2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Engine Problems

While driving the vehicle I could begin to smell a strong odor of gas them almost like the smell of plastic melting and the vehicle engine started running hot temperature so I immediately turned off the engine as I pulled over to the side of the road and as I stepped out of the car aflame began under the hood and ended up burning my entire engine. Fire department had to come and extinguish the car.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME!

OUR PT CRUISER OVERHEATED ONE DAY AFTER MY WIFE HAD LEFT WORK, THANKFULLY SHE MADE IT HOME BEFORE IT GOT WORSE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS KNOWN TO CAUSE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS SUCH AS THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, WATER HEATER, FLUSHED THE BLOCK OUT, EVEN CHANGED THE TEMP SENSOR. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ALL THE HOSES AND GAVE IT AN OIL CHANGE AND YET IT STILL OVER HEATS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT BUBBLING ON THE RESERVOIR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE COOLING FAN WAS NOT ACTIVATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT PISTON NUMBER TWO FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

OK THIS IS MY 3RD COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS OVERHEATING AND YES CAUGHT FIRE AFTER A MONTH OF THAT EVERYTIME TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD RISE I PULLED CAR OVER AND HAD TOWED I HAVE 7 TOW BILLS ON THAT WELL LAST TIME CAUGHT FIRE WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR,HOSES,HAD A CRACKED HEAD,FAN,FAN SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT AND GRILL THAT WAS $2000 FOR ALL THAT. I GOT CAR BACK AND NOW HAVE HAD BACK FOR A MONTH AND CAR WON'T START HAD BATTERY CHANGED OUT,HAD 25 POINT INSPECTION DONE AND NOW SAYING ALARM SYSTEM IS TRIGGERING SOMETHING OR POSSIBLY COMPUTER GOING BAD. THIS IS A 2002 WITH ONLY 100,000 MILES ON IT. I OWE $2300 TO CHASE FOR PURCHASE THEN HAVE 2ND LIEN BECAUSE OF ALL THESE OTHER PROBLEMS OF $2000. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 4/2013 AND HAD TO HAVE ALL RECALLS DONE ON IT AND I HAVE REPORTED ALL THIS BEFORE AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER AND 2 OTHER MECHANICS THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE ON ROAD. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH MS AND ON DISABILITY AND NOW SCARED TO DRIVE CAR. THE CAR IS PARKED AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING I CAN'T DRIVE. I DO KNOW CAR WAS ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO AND DON'T KNOW IF A SIESTA WAS TAKEN DURING MY CAR OR NOT. I AM TOLD NOT TO DRIVE CAR IT IS A HAZARD AND CHRYSLER AFTER FIRE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CAR BACK BUT THEY REFUSED A FIRE AND WAS ME AND MY SON 2 LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. I WANT CAR TAKEN BACK BY CHRYSLER AND I WANT PAYOFF ON LOAN OF $3000.00 BY CHRYSLER THIS CAR WON'T BE DRIVEN. I HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE REPORTING EVERYTHING BUT WHEN MINE AND MY SON'S LIFE IS AT RISK THAT IS ENOUGH! IF YOU DO RESEARCH THE OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD THINK THAT A FIRE WOULD GET YOU TO MAKE CHRYSLER TAKE THESE CARS BACK.

OK I AM SO UPSET I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO IT IS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH A BACK CHECK FROM MY DISABILITY CAUSE I HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING LOW TO THE GROUND TO GET IN AND OUT OF. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANYMORE ON THIS CAR THIS IS LIKE A BRAND NEW CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES I CAN'T GET TO THERAPY, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND WHEN YOU GO ON ALL THESE SIGHTS IT IS THE SAME REPORT OVERHEATING FOR MODEL TEARS 2001-2005. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO HAVE A RADIATOR INSTALLED,SENSOR FOR FAN, THERMOSTAT,FAN,HOSES AND IT STILL OVERHEATS AND NOW BEING TOLD THAT IT IS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET NOW TELL ME HOW THE COUPLE OF TIMES IT DID OVERHEAT AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND TOWED IT GOT INTO THIS BAD OF SHAPE AND WHY SO MANY CRUISERS HAVE THE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS? I AM A SINGLE MOM ON DISABILITY WITH NO OTHER INCOME AND NOW HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. I EVEN AS SOON AS GOT CAR HAD THE TIMING BELT CHANGED AND WHATEVER ELSE NEEDED FOR NEAR FUTURE JUST SO DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPENSE LATER ON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE TO NECESSARY APPOINTMENTS FOR MY DISABILITY AND PAYING ON A CAR FOR REPAIRS AND NOW COMPLETELY DOWN AND WON'T BE FIXED HAVE BEEN QUOTED A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ALREADY HAVE A LOAN OUT FOR $700 BECAUSE OF OTHER REPAIRS NOT TO MENTION HAVE LOAN WHEN BOUGHT THE CAR PAYING ON! THIS ISN'T RIGHT AND TRUST ME HAVE PLENTY OF OTHERS WHO CAN GIVE YOU THEIR STORIES! I HAVE A SON WHO WILL GRADUATE NEXT YEAR ONLY CAR WE HAVE AND NOW HE CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE! THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THEM AND MINE DID BUT THANK GOD DID HAVE SOME BOTTLED WATER IN THE CAR START A SMALL FIRE IN THE FRONT THIS IS SERIOUS! *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT SO I PULLED OVER AND LET IT COOL DOWN. AFTER ADDING MORE COOLANT TO IT I STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME ONLY TO HAVE IT START TO OVERHEAT AGAIN, SO PARKED IT AT A NEARBY SCHOOL AND LEFT IT OVER NIGHT. UPON GETTING IT THE NEXT MORNING IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I DROVE IT HOME, WHEN I WENT TO GO START IT AGAIN IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER CALLING MY MECHANIC AND HAVING HIM LOOK AT IT HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE EXHAUST AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET A NEW MOTOR. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR THING, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THESE SYSTEMS IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR? *TR

