EN

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-DR.

3
Recalls
215
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Complaints
Recalls

215 Complaints

for 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
01/20/2021
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/14/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58854T******
Summary

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING.

08/14/2020
Components: SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 08/14/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B74T******
Summary

BALL JOINT ARE MISSING

03/10/2020
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 08/27/2019
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

IT STARTED WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE MIDDLE STICK LIGHTS (P,D,R,N++) I CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT WHAT SPEED I'M GOING OR MY LEVELS OR ANYTHING BC THE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED I'VE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TWICE, I'VE HAD THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED TWICE BUT IT STILL OVER HEATS NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH BOTH OF MY TODDLERS IN THE CAR ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY LOCKED UP ON ME COULDN'T USE THE STEERING WHEEL OR BRAKES HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT'S JUST BEEN REPETITIVE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY SISTER WHO'S GRANDMOTHER GOT TIRED OF PUTTING MONEY INTO IT IT STUTTERS SOMETIMES LIKE IT'S SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO ACCELERATE IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. IT WAS MY FIRST CAR IT'S NEVER BEEN WRECKED, I NEVER THOUGHT TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS, I BOUGHT IT IN JULY OF 17. IT'S ONLY HAD A TOTAL OF 2 OWNERS. IT USED TO SHAKE REAL BAD I COULDN'T GO OVER 55MILES AN HOUR BUT EVEN 55 WAS IFFY. THE SCARIEST THING FOR ME WAS IT LOCKING UP ON A HIGHWAY WITH AN INTERSECTING LANE I HAD JUST HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME BEFORE IT STARTED SMOKING AND LOCKED UP AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN MY KIDS 3 & 1 WERE IN THE BACK ALL I COULD THINK TO DO WAS PULL MY EMERGENCY BREAK I DRIFTED AND SWERVED UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP LUCKILY NOT WRECKING OR INJURING ANYONE, JUST FEAR OF DRIVING I REALLY TRUSTED THIS CAR. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO GET AHOLD OF A STATE TROOPER WHO GAVE ME A COUPLE DAYS TO MOVE IT GIVEN MY CIRCUMSTANCE AND 45 MIN AWAY FROM HOME, A STRANGER STOPPED TO HELP AND OFFERED TO GIVE US A RIDE BACK TO IRONTON FROM THE WEST PORTSMOUTH HIGHWAY HE LIVED IN PORTSMOUTH OUT OF KINDNESS MOVED MY CAR TO HIS HOUSE THERE AFTER DROPPING US OFF THAT NIGHT TO KEEP FROM GETTING IT TOWED. OFFICER NOTED EVERYTHING. I DIDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING UNTIL I JUST RECENTLY GOT ANOTHER 2004 PT THAT STARTED FIRE IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.

07/01/2019
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/04/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68864T******
Summary

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

02/21/2019
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/08/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68864T******
Summary

THIS VEHICLE HAS A P0037 AND A P0037 DTC'S THAT WON'T CANCEL. FINDLEY CHRYSLER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS. IT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THE COMPUTER IS BAD. I SENT THE COMPUTER 5033293AF TO BE REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS OK. I GOT THE CODES TO GO AWAY FOR A BRIEF TIME BY MESSING WITH THE COMPUTER WIRE LOOM. IHAVE HEARD THERE WAS ARECALL FOR THIS. IS IT STILL AVAILABLE?06/08/2018

10/24/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 10/18/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER AND DIE. WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE.

08/09/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/09/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G14T******
Summary

JUST UNDER 78,000 MILES TURBO GOES OUT, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED TURBO (TOOK 6 MOS) FINALLY RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN 1 MONTH HEAD GASKET GOES OUT (BLOWING WHITE SMOKE), WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A SIDE ROAD (DEALER SAYS KNOWN PROBLEM, WANTS ANOTHER $2000 FOR HEAD GASKET, LOCAL DEALER SAYS "THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THAT CAR ARE THE WEAK POINT, WHEN YOU RETURN THE COMP RATIO TO NEW/NORMAL WITH A NEW TURBO. IT WILL BLOW THE HEAD GASKET OUT") REPLACED MYSELF (CANT AFFORD DEALER) NEW HEAD GASKET (MULTI LAYERED POS), NEW BOLTS (REQUIRED), NEW TIMING BELT, NOW IT WONT START, TESTED ALL SENSORS, CAM, CRANK, O/P, WATER, THROTTLE POS, REPLACED COIL, REPLACED PCM, CHASED AND INSPECTED ALL WIRING, STILL NOTHING ENGINE CRANKS OVER, BUT-IT WILL NOT START. MECHANICS AND DEALERS ALIKE SAY ITS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA OR REASON FOR IT NOT STARTING, I KEEP BEING TOLD TO CHECK THIS SENSOR, REPLACE THAT $300 PART, LOOK HERE, LOOK THERE, REPLACE THAT (ANOTHER$300) AGAIN. CHRYSLER HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS PIECE OF CRAP AND HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR 4 YEARS NOW CHRYSLER NEEDS TO REPAIR THIS AND REIMBURSE FOR ALL THE CRAP I'VE HAD TO REPLACE AND ALL THE B/S I'VE GONE THROUGH. THEY KNEW THE HEAD GASKET WOULD BLOW OUT AFTER A NEW TURBO WAS INSTALLED, AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT, THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS NO START/NO CRANK ISSUE THESE CARS HAVE, BUT HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS OR FIX THE POOR CONDITION OF THEIR VEHICLES. NOW THERE'S A LINE THAT SAYS ITS POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY SOLD THE PUBLIC A LEMON AND GOT AWAY WITH IT. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THESE PIECES OF GARBAGE OR BUY THEM ALL BACK AT WHAT THEY SOLD FOR ORIGINALLY I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER AS LONG AS I LIVE. NOT WORTH EVEN USING AS A BOAT ANCHOR.

11/28/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 11/28/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B94T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, WHICH CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE CUSTOMER REMOVED FUSE #8 DAILY TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED AT HENKEL CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (1275 W DICKMAN RD, SPRINGFIELD, MI 49037, (800) 865-6185). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,773.

11/14/2017
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/03/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

POWER STEERING LEAKAGE ON TURBO MODEL ENGINE HOT POSSIBLE FIRE HAD FIXED ONCE AND IT BROKE AGAIN , THERE IS A RECALL ON THE NON TURBO MODEL ALREADY

10/17/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/08/2017
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G34T******
Summary

AFTER SHOPPING FOR 1/2 HOUR, I RETURNED TO MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. I OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DISCOVERED GRAY COLORED SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE STEERING COLUMN HAZARD BUTTON. IT SMELLED ODD. NOT LIKE WOOD SMELL. THE AUTO CLUB TOWED MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS AS HE SAID TO PREVENT FIRE. MY MECHANIC SAID THE WIRES CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE CONNECTORS. THE PARTS: COMBINATION SWITCH, COMBO SWITCH CONNECTOR & ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS, SHRINK TUBING = TOTAL $320 PARTS. LABOR: REMOVE & REPLACE ALL APPLICABLE MODELS (MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH); REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH HARNESS (BURNED OUT CONNECTORS) = TOTAL $380 LABOR THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, I DROVE AN ESTIMATED 15 MILES TOTAL WITH TWO PRIOR STOPS.

08/31/2017
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/18/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68814T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED MCHENRY AUTO MART (LOCATED AT 725 MCHENRY AVE, SUITE A, MODESTO, CA 95350 (209) 408-8802) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ASKED IF SHE WAS LATE ON HER PAYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

08/02/2017
Components: SUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 08/01/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B64T******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL JERK TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT WITHOUT PROBACATION. VECHILE ACCELERATES WITHOUT FOOT BEING ON THE PEDAL. ONE TIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STARTING REVING. I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET WITH EXTREME FORCE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. FINALLY, I JUST THREW THE CAR INTO PARK; ONCE IN PARK, THE CAR KEPT REVING. THE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED.THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THIS MAKES FOR UNSAFE DRIVING, AND ONLY DUE TO MY GOOD DRIVING SKILLS DID I AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

02/06/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/14/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B24T******
Summary

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS INOPERATIVE ALL FUSES AND RELAYS ARE OKAY.

09/23/2016
Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/14/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, UP TO 4,000RPM WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT 4,000RPM. TO SAVE MY LIFE AND OTHERS SHIFTED CAR INTO NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO RESTARTED THE CAR AND SAME SYMPTOM WERE PRESENT, ENGINE REVIVING TO 4,000RPM, FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS A PRECAUTION. NOTE THAT WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED THE CAR WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, SIMPLY DRIVING AROUND TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS. THIS SITUATION IS SCARY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN, HOW, IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, TOTALLY UNPROVOKED AND NON-SENSICAL AS TO WHY IT IS HAPPENING, WHAT TRIGGERS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE RECENTLY AND BECAUSE OF THIS NIGHTMARE SCENARIO I AM HESITANT, VERY VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS A DANGER TO MY, MY WIFE'S LIFE AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WE MAY ACCIDENTALLY PLOW INTO IF THE CAR DECIDES TO GO INTO RUNAWAY MODE OF ITS OWN VOLITION. YOUR CONSIDERATION OF A RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

07/02/2016
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/08/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 4FY58864T28******
Summary

FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO EMPTY. EVEN AFTER A COMPLETE TANK REFILL. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN EITHER THE SENSOR OR DASH GAUGE ITSELF. IT CAN BE "CLEARED" FROM BEING STUCK ON EMPTY BY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTING IT. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY DROPS TO ZERO FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN JUMPS BACK TO THE PRESENT SPEED.

03/02/2016
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/29/2016
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B34T******
Summary

MY PT CRUISER BY CHRYLR 2004 GOT ON FIRE IN THE CONTROL AREAS FOR THE GEAR CONTROL AREAS, I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE 29TH OF FEBRUARY 2016, AND I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN MY GRAND DAUGHTER SAID SHE SMELL SMOKE AND SEEN IT AS WELL, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I GOT HOME FROM DRIVING A REGULAR CITY STREET, WHICH WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOME. I PARK THE CAR AND RAISE THE HOOD TO SEE IF THE FIRE WAS UNDER MY HOOD, NO NOT THERE. SO I PARK MY CAR AT MY HOME AND SAID I WOULD INVESTIGATE IT IN THE MORNING SINCE IT WAS NIGHT TIME. I WENT TO MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING ON THE 1ST OF MARCH 2016 AND TRY TO CHANGE GEARS, MY GEAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD MY CAR TOW TO MY MECHANIC TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME I HAD A FIRE IN THE GEAR AREAS, HE WAS DUMBFOUNDED ON HOW THE FIRE STARTED, BUT SAID THE ONLY THING HE COULD COME UP WITH WAS THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER COULD HAD STARTED THE FIRE.

01/25/2016
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 01/23/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY588X4T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ADDED STEERING WHEEL FLUID TO THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER WHO VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING) AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FREE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,618.

11/20/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS
Incident Date: 11/20/2015
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B24T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

11/13/2015
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 11/13/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B74T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

04/15/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/10/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

NEED TO PUT THIS VEHICLE IN SHOP TO HAVE THE RECALLS DONE. *TR

04/07/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT THE STEERING WHEEL UPWARDS IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

01/28/2015
Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 01/07/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G24T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V268000 (STEERING) AND 08E033000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN UPDATED 7/8/2015*JS

12/31/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/17/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58854T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS EXPOSED TO THE TRANSMISSION AND RUPTURED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

12/31/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 09/03/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58854T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

12/17/2014
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 11/21/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

AS I WAS DRIVING THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SMELL OF BLACK POWDER (LIKE A GUNSHOT) AND I WAS HIT VERY HARD IN THE UPPER RIGHT CHEST, DRIVER'S SIDE, BY A SHOCK WAVE THAT FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN SHOT. THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE AREA NEAR THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY FOR MONTHS. IT NEVER STAYED ON MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR ITS BIG VA STATE INSPECTION, TO THE TUNE OF $2059.03, IN APRIL AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE TAKEN IT FOR ONE YEAR. AIR BAGS ARE NOT PART OF A REGULAR INSPECTION SO IT WAS NOT CHECKED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, BY LUCK IT WAS WITHIN A MILE OF WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED), AND ASKED THE MEN IN SERVICE, WHO KNOW ME AND HAD SERVICED THIS CAR FOR TEN YEARS, TO COME OUT AND SMELL IT. THEY CONCURRED IT SMELLED AS IF AN EXPLOSION HAD HAPPENED INSIDE THE CAR. THE AIRBAG HAD NOT DEPLOYED; NOR SHOULD IT HAVE...THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ANYTHING. I LEFT THE CAR THERE. MY CHEST HURT. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER IN DETROIT AND A WEEK LATER THEY SENT THEIR SPECIAL VA ENGINEER WITH HIS COMPUTER TO CHECK THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THE OTHER DAY I RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL LETTER THAT MY CLAIM WAS BEING DENIED; NOTHING HAD BEEN FOUND. SO I WENT OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MAN DROVE IT AROUND THE LOT TO GIVE TO ME. I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT HOME. HE HAD NOT PUT THE SEAT BELT ON TO DRIVE IT TO ME. I GOT IN AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH AN INOPERABLE SEAT BELT AND WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE PROPELLANT THAT HIT ME IN THE CHEST, AS THE BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS SO FAST, SO HARD, AND SCARED ME TO DEATH. I REPORTED THIS TO YOU AFTER IT HAPPENED, BUT AM RE-REPORTING IT NOW BECAUSE OF THE "RESULTS" OF CHRYSLER'S OFFICIAL INSPECTION.

12/16/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/21/2014
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN AROMA OF SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 1/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN

11/22/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/21/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

I HAVE HAD THE CAR TUNED AND INSPECTED THIS PAST YEAR AND HAD MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SPORADICALLY. LIKE THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT," IT APPARENTLY MEANT NOTHING, I WAS TOLD, AS IT WAS THE ORIGINAL, NEVER USED, AIRBAG. YESTERDAY AS I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR-LAND HIGHWAY THERE WAS A LARGE EXPLOSION AND THE SMELL OF CORDITE, AS IF I HAD BEEN SHOT. MY CHEST FELT CRUSHED, AS IF IT HAD BEEN HIT, COMPRESSED, WHATEVER...AND THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTENED, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT. NO BLOOD, NO BULLET HOLE. CHEST HURT. CHEST DID NOT HURT BECAUSE OF A SEATBELT, BUT THE COMPRESSION FROM THE BLAST. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND JUST HELD THE CAR STEADY, VERY DISORIENTED AND SHAKEN. CHEST HURT. I REALIZED I WAS WITHIN A MILE (A MIRACLE) OF ONE OF THE TWO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS THAT HAS WORKED ON THIS CAR OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, SO I DROVE IT IN AND STUMBLED, BREATHLESS, INTO THE SERVICE AREA,, WHERE THEY KNEW ME AT ONCE BY NAME. THEY KNEW I WAS SHAKEN AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE TALKING AND WALKING. MY CHEST HAD BEEN HIT VERY HARD AND I FOUND OUT THE AIR HAD BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF MY LUNGS. THEY HAVE THE CAR, HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. NO ONE HAS WORKED ON IT YET. I AM GOING OVER THERE TODAY TO ASK THEM NOT TO WORK ON IT UNTIL MY LAWYER DECIDES IF IT IS "EVIDENCE" FOR SOME NEW KIND OF AIR BAG HAZARD. I HAVE NO CAR NOW. I WANT OTHER DRIVERS AND OWNERS TO KNOW THAT A TEN-YEAR-OLD CAR AND TEN-YEAR-OLD AIRBAG ARE DANGEROUS. THIS CAR HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG. MY IDEA: AIRBAGS NEED TO BE ROTATED OUT AND CHANGED EVERY FEW YEARS SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. *TR

11/19/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/05/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

OUR BRAKES NEEDED REPLACED FOR INSPECTION THE COMPANY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WE DIDN'T DRIVE MORE THE 15,000 MILES AND BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AND MAKING NOISE THEY NEEDED REPLACED AGAIN IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE PT.CRUISERS SINCE THEY WERE MADE. HAVING TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT AMONG THE OWNERS OF PT CRUISERS NO MATTER WHAT YEAR MADE WE STILL HAVE OURS AND IT HAS HAD IT'S BRAKES REPLACED MORE OFTEN THAN WHAT IT WAS DRIVEN WE CURRENTLY HAVE 88,000 ON OURS AND THE BRAKES START THIS NOISE THEN FAIL AFTER 20,00 MILES THIS APPEARS TO BE VERY UNSAFE IT ALSO APPEARS TO HAPPEN ON THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE FIRST THEN MOVES AROUND. THIS MAKES ANY PT CRUISER UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

11/12/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/08/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PIPE AND PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

10/02/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 10/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B84T******
Summary

THE MULTIFUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE AND WE COULDN'T TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. WE HAD TO PULL THE FUSE SINCE THERE CONTINUED TO COME SMOKE OUT OF THAT SWITCH -- WE HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO DRIVE HOME IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THE SMELL/SMOKE. OUR CHRYSLER DEALER SAID THAT THIS PART IS IN HIGH DEMAND. THE PART WAS $275 AND A SIMILAR HIGH AMOUNT FOR LABOR THE FIRST TIME. FROM THAT TIME ON I ORDERED ONLINE AND REPLACED THE SWITCH TWO MORE TIMES. TODAY, 10/01/2014, THE SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH SWITCH. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. *TR

09/26/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 06/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

09/03/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

WHEN I TURN THE KEY SWITCH MY RADIO COME ON AND THEN GO OFF. *TR

06/18/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 06/13/2014
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B84T******
Summary

WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY ON THE ON-RAMP, A VAN IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I CRASHED INTO THE VAN. I HIT MY CHEST HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

05/26/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 05/19/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

I LEFT MY RESIDENCE AT APPROX 8:45AM ON 5/19/2014 TURNED NORTH STEERING WAS FINE, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 40MPH, CHANGES TO 45, THEN 55, THEN DOWN TO 35MPH APPROX.5.5 MILES FROM MY RIGHT TURN, I TURNED LEFT (WEST) ENTERING A GAS STATION BREAKINNG AT 35MPH AND FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT TOOK ALL I COULD DO TO AVOID HITTING THE GAS PUMPS. *TR

05/26/2014
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/26/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G14T******
Summary

CAR MAKING NOISES. *TR

04/30/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 02/07/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B84T******
Summary

DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN ALL THE ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP, FLICKER, THEN GO DEAD. THEN THE CAR LOSES POWER, INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES AND CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. IT WILL START AGAIN LATER AND WILL BE OK FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS WHEN THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. NEITHER AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOR CHRYSLER CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED AND CIRCUMSTANCE. I MANAGED TO GET VIDEO DURING ONE SUCH EPISODE ON SURFACE STREETS. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM GM IS HAVING AND SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL BEFORE ANYONE IS KILLED. I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THE CAR, AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT HAVE NO CHOICE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND CHRYSLER HAS TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THE PROBLEM. *JS

04/02/2014
Components: SUSPENSION,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/01/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B14T******
Summary

ROUGH IDLE AT STOPPED INTERSECTIONS, LUNGES AND STALLS. STALLS A APPROXIMATELY 15-25 MPH WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FOG LIGHTS TURN ON BY ITSELF AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF DRAINING THE BATTERY. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. TO THIS DATE NON-FUNCTIONAL FOG LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING TO RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROL NOT WORKING UNTIL YOU STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT OFF. THEN START THE VEHICLE AGAIN THEN IT WORKS PROPERLY FOR ANOTHER FEW DAYS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE TOO AND CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

02/20/2014
Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/18/2014
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. *TR

02/14/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 03/10/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER EVEN THOUGH FORCE WAS BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 3/25/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME, THE BELT WENT OUT, SHE LOST STEERING CAPABILITY. THE BELTS WOULD GET DIRTY FROM THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE FAILURE OF THE HOSE, CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 04/24/14

09/20/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/28/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B64T******
Summary

I HAD SMOKE AND SMELLED BURNING COMING FROM MY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, *TR

09/09/2013
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 09/07/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 4T220865******
Summary

I FOUND THAT YOU ALL HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON 2004 NON TURBO CHRYSLER PT CRUISER PRESSURE HOSE. I HAVE A TURBO'ED EDITION, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT FOUND WHERE THERE ARE ANY DIFFERENCES IN ANY OF THE POWER-STEERING COMPONENTS FOR THIS EDITION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND A LEAK IN MY PRESSURE HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER STEERING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN BURNED FROM TOUCHING ANOTHER PART ON THE CAR. I AM NOT A MECHANIC SO I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO DO ANY WORK ON THIS VEHICLE. I CANNOT HAVE THE PART REPLACED BECAUSE THE RECALL IS FOR "NON-TURBO" EDITIONS OF THE CAR. I WOULD ASK THAT SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALLED 04 PT CRUISER. *TR

05/23/2013
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 04/26/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B44T******
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED A PAID INVOICE, FOR THE PRESSURE HOSE.

03/31/2013
Components: TIRES,WHEELS
Incident Date: 01/23/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68874T******
Summary

APPROXIMATELY 10-12 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, ALL FOUR TIRES BEGAN TO GET FLAT. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVERY TWO WEEKS SINCE THAT TIME. EVERY TIME I FILL THE CAR WITH FUEL, I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN ALL FOUR TIRES. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ONLINE IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2012 AND RECEIVED A RATHER FLIP RESPONSE... THANKING ME FOR TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT OFFERING NO FIX TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY SECOND PT CRUISER.. AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY FIRST CRUISER. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE ALUMINUM WHEELS CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. I ENJOY MY PT CRUISER, BUT FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN BUYING EXPENSIVE NEW WHEELS; ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IT NOT ONLY GIVES ME BAD GAS MILEAGE, BUT ALSO IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

02/22/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 02/15/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,910.

02/12/2013
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/08/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58834T******
Summary

THE FOG LIGHTS IN MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STAY ON, EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE LEFT BLINKER ON FOR THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. AND SOME TIMES THE FOG LIGHTS TURN ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE FOG LIGHTS STAY ON AND DRAINS THE BATTERY DOWN , DID NOT NOTICE TILL IT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET AND ROOMMATE TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

01/16/2013
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 12/26/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G24T******
Summary

I HAVE PHOTOS AVAILABLE OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION. THERE ARE 3 SEPARATE PIECES: THE COMPLETE (INTACT TREAD), THE INSIDE SIDEWALL AND THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM VISITING RELATIVES AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE EFFECTIVELY CAME APART. THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO RUNNING OFF THE ROAD WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ROLLING OVER. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I FEEL THAT THIS TIRE AND PROBABLY THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. GOODYEAR/DUNLOP WANTED THE TIRES TO BE INSPECTED BY ONE OF THEIR DEALERS AND THEN CONFISCATED AND DESTROYED. I BELIEVE THAT THE WAY THE TIRE IN QUESTION EFFECTIVELY DISINTEGRATED CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES STORED IN MY GARAGE. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO INSPECT THESE TIRES SO IT CAN BE DETERMINED ACCURATELY WHETHER OR NOT THEY PRESENT AN ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE I HAD TO ENDURE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

11/29/2012
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/26/2012
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM VERY SORE (NO OTHER INJURIES). THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

11/09/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/07/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B84T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED DOWNHILL BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FUSE WAS BLOWN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

11/01/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/20/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. CAR SHUT OFF AT AROUND 60MPH. DRIFTED OFF ROAD AND RESTARTED AND WENT A MILE OR SO AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WE KEPT DOING THAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC IT RAN FINE ON THE WAY THERE, AROUND 15 MILES. HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER, IT READ BAD INJECTORS SO HE REPLACED THEM. THEN HE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING AGAIN HE PUT IT BACK ON HIS COMPUTER AND IT READ BAD COIL SO HE REPLACED THE COIL PACK,PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES. IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS . UNTIL NOW 10/30/2012. . TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC, HE REPLACED O2 SENSORS. RAN FOR 2WKS. SAME THING AGAIN! ONCE AGAIN TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC . HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER ONCE AGAIN AND IT READ FINE. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO OUR CHRYSLER CENTER. ALTHOUGH WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER RUNNING CAR (WHEN IT IS RUNNING RIGHT) ,THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD SHUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT. PLEASE FINE ANSWER TO PROBLEM. *TR

10/12/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/25/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER AND DIE. WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. SOMETIMES IT WILL START UP AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO START BACK UP, WHILE PEOPLE ARE HONKING AND HAVING TO GO AROUND MY CAR. MOST OF THE TIME THE CAR WILL RUN ROUGH AFTER RE-START, BUT WILL RUN NORMALLY AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DIES. MANY OTHER PT OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY! FOUR MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. HAVE REPLACED THE ECM AND JUST ABOUT EVERY SENSOR AND REPLACEABLE ENGINE PART. NO LUCK. THIS IS OCCURRING IN OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES, TOO. IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE HAS FOUND AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CHRYSLER SHOULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A FIX. *TR

09/17/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/09/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO UNPLUG THE LIGHTS IN ORDER FOR THEM NOT TO STAY ON. NOW THEY ARE COMPLETELY OFF. WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN. I HAVE 46,000 MILES AND EVERYTHING DESCRIBED IN THESE REPORTS WENT WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

08/19/2012
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 08/12/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G04T******
Summary

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVIEWED THE FRONT TIRES WERE POINTING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR SHOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIRE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. CAR WAS TOWED, TIE ROD END REPLACED. ( HAVE PART IF NEEDED). *TR

08/18/2012
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 01/23/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B54T******
Summary

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

08/05/2012
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 08/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B84T******
Summary

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

07/30/2012
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/30/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTURED AND WAS CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

07/24/2012
Components: STRUCTURE,WHEELS
Incident Date: 04/16/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHEELS PEEL AND CORRODE. MAKES TIRES FLAT CONSTANTLY. TIRES WILL NOT KEEP AIR. MAKES TIRES WEAR OUT OFTEN AND THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACE. *TR

06/19/2012
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 06/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B14T******
Summary

COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER CAR, BUT ONCE IT GOT CLOSE TO 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THANK GOD IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEN WHEEL BEARING, CONTROL ARM, MOTOR MOUNT, SWAY BAR BUSHING, RACK AND PINON, ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHEN CONTACTING CHRYSLER THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF RECALLS FOR THE FRONT END SUPENSION BUT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER IT. THINGS THAT SHOULD OF NOT WORN OUT THIS SOON HAS WORN OUT, I JUST HAD TO DO THE BUSHING IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AFTER REPLACING THE WHOLE CONTROL NOT OVER 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE MAX OUT 2 FIRESTONE CREDIT CARDS TRYING TO KEEP MY CAR ON THE ROAD. LOVE THE DESIGN BUT HATE THAT I JUST CAN NOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR... PS I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT HAS LESS THAN 82,000 MILES ON IT TODAY 06/19/2012. *JS

05/28/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 05/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68804T******
Summary

THE FOG LIGHTS IN MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER REMAIN ON, EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE LEFT BLINKER ON FOR THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. OTHER TIMES THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE FOG LIGHTS STAY ON AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR

05/04/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MODULE CAUSED FOG LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF AND IN THE DRIVEWAY, RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY. FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I CONNECTED JUMPER CABLES TO EXTERNAL BATTERY. FOG LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AS THE LIGHT CONTROL STEM ON THE MULTIFUNCTION MODULE IS WIGGLED. REMOVED FOG LIGHT FUSE TO PREVENT RECURRENCE UNTIL MULTIFUNCTION MODULE CAN BE REPAIRED/REPLACED. INTERNET SEARCH AND THIS SITE INDICATE THIS IS A PERSISTENT AND RECURRING PROBLEM ACROSS MANY PT CRUISER MODELS AND YEARS. *TR

05/04/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/24/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58854T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MULTI-SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS CAUSING THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

04/10/2012
Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B14T******
Summary

MY PT CRUISER HAS HAD TO HAVE ALL OF THE FRONT END REPLACED, CAR STARTED ACTING UP AT 50,000 MILES AND I NOW HOW ALMOST 81,000 AND I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END EXCEPT THE CV JOINTS, WHICH I HOPE DOES NOT NEED AFTER I SEND THIS. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION DONE. WHEN SPEAKING WITH CHRYSLER DIRECTLY THEY STATE THAT THE PT CRUISER HAS HAD A LOT OF RECALLS DUE TO FRONT END, BUT I AM TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL IN THE MIX. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF MY PT CRUISER. I HAVE REPLACED PARTS ON MY CAR STARTING BACK IN 2010 EARLY 2011. *TR

11/18/2011
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/11/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY688X4T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. A LOCAL MECHANIC MADE AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE DEFECT ALSO BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

10/26/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 03/20/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY688X4T******
Summary

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

10/25/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/07/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

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.

08/16/2011
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 08/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B84T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BEING REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON EACH OCCASION, BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON AS TO WHY THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,432.

08/14/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 08/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68884T******
Summary

THE FOG LAMPS WILL NOT TURN OFF. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD SMOKE COMING FROM IT AND IT SEEMS THAT AS A RESULT, THERE IS A SHORT IN THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE FOG LAMPS TO PERMANENTLY STAY ON. IT APPEARS THAT OTHER CHRYSLER PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE INCLUDED A LINK REGARDING OTHER CHRYSLER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2/P6. *TR

07/25/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B84T******
Summary

FOG LAMPS BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF THEN THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE REAR TAIL LIGHTING.

05/16/2011
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 05/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE BLOWING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, HER WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

01/25/2011
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 04/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TURBO WITH BOG O ECONOMY PERFORMANCE H TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/45R/17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES BLEW TWICE IN AN EIGHT MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIRES EXHIBITED A BUBBLE WHICH WAS WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,147.

01/11/2011
Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 01/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORN ,EXTREMELY CLEARANCE(WHEEL MOVES APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH TOP TO BOTTOM WHEN SHAKING IT). WILL REPLACE BEARINGS SOON. NOTICED WHILE REPLACING FRONT BRAKES AT 35,508 MILES. A SEALED WHEEL BEARING SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE UNLESS DEFECT IN BEARING OR MANUFACTURES DESIGN. *TR

01/03/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 01/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER USES EXCESSIVE OIL. *TR

11/08/2010
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 10/17/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. STATED ISSUE WHEN I FIRST PICKED UP CAR, CONTINUED LOSING AIR IN ALL FOUR TIRES. LOSS OF PRESSURE IN VEHICLE TIRES. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TIRE LEAKAGE WAS BECAUSE THE COATING ON THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHEEL RIMS WAS DETERIORATING AND NOT PERMITTING AN AIR TIGHT SEAL. I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL SETS OF TIRES AND RIMS ARE NOW CRACKING. *TR

10/20/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 06/17/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68BX4T******
Summary

PT CRUISER ON CRUISE CONTROL. EXIT FREEWAY AND TAP BRAKE. CAR BEGINS TO COAST. AS WE APPROACHED STOPPED TRAFFIC THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AGAIN. CRUISE KICKED IN AGAIN AND INSTEAD OF SLOWING WE SPEEDED UP. APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM - NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED AND NO SKID MARKS. HIT 5 OTHER VEHICLES. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND I WAS THE PASSENGER. I WAS VERY BADLY INJURED INTERNALLY AND HAD FRACTURES TO RIBS, VERTEBRA. AND ANKLE. SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG SAVED MY LIFE BUT SEAT BELT RIPPED MY INTESTINES AND CAUSED SEVERE INTERNAL BLEEDING. MY HUSBAND WAS IN SHOCK BUT WITHOUT INJURY. IT TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET A POLICE REPORT AND ON THE REPORT IT STATED THAT HE HAD STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. NOT TRUE -- NOT TRUE. HE YELLED TO ME BEFORE THE IMPACT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AND I SAW THAT HE HAD THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR. *TR

09/25/2010
Components: WHEELS,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 09/25/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B14T******
Summary

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED AT 600.00 DOLLARS AT A TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT AROUND 40,000 MILES. THIS TIME AT 120,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR. *TR

09/16/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIECE THAT GOES FROM THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 15 DAYS LATER. THE PART THAT WAS REPAIRED WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE PART AGAIN FOR FREE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70200.

08/30/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

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

08/03/2010
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 05/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B44T******
Summary

HAVE REPLACED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS THREE TIMES, STARTING AT 28,000. CAR HAS 74,000 NOW. I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. BREAKS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY YEAR. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A BROKEN AXLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER BROKE AN AXLE!! THIS CAR IS TOO HEAVY FOR IT'S MEDIOCRE AND UNSAFE SUSPENSION. *TR

07/12/2010
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 01/01/1901
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES CONCERN REGARDING LOSS OF PRESSURE IN VEHICLE TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TIRE LEAKAGE WAS BECAUSE THE COATING ON THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHEEL RIMS WAS DETERIORATING AND NOT PERMITTING AN AIR TIGHT SEAL. *JB

06/27/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B04T******
Summary

FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2004 PT CRUISER STAY ON ALL THE TIME, DRAINING THE BATTERY. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH DOES NOT TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. PULLED THE FUSE TO DISABLE THE CIRCUIT AND ATTEMPTING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

06/21/2010
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 05/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE STATED THAT IN JULY 2007 SHE PURCHASED FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORTED TIRES. THE TIRES BECAME DRY ROTTED AND WORE PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE TIRES WERE DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER YET WERE STILL BEING SOLD BY A SEPARATE UNKNOWN COMPANY. GOODYEAR ANALYZED THE TIRES AND DETERMINED THE TIRES EXHIBITED PREMATURE WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO DISCOUNT A NEW SET OF TIRES FOR THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THE TIRES MAY BE THE SAME AS THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,481 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

05/04/2010
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 01/01/1901
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL IN VEHICLES *GR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ADDING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLS AS A MANDATORY FEATURE WAS AN EVASIVE DECISION. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO PROTESTED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OF EVENT DATA RECORDERS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/21/10*JB

03/03/2010
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 02/19/2005
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE CHRYSLER AND GM BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OWNER OF 2004 PT CRUISER IS NO LONGER ABLE TO SEEK COMPENSATION FM CHRYSLER/GM FOR A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HER PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK WAS DEFECTIVE AND COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER FILED SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. EXPECTING TO HAVE HER DAY IN COURT, CHRYSLER FILED CHAPTER 11 A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TRIAL DATE. *JB

02/28/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B94T******
Summary

SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. BATTERY WILL RUN DOWN. *TR

01/24/2010
Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 01/20/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B74T******
Summary

MY 2004 PT CRUISER NEEDS THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THE BEARINGS ARE SHOT AND YOU HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE ASSEMBLY RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL BEARING. I'VE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OWNERS AND THEY TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS THERE A CHANCE OF A RECALL?? *TR

01/22/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/21/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B04T******
Summary

I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER WHICH I BOUGHT IN NOV 2005. FIRST INCIDENT, REAR LEFT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT VERY RAPIDLY. LATEST "BIG" PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009, BROTHER NOTICED MY FOG LAMPS ON, NOT ONLY HAD I NOT TURNED THEM ON, I NEVER USED THEM BEFORE. THOUGHT IT WAS A RANDOM INCIDENT BUT BATTERY KEPT DYING. FINALLY DETERMINED IN JULY 2008 BY MECHANIC THAT THE SWITCH ARM WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP ARE BACK ORDERED AND TO "JUST UNPLUG THE LIGHTS" TO FIX. MECHANIC REPLACED, THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. THEN PANEL KEPT CLAIMING DOOR AJAR. NO DOOR WAS OPEN!!! MECHANIC REPLACED DOOR LATCH. THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. WENT OUT TO CAR ON 1/19/09, IT WAS GONE. CITY TOWED IT DUE TO COMPLAINT OF MY ALARM GOING OFF AND NOT SHUTTING OFF. COST ME $234 TO RECLAIM AND FIND ALARM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND BATTERY BEING DRAINED AGAIN!! INTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR SINCE JUNE 2009, (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, SWITCH ARM, DOOR LATCH, TOWING) HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT COST OF ALARM AND OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL REPAIRS TO COME. UNTIL READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, HAD NO IDEA THE SMELL OF BURNING I HAVE SMELT ON OCCASION MAY ACTUALLY BE COMING FROM MY OWN CAR. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, DON'T EVER BUY A CHRYSLER. *TR

12/15/2009
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/07/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

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

10/21/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/22/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW WITH 236 MI. AT 36000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD UPON STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO AT A STOP IT LUNGES AND ACTS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO QUIT . IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OF A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? THIS IS CONSISTENTLY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE RUNS. *TR

10/20/2009
Components: SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 10/19/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

04' PT CRUISER - BOUGHT NEW AND I AM NOW HAVING THE FRONT BEARING AND HUBS REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. BOUGHT NEW TIRES YESTERDAY TO THEN BE TOLD THAT THE BEARING S ARE BAD. RATHER TICKED OFF AS THIS IS CAUSING ME TO TAKE TIME FROM WORK AND TO ARRANGE A RIDE TO PICK UP THE CAR ONCE REPAIRED. *TR

10/19/2009
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 07/20/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

ON 04/26/07 MY PT CRUISER WAS INTO DEALERSHIP (NOT SAME AS WHERE I BOUGHT CAR). TECH SAID EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FRONT BEARINGS & MAY NEED HUBS REPLACED. I BOUGHT CAR 07/28/06 FROM DAYTONA CHRYSLER IN AUTO MALL. I PAID TO HAVE BEARINGS REPLACED, LATER IN 2007, @ DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. & OTHER ONE REPLACED IN 2008 OR 2009. THE ONE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE IS MAKING NOISE AGAIN! *TR

10/17/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/18/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER BEING RESET. CHECKED BY MECHANIC, COMPUTER SAYS PROBLEM IS IN "CRUISE CONTROL", & HAS BEEN RESET 3 TIMES. & IS ON AGAIN! *TR

10/14/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 05/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN MY 2004 PT CRUISER-FIRST WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON LIGHT IN RAIN, THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. GOT IT FIXED FOR $600, THEN FOG LAMPS WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE, NOW THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP MY FOG LIGHTS FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE EACH DAY. I HAVE HEARD OF BOTH PROBLEMS OCCURRING IN PTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

09/26/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/23/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58834T******
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED AND THE FOG LIGHTS ON THE CAR REMAIN ON EVEN WITH THE SWITCH OFF AND THE KEY OUT. THIS DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THERE ARE OVER 4000 PARTS ON BACK-ORDER SO MANY OTHER PT CRUISERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUE. *TR

09/21/2009
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 09/19/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER - THIS IS THE 3RD REPAIR TO CONTROL ARMS IN 5 YEARS. I LEARNED OF THE LATEST ISSUE THROUGH A STATE CAR INSPECTION. THE CONTROL ARMS COLLAPSED AND NOW THE MECHANISM IS USING THE CAR FRAME FOR SUPPORT. *TR

07/14/2009
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/01/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G94T******
Summary

LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWITCH. *TR

06/24/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/20/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68834T******
Summary

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE - FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON - HEADLAMPS FLICKER - DEALERSHIP REPORTS THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 3000 OF THESE ON BACKORDER - PART #05073049AB. *TR

05/24/2009
Components: SUSPENSION,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 05/24/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68804T******
Summary

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RT FRT WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES, STARTING @ APPROX 35K MILES & NOW ONLY 65K MILES. WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3 MO & 10K SINCE LAST TIME REPLACED. *TR

05/13/2009
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 05/12/2009
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HE INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WAS MELTING AND SMOKING. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP A FIRE FROM OCCURRING. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THE SWITCH FAILED; THEREFORE, HE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THERE WERE NO CURRENT REPLACEMENT PARTS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE PART THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL CORRECT THE FAILURE IS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,600.

05/11/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B84T******
Summary

FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, EVEN WHEN CAR IS OFF. SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEAD BATTERY. 395 INSTANCES OF THIS ON ONE WEB SITE. 77,000 MILES ON A 2004 PT CRUISER. *TR

03/21/2009
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 03/21/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING OF OUR CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 24 MONTHS. THE CAR IS A 2004 MODEL AND HAS ONLY 43K MILES. THE FIRST TIME AROUND BOTH BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE DRIVER SIDE BEARINGS ARE ROCKING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

03/18/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/20/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58854T******
Summary

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING. YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHEN STOPPING TO PREVENT THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOTION AND BE CAREFUL WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE STALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2008 WITH ONLY 17,900 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW MARCH 2009 AND THE CAR HAS AROUND 29,000 MILES ON IT, WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT GETTING WORSE. *TR

02/17/2009
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 02/06/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FRONT SUSPENSION MAKE NOISE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT FEELS AS IF HE IS DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND A STONE PAVEMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR SO THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,998. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

02/09/2009
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/09/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CHRYSLER PT CRUISER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS. FOG LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN WHEN KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO BURNED WIRES, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, ETC. *TR

01/07/2009
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/02/2009
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G64T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. THE CHRYSLER DEALER PULLED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUSTER CIRCUIT WAS BURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH A NEW PART AND THEY RETAINED THE OLD PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,600.

