2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints

CAR HAS HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH ALL WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AND SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE ALL GOING DEAD. AFTER A MOMENT THE GAUGES COME BACK TO LIFE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR WAS JUST STARTED. THE ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING AND THE RADIO, WIPERS, ETC ALL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. ISSUE IS CONFINED TO THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL. THIS CAN OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN GO FOR DAYS WITHOUT HAPPENING. I AM NOT ABLE TO 'FORCE' THE CONDITION AND GET IT TO OCCUR ON DEMAND SO THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE ISSUES INCLUDING IGNITION SWITCH AND THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE - I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET IT FIXED SO THE CAR WILL BE SAFE. THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURS WITH MY CAR - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XOVO0SIC9BK OR HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=FCIM1AYPBHI. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND PROGRESSIVELY SPREAD TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 52,000.

WHILE DRIVING ALL INSTRUMENT GAUGES BEGAN FLASHING AND GOING UP AND DOWN. COULD NOT ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. 3 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BY JIGGLING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND AFTER 1 WEEK HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN EASY TO MOVE AND NOW WITH A NEW SWITCH IT FEELS "NORMAL". WITH THE RECENT RECALLS OF IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES PERHAPS THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ON CHRYSLER MODELS. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH IF THE ENGINE STALLS COMPLETELY IN TRAFFIC. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT OF HAVING NO STEERING CONTROL IF THE ENGINE DOES STALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS WHERE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. ON FOUR OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST POWER AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY ERROR CODES DEALING WITH THE IGNITION. AFTER MY THIRD VISIT HE SUGGESTED GOING TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THE STALLING OR INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS. I ASKED BOTH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NONE. ALSO, DASH WARNING LIGHTS FLASH OFF & OVER TIME I LEARNED IF I TOUCHED THE IGNITION KEY AND MOVED IT SLIGHTLY THE PROBLEM MIGHT GO AWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS AND I HAVE DEALT WITH IT BY SLIGHTLY MOVING THE KEY. THE INTERMITTENT DASH WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM HAPPENED TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO THEN STOPPED. WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS 6/3/14-6/8/14 THE DASH WARNING LIGHT INCIDENT RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC ON 6/14/2014. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2014 IT HAD 58,000 MILES ON IT. ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLEW OUT. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (CARMAX) AND HAD IT REPLACED.NO PROBLEM. THREE MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. I GET A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT, NEEDS A SOCKET REPLACEMENT. #ISSUE 1 IN MAY 2014, THERE WAS A SLIGHT ELEVATION IN THE TEMPERATURE (HIGH 80'S), I WANTED TO TRY ON THE A.C., WHEN DOING SO I HEARD A "POP" THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM THE VENT. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT CAME FROM NOT BEING USED FOR AWHILE. THE AIR DID NOT BLOW COLD RIGHT AWAY, IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINS BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO COOL. NOW ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO RUN THE A.C., THE SAME THINGS HAPPENED (THE "POP", 15MIN COOLING TIME) BUT A NEW PROBLEM CAME UP...WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT BEGAN TO SHAKE! IT WAS IDLING, WHILE SITTING; THEN WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WAS OKAY (SLIGHT IDLE, BUT STOPPED). THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT IS VERY SPONTANEOUS. MY PLAN WAS TO GET SERVICE ON THE A.C BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM #ISSUE 2 PLEASE HELP!!!! *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED OF BOTH VEHICLES WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,833. JCC

I HAD STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT AND WAS HIT IN AN FRONT /HEAD ON CRASH THERE WAS NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT - THECAR WAS DEEMED AS A TOTAL LOST PER MY INSURANCE THE DAMAGE WAS FRONT LEFT FINDER - HOOD = BUMPER - GRILL LEFT SUSPENSION PARTS RADIATOR OIL COOLER AND FRAME I FEEL THAT IF THE CAR IS GOING TO SUSTAIN THAT MUCH DAMAGE THE CAR WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIR BAGS. I HAVE SEEN CARS THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN HIT HARD ENOUGH TO SCUFF THE FRONT BUMPER ALSO THE HORN WOULD LIKE TO STICK WHEN DEPRESSED SOME TIME THE HORN WOULD SOUND SOME TIME THE HORN WOULD NOT MAKE ANY SOUND TILL YOU BEAT THE DARN THING. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR A WHILE AND ON THE DAY THIS HAPPENED I HAD RETURNED FROM WORK PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO BACK TO WORK I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THE CAR HANDLED HARD. I STOPPED SHIFTED IT BACK INTO PARK AND THEN WENT BACK INTO DRIVE STILL THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN. OF COURSE THE WAS LATE FRIDAY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SO I ENDED UP RENTING A CAR FOR 5 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY AND THE FACT I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO NO CHRYSLER CERTIFIED MECHANIC WAS ON DUTY TO WORK ON MY CAR.TUESDAY MORNING I GO OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD A BELT HAD SLIPPED AND THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT HAPPENED. I WASN'T CHARGED FOR THIS BUT IT COST ME A TOW AND 5 DAYS OF RENTAL FOR A CAR SO I COULD GET TO AND FROM WORK. WHEN I GOT ON THIS SITE I COULDN'T FIND ANY INFO SO I STILL AM NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO TAKE VERY FAR. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO THE LAST GEAR AND WAS SLIPPING. CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A CELLINOID BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN HE REPLACED IT THE TRANSMISSION STILL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BY NOT CHANGING GEARS AND WHEN HE TOOK THE PART BACK TO THE PARTS STORE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLERS TRANSMISSIONS. I HAD A TOWN & COUNTRY VAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THAT TRANSMISSION ALSO WAS DEFECTIVE. NOW I CANNOT GET MY MONEY BACK FROM BUYING A PART THAT REALLY WASN'T NEEDED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IT SELF IS DEFECTIVE. MY MECHANIC FELT SO BAD ABOUT THIS THAT HE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED CHRYSLER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT RIGHTS OR WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? I DO NOT HAVE MONIES TO SQUANDER AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR MY CAR. THANKS. *JS

EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE AC UNIT THE FAN DOESN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY AND WHEN IT DOES IT POPS AND THE CAR BEGINS TO OVER HEAT. AT THE TIME I TURN OFF THE POWER. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS PT CRUISER FROM A LOCAL DEALER, THE FIRST TIME IT TURNED OFF I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THOUGHT IT JUST STALLED FROM NOT BEING WARMED UP. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROAD DOING 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH MY KNEE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. LUCKILY IT WAS A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO A STOP THEN RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES MORE, ALL WITH BUMPING MY KNEE AGAINST THE IGNITION KEY. IT INSTANTLY TURNS THE CAR OFF. WITH THE GM RECALL IN THE NEWS I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION SINCE I DON'T HAVE A GM CAR BUT DECIDED TO LOOK WHEN I HEARD IT INVOLVED THE IGNITION TURNING THE CAR OFF. I SAW THAT IT IS SIMILAR YET NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT MY IGNITION SO I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. I KNOW THAT MANY PARTS ARE USED ACROSS BRANDS AND THESE PARTS MAY BE THE SAME. I AM WORRIED I MAY BUMP MY KNEE ON A WINDY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER STABILITY AND STEERING IF IT TURNS OFF. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS IMMEDIATELY!! *TR

TRUNK LOCK WILL NOT OPEN. THERE IS NO TRUNK KEYED LOCK FOR INSERTION OF A PHYSICAL KEY AND THERE IS NO EMERGENCY MANUAL RELEASE ON THE TRUNK DOOR ITSELF. LOCK ONLY HAS FUNCTIONALITY FROM KEY REMOTE OR LOCK RELEASE ON DRIVER DOOR WHICH IS NOT WORKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TRUNK INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LOCKS FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

DRIVING ON FRWY SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GO CRAZY CAR TURNS OFF AND TURNS BACK ON. VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES IT IS VERY SCARY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HORN WAS ENGAGED, IT REMAINED ACTIVATED AND WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGE UNTIL MUCH LATER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG HORN ASSEMBLY HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. *TR

THE ISSUES STARTED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER EARLY DECEMBER 2013. MY CAR BATTERY WAS UNABLE TO HOLD A CHARGER AND MY CAR CONTINUOUSLY WOULD NOT START. I SPENT ABOUT 200 TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR AND STARTER TESTED AS WELL AS GET A NEW BATTERY PUT INTO MY CAR. I THEN HAD THE SAME SITUATION HAPPEN THE MECHANIC TRIED A NEW BATTERY AND MY CAR WORKED FOR A WEEK. THEN IT DIED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SENT ME TO AN ELECTRICIAN THE ELECTRICIAN STILL CLAIMED IT WAS THE BATTERY. THEN TODAY I HAD THE CAR JUMP STARTED AGAIN ONLY TO FIND I GOT NOT EVEN HALF A MILE FROM WHERE I WAS AND MY CAR LIGHTS ALL OVER STARTED FLICKERING THEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF TO THE POINT MY EMERGENCY FOUR WAYS WOULD NOT EVEN WORK THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AT A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WASN'T EVEN STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT SO IT WAS DARK OUT AND I HAD TO CALL 911 BECAUSE I WAS UNSAFE AND SO WAS ANYONE ELSE TRYING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE I HAD NO ABILITY TO SIGNAL TO PEOPLE IN A SAFE WAY TO MOVE INTO THE OTHER LANE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS BY PEOPLE DRIVING MY YEAR AND OTHER YEARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE HAD VERY SIMILAR ISSUES TO MINE. WITH A CONSTANT RESPONSE OF BEING TOLD THAT THERE EITHER IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR THEY CAN SAY THERE IS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. THESE CARS ARE WALKING DEATH TRAPS TO THERE OWNERS WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAUSE IT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO EXPLANATION AND THE COMPANY/DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I REALLY DON'T THINK

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, DASHBOARD LIGHTS START FLICKERING, GAUGES START BOUNCING. SOMETIMES THIS IS ALL THAT HAPPENS, OTHER TIMES IT'S AS IF THE CAR STALLS AS I HAVE NO ACCELERATION. A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE ENGINE HAS SHUT ITSELF OFF. IN RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I FIND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF INSTANCES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING WITH PT CRUISERS. *TR

JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM...WHILE DRIVING, AT SOME POINT, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON, SEAT BELT ETC. AS WELL AS ALL THE NEEDLES, SPEEDOMETER, GAS ETC WILL GO DOWN...THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR HAS STALLED OUT. ABOUT APRIL 2012 THE IC PANEL WAS REPLACED. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES AT THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO MAKE THE PROBLEM HAPPEN. WELL, IT DOESN'T END THERE...LAST FALL THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN!!!! THE DEALER HAD IT AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS TIME THEY NEVER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. SO, I FIGURED I COULD DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO HEAT, OR AIR CONDITIONING, NO RADIO, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM HASN'T OCCURRED, UNTIL JUST RECENTLY...THIS TIME IT GOES OFF CONTINUALLY, SOMETIMES. THIS IS SO SCARY! THE CAR CAN STALL ANYWHERE! I HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS SAME ISSUE ON SEVERAL BLOGS...STILL UNRESOLVED. *TR

MY PT CRUISER FROM TIME TO TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS WILL SUDDENLY STALL. ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AND FALL OF AT WHICH CALL WILL STALL. THIS ACTION OCCURS EITHER WHILE IDLING AND OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. THE ACTION SOMETIMES WILL SHUT CAR DOWN THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS START BACK UP. PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION. I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS SITUATION AND KNOW ONE SEEMS TO CARE OR NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO I CAN GET THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

RE: #10510796, PART RECEIVED FRIDAY 24 MAY 2013 PART INSTALLED FRIDAY 31 MAY 2013 PROBLEM RESOLVED. THANK YOU.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME ACTIVATED. INDICATES NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLY NO SRS CAPABILITY. PER LITHIA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP #4, "WITECH TEST CODES SET, B1B57, B1B55, B1B56, B1B54". "REPLACE PASS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RECEIVER (BUCKLE), ON NATIONAL BACKORDER NO ETA AT THIS TIME". PROBLEM, REDUCED PASSENGER SAFETY, CONTINUES CHIMING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 SECOND INTERVALS AND BRIGHT RED WARNING LIGHT; NO FIX AVAILABLE. *TR

THE CLUTCH STARTED TO MAKE IT HARD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ARIZONA SO IT STARTS TO WARM UP TO ABOUT 100 DEGREES AROUND THIS TIME (END OF APRIL). THIS THEN OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2011 AND 2012 FROM APRIL TO THE END OF OCTOBER (WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL OFF BELOW 100 DEGREES). EVERY YEAR IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND TODAY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ALL WARM WEATHER LOCATED PT'S. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FUEL LINE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO PAY $ 109.25 TO HAVE THE FUEL LINE REMOVED AND REPLACED.

VALVE STEM FAILURE AND RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO GALVANIC CORROSION. *TR

THE CAR TENDS TO STALL WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50, IT WILL JERK A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN GOING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SEEKING AND TRYING ALL TYPES OF SOLUTIONS. EVEN TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVING THE SAME STALL AND ROUGH IDLING. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING. *TR

IN APRIL 2012 MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TURNING TO WARM AIR WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ACTING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON AUGUST 6, 2012 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE LINE, AND IF MORE PROBLEMS BRING IT BACK. ON AUGUST 8TH THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT ONLY TURNED WARM THE CAR CUT OFF. AS LONG AS I'M RUNNING STEADY ON THE HIGHWAY IT WORKS FINE.I ACTUALLY HAVE TO TURN THE AIR OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR NOT RUN IT AT ALL AROUND THE CITY,I RETURNED AGAIN TO THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. I WENT ON LINE TO JUST ANSWER TODAY, CHRYSLER EXPERT INFORMING ME THAT POSSIBLY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN NEEDS REPLACING WHICH IS COMMON IN PT CRUISER.I AM CONCERNED IT WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS TO MY CAR. *TR

MY INFANT NEPHEWS AND MY NIECE WERE IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK, I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR LOCKING ITSELF WHILE I DRIVE, BUT THIS TIME IT LOCKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CLICKER (REMOTE) OR THE KEY TO UNLOCK UNTIL MY NEPHEWS WERE PANICKED (ABOUT SEVEN/TEN MINUTES THAT TIME) IT OPENED AND I GOT THEM OUT, BUT IT UPSET ME SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY PASSENGERS AND THIS MORNING, IT LOCKED ME IN FROM THE INSIDE AND NOTHING WOULD RELEASE THE LOCKS, NOT THE DOOR NOT THE REMOTE, NOT THE MANUAL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE BEING TOLD ITS THE RKEM, THIS IS A HAZARD AND A HALF, I WAS ABOUT READY TO BUST THE WINDOWS FOR MYSELF (I WAS LOCKED IN FOR ALMOST TWENTY MINUTES/HAD TO KEEP RESTARTING THE CAR TO GET AIR IN, BECAUSE IT WAS HOT. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW THIS WOULD NOT BE A RECALL ITEM. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BRAKES ALSO EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO CONDUCTED A DRIVABLE PERFORMANCE CHECK AND A BODY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECK BUT COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND READJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,954 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PT CRUISER HOME, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONE TIME AND STAYED ON FOR THE TEN MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO GET HOME. THEY CAME ON AGAIN BRIEFLY TWO MORE TIMES FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, WROTE THEM DOWN AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REPAIR MADE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME. AGAIN IN MAY, 2012, THE CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE AND BRIEFLY WHILE DRIVING HOME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ISSUE FOR CONSUMERS TO DEAL WITH AND I ALSO URGE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS ON THE 2008 PT CRUISERS. *TR

DASHBOARD, INSIDE, OUTSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING; WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEED TO BE REPLACED; IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2011, AND NOW AGAIN IN 2012. PER DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT., CA LAW REQUIRES IT BE REPLACED - FOR SAFETY SAKE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, AND CROSSING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE COLUMBIA RIVER WITH NO SHOULDER, THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. ALL THE GAUGES STARTED TO CUT IN AND OUT (GAS, SPEED AND RPM ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON), AND THEN THE CAR STALLED AND DIED. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND HE SAW MY FLASHERS AND I WAS FRANTICALLY HONKING MY HORN BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO DIE. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM AND THAT ONE NEARLY HIT US. THIS WOULD HAVE EASILY KILLED ME AND MY FAMILY ( A BEAUTIFUL 16 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND A BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO IS A NEWLY GRADUATED DVM. MIRACULOUSLY THE CAR RESTARTED DURING MY PANIC, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RAN EXHAUSTIVE TESTS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM EITHER, WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS WELL: HTTP://WWW.PTCRUISERLINKS.COM/FORUM/TECH-PERFORMANCE-FORUM/33457-FLASHING-ICONS-GAUGES-GO-UP-DOWN-THEN-CAR-DIES.HTML THEN I FOUND THIS SITE AND FOUND EVEN MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EARILY SIMILAR. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE! PLEASE INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION!!!! *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

DURING DRIVING OPERATIONS, THIS IS AFTER START UP, THE DASH BOARD INDICATORS WILL BLINK ON, LIGHT UP. THIS DESCRIPTION INCLUDES ALL OF THE INDICATORS, SUCH AS LOW TIRE PRESSURE, OIL, SEAT BELT, ETC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATORS WOULD ALL ILLUMINATE ERRONEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS STOPPED MID CYCLE, WHEN I MADE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE COLUMN CONTROL THE WIPERS WENT INTO LOW SPEED MODE AND WOULD ALSO WORK IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE, HOWEVER THE WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP WORKING UNTIL SEVERAL TRIES TO TURN THEM OFF WORKED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PRESENT IT'S SELF AND AT ONE POINT THE WIPERS CONTINUED TO RUN WITH THE KEY IN THE "OFF" POSITION. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DICK HANNAH CHRYSLER IN VANCOUVER , WA ON 3 DEC 2011 WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE T.I.P.M (FAULT CODE B3205) . I HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE T.I.P.M REPLACED BY THIS DEALER WHEN THEY GET THE T.I.P.M REPLACEMENT FROM CHRYSLER (5 DAYS OUT). THE COST OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSED BY ONE CIRCUIT OF THE T.I.P.M IS $840.00 AND THERE IS NO WAY TO HAVE THE ONE CIRCUIT REPLACED OR REPAIRED ON THE DEFECTIVE UNIT IN THE PT CRUISER. THE COST OF THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY ONE ISSUE IN THIS MATTER THE MAJOR ISSUE IS SAFETY CAUSED BY THE DISTRACTION OF ATTENTION WHEN THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THERE ARE MANY SITES ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE T.I.P.M FAILURE ON CHRYSLER VEHICLES WHICH INDICATES A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE T.I.P.M. I FEEL THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WAITING TO PRESENT LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND DISTRACTION OF ATTENTION IN REGARD TO SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TOURING. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THROUGH FOG, HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF AN 18-WHEELER. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAG UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD DEPLOYED AND FRACTURED HIS LEG. THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG ALSO DEPLOYED AND FRACTURED HIS NOSE ALONG WITH OTHER FACIAL INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2008 PT CRUISER HAS A BAD #3 VALVE. I HAD THE CAR TUNED UP DUE TO A MISFIRE CODE OF THE #3 VALVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR TWO DAYS WITH NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, THE CAR IDLED ROUGH AND THE SAME CODE FOR #3 MISFIRE VALVE CAME UP ON THE DASH. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN THE VALVE AND #1,2, & 4 HAD A PRESSURE OF 175 WITH # 3 HAVING PRESSURE OF 110. MY CAR ONLY HAS 77,135 MILES ON IT. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME VALVE ON THE SAME YEAR AND THEIR CAR ONLY HAD 38000. SEEING HOW MORE THAN ONE CAR HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM, DOESN'T THIS NEED LOOKING INTO. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE VALVE OR REPLACE THE ENGINE HEAD WHICH COSTS AROUND $1500.00. *TR

HAVE A 2008 PT CRUISER. I HAD A ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A ALERT THAT THE CAR NEEDS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPDATE ($150). CAR IS SHAKING. WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE PT CRUISER THAT SEVERAL BUSHING AROUND THE ENGINE VERY FAST WEAR OUT. PASSENGER WINDOW SOMETIMES DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY UP. THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT BUT DO NOT DO ANYTHING. IT IS NOT LIKE BATTERY OR TIRE THAT WEAR OUT. DO THEY WANT TO PEOPLE GET INJURED OR DIE BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE BEING EMITTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS MISSING FROM THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,474 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,674. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DUE TO A MISSING COVER ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UPDATED 05/06/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADD AIR TO THE RH REAR TIRE A SECTION OF THE VALVE STEM BROKE AND THE VALVE CORE WAS EXPELLED. THIS CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. HAD THIS VALVE STEM FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT TURNPIKE SPEEDS IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THE CAR COULD LOST STABILITY. THE STEM DEMONSTRATED ADVANCED CORROSION. AN ADDITIONAL NOTE THE VALVE CAP IN USE WAS NOT METAL BY PLASTIC ELIMINATING GALVANIC CORROSION FROM DISSIMILAR METALS.

