2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Engine Problems

MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT A DRIVEWAY AND THEN THE WHOLE CAR JUST BURNED TO TOTAL LOSS OF IT AND IT CAUGHT FIRE DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, SMOKE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CANNOT RESTART. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, AIR INTAKE, PLUGS, ETC. HAS HAPPENED 8-10 TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR SHUT DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES ON FREEWAY, TERRIFYING...."WE LIMPED" HOME BEFORE CAR QUIT ENTIRELY. I HAD OWNED IT FOR ONE NIGHT. DROVE IT 100 MILES TOTAL. (BOUGHT IT USED, 106,000 MI ON IT.). *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003PT CRUIZER AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY WATER GAUGE WENT INTO RED ,HAD TO PULL OVER LATER ON CHANGED THERMOSTAT AND FLUSHED RADIATOR,RAN FINE FOR A DAY THEN OVERHEATING AGAIN FOLLOWING DAY SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG NO LEAKING,JUST HAD TRANI.FIXED 2 MONTHS,HUSBAND DROVE CAR AGAIN AFTER ABOUT SEVEN MILES CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN,WENT TO RED HAD TO PULL OVER FOR CAR TO COOL DOWN,WHAT IS GOING ON,DOES CHRYSLER HAVE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM? *JS

I AM HAVING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF PT CRUISER WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. IT OVERHEATS AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM YET. I HAVE HAD IT PRESSURE TESTED AND THE THERMOSTAT CHANGES AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. *KB

WHEN STARTING CAR IN MORNING, IT MADE A VERY UNFAMILIAR SOUND THEN THE SOUND DISAPPEARED. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE THE CAR WAS PARKED. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, WE HEARD TWO LOUD THUDS AS IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN TO THE PAVEMENT. WE SAW NOTHING UNDER THE CAR, BUT AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DISLODGED. MECHANIC TOLD US THIS WAS HIS THIRD REPAIR OF THIS TYPE BECAUSE THE MOTOR WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THE TYPE OF MOTOR MOUNTS CHRYSLER USED IN THE PT CRUISER. PLEASE CALL OWNERS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BEFORE OFFICIAL RECALL DAMAGES CHRYSLERS IMAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED HESITATION WITH A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE WAS SPORADIC. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A MOBILE COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE TO POSSIBLY DETECT FUTURE FAILURE OCCURRENCES. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILURE RECURRED, THE MOBILE COMPUTER WAS UNABLE TO PROJECT AN ACCURATE READING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE OXYGEN SENOR BE REPLACED HOWEVER HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/23/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THIRTY SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM), FOUR FUEL INJECTERS , SPARK PLUGS, AND BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS. WERE REPLACED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

REPEATED OVERHEATING DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ANTIFREEZE IS PROPERLY MIXED AND THE RESERVOIR IS FULL. ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION. THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, GURGLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM INSIDE THE CAR. RADIATOR WAS PRESSURE TESTED AND FOUND NO LEAKS. ANTIFREEZE SEEMS TO EVAPORATE CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE OVERHEATING ISSUE TO OCCUR AGAIN AFTER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE HAS BEEN ADDED. *TR

POWER FAILURE. *TR

APPROACHED VEHICLE AFTER VISIT AND NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM 20 FT. AWAY. OPENED CAR DOOR, FUMES EVEN STRONGER. FELT DIZZY & DISORIENTED. CALLED SERVICE TO HAVE IT TOWED (DID NOT WANT TO START CAR WITH STRONG FUMES). WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE (RECALL) AND THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. NEARLY 1 YEAR LATER, SAME PROBLEM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. 1/2 TANK OF GAS LEAKED IN ONE DAY. NO OBVIOUS SOURCE OF LEAK FROM EXTERIOR. LINGERING GAS SMELL IN INTERIOR. WAS TOLD NVLD PUMP WAS REPLACED. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, POSSIBLE ADVERSE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, LIKELIHOOD OF FIRE. CAR HAS HAD MANY OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, INCLUDING SMELL FROM AC SYSTEM (ORIGINALLY NON-FUNCTIONAL) WHICH SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE/BURNING PLASTIC. DEALERSHIP IS DISMISSIVE. POSSIBLE LEMON. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE TOW TRUCK MECHANIC JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. DURING DIAGNOSIS THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE VEHICLE TO BE OPERATING WITH OUR ERRORS. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, AND WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE HEAD GASKET AND DISCOVERED THE MOTOR WAS BURNED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,747. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING, AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 15 TIMES AND MULTIPLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE STALLING PROBLEM. UPDATED 6/12/2006 -*NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS BOLT FRACTURED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LEAN ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE. AS A RESULT, THE CV BOOT FRACTURED FROM THE CONSTANT FRICTION OF THE ENGINE LEANING ON THE AXLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN A CRASH THEREFORE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY BUT NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,700. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR IDLES AT LOW RPM, AND STALLS AT ANYTHING NEAR 1000 RPM, WHICH IS ITS NORMAL IDLE SPEED, AT LEAST 25 STALLS IN THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS. SO FAR CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT CAN'T FIND IT, SO THEY KEEP GIVING IT BACK TO ME. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A FUEL INJECTOR FLUSH, CLEANED THE BATTERY, INSTALLED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER IN THE TANK, AND ALSO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 55 TO 15 MPH BEFORE STALLING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

1/30/03,ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. PROBLEM WAS CRANK SENSOR, IT WAS REPLACED,IT TOOK 3 DAYS, NO PART IN STOCK. 1/21/05, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER,WAS ASKED IF LIGHT WAS FLASHING, IF NOT YOU CAN DRIVE, IF FLASHES BRING IN. IM OUT OF WARRANTY THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED, IT MAKES NO SENSE. WHAT HAPPENS IN 2 YEARS? WILL THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN? IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP ON 1/23/05. I HOPE I DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN, WE LIKE TO TRAVEL TO FLORIDA, I DON'T NEED A BREAK-DOWN LIKE THIS ON MY WAY DOWN THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. HOWARD H. HEROLD *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS CONTINUED TO BURN OUT. IT WAS ALWAYS SPARK PLUG #1. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THIS DEFECT. THE OWNER ALSO STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN RE-WIRED AND THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED IN MARCH 2004, THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER. *JB THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WASN'T GETTING ANY GAS. THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK AT RED LIGHTS AND OR STOP SIGNS WITH A DIFFICULT TIME CONTINUING TO DRIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE. *SC