2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MILES AN HOUR, THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER BROKE AS A RESULT OF SEVERE RUST. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO STEER TOWARDS THE DITCH CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THE RUST WAS CAUSED BY WATER DRAINING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER ONTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CROSS-MEMBER. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART FROM CHRYSLER BUT SO FAR THE OUTLOOK FOR DELIVERY HAS CHANGED FOUR TIMES AND IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED FOR 12/25/2013 (2.5 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE). NOT ONLY DOES CHRYSLER IGNORE THE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS COMMONLY REPORTED DESIGN FLAW, THEY ARE PROVING TO BE INCAPABLE AT PROVIDING REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS EVIDENT AS I AM ONE OF 28 CAR OWNERS WHO ARE WAITING FOR THIS PART FROM CHRYSLER, AND THERE IS HIGH DEMAND FOR THIS PART FROM JUNKYARDS. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING PROBLEMS TWICE, WHERE THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SAME HOSE, AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT, DUE TO A RECALL HE DISCOVERED, WHICH WAS THE SAME ISSUE HE EXPERIENCED. *JB

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET. WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNING, I HEARD A CLUNK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED FROM MY HANDS. THE CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE SERVICE TECH SHOWED ME THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE K FRAME WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THRU. IT'S TO RUSTED TO BE WELDED AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISER AND DODGE NEON, SINCE THEY USE THE SAME FRAME. THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T MOVING AT HIGH SPEED OR THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, THEY ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND THEY BASICALLY IGNORE ANY COMPLAINTS. *JB

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT MY CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. I HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT WHILE I STOPPED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE AND UPON INSPECTION THEY FOUND THE CROSSMEMBERS UNDER THE ENGINE WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND BROKEN. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD IT ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A GARAGE.

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

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

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

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.

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

THE TOP OF DASH HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PIECES. *TR

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.

CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. VERY SCARY SITUATION,EVIDENTLY THIS IS COMMON WITH PT CRUISERS. WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS? *TR

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

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

DASH BOARD HAS 2 SPLIT/CRACKS FROM WINDSHIELD TO RADIO. *TR

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.

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

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

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

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS PT CRUISER, PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2000. MY MULTI-SWITCH WILL NOT TURN ON MY FOG LIGHTS AND THE INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE ARTICLES FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY WON'T CHRYSLER FIX THIS ON GOING PROBLEM? *TT

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.

FRONT SUSPENSION................AFTER FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECK .....BOTH SIDE OF NEW TIRES WORE OUT...LEFT AND RIGHT....A CHECK LATER BUSHINGS WORE OUT AFTER 4,000 MILES...................REPLACE BUSHINGS AND ALIGNMENT RECHECK. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH COOPER DOMINATOR ALL SEASON 55 TIRES, LINE SIZE (P205/55/R16). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AS THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED, CAUSING THE WIRES TO PROTRUDE FROM THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. UPDATED 08/29/11

MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH IN PT CRUISER IS POORLY DESIGNED, RESULTING IN UNRELIABLE EXTERIOR LIGHT OPERATION. EITHER CAN TURN ON FOG LIGHTS, OR LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN CAR IS OFF AND SWITCH IS OFF AND DRAINS BATTERY. MINE HAS OCCURRED 5X. INTERNET SEARCH FINDS THIS TO BE COMMON TO PT'S, WITH OTHERS REPORTING ELECTRICAL SHORT, SMOKE, AND TOTAL MELTDOWN OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *TR

OVER HEATS DONE EVRYTHING TO THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND STILL OVER HEATING ISSUES, BEEN IN THE SHOP OR UNDRIVABLE MORE THAN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. THIS IS A BAD IMAGE FOR CHRYSLER, AS I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, WITH NO RESULTS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED ALMOST EVERYTHING TO BE CHANGED IN THESE MOTORS, CARS ARE JUNK NOW IM STUCK WITH A LEMON I OWE ON. GRRRRR. *TT

