2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH AND DASHBOARD FAULTS OUT WITH INCOHERENT READINGS AND TRANSAXLE SHIFTS SELF INTO NEUTRAL. I SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE. DASHBOARD READINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL AND TRANSAXLE GOES BACK INTO DRIVE. 15 SECONDS LATER BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. CONTINUE DRIVING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS ENGINE STALLS OUT. SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT IT WON'T START. COAST TO A STOP AND OPEN HOOD. NOTICE AN ODD SMELL. OPEN HOOD AND ALTERNATOR IS ON FIRE. CLOSE HOOD AND GRAB PERSONAL BELONGINGS (EXCEPT FOR PHONE CHARGER) OUT OF VEHICLE. CALL 911 AS VEHICLE BURNS UP. FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVE AND EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT VEHICLE BADLY DESTROYED BY BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

PULLED INTO WORK SHUT CAR OFF NOTED LEAKAGE PART ON GROUND WAS TOLD PRESSURE SWITCH. *TT

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AND TEMPORARILY INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION EXPERT AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE GEAR BOX BUSHINGS AND THRUST WASHERS WERE MISSING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH CABLES AT THE COST OF $300. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT CABLES TO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND LEFT A MESSAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000.

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL, OVER HEATING (WHICH WAS NEVER FIXED EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES), AND TRANSMISSION. IN 2013 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY 4 LANE HWY. I HEARD A SUDDEN AND LOUD BOOMING NOISE AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THINKING THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD I BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. THE CAR MADE THAT LOUD BOOMING NOISE A SECOND TIME AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY AGAIN. IT THEN LOST ALL POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY. AFTER REMOVING AND OPENING UP THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHEARED IN HALF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I BELIEVE THAT THE SLIGHTLY WORN ENGINE MOUNTS CAUSE A BINDING ACTION ON THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION THUS CAUSING THE SHAFT WHICH IS MADE OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL TO BASICALLY EXPLODE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOWN BY US CAR BUFFS THAT JASPER ENGINES INC. (A WELL KNOWN COMPANY THAT REMANUFACTURES ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS) REPLACES THIS STOCK SHAFT WITH A STRONGER MORE ROBUST ONE WHEN THEY REMANUFACTURE THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR THAT HAPPENED WHEN THIS TRANSMISSION SHAFT FAILED ALMOST CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON A VERY BUSY HWY. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL ALL TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPOSITE SHAFT. *TR

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE THREADS WELDED INTO THE OIL PAN HAD COME LOOSE. CAR NEEDED A NEW OIL PAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM" BECAUSE THE PAN IS ALUMINUM AND THE THREADED PIECE IS STEEL AND SINCE THE TWO METALS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION TEMPERATURES THAT OVER TIME THE WELD IS BROKEN AND THE THREAD "BREAKS LOOSE" FROM THE PAN. SEEMS TO ME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE OF THE POWER TRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENTS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL FOUR TIRES SLOWLY DEFLATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE WHEEL RIMS NEEDED THE CHROME PLATE GROUND AND OIL APPLIED. THIS WAS DONE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE RIMS ARE ALUMINUM CHROME PLATED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH UPHILL ON A HOT DAY AND ON DRY ROADS. SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SO THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED AND THE TRANSMISSION'S LEFT DRIVER SIDE, EXHAUST, AND REAR TIRES WERE OBSERVED TO BE COVERED IN TRANSMISSION OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE CLAMPS WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE HOSE CLAMPS WITH STAINLESS STEEL WORMGEAR CLAMPS, AND FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH TRANSMISSION OIL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. THE VEHICLE IS A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER.*AK

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

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

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY 42000 MILES

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.

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.

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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-84 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, LOSING ALL GEARS EXCEPT 1ST. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE OFF-RAMP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR NOW NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 PT CRUISER LET GO AT 61000 MILES. I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN THAT! *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB

THE TRANS AXLE BROKE IN OUR 2001 CHRYSLER PT ON SUN-1/25/04 AND WAS TOWED TO THE SARASOTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO GOT TO IT TUESDAY TO SAY NOT UNDER WARRANTY(WE ARE 2ND OWNER-HAD 2 YRS) SO NEED A NEW ONE. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO PULL OUT AND REBUILD. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REBUILT. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY US OF RECALL NOR FIX THAT. WE JUST MOVED HERE FROMMD. IN AUGUST AND DID NOT GET FUEL RECALL SOMEHOW. SAFETY SEAT WE DID GET ,BUT DID NOT DO. DUE TO $2400 QUOTE, WE TOWED THE AUTO HME AND GAVE THEM A DEPOSIT TO ORDER A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM CHRYSLER SINCE A USED ONE COULD NOT BE FOUND. NOW WE STILL DO NOT HAVE NOR CAN BE TOLD WHEN IT WILL COME IN OFF "BACKORDER"? FOR A 2001 POPULAR AUTO? CALLED CHRYSLER TO VERIFY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE SINCE WE ARE RENTING A CAR NOW FOR 3 WEEKS WITH 4 YR OLD CAR NOT WORKING AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO UNAVAILABLE PARTS. IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS A FIERO OR ANTIQUE, OR UNUSUAL. WE CALLED CHRYSLER WHO CHECKED WITH DEALER ON "RECALL " COMPLAINT -SPOKE TO [XXX] AND SHE SAID SHE DID NOT ASK THEM THAT. ASKED HER ABOUT PARTS AND WAS TOLD SHE COULD "RUSH" AND HOPEFULLY GET A TRANSMISSION FOR US SOON, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY EXTRA! STILL NO TIME FRAME WAS QUOTED. WE ARE STUCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN . THE CAR HAS NOT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS AND ONLY HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES SO IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR OFFER MORE HELP FOR CONSUMER SATISFACTION ON A VERY POPULAR AUTO. IT IS A 5 SPEED. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO CAN HELP OR WHAT RIGHTS WE HAVE. VIN# [XXX]....PLEASE FORWARD THIS OR REPLY. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS AMERICAN PRODUCT, THAT I MAY TRADE FOR FOREIGN. MOST SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

SOME OF THE ILLUMINATING LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD FOR SPEED AND RPM AND FUEL HAVE GONE OUT. I HAD MENTIONED THIS TO CHRYSLER WHEN MY TRANSMISSION DIED AND THEY DID NOTHING. ISN'T THEM ANOTHER E-MAIL IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU CAN NOT READ YOUR GAUGES AT NIGHT TIME WITHOUT TAKING YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD TO TURN ON THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO SEE THE GAUGES. *JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE 1ST GEAR AND TURNED OFF, IT ROLLED, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK