Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10312376February 20, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RECALL ON FUEL PUMP MODULE NEVER DISCLOSED BY DEALER! RECENTLY HAD SERVICE TO MY CAR AT A DODGE-CHRYSLER DEALER IN ATLANTA, GA AND THEY NEVER DISCLOSED THAT I HAD A RECALL PART ON MY CAR. MY FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDS A SECONDARY SEAL PLACED OVER IT SO IT WON'T LEAK IF A ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT OCCURS. TOOK CAR TO A SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER, AND THEY TOO NEVER DISCLOSED MY RECALL FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDS REPAIRS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THESE DEALERS NOT INFORMING UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS OF SOMETHING SO SERIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311275February 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP. IN SEPTEMBER 2007, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND AS A RESULT, THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES THAT LED TO THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE STALLING OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE AND THEREFORE COULD NOT REPAIR IT. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 365.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308663February 11, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1)MASSIVE OIL LEAK. FROM FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL BEING PUSHED OUT 2)CHRYSLER 2.4 HAVE (INNER COMPANY MEMO)STAR 3)REMOVE ENGINE MEASURE CRANKSHAFT ENDPLAY THEN REPLACE WITH SHORT BLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308189February 9, 2010
STEERING
MAY OF 2009, CAR WOULD NOT START. NO CLICKS, NOTHING. THEN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, TURNED OVER. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND CHRYSLER TOLD THEM TO LOOK AT A JUNK YARD. COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. STARTING TO HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ALMOST 1 YEAR LATER. LOW MILES, ONE OWNER. SCARED TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE CAR WON'T START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307455February 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING
FAULTS WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THE 2001 PT CRUISER CAUSES THE FOGLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. I REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND ALTHOUGH THE FOGLIGHTS NOW WORK PROPERLY, THERE IS NOW A FAULT IN THE DOME LIGHT FUNCTION, WHICH CAUSES THE DOME LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. I RESEARCHED THE COMPONENT ON-LINE AND RETRIEVED REPORTS OF HEADLIGHTS TURNING THEMSELVES OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. HEADLIGHTS, FOGLIGHTS, DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION, DOME LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS ARE ALL IN THE SAME COMPONENT. FOR FOGLIGHT DEFECT, MECHANIC REMOVED THE APPROPRIATE FUSE FROM THE FUSE PANEL AS A TEMPORARY FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307467February 8, 2010
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
THE CHECK TIRE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. UPON FILLING THE TIRE, THE AIR-HOSE POPPED OFF AND HIT ME. I FOUND THAT THE THREADED PORTION OF THE STEM WAS BROKEN OFF ALONG WITH THE VALVE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS "COMMON WEAR AND TEAR" AND THAT THEY DID NOT COVER THIS. I HAVE CHECKED WITH MULTIPLE TIRE SALES COMPANIES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HOW THE PROBLEM OCCURS. THE AIR HOSE HAS TO BE PLACED AND HELD TOTALLY STRAIGHT ON THE VALVE. THE STEMS ARE EXTREMELY FRAGILE AND OFTEN BREAK IF THE HOSE IS BENT OR PULLED. I SUFFER FROM PARKINSON'S AND BACK PROBLEMS AND CANNOT STAY BENT DOWN FOR VERY LONG SO I WAS USING A STATION THAT ALLOWS PRE-SET PRESSURE AND A CLAMPING DEVICE FOR THE STEM. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED WITH THE NEW SENSORS AND HAVE HAD NO WARNING ABOUT THE DANGER INVOLVED. I FEEL THAT THIS ITEM IS EITHER DEFECTIVE, CHEAPLY MADE, OR TOO FRAGILE TO BE USED ON THE TIRE. I ALSO COULD HAVE SUFFERED WORSE THAN A BRUISED LEG WHEN THE HOSE BROKE. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE THIS PART AND I CANNOT AFFORD IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10303859February 2, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE HATCH ON THE REAR TRUNK WAS REPLACED SEVEN TIMES WHICH CAUSED THE ALARM TO ACTIVATE AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE REAR DOOR INDICATED THAT THE DOOR WAS AJAR WHICH ALSO ACTIVATED THE ALARM. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0 AND THE CURRENTLY MILEAGE WAS 53300. UPDATED 3/17/10 *CN UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303235January 29, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2007 IN NOVEMBER 2007 THE IGNITION SWITCH FUSE STARTED TO PLOW OUT ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS. IT GOT WORSE IN AUGUST16, 2009 IT WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING SO WE TOOK IT TO LARRY MILLER DODGE TO HAVE IT CHECK AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT MELTED SOME WIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. HAD IT ALL REPLACED AND DROVE AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THERE MACHINE AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO I LEFT IT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO DO IT IN FRONT OF THEM AND IT DID STARTED BLOWING THE IGNITION FUSE RIGHT THERE I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND THE NEXT DAY THEY TOLD ME IT STOPPED DOING IT A DAY LATER IT DID IT AGAIN SO I CALLED THE MAIN OFFICE OF LARRY MILLER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT TO STAY BY THE PHONE AND THEY WOULD CALL ME ON WHAT TO DO I DID. 2 MONTHS LATER WENT BY AND I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THAT THE GUY THAT WAS HELPING ME GOT FIRED AND THAT THEY CLOSED THE CASE I HAVE BEEN CALLING THEM ABOUT EVERY DAY ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID IT IS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. AND NOW THE COOLING FAN IS NOT WORKING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH THIS CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I HAVE A LITTLE BOY WITH ME AND AM WORRIED SOMETHING IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302949January 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE REPLACED HER ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM IN AUGUST 2008; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. A SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER ALSO ADVISED HER THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,837 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,420.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302098January 24, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
MY 2004 PT CRUISER NEEDS THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THE BEARINGS ARE SHOT AND YOU HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE ASSEMBLY RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL BEARING. I'VE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OWNERS AND THEY TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS THERE A CHANCE OF A RECALL?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301900January 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BECOME CLOUDY WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS APPEAR TO BE CLOUDY DURING THE DAY SINCE THE SUN REFLECTS ON THE LENS AND THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE LIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47000. UPDATED 02/17/10 *BF UPDATED 02/17/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301895January 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER WHICH I BOUGHT IN NOV 2005. FIRST INCIDENT, REAR LEFT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT VERY RAPIDLY. LATEST "BIG" PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009, BROTHER NOTICED MY FOG LAMPS ON, NOT ONLY HAD I NOT TURNED THEM ON, I NEVER USED THEM BEFORE. THOUGHT IT WAS A RANDOM INCIDENT BUT BATTERY KEPT DYING. FINALLY DETERMINED IN JULY 2008 BY MECHANIC THAT THE SWITCH ARM WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP ARE BACK ORDERED AND TO "JUST UNPLUG THE LIGHTS" TO FIX. MECHANIC REPLACED, THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. THEN PANEL KEPT CLAIMING DOOR AJAR. NO DOOR WAS OPEN!!! MECHANIC REPLACED DOOR LATCH. THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. WENT OUT TO CAR ON 1/19/09, IT WAS GONE. CITY TOWED IT DUE TO COMPLAINT OF MY ALARM GOING OFF AND NOT SHUTTING OFF. COST ME $234 TO RECLAIM AND FIND ALARM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND BATTERY BEING DRAINED AGAIN!! INTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR SINCE JUNE 2009, (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, SWITCH ARM, DOOR LATCH, TOWING) HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT COST OF ALARM AND OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL REPAIRS TO COME. UNTIL READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, HAD NO IDEA THE SMELL OF BURNING I HAVE SMELT ON OCCASION MAY ACTUALLY BE COMING FROM MY OWN CAR. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, DON'T EVER BUY A CHRYSLER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300424January 20, 2010
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE FOG LAMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED THERE WAS A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE ALSO SMELLED BURNING RUBBER; HOWEVER, AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SEVERAL PT CRUISERS EXHIBITED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEIR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT HER TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. THEY ALSO ADVISED HER NOT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR TOWED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300331January 19, 2010
WHEELS
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FACTORY CHROME RIMS 17" CORRODING AND FLAKE OFF CAUSING THE AIR PRESSURE TO DROP OVERNIGHT. CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION RESULTING IN LOSE OF CONTROL AND UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300004January 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
PCM CHIP IN 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AS BEING THE PROBLEM. PCM CAUSES MYRIAD OF ELECTRICAL & TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH CHRYSLER WON'T ADMIT TO. WHEN ANY ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER ALARM INDICATOR GOES ON IN VEHICLE AND I BRING IT TO CHRYSLER-THEY SIMPLY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEN THE TROUBLES START. THE PCM CAUSES STALLING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT LOW SPEEDS--GOT REAR ENDED TWICE, VEHICLE NOT TURNING OVER/WON'T START, DRAINS BATTERIES (REPLACED IT 3 TIMES),(CAR WAS TOWED TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START) POWER STEERING MECHANISM LEAKS (REPLACED TWICE) CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON DASHBOARD, RADIO & CD PLAYER WONT WORK (CD IS STUCK IN PLAYER), CAUSES CAR LOCK/ALARM SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION (REPLACED TWICE) CAR LOCK/SYSTEM HAS LOCKED ME OUT OF MY CAR AND FOG LIGHTS/HEAD LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHICH THEN DRAINS BATTERY. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED THIS PCM CHIP 1.5 YRS AGO AND THE REPAIR TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF WHILE I WAITED WITHOUT A LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY ALLOWED ME TO HAVE ONE! WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHT/HEADLIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO TELL HIM IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND HE INDICATED THAT I NOT EVER RETURN TO HIS DEALERSHIP. NOW 1.5 YEARS LATER, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT'S THE PCM CHIP CAUSING THEM. I HAVE LOST MY JOB FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK WHILE THEY 'FIXED' MY CAR FOR A MONTH, LOST THOUSAND OF $$$ REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE, MY WARRANTY IS NOW EXPIRED, AM STILL FINANCING VEHICLE, BUT CAR WON'T START AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING, ETC. THE CAR ISN'T WORTH 3K AND THE REPAIRS ARE IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX ALL THE ISSUES. *TR CONSUMER WANTS AN UPDATE ON COMPLAINT. 1/27/10 *NJ UPDATED 02/01/10*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10299029January 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, NAMELY THE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH SEEMS TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS DEPLETES THE BATTERY, AND HAS LED A NUMBER OF PT CRUISER OWNERS TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH NUMEROUS TIMES OR REMOVE THE FUSES FOR LIGHTS, SUCH AS THE FOG LIGHTS. CHRYSLER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION ON SUCH EXPERIENCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB AT FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 OR AT PTCRUISER.COM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298288January 5, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
HAVING ISSUES WITH AIRBAG/SEATBELT LIGHT COMING ON & THE DINGING- PD. $98. 1ST TIME, TOOK BACK 2 MORE TIME, STILL NOT FIXED, SAID WARRANTY IS UP & DOES NOT COVER ELECTRICAL... THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM & SEEM NOT TO BE INTERESTED IN TRYING.. SUGGEST I PUT NEW SEATBELT IN AT MY EXPENSE OF $500. TO ME THIS IS A DRIVING HAZARD WHEN U HAVE THIS ALARM GOING OFF EVERY 20 SEC, IT CAN BE A DRIVING HAZARD.... 2007 PT CRUISER - CALLED CHRYSLER & THEY WILL NOT WORK WITH ME ON THIS, IS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN U BUY A NEW CAR & HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297523December 30, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH 59,000 FREEWAY MILES, AT 65 MPH VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. VEHICLE WOULD ONLY LURCH ALONG AT A SLOW SPEED AND UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL REQUIRED COSTING OVER $2,000 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297622December 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PT CRUISER, I WAS STOPPED AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT AND WITHIN A MINUTE THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297433December 29, 2009
WHEELS
OEM 17" CHROME WHEELS ON 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT CORRODE, FLAKE OFF, AND TIRES LOSE PRESSURE OVERNIGHT. LOW TIRE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL OR SKID. THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE TWICE A DAY. FORGETTING TO DO THIS, EVEN ONCE, CAN LEAD TO AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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