TPMS LIGHT CAME ON. STOPPED TO CHECK LOW TIRE. AS I WAS TRYING TO AIR IT UP I HAD A HARD TIME. I INSPECTED THE VALVE STEM TO FIND IT CRACKED AROUND THE THREADED PART. I TOOK IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE TPMS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN INTERNAL FAILURE. HOWEVER WHEN I HAD THEM ORDER ME ONE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS TPMS PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. 75,000 OF THEM. SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

I TOOK A TRIP TO PICK MY SON UP FROM COLLEGE THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 91 AND AT TIMES IT WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER. WHEN I GOT ON THE 91 MY ELECTRONIC DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN ADJUSTING ITSELF WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ME. THE SEAT BOTTOM MOVED UP AND DOWN, AT ANGLES AND FORWARD TO BACKWARD. ALL THIS HAPPENED CONTINUOUSLY. I TRIED PUSHING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THE SEAT AND GOT NOT RESPONSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO LURCH AROUND ON MY SEAT FOR ALMOST AN HOUR BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY. IT WAS A STRAIN TO REMAIN IN LANE AND STAYING UPRIGHT. OTHER DRIVERS MUST HAVE THOUGHT I WAS DRUNK AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP FROM HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT FINALLY STOPPED MOVING WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GOT OUT. I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WITH A PULLED MUSCLE IN MY BACK AND COULD BARELY WALK. *TR

SAFETY NOTICE PT CRUISER 2008 CAR WASH WATER CAN READILY INFILTRATE THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS THROUGH THE ANTERIOR VENT, AND CAUSE BOTH REAR STOP LAMPS TO IMMEDIATELY HEAT FRACTURE IN THE 2008 PT CRUISER WHILE WASHED BY AN AUTOMATIC SYSTEM. THE HIGH PRESSURE WATER ENTERS THROUGH THE TOP AND GLIDES BACK OFF THE CAVITY BOSS, AND RUNS DOWN INTO THE OPEN VENT. THE VENT SHIELD IS INEFFECTIVE TO THIS LEVEL OF WATER FLOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE VENT IS PACED AT THE TOP OF THE LIGHT ALLOWING FOR WATER TO DRIP DIRECTLY ON A HOT BULB. PREFERABLY, THE VENT SHOULD BE A BOTTOM DRAIN; BUT THIS WOULD REQUIRE REDESIGN. (DELTA SONIC , TOUCH CAR WASH ROUTE 277 ORCHARD PARK, NY) MY NAME IS RC MECHANICAL ENGINEERING B.S. PREVIOUS AUTOMOTIVE FUEL SYSTEM SAFETY PRODUCT VALIDATION ENGINEER, AND NOW A HVAC CONTROLS ENGINEER. THE LIKELY FAILURE MODE OF HAVING A CAR WASH IS PROBABLY HIGH SPEED IMPACT AT A STOP LIGHT DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. PEOPLE COULD DIE. I RECOMMEND A SERVICE REPAIR WHERE NARROW BENT TUBE IS ALUMINUM TAPED TO THE EXISTING VENT. *TR

I HAD TO HAVE MY PASSENGER FRONT SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED TOO AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SOUND WOULD GO OFF WHEN ANY ONE SAT IN THAT SEAT. MY REPLACEMENT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEATBELT QUIT WORKING AFTER NORMAL USE. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO GO ON WHENEVER A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE SEATBELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $300.00. *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS ALL STOPPED WORKING AT AN UNKNOWN TIME THIS YEAR ANOTHER DRIVER TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T WORKING AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE FUSE BOX OR PART OF IT AND WANTED OVER $800.00 TO FIX IT. MY PT CRUISER IS A 2008 WITH APX 48,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C SYSTEM ALSO FAILED WHEN SOME SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A CONNECTION BUT THE LIGHTS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE TURN SIGNALS COME ON INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE SO I WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS SOME ONE TOLD ME. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND THE SERVICE ADVISER AND PARTS DEPARTMENT INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT A MECHANICAL FAILURE SHE HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HER 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER (DOT/I#2010-1236) RESPOND TO CLEVELAND, OH OFFICE *TGW FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD CYLINDER FAILED. *JB