Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2002)

511 consumer complaints on file.

#10334304June 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE FOG LIGHTS CONTINUED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
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
#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
#10325238April 12, 2010
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD ON MY PT CRUISER -2002 JUST STARTED CRACKING FIRST A THE WINDSHIELD LIKE A HAIR LINE CRACK - THEN DEFROST VENT INVOLVED - NOW IT HAS A HOLE IN THE VENT - AND NOW JUST THIS WEEKEND ANOTHER HAIRLINE CRACK STARTING AT THE AIR VENT AND GOING NOW TO THE CONSOLE. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY DASH? THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE AIR BAG JUST DOWN BELOW. NO WRECK INVOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324085April 6, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP IN EL SEGUNDO, CA FOR REPAIR ON 03/29/06 WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL SWITCH AND REPAIRED FOR $86.58. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THEN IN 2008 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I TOOK IT INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN W. LOS ANGELES, CA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN SO IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $340. NOW ON EASTER (04/04/10) ON MY WAY TO A BBQ TO MY PARENTS HOME, THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN ...AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSED ME TO PANIC BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHILE I WAS JUST GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS NOT TO FAR FROM MY PARENTS HOME WHERE MY BROTHER WHO WAS FORMALLY A MECHANIC HAD THE MIND TO PULL OUT THE FUSE TO THE FOG LIGHTS. THE FUSE WAS VERY HOT WHEN HE PULLED IT OUT AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. HE DID STATE THAT THE CAR COULD OF CAUGHT FIRE IF HE HAD NOT PULLED THE FUSE OUT IN TIME. I WAS LUCKY. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318748March 10, 2010
EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SOMETHING YOU MAY WISH TO LOOK AT WITH CELL PHONES AND THESE INCIDENTS WITH ACCELERATION ON CARS. WE HAVE A PT CRUISER AND SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE PLACED THE PHONE IN THE STORAGE AREA IN THE MIDDLE IN THE DASH. WITH THE KEEY OFF, THE PHONE RINGS AND THE CAR STARTED TURNING OVER UNTIL WE MOVED THE PHONE AWAY FROM THE IMMMEDIATE AREA OF THE DASH. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT?? [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#10292370November 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 02 PT CRUISER NOT STARTING FOR 7 YEARS AND WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED CHYRSLER AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING TO FIX AND PAY FOR PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WAS AND NOTICE CHRYSLER WAS PUTTING CHEAP PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE UPGRADED THE CABLES CONNECTING TO AND FROM THE BATTERY AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE. THE CABLES WERE UNDER VOLTED AND WEREN'T ABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND I GOT STRANDED SOMETIMES. CHRYSLER CALLED DEALER AND HAD THIS WORK DONE AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR OR THE OTHER CONNECTION I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. PLEASE LET YOUR SERVICE MANAGER KNOW THAT IT IS THE LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY CABLES TO THESE AREAS. HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING, HESITATION STARTING OR WOULDN'T START AT ALL HAPPEN AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES FOR 2 DAYS JUST AFTER BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292430November 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (THAT CONTROLS THE FOG LAMP) SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BE ON NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO. I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMP FUSE; CHRYSLER HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED OR MORE ON BACKORDER, I'VE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE I CAN GET A REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292042November 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE NOTICED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR REASON FOR THE NOISE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (04V268000) FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THAT RECALL; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, SHE SMELLED SMOKE, DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO "BELLOW" FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE HOSE, CALIPER, BRAKE PAD, ROTOR AND THE WHEEL COVER. SHE WAS CHARGED $406.60 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SAME DEALER TOLD THAT THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING. THEY CALIPER WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. SHE ASKED THE DEALER WHY THEY HAD NOT REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME ACCORDING TO WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A NEW ISSUE. SHE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND WAS BILLED $239 TO REPLACE THE CALIPER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RECENTLY, SHE SMELLED SMOKE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE CALIPER WAS WARPED BECAUSE OF INTENSE HEAT AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD SOOT IN IT AND THAT THE WARPED CALIPER WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL IN PLACE. SHE PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,181. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292047November 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO INTENSE HEAT IN THE WHEELS. THE BRAKE CALIPER ALSO LOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK AND MELT THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CORRECTED THE FAILURE IN APRIL OF 2006. A DIFFERENT DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPAIRED WHICH IS WHY THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291682November 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR HOUSING DEGRADES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE OVER TIME WHICH CAN CAUSE SHORTING, LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE OR A SMOKE/FIRE HAZARD. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FOG LAMPS WOULD TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE MAIN LIGHTS TURNING ON AND A FEW INSTANCES OF THE STEERING COLUMN BILLOWING SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER HAS 2000+ MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES ON BACK ORDER AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AFTER MANY OWNERS HAVE CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289723October 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHT SWITCH ON PT CRUISERS IS DEFECTIVE. OVER 500 PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT SUDDENLY THE FRONT & BACK FOG LIGHTS COME ON & DO NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE MOTOR & ALL OTHER SWITCHES ARE TURNED OFF. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEING TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN CONSTANT FORCING ME & OTHERS TO REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY DOES NOT DRAIN DOWN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. I AND OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288821October 18, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IN 2002 PT CRUISER HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE AND HAS BEGAN TO SEPARATE INTO PIECES. THIS INCLUDES THE CENTER DEFROST VENT. PER THE JUNE 18, 2007 MIAMI HERALD YOU HAD 9 COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS AND 12 FROM 2001 OWNERS. THIS WAS OVER 2 YEARS AGO. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS MANY MORE COMPLAINTS THAT PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS ( E.G. COVERKING) HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING DASH COVERS FOR THE PT CRUISER SPECIFICALLY TO COVER CRACKED DASHES; BUT I CANNOT USE ONE AS THESE COVERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE CENTER DEFROST VENT WHICH HAS BROKEN INTO PIECES AND FALLEN INTO THE VENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH COVER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ENOUGH CARS SURELY TO INITIATE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DASHES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287244October 13, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,200. UPDATED 10/27/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10286331October 5, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AN ATTACHMENT THAT WAS MAILED TO HER THAT INCLUDED INFO ABOUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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