Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10111553February 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110479February 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE NEW 2004 PT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH. BEFORE, I COULD SIT AT A RED LIGHT IN DRIVE AND NEVER FEEL THE CAR VIBRATE. NOW ANYTIME I START THE ENGINE OR AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT VIBRATES AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE COMPUTER CODE P0303 FROM THE ODOMETER (USING THE KEY ON/RUN, OFF TRICK). P0303 IS A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER NUMBER 3. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES NOW AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!!! IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANYMORE. THEY KEEP TELLING NOW THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING IF THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. BUT IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH! SOMETIMES THE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN I START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BLAMED/REPLACED EVERYTHING FROM BAD GAS, SPARK PLUGS, CABLES AND NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS! I RESEARCHED NHTSA AND FOUND THERE IS ALREADY A TSB ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS BASED ON MULTIPLE INTERNET FORUMS ON THE PT CRUISER. PEOPLE AS DO I LOVE THE CAR I BUT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111333February 10, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FRONT AXLE LITERALLY BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111240February 9, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DRIVER SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL CAME OFF AT THE SPINDLE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING INTO A DITCH. SEVERAL MECHANICS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THAT THE 4 SPINDLE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110226February 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER STOPPED WORKING. THE DOME LIGHT AND THE WARNING SIGNALS FOR LEAVING THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. ALTHOUGH SOME 2002 CRUISERS WERE RECALLED FOR AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE, THE DEALER (FITZGERALD AUTOMALL IN GAITHERSBURG, MD) TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A FAILURE SOMEWHERE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT IT WOULD NOT REPAIR AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUSTER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF DEFECT SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL OR REPAIRED BY CHRYSLER AT ITS EXPENSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110142February 8, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON PT CRUISER HAS SPLIT, CAUSING AN EXTREMELY SHARP SLIVER TO CUT MY FINGER. MR. AKKERMAN, ASST. SERVICE MANAGER AT THE CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER IN HEMET AGREES THAT THIS IS PROBABLY A DEFECTIVE PART BUT THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING IT. I WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR INJURIES FROM THIS HANDLE OR IF MINE IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10109980February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
ONE DAY AFTER WASHING MY PT CRUISER, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS IDLING SO HARD THE CAR WAS JERKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I THOUGHT MAYBE AFTER IT RAN AWHILE IT WOULD STOP, SO I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND STARTING BEEPING, SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN THE GARAGE. I PERFORMED THE TEST FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE EMISSIONS, AND THE HARD IDLE STOPPED. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE CAR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING. AT ONE POINT, THEY WENT BERSERK, LOCKING CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. ONE DAY LATER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. I'VE HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN CHRYLERS AFTER THE CAR IS WASHED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111035February 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109933February 6, 2005
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR DROPS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, OBSCURING WIEW OF ROAD. DEALER REPLACED PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109842February 4, 2005
AIR BAGS
I OWN A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH 105K MILES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAIN ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK OR THE CRUISE CONTROL. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED 1.2MILLION 1998 - 2000 MINIVANS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PT CRUISER HAS NO RECALL BUT SHOULD SINCE IT IS CLASSIFIED AS A VAN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108314January 31, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PER INSTRUCTIONS IN OWNER'S MANUAL, I TOOK MY 2001 PT CRUISER WITH 51,700 MILES INTO THE COURTESY CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALERSHIP IN ROCKVILLE, MD AFTER THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY LIGHTING UP WHEN TAKING TURNS. AFTER 3 DAYS, THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE LIGHT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THE AIRBAG HAD FAILED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, NOR HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED. THE CHARGE TO REPLACE THE FAILED AIRBAG IS $1,300. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO FAIL IF WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDIENT AND HAD NOT BEEN MODIFIED. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108327January 31, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SHIFTER PROBLEMS, THAT HAS MADE IT OCCASIONALLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO OR IT WOULD DROP OUT OF REVERSE GEAR. WHILE DOING A BATTERY CHECK I NOTICED THE SHIFT LINKAGE APPEARED TO BE LYING ON TOP OF THE TRANSAXLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AFTER REMOVING THE AIR BOX I NOTICED THAT INDEED LINKAGE WAS LYING THERE WITHOUT BEING SECURED IN POSITION. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INDENTATION FOR RETAINER CLIP, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ONE HAD BEEN USED OR IF IT HAD IT CAME OFF EARLY ON. I REALIZE MORE AUTOMATIC PT?S WERE SOLD THAN MANUAL 5-SPEED UNITS. I ALSO REALIZE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONLY MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT TO BE UNLIKELY, THEREFORE I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT, BASED ON THE INITIAL RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE AND PARTS DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE CONTINUED UNCONTROLLED WEAR COULD RESULT IN A MISHAP SHOULD THE LINKAGE COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAD THE RETAINER CLIP BEEN INSTALLED IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TYPE WEAR WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108262January 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2003 PT CRUISER GT PURCHASED BRAND NEW APRIL 29, 2003. CLUTCH HAS FAILED 3 TIMES OVER 10 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. MARCH 8, 2004 MILEAGE ? 19,842: DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT ENTERED ONTO THE 60 FWY EAST THE CLUTCH GOES OUT ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC! HAVE TRUCK TOWED TO JAMMIN DODGE CHRYSLER THAT NIGHT. THE CAR IS ALMOST 12 MONTHS OLD! MARCH 12, 2004 REMOVED AND REPLACED CLUTCH MODULE ASSEMBLY. CAR PICKED UP. DECEMBER 17, 2004 MILEAGE ? 35,930: THIS IS JUST 9 MONTHS AFTER THE CLUTCH WAS FIRST REPAIRED! CLUTCH GOES OUT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR; IT LAUNCHED FORWARD BECAUSE IT WAS IN FIRST GEAR. IT MISSES THE CONCRETE WALKWAY TO MY OFFICE BUILDING BY LESS THAN A INCH. DECEMBER 21, 2004 STAR CHRYSLER REPAIRS CLUTCH JANUARY 22, 2005. MILEAGE ? 37,275: JUST ONE MONTH SINCE LAST REPAIR TO CLUTCH! I AM DRIVING TO BANK IN MORNING. I COME TO STOP AT THE END OF MY STREET AT THE STOP LIGHT. MY CAR CLUTCH IS MALFUNCTIONING. I STOP THE CAR. I TRY TURNING IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE CAR LAUNCHES FORWARD HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. THE MAN GETS OUT OF THE TRUCK. HE LOOKS AND THERE IS NOT DAMAGE TO HIS TRUCK. HE ASKS ME DID I SEE HIM? I TOLD HIM THAT MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND HE CAME OVER AND SAW HOW THE CLUTCH JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS WISHED ME LUCK AND TOOK OFF. MY GRILL IN THE FRONT IS BULGING. MY LICENSE PLATE FRAME CRACKS. AND THE TOP OF MY BUMPER IS SCRATCHED. I CALL AAA. HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO JAMMIN DODGE IN POMONA. I REQUEST NO WORK TO BE DONE. I WILL CALL CHRYSLER CORPORATE MONDAY MORNING. I WILL NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS NOT SAFE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108223January 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING UP HILL I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH INCREASING FORCE UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAUGED. I HAVE DONE THISTIME ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND IT REQUIRES MUCH MORE FORCE GOING UPHILL THEN ON LEVEL GROUND. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS ALMOST AN ACCIDENT BUT I HAD THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO STEP ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIME TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN-OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109150January 28, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE BELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. IT WILL NOT RELEASE OR ALLOW THE DRIVER TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY COULD CHECK FOR THE DEFECT IF THE OWNER WOULD PAY A FEE FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS TO DETERMINE WHY THE BELT WILL NOT OPERATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111054January 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER PT CRUISER TRIP METER CONSTANTLY RESET ITSELF, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY AND THE BELLS START BEEPING. *BF THE MECHANIC SPRAYED STATIC GUARD IN IT THAT TIME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOTH SEATS AND TO GET OUT AND GRAB THE METAL BAR. THE GEAR SHIFTER KNOB WOULD COME OFF, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO THE BRAKES, IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME BECAUSE THE LOCK AND TUMBLERS WERE STICKING, THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION AND WOULD ONLY GET 12.9 MILES TO THE GALLON AND WOULD RUN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT WORKING AT TIMES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109087January 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS MADE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERS, AND PROBLEM DID NOT DUPLICATE ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK....*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109090January 27, 2005
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED, CRASHING INTO A BUS. WHEN EXPLAINING TO MANUFACTURER WHAT HAPPENED, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INCORRECT TIRES FOR THE RAIN.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105496January 26, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099443January 26, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V268000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING HOSE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK NO NEW PARTS OR REPLACEMENTS WERE USED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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