2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRAME, THE CV AXLES AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT AND THE STABILIZER LINK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AN ABRUPT STOP AND ACCELERATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,616.

SUBFRAME CRADLE FAILURE WITH CRACK THROUGH MOUNTING. DEALER SAYS "SEEN BEFORE" NOT UNDER RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. REPAIR SHOP "HAS SEEN SEVERAL WITH SIMILAR FAILURE" SOME HAVE RESULTED IN SUSPENSION FAILURE AND ACCIDENTS. WHY IS THIS NOT THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL? NO ONE KILLED YET? REPAIR TO COST $1,400.00. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I SLOWED AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUBFRAME OF MY VEHICLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF MY VEHICLE, OTHER THEN THE SUBFRAME I NEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR LAST MORE THEN 10 YEARS. *TR

THE CAR MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN OR GOES OVER BUMPS SOUND LIKE ITS COMING FROM OF CAR POSSIBLE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR

I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER. IT RECENTLY ALMOST CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUB-FRAME THAT HOLDS THE FRONT SUSPENSION TOGETHER. THE GARAGE THAT IT IS BEING WORKED ON SAID THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING. ALSO, WHEN IT BROKE, IT ALSO BROKE THE TIE ROD, THE STEERING RACK AND THE A-ARM. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 40 MPH AT THE TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED, HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 PT. CRUISER I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND WHEEL BEARINGS AND NOW I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BUSHING AND WHEEL BEARING WITH IN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THIS IS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS I ALSO THINK THIS IS TO OFTEN FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT. *TR

I OWN A 02 AND 03 PT CRUISER. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AS WELL AS IDLER ARMS. WERE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AT LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION-ALL OVER THE NET, REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING, SAYS IT'S NORMAL WEAR. *TR

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORN OUT AT 79,000 MILES ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS WORN OUT 79,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS HAD TWO SETS OF FRONT CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILING. THE FIRST TIME THE BUSHING CAME OUT COMPLETELY. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS STILL IN PLACE BUT TORN. BOTH REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

MY CRUISER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHEN THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE WORN. IN READING THIS SITE, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM FLEET WIDE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PLUS THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE ON THE EXTENDED WARRANT. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I THINK THAT THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $539. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VIN PROVIDED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB

2002 PT CRUISER. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 46.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO AT 38,000 MILES. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. *TR

TL* -THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HIT A BUMP, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWRVE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE DRIVER HAD TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BELOW 55 MPH SO THAT IT WOULD NOT TO SWERVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS LOOSE ,AND HE BELIEVED THE WHEEL MIGHT FALL OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A REAR AXLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ODOMETER REACHED 61,000 MILES HE BEGAN TO HEAR A HUMMING NOISE AND FELT VIBRATION. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUSIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE BUSHINGS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2005. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

2002 PT CRUISER, AT 59000 MILES BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER AT 75000 MILES BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE GONE AGAIN AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NOW WORN DUE TO THIS FAILURE, DEALER REFUSES TO COVER ANY OF THE FAILURES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A CHEMICAL SMELL WHICH GAVE CONTACT HEADACHES AND AN OCCASIONAL SORE THROAT. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. *AK THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP. THE SPEAKERS MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE REAR SEAT BACKING WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

I WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE ADVISOR JAMES QUINN AT BRUNSWICK AUTO MALL IN BRUNSWICK, OHIO (330-273-3300) THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM(RUBBER BUSHINGS ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WERE WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 44,971 MILES. I DID A WEB SEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS PT CRUISER USER FORUMS AND FOUND REFERENCES TO CHRYSLER CHANGING THE SUPPLIER OF THE BUSHINGS SOMETIME AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT. CHRYSLER CHANGED THE BUSHINGS SUPPLIER DUE TO VERY EARLY FAILURE AND ALSO UPGRADED THE QUALITY OF THE BUSHINGS. MY BUSHINGS FAILED DUE TO HAVING THE OLDER STYLE BUSHINGS. 45K MILES IS VERY EARLY FOR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TO WEAR OUT. I CONTACTED CHRYLSER WARRANTY AT 800-992-1997 TO COMPLAIN AND WAS ASSIGNED REFERENCE NUMBER 14736996. AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, THE CHRYLSER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WOULD OFFER NO CUSTOMER GOOD-WILL ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE I WAS 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CHRYSLER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY IN ANTICIPATION OF UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE REPAIR PROBLEMS LIKE MY BUSHINGS. THE "UNANTICIPATED" EARLY FAILURE OF REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON OLDER MODEL PT CRUISER BUSHINGS IS A SEVERE SAFETY THREAT TO CONSUMERS WHO EXPECT QUALITY PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES THAT SHOULD NORMALLY LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. THE UNANTICIPATED FAILURE OF THE PT CRUISER BUSHING CAN EASILY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ACCIDENTS, OR MUCH WORSE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT. BEST REGARDS. *JB

DT*: AT 45,000 MILES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND LINK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 PT CRUISER AND TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID: BUSHINGS (BOTH LOWER-FRONT) REMOVE & REPLACE CONTROL ARM SHAFT AND BUSHINGS, LOWER BOTH CONTROL ARM. BEARING & SEALS. FROM WHAT I AM READING IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. *NM