Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints

2,623 consumer complaints on file.

#10264905April 10, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEADGASKETS ON THE ENGINE ARE LEAKING. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS BEING REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264776April 9, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD BEGAN CRUMBLING ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW) AND IS NOW IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND MAY BE NEAR COLLAPSING. I HAVE NOT CHECKED INTO REPLACEMENT YET. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND OTHER CHRYSLER-MADE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264781April 9, 2009
SUSPENSION
TWO PT CRUISERS, 02-03, BOTH NEEDING TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, WATTS LINKAGE, WHEEL BEARINGS AT AROUND OR LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. BASICALLY THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS UNHEARD OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264245April 6, 2009
WHEELS
TIRES , LEAK AIR PRESSURE@ 10 # PER DAY . BALANCING AND ROTATION IS DIFFICULT DUE TO CHROME PEELING OFF RIMS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PEELING IS INSIDE THE TIRE ALSO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BALANCE. I INSERTED (FIX AFLAT) TO HELP STOP THE LEAKING BUT THIS ADDED TO THE IMBALANCED CONDITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO RESPONSE WAS GIVEN FOR THIS CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263555March 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION AND RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BATTERY DEAD, I HAVE A NEWER BATTERY SO THIS BAFFLED ME UNTIL I REALIZED TODAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE MULTI SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS THAT CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVENTHOUGH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS MAY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE OTHERS UNTIL I FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING I HAVE PULLED THE FUSE FOR MY FOGLIGHTS.HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F6957. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THESE SWITCHES IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND GIVEN THE MASSIVE AMT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER CAR FORUMS HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NOONE ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263291March 27, 2009
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FIRST THE DASH TOP HEATER DEFOGGER GRILL BROKE UP AND COLLAPSED, NOW THERE IS A HUGE CRACK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE DASHBOARD TOP, AND OTHER CRACKS ARE DEVELOPING. I AM AFRAID THE DASHBOARD TOP WILL COLLAPSE IN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS AND COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262857March 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
A FEW WEEKS AGO MY CHECK OIL GAS LIGHT CAME ON, AND SO MY HUSBAND CHECKED MY OIL(MY CAR ONLY HAS 22000 MILES ON IT) AND WHEN HE CHECKED IT THERE WASN'T ANY OIL IN THE CAR, IT WAS VERY LOW. IT BARLEY READ ON THE DIP STICK. AFTER CHANGING MY OIL, MY CHECK OIL CAME ON AGAIN AFTER 500 MILES. AGAIN THERE WASN'T MUCH OIL. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THEY WOULD MARK MY OIL PAN AND PLUG AND LOOK AT MY CAR EVERY 1000 MILES TO DOCUMENT ON HOW MUCH OIL I AM USING. THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. I HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THIS OIL SITUATION. I DRIVE ABOUT 26 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK ON MAJOR INTERSTATE, AND I AM AFRAID TO GET STRANDED... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262643March 21, 2009
WHEELS
THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING OF OUR CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 24 MONTHS. THE CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND HAS ONLY 43K MILES. THE FIRST TIME AROUND BOTH BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE DRIVER SIDE BEARINGS ARE ROCKING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262652March 21, 2009
STRUCTURE
MY 2001 PT CRUISER'S DASH HAS FAILED, THERE IS A CRACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALMOST ALL THROUGH TO THE FRONT. I'VE READ IT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN IT FINISHES BREAKING, WHICH FROM APPEARANCES IT WILL SOON DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262513March 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNEXPLAINABLE COMPLETE BATTERY DRAIN BEGAN IN 08/2008. DISCOVERED IN 03/2009 THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHEN CAR WAS ON AS WELL AS WHEN OFF AND PARKED THUS, CAUSING THE BATTERY DRAIN. ONLY WAY TO KEEP FOG LIGHTS OFF WAS TO ENGAGE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OR REMOVE THE FUSE. TOOK TO DEALER 03/21/2009 AND FOUND THE ISSUE IS WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF $269. WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPLACEMENT AS I DO USE THE FOG LIGHTS. HAVE SEARCHED INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY CASES OF THIS EXACT PART DEFECT. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262360March 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING. YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHEN STOPPING TO PREVENT THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOTION AND BE CAREFUL WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE STALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2008 WITH ONLY 17,900 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW MARCH 2009 AND THE CAR HAS AROUND 29,000 MILES ON IT, WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT GETTING WORSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262026March 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 PT GT CRUISER IN JAN.2004 WITH 600 MILES ON IT. AT 36,000 MILES THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ( AT OUR EXPENSE) FOR THE FIRST TIME. DEALER ( PRESTON OF WARREN, OHIO ) SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES, AND 6 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THEY ARE AGAIN NEEDING REPLACED FOR THE NINTH TIME.I ALSO REPLACED TIERODS AND BUSHINGS ONCE, AND HUBS TWICE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF ONLINE POSTS FROM OTHER PT OWNERS WITH STRIKINGLY SIMILAR STORIES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261851March 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH: INITIALLY THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN APPROXIMATELY 11/2008. INITIALLY THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/PARKED. THIS REQUIRED THAT I REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGE BOARDS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING, BUT IT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE (ELECTRICAL) HAZARD. I FEEL I RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261417March 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT HAD ADDITIONAL FRICTION WHEN TURNING LIGHTS ON. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULD. FIRST UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SECOND INSTANCE THE SWITCH DID NOT HAVE ANY PRECURSOR INDICATION OF FAILURE, ALL LIGHTS FROM SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY. SECOND UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. PART ONLY LASTS ~18 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261459March 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOG LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH WITHOUT MY TURNING THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD DEAD BATTERY? IS THERE A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261489March 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE TO THE CHYRSLER FORUMS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALOT OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. SOME WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART. THANKS, DARLENE SMITH *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260916March 6, 2009
TRAILER HITCHES, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOT APPROVED, NYS INSPECTED TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED ON A 2006 CHRYSLER, PT CRUISE. IT REMAINED OPERABLE FOR AROUND 6 MONTHS UNTIL IT WAS NOTICED THAT REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. HITCH INSTALLER RETRACED INSTALLATION PER MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. IT APPEARS THAT ALL POWER TO OPERATE THE BRAKE LAMPS IS LOST ONLY TO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS BUT NOT THE MID OR THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED, FUSES ARE NOT BLOWN AND BULBS USUALLY CHECK OUT AS FINE. APPARENTLY, CHRYSLER HAS SEPARATED THE 3RD OR MID BRAKE LIGHT FROM THE TAIL LIGHT SECTION BEGINNING IN 2006. LATELY, I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ARISE CONTINUOUSLY OVER INTERNET BLOGS AND IN DEALERSHIP SERVICE LOGS. FOR NOW, CHRYSLER IS FORCING ITS CUSTOMERS TO EITHER REPLACE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESSES OR OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT STOP TAIL LAMPS. THIS FAULT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POSES SO MUCH DANGER IT SHOULD BE LISTED AND HANDLED AS A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260965March 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VACUUM LINE CAME OFF ENGINE CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THERE WAS NOT A CLAMP ON THE LINE AND YOU COULD ALMOST BLOW THE LINE OFF WITH YOUR MOUTH IT WAS SO LOOSE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260879March 5, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD AT 38,000 MILES. 2 WATER PUMPS WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. CAMSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. OIL PAN ON ENGINE STARTED LEAKING WHEN CAR HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260593March 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND CONTINUED TO BECOME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL OF THE ENGINE SOLENOIDS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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