12/19/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

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

12/01/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 11/30/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIE ROD ENDS, THAT COULD HAVE LED TO TIE ROD FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THIS 2004 PT CRUISER WAS MAINTAINED UNDER THE CHRYSLER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WHICH BRINGS INTO QUESTION WHY BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD FAIL AT THIS LOW A MILEAGE. EITHER THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE IMPROPERLY AT SOME POINT IN TIME, OR THE BEARING ASSEMBLIES WERE DEFECTIVE. AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO SERVICE LETTERS THAT ADDRESS THE PARTS MAINTENANCE OR REPLACEMENTS DUE TO WEAR, NORMAL OR OTHERWISE. *TR

11/18/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 11/02/2008
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C3AY75S05T******
Summary

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.

10/27/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 06/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. HE HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,647.

10/12/2008
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 09/22/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B34T******
Summary

DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON CHRYSLER PT (2004) CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO STAY ON, EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND KEYS OUT, CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN AND DIE. *TR

10/03/2008
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 07/27/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY58854T******
Summary

THE FIXED REAR QUARTER GLASS ON MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FELL OUT. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO PROPERTY OR A PERSON. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL, G01, FOR 2005 AND 2006 PT CRUISERS. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE ADHESIVE FAILED.*TR

08/22/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 08/20/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 4M2DV11W1RD******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROUTERS ON THE VEHICLE FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM. A MECHANIC STATED THAT MOST PT CRUISERS HAVE VERY POOR ROUTERS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

08/17/2008
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68884T******
Summary

IN APRIL 2008, OUR 2004 PT CRUISER TURBO FOG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON FOR NO REASON. INTERNET FORUMS CLAIM THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE COST IS $70 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY TO FAIL. *TR

08/13/2008
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 07/19/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B24T******
Summary

TWO GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES SUFFERED BELT SEPARATION WITHIN 10 DAYS. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOPS WHICH DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES. FOUR TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM TIRE RACK, AND THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ARE STILL ON THE AUTO. *TR

08/12/2008
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 03/05/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78GX4T******
Summary

WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY AT 33,000 MILES AND IS STILL ONGOING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TIRE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAKAGE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAKING OFF OF THE CHROME ALLOY ON THE WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ONE WHEEL THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW AT 43,000 MILES WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE DOING THE SAME THING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE OTHER WHEELS AFTER TALKING WITH THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS A TIRE WILL HEAT UP WHEN IT SLOWLY LOSES AIR AND COULD FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. I HAVE LEARNED THIS BY EXPERIENCE AS A TRUCK DRIVER WHEN I HAD A SLOW LEAK IN A WHEEL ON THE STEERING AXLE AND IT EXPLODED ON MY TRUCK AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THE TINY LEAK IN THE CHROME WHEEL. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE NUMBER OR NAME OF WHO HE TALKED TO AS HE SAID IT WAS COMPANY POLICY NOT TO GIVE THESE OUT. HE ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE WHEEL WAS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM THE PARTS DEPT. THIS OF COURSE UPSET ME AND I RAISED MY VOICE TO HIM AND HE SAID THAT IF I KEPT YELLING AT HIM HE WOULD REFUSE TO HELP ME AT ALL. THIS WAS DONE ALL BY PHONE ON 8-11 08

07/16/2008
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 07/11/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58824T******
Summary

IN JULY 2008, OUR 2004 PT CRUISER FOG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON FOR NO REASON. INTERNET FORUMS CLAIM THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE COST IS $70 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY TO FAIL. *TR

07/16/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 07/07/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40K MILES AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIMINISHED OR NO STEERING CONTROL. SAFETY OR DEFECT RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY CHRYSLER. *TR

07/10/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/09/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B04T******
Summary

GRINDING NOISE, WOBBLE IN STEERING-LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING GONE AT 43000 MILES-REPLACEMENT COST $300.00. *TR

07/02/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 02/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B54T******
Summary

LOUD GRINDING/GROWLING NOISE, THUMPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. GETS LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. REPLACED TIRES 6/08 THOUGHT IT WAS THAT. FOUND OUT ITS THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS. *TR

06/21/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 05/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G14T******
Summary

MY 2004 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA JUST OUT OF THE BLUE, STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE FRONT END NOISE AND STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I MADE IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD. IT HAD 36,274 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SOME RESULTING IN CRASHES. IN MY OPINION SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS SO WIDE SPREAD THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL. THANKS, FOR YOUR TIME. JOHN PALMER *TR

06/15/2008
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/14/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68864T******
Summary

I WAS INFORMED BY MY NEIGHBOR THAT MY FOG LAMPS WERE ON. SINCE I HADN'T USED THEM IN OVER A MONTH THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE. THE SWITCH WAS NOT ON - NOR WOULD THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. A WEB SEARCH DETERMINED THAT THE "FIX" IS TO LEAVE THE TURN INDICATOR AT A LEFT TURN AND/OR REMOVE THE FUSE. THE SAME SEARCH REVEALED THAT FIRES HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS EXACT SAME FAULT HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2/P15. *TR

06/13/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 04/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68814T******
Summary

REPLACING BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED TURBO AT 33900 MILES. NOISE STARTED AT 33600 MILES. WAY TOO EARLY TO HAVE TO REPLACE BEARINGS ON ANY VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I LOOKED UP "PT CRUISER WHEEL BEARINGS" ON GOOGLE AND FOUND A FORUM ON TOPIX.COM AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PT OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS REALLY LOOSE DUE TO THE BEARING FAILURE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT NEEDED BEARINGS REPLACED BEFORE 100,000 MILES. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCT AND DO A RECALL OF THE BEARING-HUB-KNUCKLE JOINT ASSEMBLY. *TR UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB

05/22/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 04/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACE TWO TIMES. *TR

05/08/2008
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/02/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, EVEN AFTER THE PASSENGER REACHED DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL IT UP WITH HER HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST GARAGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE VACUUM HOSE WHICH HAD A HOLE IN IT, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VACUUM HOSE WAS FOUND IN THE BACK OF THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND HAD RUBBED A HOLE IN THE HOSE. WHEN THE HOSE WAS SHOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY RESPONDED INDIFFERENTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 5/30/08 *CN

04/28/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 03/14/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I BROUGHT A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH 36,222 ON 11/1/08. WELL LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE AND NOW THE FRONT BARRONS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BACK LEFT BARRON AND IT COST A WHOPPING $200.00 AND THE BRAKES COST $564.00. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF THEY COULD HELP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I ASK IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS INFORMED NO, BUT AFTER READING SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO MAKE A RECALL. I CURRENTLY HAVE 46,400. *TR

04/18/2008
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 04/18/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

STOCK CHRYSLER 17" CHROME ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. WAS TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET INSPECTED - AFTER WHICH I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WARRANTY DEFECTIVE MATERIALS IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 3 YEARS OLD OR HAS MORE THAN 36,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS/85,000 MILES. AN THE ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE RIM IS NOT LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC TO THE VEHICLE OF CHRYSLER'S PRODUCTION. IT EFFECTS ALL MAKES AN MODELS WITH THE CHROMED ALUMINUM RIMS. SEBRING - PT CRUISER - PACFICA - ETC. AN GIVING THE FACT THE RIMS DON'T HOLD AIR I BELIEVE THAT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THAT EFFECT THE HANDLING AN BRAKING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. CHRYSLER IS STILL CURRENTLY SELL'S THE SAME PRODUCT ON THERE NEW CARS. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WHEELS AN THERE DEFECT. BUT DO TO THE FACT THAT BY THE TIME THE CUSTOMER NOTICES THERE RIMS ARE DEFECTIVE THE 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES IS UP. AN THE CUSTOMER WHO BOUGHT THE CAR IS TOLD THEY AREN'T UNDER WARRANTY BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER A NEW SET THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO SO AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER'S POCKET BOOK. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER PRACTICE'S ARE WRONG ON HOW THEY OPERATE - BY SELLING THE CUSTOMER WHAT IS ULTIMATELY DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE OWNER'S WITH THE CHROME ALUMINUM RIMS AN HAVE TOLD ME THEY FOUGHT CHRYSLER AN THAT THEY TOO HAVE TO REPLACE AIR IN THE TIRE EVERY OTHER DAY LIKE MYSELF. P.S. DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE RIMS I AM REQUIRED TO PUT ATLEAST 20+ PSI IN MY TIRES EVERY OTHER DAY. *TR

04/08/2008
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 04/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B04T******
Summary

THE FUEL LINE CLIP FELL OFF ALLOWING GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER AND REPAIRED BY PUTTING ON A NEW "REVISED" FUEL LINE CLIP. THE OLD PART WAS NOT ON THE CAR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR

04/03/2008
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/23/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING A JOGGER IN THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE PASSABLE, BUT THE HIGH BEAM IS COMPLETELY USELESS AND CREATES A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD! I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS REAMED AND EVEN CHANGED TO 80 WATT BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HEADLAMP HOUSING DESIGN. THE HIGHBEAM PUTS OUT A DIFFUSED, UNFOCUSED LIGHT WHICH DOES NOT ADD ANY INCREASED NIGHT VISION OVER THE LOW BEAM LAMPS, FORTUNATELY THE LOW BEAMS STAY ON WITH THE HIGH BEAMS. I AM NOT AWARE IF THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS MUST MEET MINIMUM HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, BUT IF THEY DO EXIST I'M SURE MY PT CRUISER WOULD FAIL. THANK YOU, BRIAN P. MORAN *TR

03/13/2008
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 03/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B04T******
Summary

SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THIS 2004 PT CRUISER LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AGO, CAR CONTINUOUSLY LURCHES AT STOP LIGHTS, AND IF I DID NOT HAVE BRAKE COMPLETELY DEPRESSED WOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING VERY SLUGGISH AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING ANY GAS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME..... *TR

