2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Fuel System Problems

FUEL LINE WAS CHAFING AGAINST THE AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE PORT CAUSING A LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE. FUEL WAS SPRAYING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. *TR

ON FEB 5, 2014, MY 2001 PT CRUISER SHUT DOWN WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN A BUSY STREET. IT DIDN'T MAKE A SPUTTER OR A SOUND, IT JUST DIED. LUCKILY, IT COASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OFF ONTO A QUIETER STREET AND UP AGAINST A CURB. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP THE EXPLANATION FOR THE MOTOR SHUTTING DOWN WAS ALARMING. THE AUTOMOTIVE TECH REPORTED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. AS I UNDERSTAND, WHEN THIS SENSOR GOES BAD, THE ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN. WITH NO WARNING. I HAD GAS IN MY PT. A CAR CAN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN MOTION? WITH NO WARNING? I AM MORTIFIED THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE! IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE? BUT, EVIDENTLY, IT IS TRUE, SINCE THAT'S WHAT THE TECH IS REPLACING. I AM THANKFUL THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN 2 DAYS EARLIER WHEN I HAD MY ELDERLY MOTHER IN THE CAR ON THE WATTERSON EXPRESSWAY. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS; THE TECH SAID MOST CARS THAT ARE 'NEWER' (AS FAR BACK AS 2002, AT LEAST) HAVE THIS SENSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD. I LOOKED THROUGH EVERY PAGE OF MY 2001 PT CRUISER OWNER'S MANUAL AND DIDN'T FIND ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SHOULD BE TESTED REGULARLY, IF IT COULD BE TESTED, THAT IS. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE DOING THE PUBLIC A LIFESAVING SERVICE TO LOOK INTO THE DANGER OF THIS FAILED DESIGN, NOT TO JUST REPLACE THEM IN ALL CARS WITH A NEW ONE, BUT WITH ONE THAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO FAIL AT THE RISK OF THE DRIVE AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE VICINITY WHEN A MOVING CAR DECIDES TO JUST SHUT DOWN. WITH NO WARNING. THERE IS NOT A TIME FRAME FOR THIS PART TO FAIL, BUT CARS THAT ARE AROUND MY CRUISERS MAY BE READY TO GIVE OUT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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.

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.

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

THE FUEL LINE WAS RECALLED IN 2002 UNDER PT CRUISER FUEL LINE LEAKS AGAINST AIR CONDITIONER AND I HAD THAT REPAIRED IN 2002. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO THE FUEL LINE SINCE THEN. ON JULY 25 2009, THE FUEL LINE SPRUNG A LEAK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE LINE RUBBED AGAINST THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. OBVIOUSLY FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE LEAK COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE THREATENING TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE FUEL LINE IS THREADED UNDER THE POWER STEERING PUMP HOSE AND OVER THE ENGINE TO THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL. OVER THE MILES THE LINE RUBBED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE HOLE IN THE FUEL CAUSING GAS TO SQUIRT AND LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I REPLACED THE LINE TO REPAIR. I DID KEEP THE OLD FUEL LINE AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE ENGINE WHERE IT RUBBED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW, BY ALLOWING THE FUEL LINE TO RUB ON THE ENGINE AND HELD DOWN BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. SHE ALSO NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT HOOD. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 02V214000 AND 02V215000, BUT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM BOTH RECALLS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY REPAIRS AND WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 39,000. REMAILED 10/20/09. *LJ

HOLE IN EXHAUST SYSTEM NEAR FUEL TANK CAUSED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK TO LITERALLY MELT AND LEAK FUEL. THE METAL SHIELD NEAR THE TANK DOES NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE TANK. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE. THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND FUEL LINES NEAR THE TANK HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V214000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO SAFERCAR.GOV, HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE COMPONENT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE REMEDY REFERENCED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,629 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A SEAM FAILURE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL MODULE. THE FAILED PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 09/05/06. *JB

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.

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

GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. IT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO GAS IN THE TANK, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. THE SENDING UNIT PROVIDED FALSE FUEL LEVEL INFOMATION TO THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASH. *NM.

WHILE DRIVING, THE EMISSION WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO THEIR GAS CAP. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT 2000 GAS CAPS HAVE FAILED BEFORE HIS VEHICLE. *SC *JB

FUEL LINE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SECURED WITH NYLON TIES TO PREVENT CHAFING AGAINST AC LINES. HOWEVER, FUEL LINE RUBBED AGAINST HOUSING OF OUTSIDE AIR FILTER WHERE IT MEETS THE FIREWALL. THIS CHAFED THE HOUSING MATERIAL AND EVENTUALLY CAUSED A HOLE IN IT. THE EDGE OF THIS HOLE SUBSEQUENTLY WORE THROUGH THE FUEL LINE AND CAUSED FUEL TO SPRAY INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO FIRE RESULTED. REPAIRED BUY SPLICING A FITTING INTO THE FUEL LINE AT THE POINT OF THE LEAK. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. A WEEK LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER THEN CALLED THE MECHANIC/DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. AFTER THE WAS EXAMINED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE LEAK DETECTOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT LAST YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND SHE THINKS THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED. SHE SAID SHE WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *JB THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. RECALL# 0345436 *SC

I SMELLED GASOLINE AND DISCOVERED A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER MY 2001 PT CRUISER. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE NECK LEADING FROM THE GAS TANK AND THE TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NOTHING IN MY DRIVING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS APPARENT DEFECT MAY OCCUR ON MORE THAN JUST MY CAR AND MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH 42,000 MILES ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALSO DONE RECALL WORK AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON THIS GAS TANK AND THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CARE THEY TOOK DOING THE RECALL WORK. THE CRACK IN THE TANK WHEN VIEWED IS BETWEEN A PLASTIC 2.5" DIA. TUBE PIECE IN THE UPPER CORNER OF THE TANK AND THE TANK ITSELF, THIS TUBE PIECE IS A SEPARATE PIECE THEY HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO THE PLASTIC TANK. THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TWO HAD BEEN BROKEN IS SOME WAY.*AK

2001 PT CRUISER -- KNOWN ISSUE INVOLVING FUEL LINE CHAFFING AGAINST METAL AC LINES. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO DEALER FOR RECALL, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE FUEL LINE LEAKS ANYWAY AND CAUSES MODERATE DAMAGE VIA ENGINE FIRE. FUEL EXPLOSION OCCURRED UPON SWITCHING OFF THE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK

2001 PT CRUISER ...FAILURE OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND MEDVED CHRYSLER IN CASTLE ROCK CO. TO TIMELY AND PROPERLY ADVISE US OF THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER. I SENT A DETAILED LETTER ON 3/18/03 TO NHSTA, ODI WITH THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. PLEASE PROVIDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL BE GLAD TO EMAIL IT TO YOU. *JB

THE VEHICLE FUEL SUPPLY TUBE FAILED.*DT *JB