I WAS NOT INITIALLY GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT UNTIL I SEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASH CRACKED INTO MANY PIECES. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT MY WIFE HAD DONE SOMETHING TO CRACK THE DASH, AND SHE THOUGHT THAT I HAD. THE PART REMAINED BASICALLY INTACT UNTIL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH FOR OTHER REPAIRS. AT THAT TIME WE HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DASH BECAUSE IT FELL COMPLETELY APART AND COULD NOT BE RE-ASSEMBLED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS EXACTLY A HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERN, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, NOR AN INCIDENT. *TR

PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,591 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS CONSUMED MORE OIL THAT NORMAL. TOOK A 200 MILE ROAD TRIP, UPON RETURN THERE WAS A RATTLING AT THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. TENSIONER PULLEY WAS BAD. TAKEN TO MECHANIC SHOP WITH 93,643 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. WHILE DISASSEMBLING THE CAR TWO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, BUSTED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, A BAD WATER PUMP, BUSTED RADIATOR SEAL, AND A BAD TENSIONER PULLEY WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED OR SHOWED SIGNS OF ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT BACK TOGETHER IT IDLES HIGH, CUTS OFF, AND OVERHEATS. TIMING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED, IT IS IN TIME. CAR RUNS WELL AT HIGHER SPEEDS BUT CANNOT STAY ON AT LOWER RPMS. I AM NOW REPLACING THE FAN, PCV VALVE AND PIPING, AND POSSIBLY GOING TO PERFORM A COOLANT FLUSH. I HAVEN'T PASSED 100,000 MILES AND I'M ALREADY HAVING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. *TR

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

K-FRAME ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS CAR IS GARAGED 90 % AT HOME AND AT WORK. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND BODY IS RUST FREE. REPORTED TO CHRYSLER 1 YEAR AGO. NO RESPONSE.

I HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER. I NOTICED IN YOUR NHTSA ID #10010478 YOU STATE THAT THE FRONT HUB/HALF SHAFT CLICK/POP SOUND. MY CAR STARTING MAKING SUCH A SOUND IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ALL OF THE WHEEL STUDS WHERE SHEARED OFF AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE ALL FIVE STUDS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED THAT CAN BE INSPECTED. I ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE LUG NUTS WITH PART OF THE STUD. THE STUDS WHERE SHEARED OFF EVEN WITH THE FACE OF THE ROTOR. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY WHEELS ON MY 01 PT CRUISER ARE CAUSING MY TIRES TO GO FLAT EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS. THE WHEELS ARE ALLOY WHEELS THAT ARE PEELING AND CORRODED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID UNLESS THEY HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE THAT THEY WILL CORRODE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FROM RUNNING YOUR TIRES TOO LOW FROM AIR LOSE DUE TO THE WHEELS. I HAVE READ OVER HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT. WHAT CAN BE DONE? *TR

HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS OCCURRED LAST OCT. 2009. I REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THEN LAST WEEK OCT.3, 2010 SAME THING OCCURRED. ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE STOPPING WITHOUT HEADLAMPS. I CANNOT SEE WHY CHRYSLER WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY SWITCH. I WILL NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL CHRYSLER COMES UP WITH A FIX FOR ITS POOR SWITCH DESIGN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AT MILEAGE 86,795 AND THEN AT MILEAGE 103,000. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL DID NOT FEEL SECURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SWAY BAR LINK FOR $1200. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

2001 PT CRUISER FLOODLIGHTS STAY ON AFTER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WILL ONLY GO OFF IF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. THIS SITE HAS OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 AFTER READING THIS SITE, I REALIZED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING(LOOKS LIKE IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES FOR IT TO START) I ORDERED MY CAR IN 2000 AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN OUR TOWN TO GET ONE. IT HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I CERTAINLY CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT BY MYSELF AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I WILL BE SAFE IN IT. *TR

I OWN A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2006. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING BAD. IN 4 YEARS I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES. TODAY I WAS ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING AND IT JUST STALLED IN TRAFFIC! IT JUST DIED, LIKE IT RAN OUT OF GAS. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD! I CALLED A TOW TRUCK IT'S IN THE SHOP TONIGHT. MECHANIC THINKS IT'S THE PCM/ POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, COST AROUND $1000.00!! *TR

