2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Lighting Problems

ON RETURNING HOME FROM AN EVENT IN THE EVENING I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TURNED OFF LIGHTS AND THEN THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN EXCEPT THE FOG LIGHTS STAYED ON (THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF). I NEVER HAD THE FOG LIGHTS ON THAT EVENING. I TRIED VARIOUS A TEMPS I.E. PUSHING THE BUTTEN IN, TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN, ETC., BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY SUCCESS. MY WIFE WENT ONLINE AND FOUND (FROM MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR PT CRUSIERS) TO PUT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THEN PUSH THE FOG LIGHT BUTTEN IN. THIS WORKED SO THAT I DIDN'T WAKE UP TO A DEAD BATTERY. IF YOU GO ONLINE YOU WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN PT CRUISERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM INCLUDING SOME HAVING SMOKE COMING FROM THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE SOON!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR AND EVIDENCE OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE FOG LIGHTS OFF AND THE ODOR DISSIPATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE FOG LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT INTENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FOG LAMPS WOULD REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVED THE FUSE IN ORDER TO TURN THE FOG LAMPS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH THAT OPERATED THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

FOG LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE OWNERS KNOWLEDGE...LATER ON IN THE DAY IT WOULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH THE HEADLIGHTS NOT WANTING TO WORK OR THEM GOING OFF WHEN YOU NEED THEM WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE FOR OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH OTHER CONSUMERS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2/P7. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE FOG LIGHTS CONTINUED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE FOG LAMP ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SOME TIME LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP IN EL SEGUNDO, CA FOR REPAIR ON 03/29/06 WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL SWITCH AND REPAIRED FOR $86.58. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THEN IN 2008 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I TOOK IT INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN W. LOS ANGELES, CA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN SO IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $340. NOW ON EASTER (04/04/10) ON MY WAY TO A BBQ TO MY PARENTS HOME, THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN ...AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSED ME TO PANIC BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHILE I WAS JUST GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS NOT TO FAR FROM MY PARENTS HOME WHERE MY BROTHER WHO WAS FORMALLY A MECHANIC HAD THE MIND TO PULL OUT THE FUSE TO THE FOG LIGHTS. THE FUSE WAS VERY HOT WHEN HE PULLED IT OUT AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. HE DID STATE THAT THE CAR COULD OF CAUGHT FIRE IF HE HAD NOT PULLED THE FUSE OUT IN TIME. I WAS LUCKY. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE. *TR

THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHT SWITCH ON PT CRUISERS IS DEFECTIVE. OVER 500 PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT SUDDENLY THE FRONT & BACK FOG LIGHTS COME ON & DO NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE MOTOR & ALL OTHER SWITCHES ARE TURNED OFF. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEING TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN CONSTANT FORCING ME & OTHERS TO REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY DOES NOT DRAIN DOWN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. I AND OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR HOUSING DEGRADES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE OVER TIME WHICH CAN CAUSE SHORTING, LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE OR A SMOKE/FIRE HAZARD. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FOG LAMPS WOULD TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE MAIN LIGHTS TURNING ON AND A FEW INSTANCES OF THE STEERING COLUMN BILLOWING SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER HAS 2000+ MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES ON BACK ORDER AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AFTER MANY OWNERS HAVE CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FAILS. LIGHTS ERRATIC, SAFETY PROBLEM BIG TIME AT NIGHT. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2001 CAN BE VIEWED ON LINE UNDER VARIOUS POSTS AND THREADS. OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS. SINCE THE COMPANY IS NOW RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD I CALL THE WHITE HOUSE? *TR

THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE FOG LIGHTS TO BE PERMANENTLY ON AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. *TR

I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION AND RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BATTERY DEAD, I HAVE A NEWER BATTERY SO THIS BAFFLED ME UNTIL I REALIZED TODAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE MULTI SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS THAT CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVENTHOUGH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS MAY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE OTHERS UNTIL I FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING I HAVE PULLED THE FUSE FOR MY FOGLIGHTS.HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F6957. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THESE SWITCHES IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND GIVEN THE MASSIVE AMT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER CAR FORUMS HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NOONE ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES? *TR

FOG LAMPS STAYED ON WHEN 2002 PT CRUISER WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER DISSEMBLING OF THE SWITCH BOX THE INTERNAL SWITCH HAD ARCHED ENOUGH THAT IT WELDED ITSELF TOGETHER CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO MELT AND SMOKE. I USED A REAL RELAY TO REWIRE THE CIRCUIT WITH A SWITCH ON THE DASH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND NOW I HAVE A OIL LEAK. GREAT CAR FROM CHRYSLER. I ONLY HAVE 74,000 ON THE CAR. *TR

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT HAD ADDITIONAL FRICTION WHEN TURNING LIGHTS ON. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULD. FIRST UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SECOND INSTANCE THE SWITCH DID NOT HAVE ANY PRECURSOR INDICATION OF FAILURE, ALL LIGHTS FROM SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY. SECOND UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. PART ONLY LASTS ~18 MONTHS. *TR

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE FOG-LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INTERIOR PANEL IS FAULTY. IT SHORTS OUT, CAUSING SMOKE, OR THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, AND DRAINS THE BATTERY OF ALL POWER. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THE FOG LIGHTS ARE ON, WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVATED, THEN THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON, TURN ON THE BLINKERS OR STOP TO GET THIS PROBLEM TO SUBSIDE. CHRYSLER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES THAT HAVE THE FOG-LIGHT OPTION. PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL BEFORE A FIRE OCCURS WHICH MEANS THE LOSS OF SOMEONE'S' LIFE. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED BY IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE GOVERNMENTS PART. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY, VERY WEAK. *TR

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER MULTFUNCTION SWITCH SMOKING AND SHORT CIRCUITING RESULTING IN FOG LAMP FAILURE. *TR

FOG LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CARE IS TURNED OFF. *TR

MULTI-CONTROL TURN SIGNAL LEVER ISSUE. FOG LIGHTS STAY ON, EVEN WITH CAR OFF. DRAINS BATTERY. 'VERY TOUCHY', SHORT? HAD TO PULL FUSE TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY SITUATION. *TR

THE MULTIFUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ALLOWS STOPS WORKING AND FOG LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING THE BATTERY RUN DOWN AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE REMEDY IS TO DISCONNECT THE FOG LIGHTS, I PULLED THE FUSE. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. CHRYSLER SHOULD MAN UP TO THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT IF THERE IS A FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DEATH OR EXTREME BURNS COULD COME AS A RESULT OF CHRYSLER NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO SUCH EXTREME MEASURES FOR CHRYSLER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ELECTRICAL HAZARD. THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM OUT ON THE WEB, SO I KNOW CHRYSLER CAN'T SAY THAT THEY'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. I WILL SUE IF ME OR ANY OF MY FAMILY ARE HARMED BY THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS IS JUST A BAD ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR