Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints
2,623 consumer complaints on file.
- #10170648October 12, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS MY CAR FOG LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON. WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND THEY WHERE ON AND IF THEY TURN ON WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMS TO AFFECT THE RADIO NOW WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR I PUT TURN SIGNAL ON AND IT SEEMS TO MAKE IT STOP. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170711October 12, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2003 PT CRUISER GT TURBO. WE REALLY LOVE IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. THE LIGHTING FLICKERS WHEN YOU START THE CAR. IT IS INTERMITTENT. AFTER RUNNING AWHILE IT DECREASES. USUALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR IT IS REALLY BAD. WE DIDN'T NOTICE A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE USED MORE OR LESS POWER IN THE CAR, LIKE TURNING ON THE RADIO AND A/C. THE POWER FLUCTUATION MAKES ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS THE PANEL LIGHTS AND RADIO. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170516October 11, 2006WHEELS:RIM
2001 PT CRUISER - CHROME IS PEELING FROM RIMS WHICH CAUSES AIR TO LEAK FROM TIRES. SECOND SET OF TIRES IS NOW INSTALLED BUT RIMS HAD TO BE RE-SEALED AFTER ABOUT 10K MILES. RIMS WERE RESEALED ONCE BEFORE. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED WITH NO RESOLUTION. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM ON THEIR PART. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170368October 10, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE OF THE POWER TRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENTS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL FOUR TIRES SLOWLY DEFLATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE WHEEL RIMS NEEDED THE CHROME PLATE GROUND AND OIL APPLIED. THIS WAS DONE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE RIMS ARE ALUMINUM CHROME PLATED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170383October 10, 2006STEERING:COLUMN
I BEGAN HEARING A POPPING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AT APPROXIMATELY 25000 MILES. AT 27000 MILES, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD RACK & PINION UNIT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. AT 30000 MILES, THE NOISE RETURNED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO RE-DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170414October 10, 2006POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING
WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES MY 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE BASE MODEL EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 100 MILES OF OPEN HIGHWAY AND WAS ENTERING A MORE URBAN SETTING WITH FREQUENT STOPS AND STARTS DUE TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS. AFTER ABOUT THE 5TH OR 6TH LIGHT MY GEAR SHIFT LEVER WOULD MOVE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. LUCKILY I HAD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH GA. IT TOOK 3 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH A MANUAL CLUTCH IS CLASSED AS A "CONSUMABLE" PART CHRYSLER AGREED TO SHARING HALF THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE PARTS DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE. I DROVE MY FIRST PT CRUISER ( AN EARLY PRODUCTION 2001 MODEL ) OVER 86,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM. I AM NOW 18,000 MILES INTO THE LIFE OF THE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH WITH NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169166September 25, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 56,414 MILES ON IT BEGAN LURCHING WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN ON INTERSTATE. PROBLEM STARTED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE LATER DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIDE STREET. COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. FINALLY GOT VEHICLE TO LIMP AROUND THE CORNER IN DRIVE, THEN VEHICLE DIED. NO TRANSMISSION FLUID FOUND IN RESERVOIR. FLUID NOTED ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE 30 MILES TO DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT REPAIR IT AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING, DUE TO LACK OF TRANSMISSION SERVICE TECHNICIAN. VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY REPAIRED AT AAMCO TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING ANOTHER 20 MILE TOW. VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $2222.73 BETWEEN CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND AAMCO TRANSMISSION - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH RAN OUT AT 36000 MILES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169154September 24, 2006STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN A REAR QUARTER WINDOW FELL OUT, BLOWING BACKWARDS AND STRIKING THE FOLLOWING CAR. THE WINDOW IN QUESTION WAS ONLY GLUED TO ITS FRAMEWORK, NO SCREWS OR CLIPS OF ANY SORT. A RECALL TO SECURE THE WINDOW PERMANENTLY, USING SOMETHING BESIDES GLUE, IS THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168987September 22, 2006POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AT ANY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V076000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168831September 21, 2006AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WAS BRAKING PRIOR TO THE IMPACT HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 3
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168913September 21, 2006POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. PURCHASED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE ENTIRE HUB ASSEMBLY AND EVEN A WHOLE NEW AXLE. HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE AXLE IS TOO SHORT AND IS COMING LOOSE RESULTING ON THE EXPEDITED WEAR ON THE BEARINGS CAUSING A NEED FOR A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169100September 21, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. A PASSERBY EXTINGUISHED THE SMALL FIRE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168736September 20, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES SQUEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168635September 19, 2006WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES LOST AIR WITHOUT INCIDENT. AIR NEEDED TO BE ADDED EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE WHEEL WAS FLAKING OFF AND WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE RIMS WERE FLAKING AROUND THE VALVE OUTLET. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168492September 18, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. THE VEHICLE OPERATED, BUT THERE WERE NO INSTRUMENT READINGS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01V288000 REGARDING AN ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT IN PANEL CLUSTER MICRO- PROCESSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168478September 17, 2006TIRES:SIDEWALL
ON THE INCIDENT DATE, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 78 MILES AN HOUR (IDAHO FREEWAY SPEED LIMIT IS 75). THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE TIRE TO COME COMPLETELY APART. IT WAS LITERALLY FILLED WITH ASH FROM THE RUBBER. THE TIRES ARE ON A 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE TOURING EDITION AND HAD ONLY 19000 MILES ON THEM. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH 36 OR MORE POUNDS OF AIR AND THE AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ALWAYS LOOKED LOW. I HAD JUST CHECKED THE AIR IN THEM TWO DAYS BEFORE. ABOUT 15 MILES PRIOR TO THE TIRE EXPLODING, THE CAR HAD A VERY DISTINCT PULL TO LEFT WHICH I ATTRIBUTED INITIALLY TO WIND LOAD FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR, APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT WIND. THESE TIRES ARE A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168324September 15, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS COME LOOSE CAUSING INJECTORS TO TAP. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168327September 15, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
O RINGS ON FUEL INJECTORS CAME OFF, CAUSING INJECTORS TO TAP. CHRYSLER WILL NOT TOUCH IT. THEY KEEP SAYING THE INJECTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAP! I WENT TO 4 CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS, AND 3 SAID IT`S NORMAL, AND ONE SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE TAP. I WENT TO 3 OTHER MECHANICS ( NON CHRYSLER) AND THEY ALL SAID IT`S NOT NORMAL, AND TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADMIT THERE`S ANYTHING WRONG, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE TO GET A DIFFERENT CAR! AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT, I WON`T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM! I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANY CHRYSLER PRODUCT TO ANYONE! *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168340September 15, 2006LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
I HAD MY OIL CHANGE DONE AT WESTBORN CHRYSLER AND THE HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED MY HOOD TO OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO MAKE THE PROPER REPAIRS TO A LOYAL CUSTOMER WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED MY DEATH. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168242September 14, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN IN THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE HORN MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0