2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000( STEERING). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE APPROX. 2 YEARS. AT AN EARLIER TIME I HAD USED THE FOG LIGHTS TWICE WITH NO INCIDENT. LATER AND PRIOR TO 12/17/13 THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WASN'T EVEN TURNED ON BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I JIGGLED THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR WENT OUT, AFTER THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL. ON 12/17/13 I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO FIND THE FOG LAMPS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, THE CAR NOT RUNNING, THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. THE LIGHTS JUST CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I MANAGED TO TURN THEM OFF (FOR THE NIGHT) ONLY TO FIND WHEN I GOT TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING I COULDN'T SHUT THEM OFF. I DROVE THE CAR HOME, FINALLY PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS AND RETURNED TO WORK. I'VE ALSO HAD INCIDENCES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM SLIGHTLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE FULLY. ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE FORUMS I'VE READ, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT BURNING WIRES AND DEAD BATTERIES. I WISH THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR

SET CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SET AT SPEED. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF BRAKES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ONLY GOT IT DOWN TO 40 MPH. CAR HAD TO BE POPPED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING AND STOP THE CAR. *TR

ABOUT 3 THREE YEARS AGO THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE RADIO LIGHT WOULD TOTALLY GO OUT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC - HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

FORTUNATELY AT A PARKING LOT INTERSECTION, THE RF TIE ROD END SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSING NO INJURY, DEATH OR ACCIDENT. THE BOLTED END WHICH FITS INTO THE SOCKET PULLED OUT FROM THE SOCKET. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AHEAD OF TIME THE TIE ROD END WAS NEAR FAILURE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE LF TIRE ROD END. IN DOING SO, I WAS APPALLED AT THE POOR DESIGN OF THE PART. CHRYSLER'S OBJECTIVE TO PRODUCE A LOW PRICE JUST BARELY ADEQUATE PART WAS OBVIOUS. TYPICALLY, THIS PART IS MADE FROM A FORGING, CHRYSLER CHOSE TO PRODUCE THE PART FROM STAMPED SHEET METAL. I REPLACED THE PART WITH A FORGED, AFTER MARKET PART FROM MOOG. IT IS MY OPINION THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHERE IT DID OTHERWISE, MY WIFE COULD HAVE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING FUMES EMITTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE AND MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN IN THE OFF POSITION. PLACING THE TURN SIGNAL IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE WOULD REMEDY SITUATION, FURTHER FIXED BY PULLING THE FOG LIGHT FUSE. LATTER ON AT 80,000 MILES THE LOW BEAMS FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD WORK (AFTER PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN). THE DANGER WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY WHEN YOU WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE FOG LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF. THIS WAS FIXED BY REMOVING THE MULTI-STICK FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW COMPONENT. ALL ISSUE WERE RESOLVED BY THIS FIX. *TR

CAR IS MANUAL TRANS, MY WIFE DRIVES IT AND HAS COMPLAINED FOR QUITE A WHILE OF CAR JUMPING I TOLD HER IT WAS HER, THE CAR NEVER DID IT FOR ME DURING TEST DRIVES. IN JANUARY SWITCHED CARS WITH HER IT TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR IT TO HAPPEN. COMING TO A STOP CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAS ALSO TRIED TO ENGAGE ON ITS OWN AT LIGHTS. WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALLS ARE OPEN ON CAR AND RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM WAS ALREADY DONE SO YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. SEEMS LIKE NEWER OF THE SAME PART WAS INSTALLED. CAR IS OFF THE ROAD AND I HAVE SAID MY SORRIES TO MY WIFE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V076000 (POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY) AND WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CONTACT HAVING OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND THE SHIFTER CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

YEAR: 2003 MAKE: CHRYSLER MODEL: PT CRUISER ENGINE: 2.4L TURBOCHARGED COMPONENTS: POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE. THE RESULT OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE RUPTURED DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE HOT TRANSMISSION DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN THE FIRST INCIDENT SINCE THE OWNER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER PURCHASED NEW POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND HAD IT INSTALLED AT A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. *TR

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

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH HAS WORN OUT AND IS CAUSING MY CAR BATTERY TO BE DRAINED DUE TO THE FOG LIGHT STAYING ON. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE PART. HOWEVER I WAS CHECKING ONLINE FOR QUOTES WHEN I STUMBLED UPON A FORUM FULL OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE OVER 600 COMMENTS REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE PT CRUISER, MOST OF THEM WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING SOMEBODY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL OF THE PART, I WILL BUY A NEW PART I JUST DON'T WANT THE SAME PART AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED DUE TO MY CAR BEING DRAINED OF BATTERY LIFE MORE THAN 5 TIMES. *TR

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 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP IN OCTOBER 2008 AND THE STEERING HOSE IN APRIL OF 2009; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE COST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH, HE REMEMBERED CHANGING LANES AND THERE WAS SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OFF OF THE GROUND PER A WITNESS SINCE THE CONTACT DOESN'T RECALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT OCCURRED. HE DOES REMEMBER THAT THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND THAT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND HIP INJURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN

GAS FUMES INTERIOR OF CAR NO PHYSICAL GAS UNDER VEHICLE. *TR

I SAW A STORY ON ABC NEWS CONCERNING DECELERATION ON BMW VEHICLES AND I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I WAS TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEED AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN DECELERATION OF MY VEHICLE. IF SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON MY 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAVE BECOME SO CLOUDY THEY ARE PRACTICALLY USELESS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER PT CRUISERS AS WELL AS OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AS I AM FEARFUL OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH ALOT OF DEER AND THIS LOW VISIBILITY CONCERNS ME. *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

2003 TURBO PT CRUISER ISSUE WITH ENGINE OVER HEATING LIGHT COMING ON ENGINE WAS NOT OVER HEATING. A WEEK LATER RUNNING LIGHTS AND FOGLAMPS STARTED COMING ON WHILE CAR IS OFF AND SITTING. CHECKED A SITE THAT SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TURBO 2003 AND 2004 TURBO CRUISERS AND THE ISSUE WILL GET WORSE. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

MY PT CRUISER 2003 HAS BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION BECAUSE OF THE CONTAMINATION MY BRAKES BRAKE PADS CALIBER ARE MESSED UP HAVEN'T GOT FIXED YET. *TR

2003 P T CRUISER WITH 44000 MILES AM TOLD IT NEEDS FRONT BEARINGS ON THE FRONT. *TR

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD AT 60,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS WANDERING ON THE ROAD. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES DEFECT INVOLVING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION *TGW IN AUGUST 2007 THE BUSHINGS HAD DETERIORATED AFTER ONLY 30,620 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AT A COST OF $414.84 WHICH THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. IN JUNE 2009, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY BEEN 12,292 MILES SINCE THEY WERE INITIALLY REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAD THEM REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FACTORY CHROME RIMS 17" CORRODING AND FLAKE OFF CAUSING THE AIR PRESSURE TO DROP OVERNIGHT. CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION RESULTING IN LOSE OF CONTROL AND UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. *TR

WITH 59,000 FREEWAY MILES, AT 65 MPH VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. VEHICLE WOULD ONLY LURCH ALONG AT A SLOW SPEED AND UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL REQUIRED COSTING OVER $2,000 TO REPAIR. *TR

OEM 17" CHROME WHEELS ON 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT CORRODE, FLAKE OFF, AND TIRES LOSE PRESSURE OVERNIGHT. LOW TIRE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL OR SKID. THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE TWICE A DAY. FORGETTING TO DO THIS, EVEN ONCE, CAN LEAD TO AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

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.

1. I GENERALLY DRIVE OUR 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY, AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS MEANS I WAS TURNING THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL UNIT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. 2. BEGINNING EARLY IN 2009 I EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH WITHOUT A LOT OF CYCLING, OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN THEMSELVES ON WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE MADE THAT HAPPEN. THEN, WHEN TRYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, THE SWITCH BEGAN TO SMOKE. TURNING OFF THE CAR CLEARED THAT, SO I STOPPED USING THE FOG LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHT PORTION OF THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. 3. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE OUT OF THE SWITCH. I THEN CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTO MAINTENANCE COMPANY I HAVE USED IN THE PAST AND TRUST. THEY QUOTED ME A BETTER SERVICE PRICE, AND THAT THE SWITCH WAS BACKORDERED. THERE WERE OVER 5000 SWITCHES ON BACKORDER AND IT WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED BEFORE WE RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND HAD IT INSTALLED. MY CONCERN IS TWO FOLD: 1. THE 5000 MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF FAILURES, AND 2. IF I HAD NOT BEEN SITTING THERE, WOULD THE LIGHTS, AFTER COMING ON BY THEMSELVES HAVE CAUSE THE SWITCH TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE? I THOUGHT THAT THE BRIEF TIME I WAS SMOKE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BLOW THE FUSE, BUT IT DIDN'T. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND WHEN HE WAS HIT T BONE AND EVENTUALLY LANDED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA 629139 EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS, MOISTURE INSIDE VENTED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. HEADLIGHTS HAVE HARD WATER DEPOSITS ON INSIDE OF LAMP,WITH SUN EXPOSURE HAVE BECOME SO CORRODED THEY ARE NOT USABLE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. *TR