FRONT CRADLE FOUND TO BE ROTTEN ON A CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

MY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF LEAVING ME NO CONTROL TO STOP, TURN, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME..... @ 55MPH TO NOTHING IS ASKING TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND. OR IF TURNING ACROSS A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, TO BE LEFT STUCK WITH 2 LANES OF SEMI COMING FOR ME AND MY KIDS. NOW IT SOMETIMES WONT EVEN DO ANYTHING WHEN I CRANK OVER THE IGNITION (LIKE THERE IS NO BATTERY) OR IF IT CRANKS AND STARTS IT WILL SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY. IT WANTS TO IDLE DOWN AT STOPS AND STALL. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I LIKE N SPENT MORE MONEY TO HAVE TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. I READ OF SO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WHO END UP JUNKING THESE CUZ THEY JUST STOP STARTING....SAD, WE NEED OUR CARS TO RUN. CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY R RIDDLED WITH SERIOUS ISSUES INCLUDING THE LIGHTS AND TRANSMISSIONS.....THESE ARE A BAD COMBINATION ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK @ SOME STATS! THANKS. *TR

IN ONE MONTH'S TIME, I HAVE HAD 5 FLAT TIRES. AFTER THE SECOND FLAT, I WENT TO A TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE TREAD WAS LOW BUT THE TIRES WERE NOT BALD. I DECIDED TO HAVE ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED. IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS, I HAVE HAD TO CALL AAA FOR 3 FLAT TIRES. AFTER THE FIRST CALL, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER. HE SHOWED ME THE WHEELS THAT ARE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THEY SAID THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 10 YEARS BUT NOTHING IS EVER DONE. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND NEW WHEELS BUT IN THE WEEK SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN, I HAVE HAD ANOTHER FLAT. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT LUCKILY HAD GOTTEN A RIDE WITH SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN ARE THESE DEFECTIVE WHEELS GOING TO BE RECALLED. THEY ARE CREATING POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING INSTANCES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ID NUMBER: 02V214000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE RECALL NOTICE WHICH WAS ADDRESSED TO HIM THAT HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE HIS REQUEST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WHICH HAS THE 5 SPOKE WHEELS ON IT AND ALL HAVE THE CHROME COMING OFF AND THE TIRES KEEP GOING FLAT. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN GOODYEAR SHOWED ME THE WHEEL WHEN THEY HAD IT OFF THE CAR AND THE TIRE OFF. IT WAS CRACKED AND THE CHROME IS COMING OFF INSIDE AND ON THE OUTSIDE. MY TIRES GOING FLAT IS BEING CAUSED BY THE WHEELS. NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THOSE TOO. *TR

MICHELIN HYDROEDGE P205/55R16 INSTALLED PERHAPS 3--5 YEARS AGO WENT FLAT DURING A ~20 MILE DRIVE, BUT MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNDERINFLATED (COLD WEATHER) BEFOREHAND. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND AN OPERATING TIRE PUMP FOR ~10 MILES. WHEN I APPLIED AIR THE TIRE WOULDN'T HOLD PRESSURE. REPLACING IT WITH THE SPARE ENABLED ME TO SEE THAT ON THE INSIDE THE TREAD HAD SPLIT OVER A LARGE CIRCUMFERENCE. *TR

THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING FROM THE CENTER DEFROST VENT TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE AREA. THE CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES IN LENGTH. THE CRACK CONTINUES TO GROW DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, ROAD VIBRATIONS CAUSE THE CRACKS TO OPEN AND WIDEN. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CRACKS COULD CAUSE THE DASH TO CAVE IN WHICH COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE AIR BAG OR WIRING, WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S ASSISTANCE HOTLINE AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

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

THE CHROME RIMS LEAK AIR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LEECHING (PEELING) SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 YEARS (I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES) AND HAVE AVERAGED 8700 MILES PER YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE RIMS SEALED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BUT THE SEALS ONLY LAST FOR SHORT PERIODS DUE TO THE CONSTANT PEELING. CURRENTLY, I HAVE TO FILL THE TIRES WITH AT LEAST 20 POUNDS OF AIR EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT THEY WILL FAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

2001 PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS,FROM A NEW RADIATOR,NEW HOSES,FANS, BELTS,FLUSHES,ETC. AND IT STILL OVERHEATS. PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARNED OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT THESE CARS,THEY OVERHEAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE HAD REPAIRED ON THEM. I HATE THEM THEY NEED TO BE BANNED FROM BEING PURCHASED ANYWHERE WHERE CARS ARE SOLD!!!!!!! *LN

ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE REASON WHY TIRES ARE LOSING AIR SO FREQUENTLY IS BECAUSE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE RIMS. I HAVE NOW PUT 2 SETS OF 4 BRAND NEW TIRES ON THIS CAR W/IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE TIRES ARE STILL LOSING AIR SO MUCH SO THAT I MUST STOP AT LEAST 2X/WEEK TO PUT AIR IN THEM. I WAS JUST READING THE COMPLAINTS AND CAME ACROSS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENT. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AS A RECALL SINCE IT'S NOT JUST MY CAR ALONE. *TR

IN 2004 CHRYSLER RECALLED PT CRUISERS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FOR A FAULT WITH THE POWER STEERING HOSE WHICH CAUSED FIRES IN A FEW CARS. THEY DID NOT HOWEVER COVER 2001 PT CRUISERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TR LAST WEEK (8-20-09) MY WIFE DROVE TO THE POST OFFICE (2 MILES FROM HOME) AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, SHE DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY BACK HOME. I EXAMINED THE CAR THAT NIGHT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DRIVE BELTS, TIRES, AND THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY LEAKS. I TOOK IT FOR A QUICK TEST DRIVE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. THE FOLLOWING DAY (8-21-09) MY WIFE AGAIN DROVE THE CAR TO THE POST OFFICE, THIS TIME IT STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. SHE DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME AGAIN. THERE STILL DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY LEAKS BUT WHEN I TEST DROVE IT I COULD TELL THE POWER STEERING WAS NON FUNCTIONAL. I OPENED THE FILL CAP FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO CHECK ITS LEVEL AND THE REMAINING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM DRAINED ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE THAT WAS BEING BURNT OFF ON THE ENGINE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ONLY USING THE CAR FOR LOCAL TRIPS AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS IF THE HOSE HAD LET GO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. RECALL 04V268000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04028, SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE PT CRUISERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AS WELL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

THE TURN SIGNAL/HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH ON MY 01 PT CRUISER HAS FAILED IN THAT MY RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL TO THE FRONT DOES NOT COME ON. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS AND BEEN TOLD BY CHRYSLER PERSONNEL THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE IS TURN SIGNAL/HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS PART IS IN BACKORDER TO THE TUNE OF APPROX 4600 PARTS AND AN AFTER MARKET COMPANY THAT I CONTACTED SAID THEY ARE ALSO IN APPROX 30DAYS BACKORDER STATUS TRYING TO FILL THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENTS. IN CHECKING WITH ON-LINE FORUMS I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR SWITCH INVOLVE HEADLIGHT FAILURE TO OPERATE AND LIGHTS (FOG LIGHTS) COMING ON WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT FAILURE AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO SOMEONE'S ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SWITCH FAILING "UN-ANNOUNCED" AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY NOT ONLY TO THE OPERATOR OF THE PT CRUISER BUT TO OTHER VEHICLE OPERATORS AS WELL. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAD A HOLE IN FUEL LINE. *NJ THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME, WHEN SHE SMELLED GAS. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FUEL COMING FROM THE FUEL LINE THAT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE AIR CONDITIONER PIPE AND FITTING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 2002. THE CONSUMER STATED EITHER THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE OR THE RECALL FIX DID NOT WORK AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW FUEL LINE THAT WAS INSTALLED. *JB

SEAT BELT TENSIONER JAMS IN MIDDLE REAR SEAT OF 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I PREVIOUSLY PAID TO REPAIR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN 2004 AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THE ONLY SOLUTION SEEMS FOR ME TO PAY TO FIX IT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT PROBLEM. I MEAN, SEAT BELTS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BREAK - YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2004 AND AGAIN IN AUGUST 2009. *TR