03/04/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 01/10/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2004 PT CRUISER, MULTIPLE WHEEL BEAR FAILURES IN LESS THAN 80K MILES 1ST AT APPROX 40K AND SECOND AT APPROX 80K. BOTH TIMES LEFT SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *TR

03/02/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 03/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHEEL BEARING ON 2004 PT CRUISER WITH 28,000 WENT BAD. *TR

02/20/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 11/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING IS BAD. STARTED ABOUT 31,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THINKING IT'S COVERED UNDER THE 7 YEAR, 70,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY! AS I READ THE WARRANTY, IT STATES EVERY THING IS COVERED. BUT THE DEALER SAYS IT A WEAR PART! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A WHEEL BEARING GOES BAD THIS EARLY AND WHY THEY DON'T COVER IT AS A POWERTRAIN PART? AND THE PRICE TO REPAIR IT IS OVER 600.00. I JUST CAN'T STAND TO BRING MYSELF TO PAY FOR THIS, AS IF I COULD AFFORD IT . AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH I'M FINDING OUT THAT ALOT OF CONSUMERS ARE GETTING SCREWED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND WEIGHT ISSUE OF THE FRAME AND BODY STYLE. *TR

02/12/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 02/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58804T******
Summary

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY WIFE'S 2004 PT CRUSER WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES WENT BAD. *TR

01/15/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 01/10/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. IN JUST A MATTER OF DAYS I COULD TELL IT WAS GETTING LOUDER. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BRAKES BUT I JUST HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 6,000 MILES EARLIER. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHERE I HAD THE BRAKES DONE AND AFTER CHECKING THE CAR HE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. IT COST ME $556.23 TO REPLACE THE FRONT LEFT HUB AND THE BEARINGS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. AFTER THE REPAIR, HE SHOWED ME THE OLD HUB AND BEARINGS. THE PART WAS BROKEN AND SEVERAL OF THE BEARINGS WERE MISSING. HE SAID IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION, IT WAS VERY LIKELY THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WOULD FALL OFF, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY 28,560 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY A CAR WITH THIS MANY MILES SHOULD BE HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. *TR

01/05/2008
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 01/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

EXPERIENCED FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND HUB FAILURE - REPLACED AT COST OF $350. INSPECTION DURING THIS REPAIR REVEALED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAD DETERIORATED AND WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AS WELL - PUT OFF $600 REPAIR UNTIL LATER DATE. 56,000 MILES 2004 PT CRUISER LIMITED. *CN

12/31/2007
Components: VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 12/26/2007
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3CYFY48B44T******
Summary

RIDING IN CAR AND SMELLED SOMETHING BAD (LIKE HOT BRAKES OR BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC). GRANDSON CRIED OUT FROM HIS CAR SEAT THAT SOMETHING BURNED HIM. STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY AND REMOVED GRANDSON, REAR PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE OF DOOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAD BEGUN TO PUCKER UP (LIKE MELTED PLASTIC). ELECTRIC WINDOW NOW DOES NOT WORK. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP 12-28-07 AND THEY SAY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WE MUST PAY IN FULL, ESTIMATE IS >500.00. INSIDE OF DOOR PANEL BURNED COMPLETELY. ALSO SHOULD THE CAR NOT HAVE BLOWN A FUSE OR SOMETHING TO KEEP THIS FIRE FROM SPREADING AND CONTINUING BUT NO FUSES BLEW. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE SAFE BUT WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH PT CRUISERS AT THIS TIME. ALSO, I DOUBT THE DEALERSHIP WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HORRIBLE BURN SMELL. *TR

12/31/2007
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 12/31/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B34T******
Summary

PURCHASED 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, USED WITH 31K MILES IN MAY, 2007. IN ABOUT JULY/AUGUST 2007, NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE AND BECAME NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT AS WELL. IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON EXAMINATION AT DEALER, THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

12/07/2007
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/30/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B84T******
Summary

CHRYSLER IS CLAIMING THAT ALL OF POWER STEERING REPAIRS ARE NOT DUE TO THE RECALL ID NO. 04V268000. THE POWER STEERING HOSES HAVE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP TO FAIL. CHRYSLER CHARGED US FOR FAILURE OF THE PUMP, BUT NOW AT THIS TIME WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE HOSES, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE BELT TO BE REPLACED, WHICH NOW CAUSES PUMP DAMAGE. WE PAID FOR THE HOSES TO BE REPLACED AS WELL, BUT NOW FIND OUT NOW IT IS CAUSED BY CHRYSLER NOT FIXING THE RIGHT POWER STEERING COMPONENTS THAT ARE LISTED ON THIS RECALL. WE WOULD LIKE ALL COMPENSATION FOR OUR RENTAL CAR FEES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR WHILE OUR CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE NOW FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES. OUR VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT. *TR

12/02/2007
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 06/19/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B74T******
Summary

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILURE BEFORE 40,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. *TR

10/08/2007
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 10/08/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NOW THE FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON WITHOUT THE HEADLIGHTS BEING ON. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DIE IF NOT CORRECTED PROMPTLY. *JB

09/21/2007
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 09/20/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68824T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. HE INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,318.

09/17/2007
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 09/15/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B84T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. DURING A CRASH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TORE. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED, PURCHASE DATE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

09/11/2007
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

AFTER MY 30,000 MILE MAJOR MAINTENANCE, I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. IT WAS UNDER THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE WARRANTY SO I PAID THE $100 AND THEY "FIXED" IT. THE LEAK CONTINUED AFTER 3 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALER SHOP TO BE FIXED AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND THE LEAK. THEY NOW THINK IT'S COMING FROM THE "TOP". SINCE I DON'T MONITOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, MY CONCERN IS THAT I WILL HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE THE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. ALSO, THE CAR IS KEPT IN MY GARAGE DURING EXTENDED TIMES WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN AND THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE PUDDLE WHEN I RETURN. I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL IS FLAMMABLE SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN THERE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE BUT SEEMS TO LACK GUIDANCE AND HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

08/20/2007
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 08/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

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

08/03/2007
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 08/02/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

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.

07/13/2007
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 07/13/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEBBING/THREADING THAT HOLDS THE CONNECTOR INTO THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE FEELS THAT IF A CRASH OCCURRED, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO HOLD OR SUPPORT THE PERSON IN THE SEAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND PARTS ASSOCIATE AGREED THAT THE SEAT WAS UNSAFE. THE COST FOR PARTS IS $321.68 AND THE COST OF LABOR IS $324.75. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

07/02/2007
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 09/01/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58834T******
Summary

BRAKES CONSTANTLY HAVE GRINDING AND NOISE PROBLEMS, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT OR GOES TO THE FLOOR EASILY. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF A 2004 PT CRUISER WITH TURBO, BUT APPEARS TO BE A 2003 CHASSI AND BREAKS HENCE THE DRUM BREAKS ON THE REAR. DRUM BREAKS ON A TURBO MODEL HUMMMM. *TR

06/20/2007
Components: SUSPENSION,TIRES
Incident Date: 06/11/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON THE 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON FRONT WENT BAD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SO BAD I DID NOT DRIVE IT FURTHER THAN A BLOCK FROM WORK , THE CLOSEST PLACE. THEY CHARGED ME $313.00 TO FIX THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND OUTT HE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY ,BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS ALSO GOING BAD AND REPLACED IT AND THE DAMAGED HUB. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME THE $313.00 BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HUB WAS NOT REPLACED, AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. A CAR WITH LESS THAN 19,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE BAD WHEEL BEARINGS ALREADY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SO BAD THAT THE WHEEL COULD HAVE SEIZED OR FALLEN OFF AND CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS ON THE INTERSTATE. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SOME KIND OF DEFECT, AND THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WORN UNEVENLY DUE TO THE DAMAGED WHEEL BEARINGS. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE FRONT TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

06/11/2007
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/09/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B64T******
Summary

FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. THEY TURNED ON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AFTER CAR WAS PARKED ALL NIGHT AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ONCE THE BATTERYWAS CHARGED AND RETURNED TO CAR FOG LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THEM OFF WAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE. *AK

05/29/2007
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 05/28/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT STRAP (REAR) LOCKED WHEN THE REAR SEAT WAS LAID DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE SEAT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HAD TO CUT THE STRAP TO ALLOW PASSENGER'S TO RIDE IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WITHIN THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED CANT AFFORD $500 TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR

05/29/2007
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 05/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B74T******
Summary

THE WHEEL BEARING ARE WORN OUT ON A NEW CAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISERS. THE FRAME IS THE SAME AS A DODGE NEON, BUT THE PT CRUISER BODY IS 600 POUNDS HEAVIER CAUSING ADDED STRESS ON THE WHEELS. *TR

05/22/2007
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68834T******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST BUILD UP ON THE DRUMS, HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

05/13/2007
Components: SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/06/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B84T******
Summary

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

05/12/2007
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 04/11/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

I HAVE OWNED A 2004 PT CRUISER FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BOUGHT IT WITH 28000 MILES, ON IT, AND AT ABOUT 33000 MILES HEARD A BANG. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT THE SOUND CONTINUED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, BUT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY A FEW DAYS. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE CHANGED BRAKES, ROTORS, ETC. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BEARINGS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE ODD SINCE THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN MUCH. I RESEARCHED THE NET, AND FOUND A FORUM WITH MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, ONE PERSON EVEN EXPERIENCED A FATALITY. AS FOR ME, I HAVE LOST CONTROL GOING AROUND A BEND, AND HAVE SINCE CHANGED MY DRIVING BEHAVIOR. PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING LINK, AND NOTE ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TIL09OD8D72ERULQA . THERE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE SINCE THE BRAKES TENDED TO OUTLIVE THE BEARINGS. IF MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IT BECAME TOO COSTLY WHAT REMEDIES WILL CHRYSLER PROVIDE? *AK

05/01/2007
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 05/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B84T******
Summary

THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING UNDERNEATH IT TO PREVENT ANYTHING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR FROM ROLLING UNDERNEATH IT AND UNDER THE DRIVER'S FEET. WHEN MY DAUGHTER DROPS HER TOYS OR SIPPY CUPS, IN A HARD STOP, THEY HAVE ROLLED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND UNDER MY BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR

04/27/2007
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/18/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B24T******
Summary

MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE ROUGH IDLE AND SURGES. THIS FIRST STARTED WHEN A/C OR HEAT WERE ON. AT THIS TIME THE CAR DOES THIS EVEN WHEN A/C OR HEAT ARE NOT ON. CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN ACCELERATING EITHER FROM A PARKED POSITION, ACCELERATING TO A FREEWAY SPEED AND WHEN IN IDLE POSITION. ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2005, HEAD GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED PER MY COMPLAINT OF PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD 12,070 MILES ON IT. JUNE 17TH, 2005, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AGAIN AND ALSO REPLACED SPARK PLUG CABLES BECAUSE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLES WERE NOT REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 18TH AND THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN WHICH I MADE FURTHER COMPLAINTS ON NOVEMBER 15TH 2006. TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD MONITOR SENSORS WERE WITHIN RANGE, TBS UPDATES CHECKED AND NONE WERE AVAILABLE. SPARK PLUGS AND CABLES WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. JULY 11TH 2006, TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED COMPLAINT THAT ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN RUNNING A/C. FLASHED PROGRAMMED CONTROLLER AND CHECKED OVER ENGINE SYSTEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *JB

04/25/2007
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 01/01/1901
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF A RECALL BE OPENED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE STALLS WHILE SHE IS DRIVING AND HAS A ROUGH IDLE. *JB

04/24/2007
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/01/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B74T******
Summary

2004 PT CRUISER CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE GAUGES**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS PROBLEM MAYBE RELATED TO RECALL # 01V288000 *JB

03/07/2007
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/26/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING NEW CAR PURCHASE SCAM (BOGUS WARRANTY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY) THAT IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON A CHRYSLER WEBSITE DISCUSSING HUNDREDS OF CORPORATE SAFETY, CONTRACT AND WARRANTY ISSUES. YESTERDAY A WOMAN FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A NEW CAR FROM THEM AND IF IT IS TWO YEARS OLD (BUT BRAND NEW NEVER SOLD TO AN ACTUAL CUSTOMER) THAT THE WARRANTY BEGINS THE DAY THAT IT IS BUILT VS. WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY SOLD. SO WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW CAR FROM THEM APRIL 2005 AND THE CAR WAS BUILT IN DEC 2003 THEY TRICKED ME AND CHANGED THE PAPERWORK TO SAY THAT IT WAS A USED CAR, BUT NEVER OWNED BY ANYONE OTHER THEN A CHRYSLER DEALER. THINKING THAT YOU HAVE A NEW CAR WITH A 3 YEAR AND 36,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN YOU DRIVE OFF THE LOT YOU ARE IN FACT SCREWED OUT OF 1 & A HALF YEARS OF A CAR WARRANTY WITHY NEW STICKERS STILL ON THE WINDOW. SEE COMMENTS BELOW. I COULD NOT GET IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE EXCEPT THIS WOMAN THAT HAD NO CLUE ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND ENDED UP FAXING A COMPLAINT TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN STUGGART, GERMANY VS. DETROIT, MI. .

01/26/2007
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B34T******
Summary

MY 2004 PT CRUISER AFTER I WAS DRIVING FOR APROX 15 MIN., AND THEN PARKED, STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT THEN QUICKLY CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED FROM THE DASH FORWARD. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED 11 DAYS EARLIER AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SMOKE OR SMELL WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

01/22/2007
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/15/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

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

12/19/2006
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 11/06/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G44T******
Summary

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 PT CRUISER, THE CHROME IS LIFTING OFF THE WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA HOTLINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CHROME WAS NOTICEABLE WHEN HE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE AUTOMOBILE IS TWO YEARS OLD AND HE IS THE SECOND OWNER.

12/05/2006
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 11/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68834T******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH, THE FRONT BUMPER STRUCK A CONCRETE BARRIER WITHOUT WARNING. THE FRONT BUMPER SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, AND THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

11/30/2006
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 10/04/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

ON OCTOBER 4, 2006, I HAD NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE ON THE PT CRUISER WAS STILL READING FULL AND I KNEW AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WEEK IT SHOULD BE READING EMPTY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE GAUGE READ "FULL" BUT WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES IT WOULD READ "EMPTY"; IT EVEN READ 1/2 FULL A COUPLE OF TIMES. ON OCTOBER 5,2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DAVE DENNIS CHRYSLER JEEP AND DODGE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO THE WORKORDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". AT THAT TIME, I HAD ALSO ASKED FOR THEIR FREE 16 POINT CHECK WHICH INVOLVES CHECKING FLUID LEVELS AND TIRE AIR PRESSURE, ETC. THIS SERVICE WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING WE HAD TO STOP FROM OUR ROAD TRIP TO PUT AIR IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE FRONT PASSENGER ONLY HAD 10PSI IN IT. ON OCTOBER 27, 2006 I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN AFTER I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK TO CAPACITY. THE FUEL GUAGE WAS ONLY READING 3/4 FULL. ONCE AGAIN THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HATCH DOOR ON THE PT. YOU HAVE TO USE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLOSED SECURELY. IF YOU USE REGULAR FORCE TO CLOSE THE HATCH, THE DOOR IS FLUSHED WITH THE REST OF THE CAR BUT THE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALONG THE STRESS POINTS ON THE HATCH DOOR THE PAINT HAD CRACKED. THE BODY SHOP SANDED AND REPAINTED THE DOOR BUT SAID THE FORCE USED TO SHUT THE DOOR IS A "FACTORY" ISSUE. *NM

11/30/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 10/10/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B94T******
Summary

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

11/01/2006
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/30/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B74T******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE SHOP WHO DETERMINED A HOSE RUPTURED AND THE HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V481000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; ANTILOCK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

10/29/2006
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 10/05/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

MY 2004 PT CRUISER NOT STEERING CORRECTLY AND FRONT END NOISES NOT NORMAL. DEALER ON SECOND TEST REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS AND BEARINGS BECAUSE OF WORN OUT BEARING SEATS MILEAGE 15,468. *NM

09/21/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 06/05/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48BX4T******
Summary

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. PURCHASED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE ENTIRE HUB ASSEMBLY AND EVEN A WHOLE NEW AXLE. HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE AXLE IS TOO SHORT AND IS COMING LOOSE RESULTING ON THE EXPEDITED WEAR ON THE BEARINGS CAUSING A NEED FOR A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM

09/04/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/28/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B44T******
Summary

I HAVE OWNED A MANUAL SHIFT 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER SINCE JAN 2004. IN JUNE OF 2006 THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHO AT FIRST SAID IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN. THEN THEY SAW IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH SLIPPING. TWO DAYS LATER I HAD PAID FOR A NEW CLUTCH AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL BACK ANYMORE, EVEN WHEN THEY PUSHED ON IT. I WAS TOLD TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE AT LEAST 3 CLICKS FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS UNTIL THE CLUTCH HAD SETTLED IN. THREE WEEKS LATER I PARKED ON MY DRIVE OF NORMAL SLOPE AND RAN INSIDE FOR 5 MINUTES. WHEN I RETURNED THE VEHICLE WAS 3/4 DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC HAD BEEN TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT THE ROLL BACK IS NORMAL FOR THAT CAR. WHEN ASKED WHY IT NEVER DID IT BEFORE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD GOTTEN OLDER AND MORE LOSE AND THAT ALL THE PT CRUISERS ROLL BACK. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER WHO HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHRYSLER. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER BUT THEY ARE STILL STANDING THEIR GROUND SAYING THAT THE ROLL BACK IS NORMAL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING EVEN A 2006 MANUAL SHIFT PT CRUISER CAN BE SEEN ROLLING BACK WHEN THEY PUT IT ON A SLOPE IN THEIR SHOP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IT COULD ACTUALLY CAUSE A DEATH IF THERE WAS A CHILD PLAYING NEAR THE VEHICLE OR EVEN INJURY TO AN ADULT. *JB

08/22/2006
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 08/21/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B34T******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE ROLLED, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SAFETY BELT, BUT STILL INCURRED MUSCULAR AND NEUROLOGICAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

07/26/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/14/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58BX4T******
Summary

PT CRUISER. VIBRATION AT CERTAIN SPEEDS WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION. *JB

07/21/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/08/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

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.

06/08/2006
Components: VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 06/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE KNOB ON THE DASH THAT CONTROLS THE POSITION FOR CIRCULATION OF HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON BECAME STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE TO ANY POSITION TO THE LEFT. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY PLAYED WITH IT BUT IS STILL A LITTLE STIFF WHEN TURNING TO LEFT. THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. ALSO WAS INFORMED IF AND WHEN IT GOES IT WILL BE AN $800 JOB. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH DOESN'T COVER THIS JOB. SO SINCE WE WERE TOLD THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST WERE WE WANT THE HEAT OR AIR TO CIRCULATE. ALSO MY SISTER HAS THE SAME YEAR PT AND SAID HER KNOB HAS BEEN STIFF LIKE THAT SINCE SEE PURCHASED IT NEW. SO I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. ALSO I'M NOT USUALLY ONE TO COMPLAIN THIS IS OUR SECOND PT, AND IT ISN'T OUR DEALERSHIPS FAULT THEY ARE REALLY GREAT. *JB

04/06/2006
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/30/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME, RESULTING IN THE BATTERY BEING DEAD. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY CONNECTED THE SWITCH BACK TOGETHER. THE 2ND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DID THE SAME THING AND TOLD US THAT WE COULD DISCONNECT THE SWITCH IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN TO KEEP THE LIGHTS FROM STAYING ON. THE 3RD TIME I WAS UNABLE TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES AND HAD TO CUT THEM BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN AND I WAS ENROUTE TO FL FROM TN. THE DEALERSHIP IN FL WASN'T GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO CUT THE WIRES MYSELF SO I COULD TRAVEL IN THE CAR. AFTER SOME CONSIDERATION, HOWEVER, THEY DECIDED TO FIX THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND HAS LESS THAN 8500 MILES ON IT. WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS CAR AT ALL! *JB

03/27/2006
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,TIRES,WHEELS
Incident Date: 03/25/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY LOST AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND A RIM; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED REMOTE CONTROL PROBLEMS, AS WELL A CRACKED WINDSHIELD A BROKEN GAS TANK. IN ADDITION RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE, AND POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. *AK

