2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaint Log

THE DASHBOARD OF MY CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STARTED TO CRACK SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, CHRYSLER DENIED RESPONSIBILITY, WHAT TO DO, I STILL OWN THE CAR AND ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME PLATED WHEELS CORRODED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. THE SEAL BROKE AND CAUSED THE AIR TO LEAK OUT INSTANTLY. THE WHEELS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND THE RIMS HAVE BEEN RESEALED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THESE CHROME PLATED WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT. SHE THEN DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE FOR AN INSPECTION. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. *AK (11/23/05) *SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE FLATTENED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHANGED THE TIRE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CORRODING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MONTHS BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SEAL WAS PROBABLY LOOSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB

MY FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND COULD TURN ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. MY CAR BATTERY DRAINED A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I HAD TO OBTAIN A JUMP TO START MY CAR. CALLED CAR DEALER, AND THEY PULLED THE FUSE TO THE FOG LIGHTS AND SAID THERE IS A SHORT IN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED CHRYSLER, AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I SEE THERE IS A PRIOR COMPLAINT DATED AUGUST 2, 2005 FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THREE OTHER PT CRUISERS AND MY CAR DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ON SEVERAL PT CRUISERS. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON SOME ONLINE FORUMS. I WILL KEEP MY SERVICE RECORDS IN CASE OF RECALL PER CHRYSLER. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER WITH CHROME RIMS AND LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. THESE CAME ON THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE RIMS ARE PEELING WHICH IS LEADING TO AIR BEING LOST IN THE TIRES. MY TIRE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE RIMS AND MANY CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE RIMS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. CHRYSLER KNOWS THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT IS A HAZARD. IT IS UNREASONABLE OF CHRYSLER TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO REPLACE RIMS ON A CAR THAT WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *JB

(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; (2) CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS; TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. HE NOTICED THIS ON 9-5-05 AS HE WAS BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON .HE HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER YET. THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FILED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE CONTACT INDICATED VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. THERE WAS RECALL 04V480000 ON CERTAIN 1998 DODGE VEHICLES PERTAINING TO THE CLOCKSPRING THAT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT MAY RELATE TO HIS PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE PART OR LABOR. *NM

DEALERSHIP FOUND CAUSE OF NOISE IN STEERING. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS BEING BROKEN (NOT WORN). FURTHER FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT ALREADY AT 29000 MILES, ON 2001 PT CRUISER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK AND APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE (ADMITTED BY DEALER), YET IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL NOTICE AND FREE REPAIR.

DT: 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER STATES HER 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED INTO THE STREET. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER LIVED ON A HILL, AND WHILE IT WAS ROLLING , THE CHILD PUT IT BACK IN PARK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. THERE WERE NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE I A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, CASE #05-029614, DEPUTY BOELTZ WITH YAZAPI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.*AK

ON SATURDAY AUG 13, 2005 MY WIFE AND I HAD A FLAT ON OUR 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE RIGHT FRONT. ON MONDAY AUG 15, 2005 I TOOK THE TIRE AND HAD IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CHROME ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WAS PEELING AND THE TIRE WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE RIM. ON TUESDAY AUG 16TH I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY CONFIRMED WHAT THE TIRE DEALER SAID. I TALKED WITH THE GARAGE ADVISOR AND HE STATED THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO BUY NEW RIMS. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER HOT LINE NUMBER 1-800-992-1997 AND SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS CRYSTAL AND CAROL AND FINALLY CAROL SAID THAT THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THE RIMS ARE STARTING TO PEEL ON THE EARLY ADDITIONS OF THE MAKE OF CAR AND THAT IT HAS TAKEN 5 YEARS OR SO FOR THIS TO BE NOTICED. MY FLAT TIRE CAME ON I-465 IN INDIANAPOLIS AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE CAR IN INDIANAPOLIS, WHAT ABOUT THE NATION. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A RIM THAT DOESN'T LAST FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS AND ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT UNTIL IT HAPPENS. I ASKED CAROL, AT CHRYSLER, ON WHAT IT TOOK TO START A RECALL OR HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO IT AND ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT SHE WOULD PUT IT ON FILE. MIKE, AT MY DEALERS, SAID THAT ALL MY RIMS WERE STARTING TO DO THIS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE RIMS. MY CAR HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT. MOST OF THESE TYPE OF CARS ARE OWNED BY OLDER PEOPLE AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLED A BLOW OUT. *JB

DT: CONSUMER OWNED THREE 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. EACH OF THE VEHICLES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH , WHICH WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WHEN ONE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FOG LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE SECOND AND THIRD CRUISERS FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, CONSUME R REMOVED THE FUSE. THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PT CRUISERS HEADLIGHT SWITCH, WHICH WOULD RUN DOWN THE BATTERY. THE SWITCH SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THERE SHOULD A BE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, AND A FULL RECALL/REPLACEMENT AFTER THE SWITCH WAS REDESIGNED. IN ORDER TO HAVE TWO PT CRUISERS PASS VA STATE INSPECTION CONSUMER REMOVED FOG LIGHTS BULBS, SOCKET AND WIRING. *AK

AUGUST 2005 MY SELF AND MY FAMILY WERE TAKING A SHORT TRIP OUT OF TOWN ABOUT 200 MILES. AT THE HALF WAY POINT WE PULLED IN TO A GAS STATION FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS I WAITED IN THE CAR WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN UP THROUGH THE FLASHER BUTTON. WE REALIZED IT WAS THE WIRING FROM MY FOG LAMPS ONLY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT NO LONGER WORK. THE LAMPS WERE NOT IN USE AT THE TIME. NOT REALLY SURE WHY THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE. *JB

DT: THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH LEVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, ONE COULD JIGGLE THE LEVER AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THE LAST TIME THE LIGHTS WENT OFF ON A ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS, AND CONSUMER PULLED UP ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS SO SHE WOULD NOT GET HIT. THIS WAS ON A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A SHORT IN A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND BROKEN THREE TIMES.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM

1) OUR FOG LIGHTS HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. 2) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL STREET COMING HOME WHEN SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. SHE HAPPENED TO BE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (IT'S ON THE WAY HOME FROM HER WORK) AND PULLED IN THEIR PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING A SHORTED FOG LIGHT SWITCH. INSTEAD OF A FUSE BLOWING THE WIRE HARNESS ACTED AS A FUSIBLE LINK AND BEGAN MELTING DOWN. WE ARE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A $2500.00 WIRE HARNESS. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER WHY A FUSE HAD NOT BLOWN AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A FORTY (40) AMP FUSE. BEING AN ELECTRICIAN I KNOW THAT A FORTY AMP FUSE OR BREAKER PROTECTS AN ELECTRIC RANGE OVEN AND IS ON 8 AWG WIRE. TO REPAIR THE FAULT, WE HAVE TO BUY THE HARNESS WHICH CHRYSLER WILL CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR THAT MELTED DOWN AND WILL SPLICE ON THE NEW ONE. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN PASS THROUGH THIS HARNESS WHICH MELTED DOWN AND THE WIRES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT PROTECTED BY FUSES. IF THEY WERE A FUSE SHOULD BLOW WITH A SHORT. OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD 4 WARRANTIES AND 3 RECALLS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUSIER THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN I USE.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BUMPER OF MY CAR AND ALSO THE DOOR PILLARS. FIRST OFF, ALL OF THE OLDER PTS THAT I HAVE SEEN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. THE BUMPER HAS SOME SORT OF DISCOLORATION PROBLEM ON THE EDGES OF THE BUMPER. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME TAPE (FROM THE FACTORY?) THAT HAS DISCOLORED THE BUMPERS ON THESE VEHICLES. ALSO, THE DOOR PILLAR THAT ARE FACTORY BLACK GET THIS TERRIBLE STAINING. IT LOOKS AS IF THEY ARE WATER SPOTTED, BUT IT IS JUST A DEFECT IN THE PAINT ON THE PILLARS. I SEE IT ON EVERY CRUISER I SEE. I HAS TO BUY CHROME COVERS TO MAKE MY CAR LOOK PRESENTABLE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE EYESORES (AND NOT ON MY DIME, LIKE I DID). *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS 2001 PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. IT WAS IMPACTED ON THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS BROAD SIDED. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL/SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE NOT BE INTERESTED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT THERE WERE CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE, BUT NO INSURANCE REPORT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 42000 MILES