HIGH BEAMS COMING ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, AT FIRST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK THEN EVERYDAY IT WOULD HAPPEN THEN EVERYTIME USING THE VEHICLE, THE HIGH BEAMS CAME ON AFTER I TURNED THEM OFF WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR WOULD NOT CRANK, THE HIGH BEAMS WHERE STILL ON, HAD TO GET MY CAR JUMPED STARTED, REMOVED THE FUSE AND HAVEN'T HAD THE HIGH BEAMS TO COME ON AGAIN, BUT I NEED MY HIGH BEAMS ESP. FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, THERE'S A SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FUSE AND HIGH BEAMS LIGHTS. *TR

FUEL LINE ABRASION AND LEAKAGE ON FUEL LINE FROM FIREWALL TO FUEL RAIL. 2003 MPT CRUISER WITH 5 SPEED AND 146,000 MILES FUEL ABRADED THRU FIRE WALL INSULATION AND RUBBED WHILE THRU PROTECTIVE SLEEVE AND FUEL LINE FUEL LINE SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER ENGINE, CONVERTER AND FIREWALL DRIVER NOTICED FUEL SMELL AND STOPPED CAR. *TR

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

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, CONTROL ARMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON MY CAR. MAY 2007, MILEAGE 40,054, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WORN OUT/CONTROL ARM HOLE OBLONG: BOTH REPLACED. AGAIN TODAY, APRIL 2009, MILEAGE 55,000, CAR IS IN SHOP FOR SAME SERVICE. ALSO, APRIL 2008, MILEAGE 46,856 FRONT LEFT HUB BEARING FAILED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN JULY 2008 IN OCT WE NOTICED LIGHTS FLICKERING HEADLIGHT SWITCH STARTED BURNING FOG LIGHTS CAME ON DIDN'T WORK BEFORE TOOK IT DODGE NEW SWITCH AND 22 PIN CONNECTOR . NEW PCM REPROGRAMMED IT STILL SAME PROBLEM LIGHTS FLICKER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

TWO PT CRUISERS, 02-03, BOTH NEEDING TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, WATTS LINKAGE, WHEEL BEARINGS AT AROUND OR LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. BASICALLY THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS UNHEARD OF. *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 PT GT CRUISER IN JAN.2004 WITH 600 MILES ON IT. AT 36,000 MILES THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ( AT OUR EXPENSE) FOR THE FIRST TIME. DEALER ( PRESTON OF WARREN, OHIO ) SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES, AND 6 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THEY ARE AGAIN NEEDING REPLACED FOR THE NINTH TIME.I ALSO REPLACED TIERODS AND BUSHINGS ONCE, AND HUBS TWICE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF ONLINE POSTS FROM OTHER PT OWNERS WITH STRIKINGLY SIMILAR STORIES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

FOG LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH WITHOUT MY TURNING THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD DEAD BATTERY? IS THERE A RECALL? *TR

I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE TO THE CHYRSLER FORUMS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALOT OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. SOME WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART. THANKS, DARLENE SMITH *TR

LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD AT 38,000 MILES. 2 WATER PUMPS WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. CAMSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. OIL PAN ON ENGINE STARTED LEAKING WHEN CAR HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

WE OWNED A 2003 PT CRUISER AND I HAD A WRECK ON APRIL 18, 2008 AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH TO HOLD ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. IT THREW ME FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER WHERE I HAD MY HAD RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SHOULDER STRAP HAD CAUGHT WHEN THE COLLISION HAPPENED. WE BOUGHT ANOTHER PT CRUISER, A 2007 AND MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND WHO WAS DRIVING HAD AN ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 21, 2009. THEY SWERVED TO KEEP FROM HITTING A DOG AND HIT A GUARD RAIL ALMOST HEAD ON AND AGAIN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT CATCH. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A BAD PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISERS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM? *TR

I OWN TWO PT CRUISERS, BOTH HAVE HAD CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURES AT 45K MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHRYSLER, ALL OVER INTERNET, FAILURES AT EARLIER MILEAGE AS WELL. THEY DO NOTHING. $650/CAR TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM. *TR

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.

POWER FAILURE. *TR

I JUST FOUND A RECALL ON MY PT CRUISER ON THE WEB AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A NOTICE TO DATE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALLS. MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ARE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL ISSUES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "GET AWAY FROM HER" WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END REPAIRS WERE COMMON. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $600. THEY ALSO STATED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD BE NEEDED FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN UPDATED 11/24/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,583. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, IN WHICH SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE THROTTLE BODY, THE RADIATOR, AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE POWERTRAIN AND STEERING UNIT. THE REPAIRS COST $4,000. TYPICALLY, THE FAILURES IMMEDIATELY RECUR AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE HER A SMALL REIMBURSEMENT OF $878. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500.