Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10333843May 29, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2005 TOURING EDITION PT CRUISER AND IT HAS BEEN A HEADACHE FOR THE LAST 21 MONTHS. IN SPRING 2009, AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY 2 YEARS, IT STARTING LEAKING OIL SO I TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS LOOSE. THEY FIXED IT IN A DAY AND IT RAN FINE, THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, IN AUGUST, IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SEALS, FRONT CRANK SEAL AND THE OIL PAN GASKET. I GOT IT BACK A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR THE BRAKES AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN ROTORS WEAR THAT FAST BEFORE. IT RAN PRETTY GOOD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2009 WHEN IT STARTED LEAKING OIL AGAIN, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK, GASKETS FOR THE UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE, TIMING BELT COVER, CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, AND ALL THE FLUIDS IN THE CAR. THEY DIDN'T CHARGE FOR FIXING THIS TIME BECAUSE THE SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ANOTHER WEEK IN THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS IN RUNNING CONDITION AGAIN. IN MAY 2010 ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF TIRE ROT AND THE SPARE DIDN'T LOOK THAT MUCH BETTER THEN THE TIRES. LATER THE SAME MONTH THE CAR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE NEED SLOWING TO STOP AND STARTING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THE STARTER AND FLEXPLATE NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS IN SHOP A WEEK, WENT TO PICK IT UP AND WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WAS BROKEN. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE MOTOR MOUNT ITSELF. THEY ALSO SAID THEY DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT TEST DRIVE IT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS RUNNING CORRECTLY. I TOOK THE CAR HOME, TWO DAYS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE GAS PEDAL BROKE. IT WAS AGAINST THE MAT AND I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO REV. THANKFULLY I WAS BY THE MEDIAN LANE SO I COULD ROLL OUT OF TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332602May 28, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:BEAD
BRIDGESTONE, FUZION HRI, TIRES CAN ONLY BE MOUNTED ONE WAY WITH LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE ) BEAD/TREAD POINTING >, BUT PASSENGER ( RIGHT SIDE ) TIRES CAN ONLY BE MOUNTED WITH BEAD/TREAD POINTING <, THIS LEADS TO RIGHT SIDE TIRE FAILURE; AND VEHICLE HANDLING ON WET ROADS PULLS TO RIGHT; WHEN HITTING PUDDLE AT 55 MPH JERKS CAR TO RIGHT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332699May 28, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
INFORMED, DURING A STATE REQUIRED ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION THAT, AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS AND 37,000 MILES, THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON THE CAR ARE COMPLETELY GONE METAL IS RUBBING METAL. THE WEARING WAS NOT NOTICED BY A CHRYSLER DEALER WHEN I HAD A BRAKE REPAIR DONE 5 MONTHS AGO. I FEEL THIS MAY HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL SO THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 1,000 MILES AGO AND 10 DAYS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER BUT WAS NEVER ISSUED A TSB OR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332162May 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I OWN A 2006 PT CRUISER BASE MODEL. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE LOW WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, A STOP SIGN, OR RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALMOST STALL BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN STOPPED, WARM OR HOT AIR WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN MODULE REPAIR WOULD COST $700. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,052 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,603. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332187May 25, 2010
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED FROM CENTER WINDSHIELD REGION TO THE AIR VENT. THE GRILL ON THE AIR VENT HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330731May 16, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION
I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND THE CAR SKIDDED ALMOST AS IF ON ICE. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS I WAS ON MY WAY TO FIND THAT THE CAR WAS NOW PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN TAKING LIGHT BUMPS. UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND THAT THE REAR SUPPORT BEAM HAD BROKEN CLEAN THROUGH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330348May 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2006 PT CRUISER. IN 2006, CHRYSLER REPLACED THE TRADITIONAL FUSE BOX WITH A UNIT CALLED A TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). THE UNIT CONTROLS POWER TO MOST AREAS OF THE CAR INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, DASHLIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR RUNNING LIGHT BURNED OUT. AT LEAST THAT IS MY GUESS. THE LIGHT BULB WAS THE ONLY SHORTED ITEM COULD FIND. THIS CAUSED THE DASHLIGHTS TO GO OUT AND THE PRIMARY BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE BULB SHORTED ON THE INSIDE. THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) IS DESIGNED WITH NO FUSE PROTECTION BETWEEN THE LIGHTING MODULE AND THE LIGHTS. THIS SHORTED BULB SHORTED OUT THE UNIT AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I RESEARCHED ON THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. I FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF THE (TIPM) FAILING. I FOUND THIS IN THE CHAT ROOMS, BLOGS AND THREADS I VISITED WHILE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. I NOTICED THAT THESE UNITS ARE INSTALLED IN MANY OF CHRYSLER'S CARS AND BASED UPON WHAT I LEARNED HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC. IN ALL THE INSTANCE OF FAILURE, THE CAR IS DRIVING AND THERE IS NO NOTIFICATION TO THE DRIVER THAT THE UNIT HAS FAILED OTHER THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT. THE UNITS ARE BUILT AS A SINGLE UNIT AND THE WIRING HARNESS IS PART OF THE UNIT. YOU CANNOT REPAIR THE UNIT. I HAVE BEEN VERBALLY QUOTED TO REPLACE THIS UNIT THE COST WILL BE AROUND $975. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HAVING A $2.50 BULB TRASH A MAJOR SAFETY COMPONENT OF A CAR IS A BAD THING. WILL YOU LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND SEE IT IS FIT FOR A RECALL? I AM AT WORK AND DO NOT HAVE MY CRUISER WITH ME TODAY. IF YOU NEED THE VIN NUMBER, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL SEND IT YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329522May 10, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD AT 60,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS WANDERING ON THE ROAD. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329320May 7, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IT APPEARS THAT THE CRANKSHAFT ON 2006 PT CRUISERS DOES HAVE A INHERENT BUILT-IN FLAW THAT ALLOWS THE CRANKSHAFT TO MOVE ALONG ITS AXIS MORE THAN IT SHOULD. AFTER A WHILE THIS CAUSES THE MAIN CRANK SEAL TO POP OUT AND A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK TO HAPPEN. IT LOOKS FROM READING OVER VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AS EARLY AS 10,000 MILES AND IS KNOWN BY CHRYSLER ALTHOUGH NOT YET CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE A MAJOR OIL LEAK WHILST RUNNING CAN HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES FOR THE USER AND OTHERS. IN MY CASE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BEFORE AN INCIDENT HAPPENS WITH THE OIL PRESSURE READING ABNORMALLY HIGH BUT I UNDERSTAND THIS CAN HAPPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328529May 4, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL IN VEHICLES *GR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ADDING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLS AS A MANDATORY FEATURE WAS AN EVASIVE DECISION. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO PROTESTED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OF EVENT DATA RECORDERS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/21/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328504May 3, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES DEFECT INVOLVING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION *TGW IN AUGUST 2007 THE BUSHINGS HAD DETERIORATED AFTER ONLY 30,620 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AT A COST OF $414.84 WHICH THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. IN JUNE 2009, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY BEEN 12,292 MILES SINCE THEY WERE INITIALLY REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAD THEM REPLACED AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328281April 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 PT CRUISER OVERHEATS WHEN IDLING HAVE SPENT 700.00 DOLLARS AND THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM SEE ONLINE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328132April 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ID NUMBER: 02V214000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE RECALL NOTICE WHICH WAS ADDRESSED TO HIM THAT HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE HIS REQUEST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328158April 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON UNINTENTIONALLY AND DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN EMPTY PARKING LOTS 3 TIMES WITH MY CAR BATTERY DEAD. IT SEEMS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS THE CULPRIT AND THIS ISSUE EXISTED SINCE 2001 MODELS, CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT FOR 10 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327546April 26, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SHE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF AFTER THE RESTART. THE CONTACT CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326982April 22, 2010
EQUIPMENT, TIRES, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THIS IS A REQUEST TO BEGIN VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION ANALYSIS ON CHRYSLER'S 2008 , 2009, 2010 PT CRUISER. I SEARCHED THE RECALL AND DEFECT SECTIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND DID NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327001April 22, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OVER BLACK ICE, SLID AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10327058April 22, 2010
WHEELS
FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT AT 21,919 MILES 4/12/2008, REPLACED THEM, AND THEN THEY WORE OUT AGAIN AT 32,100 MILES (SAME WHEEL). CAUSES STEERING WOBBLES & COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326775April 21, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE FOG LAMP ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SOME TIME LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325721April 14, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNINTENTIONALLY SWITCH GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX. THERE WAS MODERATE REAR END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE VEHICLE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 7/16/10 *CN UPDATED 07/22/10*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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