DRIVING AT 35MPH. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CAR COASTED/ROLLED DOWN-HILL FOR 1.5 BLOCKS. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST RED LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. IT BEGAN TO CRANK BUT WOULD NEVER TURN THE ENGINE OVER. CHECKED THE OIL STICK AND THERE WAS NO (ZERO) OIL ON THE STICK. WE ADDED 4 QUARTS OF OIL. THE OIL DID NOT LEAK OUT OF THE CAR. WE LET THE ENGINE COOL AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START, IT CRANKED AGAIN BUT DIDN'T TURN OVER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC SHOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD GASKET, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT. NO OTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WELL MAINTAIN PT CRUISER BLEW HEAD GASKET GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. CAUSED ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPRAY BOILING WATER FROM THE WATER OVERFLOW TANK BACK ON TO THE WINDSHIELD. CAR HAD RIGHT AT 32,550 MILES ON IT. THE SPRAYING WATER AND STEAM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. *TR

CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING WHEN AC IS PUT ON. OVERHEATING WHILE IDLING SOMETIMES. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO FIX IT. IT'S NOT HEAD GASKET OR HEADS ACCORDING TO 2 SHOPS. I CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY SAID NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT COOLING SYSTEM HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED. I FILED A COMPLAINT. SHOPS HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING AND CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!! *TR

I UNLOCKED MY CAR DOORS WITH REMOTE, AND DROVE TO THE STORE, IT WAS DARK OUT SO I HAD MY HEAD LIGHTS ON. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND TRIED TO UNLOCK MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT WORK. SO I MANUALLY UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH MY KEY. IT WAS VERY COLD WEATHER AT THAT TIME AND MY HEATER WOULD NOT WORK AS WELL THEN I TURNED ON MY CAR TO GO HOME, AND MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. AND SO I WAS TOWED HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT IN TO A CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DID A QUICK CHECK ON IT AND SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE THE ELECTRICAL AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT WITHOUT TEARING THE ENTIRE CAR APART AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. THERE WENT $100.00 OF MY MONEY TO FIND OUT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED WITH OUT HAVING TO SPEND $1,000.00 PLUS.... WHICH IS A QUOTE BY THE CHRYSLER REPAIR. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT, DUE TO NO LIGHTS AND NOW THAT WE HAVE HOT 90 TO 101 DEGREE WEATHER, I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER OR TO ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE SPENT OVER $3,000.00 IN REPAIRS FOR MY CAR AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR JUST TWO YEARS. THERE IS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH MY CAR, THE PROBLEMS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE PARTS AND SOMETIMES HAVING TO REPLACE THOSE SAME PARTS A YEAR LATER WHEN THEY HAVE JUST RAN OUT OF THE WARRANTIES. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS FOR ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AND IT IS ALMOST 2 INCHES THICK. I AM ON DISABILITY AND IT TOOK ME OVER A YEAR TO SAVE THE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR AND I HAVE NO MORE MONEY TO FIX IT AGAIN... AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT THROUGH DEQ HERE IN OREGON AND IT WILL NOT PASS THEIR TEST DUE TO EXHAUSTION PROBLEMS WITH THE EMISSIONS LEAKING AS WELL. *TR

MY CAR HAS DECIDED TO "SOMETIMES" NOT START AT THE END OF THE DAY. IT RUNS JUST FINE IN THE MORNING, BUT THEN ON MY RETURN TRIP HOME, YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING. THE LIGHTS GO ON, BUT NO IGNITION, NO SOUND OF THE ENGINE TURNING OVER. THREE BATTERY REPLACEMENTS, AND THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. CALLED CHRYSLER PERSONALLY AS DIRECTED BY A WEBSITE THAT SITED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OVER THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH COMPLAINT. COMPLAINTS DATE BACK TO 2002. TRIED HAVING OUR TRUSTED MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, BUT SINCE HE CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, HE IS AT A LOSS. CAR HAS 100K MILES AND RAN FINE UP UNTIL THE START OF SUMMER. *KB

PREMATURE WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN FAILURE 2002 PT CRUISER. *TR

EVERY TIME I UNPLUG MY BATTERY IT TAKES SOME HOURS OF DRIVING BEFORE THE FAN COMES BACK ON AND THAT CAUSES OVERHEATING BY THE TIME THE CAR'S FAN START WORKING AGAIN. WHEN IT OVER HEAT IT BOILS THE COOLANT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE HEATER ON FULL BLAST IN ORDER TO SUPPRESS THE OVERHEATING. AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE IS ON PART OF THE RADIATOR THAT MAKES IT MELT WHEN THE COOLANT GETS TOO HOT. *TR

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

2002 PT CRUISER, WAS SERVICED ABOUT 3-4 MOS PRIOR, RUNNING FINE, ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR VENTS, I PULLED OVER WHEN I EXIT THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE AND HEARD SOMETHING IGNITE IN THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, THERE WAS NO STALLING OF THE CAR, NOTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD THROUGH THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE INJURED HER NOSE AND WRIST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A VEHICLE DEFECT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,300.

CRACKING DASHBOARD AND THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. *TR