2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Engine Problems

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT HAD A OVER HEATING PROBLEM I REALLY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING SO I THEN STARTED LOOKING IT UP AND FOUND OUT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT IT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX MY PROBLEM SINCE THE PROBLEM REALLY COMES FROM THEM FROM IT WAS MADE

CAR MAKING NOISES. *TR

MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, SO WE HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FAN FUSES, AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING. MY COUSIN HAS THE SAME CAR ONLY A 2002 WHICH IT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD TO BLOW. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE HOWEVER I AM NOT SEEING VERY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. JUST DOING A SEARCH ON LINE FOR PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THERE ARE TONS OF THEM. WHY WOULD THERE NOT BE A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE? I HAVE A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN THAT HAS NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS 90K ON IT AND THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPAIRED, LIKE DOUBLE WHAT THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR I HAVE ABOUT $10,000.00 WORTH OF REPAIR BILLS, THAT'S A LITTLE LIKE A LEMON CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING OIL FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME ONE AND A HALF QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTART DROVE AS NORMAL BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS DRIVE. HE WAS UNSURE IF THE AUTHORIZED DEALER PERFORMED ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PMC WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/23/10

REPLACED THE "LEAK DETECTION PUMP" ON MARCH 20, 2010 AND AGAIN ON OCTOBER 26, 2011 *TT

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER USES EXCESSIVE OIL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LOST ALL THE OIL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER PUTTING 2 PINTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, I DROVE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT AFTER ROUGHLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. I PUT 3 PINTS OF OIL IN A DAY LATER AND TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET SEAL. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THE INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE GASKET REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED FOR VEHICLES OVER 120,000 MILES. LEAKING OIL IN THIS MANNER IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, AND I'M LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING HOME. I NOTICED ONLINE, THAT MANY OTHER PT OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE TYPES OF ENGINE FAILURES CONSISTENTLY. I CANNOT PAY THE 2800 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR, THE CAR WILL SIT UNTIL CHRYSLER LOSES THIS LAWSUIT. *TR

I TOOK MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES, WHICH IS ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS, THE SHODY CONSTRUCTION OF THESE MOUNTS IS INSANE. WHEN INVESTIGATING THE MOUNTS MY MECHANIC SPOTTED A COOLANT LEAK WHICH HE TRACED TO A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK ITSELF. THE LEVEL OF CORROSION FROM THE LEAK INDICATED THE CRACK HAD BEEN THERE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME. DEALER DENIED ANY WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE DEFECT. AT 32,000 MILES THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CHEAP MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION, THE ROTOR WERE ACTUALLY BOWING DUE TO THE CHEAP METAL USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THIS AS WELL. OVERALL THE 3 MAJOR COMPLAINTS I HAVE ARE FOR SHODY MOTOR MOUNTS, INFERIOR FRONT ROTOR CONSTRUCTION, AND DEFECTS IN ENGINE COMPONENTS LEADING TO A CRACKED BLOCK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN SMOKING. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPM'S INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000. WHEN THE CONTACT EASED UP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SMOKING AND THE RPM'S RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TURBO WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,950.

STALLING AT STOP, RUNNING ROUGH AT LOW SPEEDS AND IDLE, MISSING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD ROUGH IDLE AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT-OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,400 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

2004 PT CRUISER BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGH, SOMETIMES SHAKING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL, BUT NEVER DID. IT WAS ALWAYS WORSE AFTER A CAR WASH OR DURING DAMP, OR HUMID WEATHER. I USED CARBON CLEANERS IN THE GAS, TOOK IT ON THE TURNPIKE, AS SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER, BUT IT CONTINUED. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT IN. THEY SAID CARBON HAD BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE GASOLINE. I HAVE ALWAYS USED 87 OCTANE (AS SUGGESTED IN THE MANUAL) AND MOST OF THE TIME USED 2 GAS STATIONS. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALER AS THEY WERE REPAIRING IT, HE SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER. I ONLY HAVE 23,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS PARKED EVERY NIGHT IN A HEATED/COOLED /DRY GARAGE. I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE B SCHEDULE FAITHFULLY.

WIFE, DRIVING INTO REGULAR PARKING SPOT @ WORK. SPEED 10 -15 MPH. APPLIED BRAKE AND THE VECHILE "LUNGED"FORWARD. STRIKING THE CURB. DAMAGE APPEARED MINIMAL. BUT WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE UNDERNEATH. BUT THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE SUBFRAME AND UNDERSIDE OF FRONT, NOT VISABLE EXTERNALLY. CAUSE....WE THINK. A BABY BOTTLE ROLLED FROM THE BACK SEAT AND LODGED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN THE PT CRUISER, THERE IS A CLEAR PASSAGE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WE ARE SURE THAT THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR INCIDENT. I HAVE INSTALLED A HARDBOARD "STOP" UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT TO PREVENT A REOCCURANCE. PASSENGER SIDE HAS A STORAGE DRAWER AND THUS IS NOT A PROBLEM. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAUSE COULD BE AN OBJECT ROLLING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER AREA AND GETTING JAMED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL? *NM

SINCE SEPT. 22, 2005, I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND AND THE CAR SPUTTERS AND STALLS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 3 TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER 3 TIMES AND IS THERE RIGHT NOT SINCE MONDAY OCTOBER 3, 2005. I BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY 2004 AND IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE "CAM SENSOR" HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, I WAS TOLD IT HAD A SHORT THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENED. THIS LAST TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE "CRANKSHAFT" WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED! IT'S LIKE THEY ARE REBUILDING MY CAR BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I FEEL THIS CAR IS TOO NEW TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS. I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF IT. BEEN STRANDED ON THE STREET AND FREEWAY (VERY DANGEROUS). HAVE LOST SLEEP AND AM VERY DEPRESSED AND STRESSED ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A CASE FOR THE LEMON LAW IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. *NM

AT 10 MONTHS OLD, PT CRUISER GT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED PLUGS AND WIRES. 2 WEEKS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO ORDER HEAD GASKET. DEALER LAPPED THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES AND REPLACED HEAD GASKET. NEXT DAY, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. DEALER REPLACED THE WASTE GATE SOLENOID. DEALER CALLED AND SAID CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. BEFORE I GOT THERE, DEALER CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. DEALER THEN DETERMINED THAT A VACUUM HOSE HAD SLIPPED OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON. PRIOR TO 12 MONTHS, CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE 15 DAYS, OFFICIALLY AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES. ALL FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER IS SUPPOSEDLY WORKING WITH CHRYSLER TO GET THE CAR BOUGHT BACK.

CONSUME TOO MUCH OIL SINCE GOT THE NEW CAR. LOST ABOUT 1 QT EVERY 3K. NOW AT 65K, LOST 1 QT ABOUT EVERY 1K MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER THAT HAS 20,000 MILES, AND ALREADY NEEDS A TUNEUP..CAR RUNS ROUGH..I TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE BUT 1 SPARK PLUG, AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE OTHER 3...WHAT GOOD IS THE WARANTY..I BUY NEW CARS ALL THE TIME NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM..DID I GET RIP OFF. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE OIL GAUGE READS EMPTY AND NEEDED TO REFILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HEATED UP VERY QUICKLY AND THE ENGINE GOT VERY HOT. *AK

ON SEPTEMBER 23,2004 I PURCHASED A 2004 PT CRUISER. FROM THE FIRST DAY, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THE DEALER AND THE CRUISER ITSELF. TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS OF DENTS IN IT SO I HAD THE DENTS REPAIRED. I GET THE CAR BACK AND THE MEN WHO PULLED THE DENTS HAD PUNCTURED A WIRE AND MY INSIDE LIGHT AND MY TRIP ODOMETER WASN'T WORKING. IN THE MEAN TIME I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. IDLING TOO HIGH AND BOUNCY ON TAKE OFF. AT THAT TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO GET THAT FIXED AND THEY SAID THE REASON FOR THE ROUGH IDLE WAS A LOOSE VACUUM HOSE. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS RUNNING WORSE. I TOOK IT BACK AND THE SAID THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE CAR AND THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR TO RUN ROUGH AND IDLE HIGH. I WANTED TO EXCHANGE MY CAR FOR A DIFFERENT PTA CRUISER OR A DIFFERENT CAR AND I WAS TOLD THAT I SIGNED ON THE LINE TO PURCHASE IT SO I WAS STUCK WITH THE CAR. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO GET THE RECALL FIXED ON IT. I THINK THE 2004 PT CRUISER ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AT ALL.*AK