(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. (2) ELECTRIC LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES. NEXT MORNING CAME OUT AND CAR HAD UNLOCKED ITSELF. CANNOT TRUST THE CAR TO REMAIN LOCKED. (3) HAD AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. WAS ABLE TO TRACE THE PROBLEM TO A $100.00 PART THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT GIVE TO INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANICS. WENT TO CHRYSLER DEALER, SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PART. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATES 2001 PT CRUISER ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND THEN THE YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY FIXED THE POWER STEERING, WHICH WAS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 04V268000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LIGHT WOULD STILL BE ON AND THE PROBLEM WOULD STILL OCCUR. TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENED CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK DONE. THIS STARTED DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, ON JULY 5, 2005. IT DID NOT MATTER WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS GOING.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO A QUICK TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE THE TO DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN AND WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. IN ADDITION THE CONTROL ARM HAD LOST A BUSHING WHICH CREATED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AS WELL AS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING. DEALER NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DENIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER AND THAT ALL CARS HAVE GREASE FITTINGS CALLED "ZIRKS" SINCE REPAIRS NO PROBLEMS AS OF YET. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 32,191 MILES. CHRYSLER DID SAY THEY WOULD REIMBURSE $150 FOR THE TIE RODS ENDS BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB

2001 PT CRUISER DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE IT STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*MR THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF RECALL RELATED ISSUE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER WANTED MORE MONEY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I OWN A 2001 PT CRUISER. STARTING IN 2003 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF AIR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. I JUST RETURNED FROM THE GARAGE WHERE I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED. THE MECHANICS SHOWED ME THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WHICH HAS OXIDIZED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE BEAD WITH "GOOP," BUT ADVISE THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WHEEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THEY STATE FURTHER THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON JEEPS AND OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AS WELL.

I WAS TRAVELLING EAST ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES AT ABOUT 5:10PM ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2005. I WAS IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL NOISE PRECEDING THE DISENGAGEMENT EXCEPT THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, OF COURSE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE APPROACHING THE BELLFLOWER OFFRAMP. THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP NEAR THE END OF THE OFFRAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DONAVEE CHRYSLER IN PLACENTIA, CA. WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR ON MAY 27, 2001 AND IT ONLY HAS 37,230 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $850 JUST TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN BEGIN TO DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG - PARTS AND REPAIRS WILL BE EXTRA.

MY 2001 PT CRUISER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAK IN THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN ONLY BE OBSERVED BY CHECKING THE BOOT WHICH HOLDS THE STEERING FLUID. THIS VEHICLE HAS 41,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. IT IS GARAGE HOUSED AND I DO NOT FEEL THIS PROBELM SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE MILES AND THE USE IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE PT CRUISER HAS HAD THIS COMPLAINT LODGED A NUMBER OF TIMES SO I FEEL IT MAY BE A DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER CORP.

DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON , NOT DUE TO AN ACCIDENT . *AK

I HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER AND THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING LIKE A POTATO CHIP. *TR

WHEELS ON CAR ARE SPLITTING. PHYSICALLY SEPARATING. TIRES CONSISTENTLY LOSE AIR. PEOPLE AT DEALERSHIP HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED ON OTHER CARS. SERVICE MGR STATED THAT " HE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON WHEELS. THE CONDITION HAS CAUSED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR AND FLATS. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING WHEELS ACTUALLY SEPARATING TOTALLY WHILE ON ROAD AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER AND DEALER BOTH SAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. *JB

BELL CRANK CONNECTING WATTS LINKS. BUSHING WEARS OUT BEFORE 40K MILES CREATING LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AT REAR SUSPENSION. AND THIS SUSPENSION IS HIGHLIGHTED ON CHRYSLER WEB SITE AS A FEATURE, NOT A FAILURE. REPAIR IS $315.05, PART AVAILABLE. SHOULD AT LEAST BE UNDER WARRANTY. MANY FAILURES NOTED ON OWNER FORUMS. ALSO OWN SECOND PT AT 30K MILES AND IT IS SHOWING (HEARING) SYMPTOMS.

DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLAPSED AND WERE NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO GO THROUGH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE TREMDOUSLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES, HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO QUIT SHAKING. HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED AT BRAKE SHOP. THEY SAW S THIS MANY TIMES WITH THE PT CRUISER. HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON. IF CONSUMER WOULD STAND BESIDE THE BRAKES SHE COULD FEEL THE HEAT COMING OUT OF THEM. THIS WAS ONGOING A COUPLE YEARS, AND MOSTLY RECENTLY HAPPENED ON MAY 30,2005.*AK

IN OCTOBER, 2004 THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE FOGS LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. THEN THE FOG LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. MAY, 2005, THE FOGS LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES, EVEN THOUGH NO LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. I HAD THE LIGHT STALK REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

SEVERE CLUNKING NOISED UNDER THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 PT CRUISER AT 60K MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM (BUSHINGS) HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY, I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THE OUT OF POCKET COST WAS $100 DEDUCTIBLE AND $70 FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WHY SHOULD CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAIL SO EARLY? I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SINCE I FOUND MANY PT OWNERS ON THE WEB EXPERIENCING SIMILIAR SUSPENSION FAILURES, DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER ALL THE COST.

