Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
NHTSA#03-V-076-000:ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, A WELDED PIN INTERNAL TO THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) ASSEMBLY CAN UNSEAT AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH DISC. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MAY 23/2003 AND ON MAY 25/2003 THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER PROPERLY. *JB
WHILE DRIVING POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN.. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM. *AK
THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. THE RECALLED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *NLM *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY UNREADABLE IN SUNLIGHT AND/OR "RAINY" WEATHER. PH
WHEN CONSUMER BRAKES, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION AT NIGHT TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH THIS ALSO OCCURED WHEN WINDOW SWITCH AND AUTO DOOR LOCKS WERE ENGAGED. DEALER CHECKED WIRING TO PCM, ALLG ROUNDS AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. NOTHING FOUND. *TT
LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE DURING THE INSTILLATION OF A CHILD SEAT. IF THIS CAN BREAK THIS PART I FEEL THAT IT WOULD NOT HOLD UP IN AN ACCIDENT. DT
THE COMPLAINT INVOLVES A MISSING PART, THE REAL STABILIZER BAR. THIS MODEL STATES ON THE WINDOW STICKER THAT A REAR STABILIZER BAR IS INCLUDED. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE A REAL STABILIZER BAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT HE COULD INSTALL ONE FOR $520. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT THEY BEEFED UP THE REAL AXLE AND THAT IS THEIR STABILIZER BAR. I CONTEND THAT THIS IS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY AN INFORMED PUBLIC THAT KNOWS WHAT A STABILIZER BAR IS. THEY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THIS MODEL WITH THIS MISLEADING INFORMATION ON THE WINDOW STICKERS. I ASK WHY DO THEY SHOW A REAR STABILIZER BAR IN THEIR PARTS COMPUTER THAT THE DEALER LOCATED AND OFFERED TO INSTALL FOR $520 IF WHAT THEY CLAIM IS TRUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THIS WAS MISLEADING BUT REFUSED TO ABSORB THE COSTS. OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME MODEL REPORT THAT THEIR CARS ARE MISSING THIS PART AS WELL. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN CORRECT THIS SITUATION BY REQUIRING CHRYSLER TO INSTALL THE PART AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. DT
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser → · Every PT Cruiser year → · How the figures are calculated →