Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2001)

618 consumer complaints on file.

#10536996August 23, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WAS DRIVING DAUGHTER TO WORK AND BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. HOWEVER, I ASSUMED IT WAS A PASSING VEHICLE (STREETS WERE VERY WELL LIT, AND I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED MY LIGHTS WERE OUT). THE NEXT MORNING MY WIFE WAS HEADING OUT TO PICK-UP OUR DAUGHTER FROM WORK, AND WAS FLASHED BY THE LOCAL POLICE FOR NOT HAVING LIGHTS ON. THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. WHEN I RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL IT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED. UPON INVESTIGATING THE INTERNET FOR A HARNESS I CAME UPON SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE SAME PROBLEM. (IF EVERYONE WERE TO UNITE AND POST THEIR COMPLAINTS HERE THERE WOULD BE MANY) THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO A SHORTING OUT OF THE WIRING CAUSED BY THE OEM FOG LIGHTS. THIS HOWEVER, DID NOT CAUSE EITHER THE DASH FUSE OR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE TO BLOW, WHICH IS A REAL CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535272August 14, 2013
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT BEFORE THE CAR WILL PASS INSPECTION. THE CAR WAS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE WHEN MY MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE ONLY RUSTED PART ON THE VEHICLE WAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER AND THAT IT WAS BORDERING ON UNSAFE. THIS CAR HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES AT 76K AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. THIS RUSTED PART COULD FAIL WITH NO INDICATION THAT DANGER WAS IMMINENT AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND ULTIMATELY A VEHICLE CRASH AT ANY SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521145June 21, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE MULTI SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING STOCK FOG LIGHTS TO SHORT, IN TURN, DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AND TURNED OFF. *TR UPDATED 08/20/13*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514526May 31, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOG LIGHTS MALFUNCTION VERY FREQUENTLY. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, VEHICLE'S BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED BECAUSE THE FOG LIGHTS ARE ON (WHICH ARE NEVER TURNED ON OR EVEN USED) AND WILL NOT GO OFF. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO GO OFF, THE LIGHTS CONTROL HAS TO BE JIGGLED JUST RIGHT TO GET THEM TO GO OFF SO WE KNOW THE BATTERY WON'T BE DRAINED AFTER A FEW HOURS. LATELY, IT HAS GOTTEN HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF AND FINALLY HAD TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM GO OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513102May 22, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THIRTY MINUTES AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK RETURN LINE. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED TWO CLAMPS AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V214000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486317November 28, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE TOP OF DASH HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PIECES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485037November 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT A 2001 PT CRUISER AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH BUT DID NOT HELP. HAD TO RE-WIRE THE LIGHTS TO MAKE THEM WORK. ALSO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAS SOMETHING LOOSE. POSSIBLY BUSHINGS?? I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LIGHTS. WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO GET A RECALL IN PLACE? WE GOT A TICKET FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482837November 1, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE BRAKE TUBE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V481000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478405October 3, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. VERY SCARY SITUATION,EVIDENTLY THIS IS COMMON WITH PT CRUISERS. WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474214September 7, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE WAS USED TO DRIVE TO LOCAL STORE AT NIGHT. FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON AT ANY TIME. I PARKED IN DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT AND CAME OUT AFTER SHOPPING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM PT CRUISER. OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ODOR BECAME MORE APPARENT. NOTICED SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. ALSO NOTICED FOG LAMP INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD WAS ON. HOWEVER, ALL LIGHTS AND SWITCHES WERE OFF. I HAD TO PULL OUT SEVERAL FUSES UNTIL I FOUND THE ONE RELATED TO THE FOG LAMPS. THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO QUICKLY POWER OFF THE FOG LAMPS AND STOP THE SMOLDERING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460076May 30, 2012
STRUCTURE
DASH BOARD HAS 2 SPLIT/CRACKS FROM WINDSHIELD TO RADIO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457944May 9, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WEB SITE TOPIX WILL CONFIRM THE INCREDIBLE # OF FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD FOG LAMPS TURN ON AFTER CAR IS SHUT DOWN CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN. 100'S HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT PART MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS CONTROLS FOG, HEAD, ACCESSORY, & DASH LIGHTING. TO PREVENT THE FOG LAMPS FROM COMING ON BY THEMSELVES, MOST HAVE REMOVED FUSE # 8 TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMPS FROM THE CIRCUIT. PEOPLE REPORT SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL LEVER, & THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING IS QUITE COMMON. I PERSONALLY HAVE REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES ON MY WIFE'S 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 50,000 TOTAL MILES & SHE BEING ORIGINAL OWNER. BY PARKING HER CAR MINUS FUSE # 8, NOT USING DOME LIGHTING, & ALWAYS PARKING WITH THE SIGNAL LEVER IN THE DOWN OR LEFT TURN POSITION HAS PREVENTED THE MYSTERY FOG LAMP ISSUE, & KEPT HER BATTERY FUNCTIONING. THIS "TEMP" SOLUTION HAS ALLOWED HER ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS OF DRIVING W/O THE PROBLEMS OTHER PT OWNERS STRUGGLE WITH. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL LOSE LIGHTING OR A FIRE WILL OCCUR INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, LOSS OF VEHICLE & POSSIBLY DEATH. CHRYSLER DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE, BUT WANTS MORE THAN $1,000.000 TO ANALYZE & REPAIR. THROUGH THE TOPIX P.T FORUM I WAS ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO DO THE WORK MYSELF FOR FAR LESS THAN $100. MANY ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF FOR HUNDREDS WHILE CHRYSLER KNOWS FULL WELL OF THE ISSUE. NO LESS THAN AN INVESTIGATION, PERHAPS STARTED WITH THE TOPIX FORUM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF FAILURES THAT STILL PLAGUE THE P.T. ON LATER MODELS SUCH AS 2001 THRU 06 OR 08. ALSO NEED 3RD. BRAKE JOB, & THE RIMS DO NOT SEAL CAUSING LOW TIRES THAT HURT MPG. DRIVING COMFORT, & SAFETY. DEALER & I HAVE TRIED MICHELIN TIRES HOPING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED GOODYEARS. I STILL HEAR EVERY 100 MILES OR SO THAT MY WIFE'S P.T NEEDS ADDITIONAL AIR PRESSURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456544April 26, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 245,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454648April 10, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE STARTING MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ABOUT 40 MPH. I STOPPED TO CHECK OIL WHICH WAS ABOUT 1/2 QUART DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. UNKNOWN TO ME BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. SOMEONE BEHIND ME ALERTED ME AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO THE PT CRUISER WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452262March 19, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) BUT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448157February 16, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ALSO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446131February 1, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR STALLS ON TURNS PARTICULARLY TO THE LEFT, UPON KEY INSERTION HARD CRANK OR STARTS AND IDLES ROUGHLY THEN SHUTS OFF WITH OUT WARNING. WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS THE RPMS MAY OR MAY NOT (REV,) AFTER SO MANY MINS OF DRIVING ACCELERATION BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AT INTERVALS & STALLING USUALLY WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS. OR GOING OVER BUMPS OR UP HILLS. THIS HAPPENS SOME WHAT SPORADICALLY SO I NEVER CAN TELL WHEN I'M SAFE TO GO. DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING U WANT TO THINK ABOUT W MIN COVERAGE EITHER WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444305January 17, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING ON A 2-LANE ROAD, LIGHT SNOW COMING DOWN GOING AROUND 45 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TOTAL DARKNESS! I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE ANOTHER 7 TO 10 MILES AND THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. AGAIN, I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME I KEPT THE DIMS ON. I HAD BEEN USING THE WIPERS TO CLEAR SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND ALSO MY BRIGHTS AND DIMS FOR ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I DROVE BACK HOME WITH ONLY MY DIMS ON.....LIGHTS WENT OUT 2 MORE TIMES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442440January 4, 2012
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ALL 4 MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BEGAN SEPARATING TREAD FROM SIDEWALL AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND 14000 MILES USE. PHOTO DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE. THE RETAILER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE REFUSED TO HONOR ANY WARRANTY, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIRES DUE TO SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434985November 9, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE DEALER, ADHESIVE TAPE WAS AFFIXED TO THE REAR BUMPER TO SECURE THE COVERING DURING DELIVERY AND THEN REMOVED. HOWEVER, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE TAPE RESIDUE CAUSED THE PAINT COLOR TO FADE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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