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V268000 CONCERNING THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSES, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT THIS AFFECTED THE BRAKE FLUID LINES AS WELL. SHE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HER OWN EXPENSE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER. *AK

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE WALLS OF THE WHEEL ARE LOSING THE ALUMINUM. THIS IS CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOOSE THE SEAL AND GO FLAT. THE AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER.*AK

MY 2001CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DASH CRACKED IN HALF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT CAUSED MANY ELECTRICAL ERRORS IN THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS. I AM JUST THANKFUL I WAS NOT IN A MORE SERIOUS SITUATION WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAVE HEARD IT IS COMMON AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, ORIGINAL OWNER, 36,633 MILES. DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL APRIL 28, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION FROZE UP. WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SHOULDER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - VEHICLE WAS ONE YEAR AND 633 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR COSTS - $575. CHRYSLER CORPORATION REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE. DRIVING ON HWY 280 EAST IN BIRMINGHAM, AL ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 WHEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. MILEAGE AT THIS OCCURRANCE 40,827. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT - AGAIN. PART WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BUT HAD TO PAY LABOR CHARGES PLUS COST OF RENTAL VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK. TOTAL COST THIS ROUND - $500 INCLUDING RENTAL CAR.

STEERING FLUID LEAKED IN MY CAR FOR ITS LIFE--NO DEALER EVER IDENTIFIED THIS AS THE PROBLEM WHEN COMPLAINING ABOUT ROUGH STEERING NOISE AND OTHER ISSUES. DISCOVERED THE LEVEL OF FLUID WAS DOWN WHEN AN EMPLOYEE ADDED FLUID AFTER HEARING THE NOISE ,AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. THE CONSTANT LEAK HAS DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION--I WAS TOLD THIS BY A SERVICE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. CRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE R&P. WHEN HAVING THE RECALL DONE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED (R&P)--JUST THE HOSE--DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE DONE RECALL WORK BUT A NEIGHBOR WHO IS A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THE WORK WAS NOT DONE---OLD HOSE STILL THERE--LEAK STILL ACTIVE. CRYSLER NOT RESPONSIVE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

GAS FUMES WERE COMING IN FROM THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY. THEN, IT STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING WITH MY TIRES BEING FLAT WHEN I GOT UP IN THE MORNINGS. AFTER HAVING ALL OF THE TIRES CHECKED FOR FLATS, IT WOULD STILL DO THIS OFF AND ON DURING THE WINTER. FINALLY, I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE FINE, BUT THE CHROME WAS PEELING OFF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE SLOW LEAKS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND MY 36K/3Y HAD EXPIRED (BY 1/2 YEAR, AS I ONLY HAVE 30K MILES) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO, I'M GOING TO CALL CHRYSLER AND LODGE A FORMAL COMPLAINT, NOW THAT I SEE I"M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH REAR SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSUMER MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER BOUGHT CAR THAT HAD NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. AFTER TWO WEEKS A NOISE IN BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE CAR WAS HEARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, PLACED A SUPPORT BECAUSE BRAKE PADS WERE GONE, METAL ON METAL. THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, NEEDED ROTORS/SPARK PLUGS, AND TUNE UP ALONG WITH A PVC VALVE. NEEDED TO BE FIXED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX ANYTHING.*AK

ON MARCH 14, 2005 MY VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND ACTUALLY HOPPING. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY THAT I HAVE USED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WAS DEFECTIVE AT 56000 MILES. HE NOTIFIED ME THAT THE WIRES INSIDE THE HARNESS WERE FRAYED AND SEVERAL BARE WIRES WERE ACTUALLY TOUCHING, CREATING A SEVERE SAFECTY HAZARD, I INSTRUCTED HIM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS A WARRANTY COVERED PART BECAUSE THE MANUAL SUPPLIED ME FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIRING HARNESS. I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT IT WAS A WARRANTY COVERED ITEM UNDER THE CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS WARRANTY. CHRYLSER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE I HAD IT REPLACED AT AN A.S.E. CERTIFIED FACILITY BY A MASTER TECHNICIAN. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH ME. THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO HAS KEPT THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WIRING HARNESSES IN PT CRUISERS. THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT A MOVING PART AND WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES SUCH AS MOISTURE OR EXCESSIVE ENGINE MOVEMENT, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE, THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NEVER HAVE FRAYED AND BARE ELECTRICAL WIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT I CAN USE TO CONVINCE THE MANUFACTURER OF MY CAR THAT A DEFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PART WAS SOLD TO ME.

DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLASPED AND HAS NOT ALLOWED THE BRAKE FLUID TO GO THROUGH. HAS TO GRIP STEERING WHEEL AND PULL OVER IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. STANDING NEXT TO THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE HEAT COMING OFF THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED IN MAR 2005. TUFFY FIXED IT, THEY SAID HAD OTHER PT CRUISER'S IN FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES IT SHOOK BADLY. IT WAS UNCONTROLABLE AT THAT POINT. *AK

THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT BACK TO NORMAL POSITION, AND IS NOT PROVIDING PROTECTION TO THE DRIVER IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.*AK

FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF UNLESS BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. CAR INDICATED OVERHEATING. SMOKE COMING FROM HAZARD BUTTON. AFTER REMOVING MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FOUND THAT WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR ON LEFT SIDE WAS MELTED. BATTERY WAS DEAD, BOUGHT NEW BATTERY. AFTER STARTING CAR WITH MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DISCONNECTED, NO OVERHEATING, NO SMOKE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED $3000 TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS AND BOUGHT NEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FOR $80. FOUND OVER 100 SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. WEBSITES: PTDOITYOURSELF.NET/TL/TL-INDEX2.HTML POSTINGS: 191,288,725,862,465,589,824,878,1042,1068,1302,1278,1238,1212. EDMUNDS.COM/INSIDELINE/DO/FORUMSLANDING POSTINGS: 249,250,241,229,232,233,234,235,237,219,220,222,225,227,228,210,211,213,218,202,206,191,198 NHTSA.DOT.GOV COMPLAINT: 10130928,10130890,10131743,8018628,10106442,10127101. *NM

I WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR BROKE DOWN I COULDN'T KEEP ON THE SHIFT COULDN'T MOVE TO PARK, DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK THE PART AN AXEL. I PAID A MECANIC. BUT THE BUSHINGS ARE ALSO MESSED UP THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE HERE IN PUERTO RICO IT COSTS ME MORE THATN 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THAT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD THAT THE IT DIDN'T HAVE GARANTEEN. KNOW ANOTHER PROBLEM THERE IS IN FEBREUARY I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECANIC BECAUSE THE CARGOT HOT THEY CHANGE THE WATER BOMB, AND IT CONTINUE TO RISE THE TEMPERATURE, THEN THE TEMOSTAT AND THEY EVEN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR,AND THEY PUT A COMPUTER IF IT CAN DITECT WHERE IS THE PROBLEM.THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST RADIATOR MECANICS IN BAYAMON PUERTO RICO. WHE N I DRIVE AROUND THERES NO PROBLEM AS LONG I I AM NOT IN A TRAFFIC JAM FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR AND WHEN I GO VISIT MY PARENTS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE GOING UP THE HILLS THAT AFTER TEN MINUTES ON THE HILL THE TEMPERARURE STARTS TO RISE BOTH TIMES THAT I HAVE VISITED MY PARENTS FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS AGO I CAN'T GO. THE MECANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY SUGGETIONS E-MAIL ME BACK AND I CAN GIVE IT TO THE MECANICS . ABOUT THE BUSHINGS I'VE ASKED A PERSON ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER AND SHE SAID THAT THESE CARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SHIFTER PROBLEMS, THAT HAS MADE IT OCCASIONALLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO OR IT WOULD DROP OUT OF REVERSE GEAR. WHILE DOING A BATTERY CHECK I NOTICED THE SHIFT LINKAGE APPEARED TO BE LYING ON TOP OF THE TRANSAXLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AFTER REMOVING THE AIR BOX I NOTICED THAT INDEED LINKAGE WAS LYING THERE WITHOUT BEING SECURED IN POSITION. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INDENTATION FOR RETAINER CLIP, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ONE HAD BEEN USED OR IF IT HAD IT CAME OFF EARLY ON. I REALIZE MORE AUTOMATIC PT?S WERE SOLD THAN MANUAL 5-SPEED UNITS. I ALSO REALIZE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONLY MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT TO BE UNLIKELY, THEREFORE I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT, BASED ON THE INITIAL RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE AND PARTS DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE CONTINUED UNCONTROLLED WEAR COULD RESULT IN A MISHAP SHOULD THE LINKAGE COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAD THE RETAINER CLIP BEEN INSTALLED IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TYPE WEAR WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. *AK