOST HAD GOT IN A WRECK TRYING TO GET US TO SAFETY. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I FIGURED WHATEVER IT WAS DONE FOR NOW. WE WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A NOT SO DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT SO I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE CAR. WE HEADED OFF ON OUR WAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING MY FAIRLY NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. MY FLOOD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND HAD BEEN ON ALL NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270021May 27, 2009
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED INTO POSITION & WOULD NOT PROTRACT. HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET IT TO DO SO BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267090April 28, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE FOG LIGHTS TO BE PERMANENTLY ON AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265934April 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOG LAMPS STAYED ON WHEN 2002 PT CRUISER WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER DISSEMBLING OF THE SWITCH BOX THE INTERNAL SWITCH HAD ARCHED ENOUGH THAT IT WELDED ITSELF TOGETHER CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO MELT AND SMOKE. I USED A REAL RELAY TO REWIRE THE CIRCUIT WITH A SWITCH ON THE DASH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND NOW I HAVE A OIL LEAK. GREAT CAR FROM CHRYSLER. I ONLY HAVE 74,000 ON THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264776April 9, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD BEGAN CRUMBLING ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW) AND IS NOW IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND MAY BE NEAR COLLAPSING. I HAVE NOT CHECKED INTO REPLACEMENT YET. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND OTHER CHRYSLER-MADE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264245April 6, 2009
WHEELS
TIRES , LEAK AIR PRESSURE@ 10 # PER DAY . BALANCING AND ROTATION IS DIFFICULT DUE TO CHROME PEELING OFF RIMS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PEELING IS INSIDE THE TIRE ALSO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BALANCE. I INSERTED (FIX AFLAT) TO HELP STOP THE LEAKING BUT THIS ADDED TO THE IMBALANCED CONDITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO RESPONSE WAS GIVEN FOR THIS CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263555March 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION AND RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BATTERY DEAD, I HAVE A NEWER BATTERY SO THIS BAFFLED ME UNTIL I REALIZED TODAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE MULTI SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS THAT CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVENTHOUGH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS MAY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE OTHERS UNTIL I FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING I HAVE PULLED THE FUSE FOR MY FOGLIGHTS.HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F6957. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THESE SWITCHES IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND GIVEN THE MASSIVE AMT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER CAR FORUMS HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NOONE ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261851March 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH: INITIALLY THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN APPROXIMATELY 11/2008. INITIALLY THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/PARKED. THIS REQUIRED THAT I REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGE BOARDS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING, BUT IT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE (ELECTRICAL) HAZARD. I FEEL I RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261417March 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT HAD ADDITIONAL FRICTION WHEN TURNING LIGHTS ON. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULD. FIRST UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SECOND INSTANCE THE SWITCH DID NOT HAVE ANY PRECURSOR INDICATION OF FAILURE, ALL LIGHTS FROM SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY. SECOND UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. PART ONLY LASTS ~18 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260637March 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER MULTFUNCTION SWITCH SMOKING AND SHORT CIRCUITING RESULTING IN FOG LAMP FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260219February 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING...I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING...AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A RADIO AND SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAUSES MY RADIO DISPLAY TO "POP" IN AND OUT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT I HAVE NO HORN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 03. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259878February 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, LIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WERE SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THE HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. ALL LIGHTS FAILED, INTERIOR, HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258812February 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN A 02 AND 03 PT CRUISER. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AS WELL AS IDLER ARMS. WERE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AT LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION-ALL OVER THE NET, REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING, SAYS IT'S NORMAL WEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258694February 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
HAVE A 2002 PT CRUISER WITH EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. REPLACEMENT OF 1 QT. OIL EVERY 750 MILES. BOUGHT CAR NEW IN 02. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE INCEPTION. ADDRESSED PROBLEM TO DEALER IN SALEM, OR. THEY CONTENDED IT WAS NORMAL . I HAVE 58K ON ENGINE NOW AND PROBLEMS STILL CURRENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258264February 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE FOG-LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INTERIOR PANEL IS FAULTY. IT SHORTS OUT, CAUSING SMOKE, OR THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, AND DRAINS THE BATTERY OF ALL POWER. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THE FOG LIGHTS ARE ON, WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVATED, THEN THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON, TURN ON THE BLINKERS OR STOP TO GET THIS PROBLEM TO SUBSIDE. CHRYSLER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES THAT HAVE THE FOG-LIGHT OPTION. PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL BEFORE A FIRE OCCURS WHICH MEANS THE LOSS OF SOMEONE'S' LIFE. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED BY IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE GOVERNMENTS PART. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY, VERY WEAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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