03/15/2006
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 02/18/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68864T******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE HIT A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE HIT IT HARD ENOUGH TO BEND THE FRAME 3 INCHES OUT OF SQUARE. THIS RESULTED IN BODILY INJURY. *NM

11/17/2005
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/10/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B24T******
Summary

2004 PT CRUISER STALLS WHEN STOPPING WITHOUT WARNING. STALLS WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR STOPPING FOR SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ACCIDENTS ALMOST OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIME. 2 SEPARATE DEALERS HAVE HAD THE CAR, THEY CANNOT MAKE IT DO IT? AT LEAST 10 TRIPS AND THE LAST 9 WITHOUT PAPERWORK BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DON'T NEED IT UNTIL THEY CHECK IT OUT. SOMETHING IS FISHY WITH THESE CARS. PRIVATE PARTY LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWN SHIFTING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING TO MINIMUM SPEED. DEALERS AND CHRYSLER ARE DENYING A PROBLEM. I AM GETTING RID OF THE AUTO AS IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I HOPE MORE OWNERS OF THESE COMPLAIN AS TO GET SOMETHING DONE ASAP. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *JB

10/07/2005
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/22/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B04T******
Summary

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

07/22/2005
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 04/01/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B64T******
Summary

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THE BRAKES WERE MUSHY. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD KIND OF GLIDE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BEFORE 15,000 MILES. THIS WAS NORMAL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK *JB

07/19/2005
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/11/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G94T******
Summary

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.

06/26/2005
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 04/10/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B14T******
Summary

I PURCHASE MY 2004 PT CRUISER IN MARCH 2004. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER DELIVERY, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD START TO SHUDDER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY STARTED SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND ALSO CHUGS AND LOSES POWER GOING UP HILLS. I AM AFRAID TO ATTEMPT PASSING OTHER CARS BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OR LOSE POWER UNDER ACCELLERATION. TOOK THE CAR IN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY DID SEE THE PROBLEM. DEALER TRIED REPLACING THE CAM SENSOR AND "TWEAKING" THE COMPUTER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I AM APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

06/21/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/09/2005
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY688X4T******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE - ELECTRICAL WITH FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE ENGINE AND BODY OF THE CAR WERE NOT DAMAGED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE DEALER LOT. IT WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER AND THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THEY ARE DENYING MY CLAIM. I WASN'T HURT - JUST INHALED A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE GETTING THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED FROM THE HEAT AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE DASH TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS GONE - AND THE PLASTIC IS MELTED AND JUST HANGING. CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PT CRUISER EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE 911 OPERATOR TRANSFERRED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - WHO HAVE A REPORT ON THE CAR.

06/07/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/06/2005
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

DT: WHILE DRIVING WENT TOO A FAST FOOD LINE AND WHILE WAITING TO PLACE AN ORDER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO OTHER CARS WERE BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SO IMMEDIATELY PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND QUICKLY PARKED IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES. DRIVER CALLED 911. IN A SHORT TIME THE FRONT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY VAGUE IN THEIR EVALUATION OF THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT DID SAY THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. DRIVER HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THOUGHT THE SMELL WAS FAMILIAR AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AAA TOWED VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER IN THE AREA, AND THAT IS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A VISIT FROM THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER. *AK

06/06/2005
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/28/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B74T******
Summary

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TELLING HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING INTO FOURTH GEAR. 11/2004, 5/5/2005, 5/6/2005, 2/25/2005 SHE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON SO SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN, GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN LAST WEDNESDAY AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. *TT

05/18/2005
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 04/27/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY48B04T******
Summary

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS VIEWING THE DASHBOARD GAUGES ON 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DUE TO LACK OF BRIGHT LIGHTING.*MR THE DESIGN OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLOCK OUT DAYLIGHT WHICH RESULTS IN THE DRIVER STRAINING TO SEE THE READING OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC. *NM

05/10/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/15/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B64T******
Summary

DT: THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS OR DIES WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. ALSO, DID THIS WHEN TURNING A SHARP CORNER. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THIS PROBLEM. MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, BUT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. OTHER CARS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO, SOME NEWER MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS THAT CALLER SPOKE TOO.*AK

04/28/2005
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 04/22/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68834T******
Summary

I HAVE HAD MY CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME STEERING COLUMN NOISE 4 TIMES. IN 2 TIMES THEY HAVE SCRATCHED MY STEERING WHEEL TWICE . THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL ALREADY ONCE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON FRIDAY APRIL 22 AND I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK TONIGHT. I SAW 2 SCRATCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SERVICE REP LOOK AT THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M NOT HAPPY THAT I HAVE TO KEEP BRINGING THE CAR BACK IN FOR THE SAME THING, I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THE PT UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *AK

04/25/2005
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 10/14/2004
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY4HB14T******
Summary

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IT FLIPPED INTO A PHONE POLE, UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, KILLING THE DRIVER. *AK

03/30/2005
Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/26/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B84T******
Summary

WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER HAT THE CLUTCH AND BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PARTS WORE OUT WITH LESS THEN 17,500 MILES.*AK

03/26/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/24/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

LOSE ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL FUNCTION, DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON....EVEN THO NO DOOR IS OPEN...DEALER HAS NO CLUE AND COMPUTER DOES NOT REPORT AN ISSUE....PULL FUSE AND REINSERT RESOLVES THE ISSUE....*AK

03/10/2005
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 11/01/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE/ ALMOST WENT THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE COMPLAINED MUTLIPLE TIMES ABOUT MY BRAKE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES, AND EVERY TIME AM TOLD BRAKES ARE FINE. THEY DID ADJUST THE BRAKES ONCE BUT THE BRAKES SQUEAL & GRIND ALL THE TIME. WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE NEW STYLE BRAKES/ BRAKE ROTOR IS RUSTING BADLY AND CHIPPING AWAY AROUND THE TOP BUT WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL EVENT DUE TO THE ELEMENTS. ALSO MY DASHBOARD IS COMING AWAY FROM MY WINDOW AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED OR LOOKED AT. MY TIRES NEVER SEEM TO STAY INFLATED AND WAS TOLD THIS IS DUE TO THE WEATHER EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. MY CAR HAS POWER SURGES AND THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT THIS IS NORMAL. BELT NOISE/ SQUEALING THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL WEAR. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NOV 2004. I ALSO HAVE NICKS IN MY WINDSHIELD AND THEY SAID THEY FILLED THEM, AFTER HAVING ANOTHER GLASS COMPANY LOOK AT MY WINDSHIELD THEY SAID THEY WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEING FILLED WITH ANY TYPE OF FILLER, SO NO IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. *AK

03/10/2005
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 02/05/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I BOUGHT A 2004 PT/GT CRUISER NEW(12 MILES) FROM THE DEALER IN 02-05. THE DAY I LEFT THE PROPERTY I NOTICED A SERIOUS VIBRATION AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 45 MPH. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER , TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR CORRECTION PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. TWICE THE CAR HAS RETURNED , STILL NO SOLUTION. TODAY(03-10-05), DEALER NOTIFIES ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS AN EGINEERING PROBLEM --WHEEL/RIM SIZE-- CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER IN THE 2005 MODEL. THIS ISSUE WAS NOT TOLD TO ME PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME "TAKE IT TO ARBRITRATION!" THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH WITH THE CURRENT PROBLEM. *AK

02/13/2005
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 08/01/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B14T******
Summary

WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE NEW 2004 PT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH. BEFORE, I COULD SIT AT A RED LIGHT IN DRIVE AND NEVER FEEL THE CAR VIBRATE. NOW ANYTIME I START THE ENGINE OR AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT VIBRATES AND RUNS VERY ROUGH. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE COMPUTER CODE P0303 FROM THE ODOMETER (USING THE KEY ON/RUN, OFF TRICK). P0303 IS A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER NUMBER 3. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES NOW AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!!! IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANYMORE. THEY KEEP TELLING NOW THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING IF THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. BUT IT STILL RUNS VERY ROUGH! SOMETIMES THE LIGHT FLASHES WHEN I START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BLAMED/REPLACED EVERYTHING FROM BAD GAS, SPARK PLUGS, CABLES AND NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE MOTOR MOUNTS! I RESEARCHED NHTSA AND FOUND THERE IS ALREADY A TSB ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS BASED ON MULTIPLE INTERNET FORUMS ON THE PT CRUISER. PEOPLE AS DO I LOVE THE CAR I BUT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE FIXED. *JB

02/10/2005
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/07/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58894T******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FRONT AXLE LITERALLY BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

02/07/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/06/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B54T******
Summary

ONE DAY AFTER WASHING MY PT CRUISER, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS IDLING SO HARD THE CAR WAS JERKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I THOUGHT MAYBE AFTER IT RAN AWHILE IT WOULD STOP, SO I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP AND STARTING BEEPING, SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN THE GARAGE. I PERFORMED THE TEST FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE EMISSIONS, AND THE HARD IDLE STOPPED. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE CAR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING. AT ONE POINT, THEY WENT BERSERK, LOCKING CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. ONE DAY LATER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. I'VE HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN CHRYLERS AFTER THE CAR IS WASHED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB

02/06/2005
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 11/07/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

SUN VISOR DROPS TO FULL DOWNWARD POSITION, OBSCURING WIEW OF ROAD. DEALER REPLACED PART. *JB

01/27/2005
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/01/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58BX4T******
Summary

THE CONSUMER PT CRUISER TRIP METER CONSTANTLY RESET ITSELF, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY AND THE BELLS START BEEPING. *BF THE MECHANIC SPRAYED STATIC GUARD IN IT THAT TIME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOTH SEATS AND TO GET OUT AND GRAB THE METAL BAR. THE GEAR SHIFTER KNOB WOULD COME OFF, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO THE BRAKES, IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME BECAUSE THE LOCK AND TUMBLERS WERE STICKING, THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION AND WOULD ONLY GET 12.9 MILES TO THE GALLON AND WOULD RUN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT WORKING AT TIMES. *SC

01/04/2005
Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS
Incident Date: 12/29/2004
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B74T******
Summary

HEAD ON COLLISION, AIRBAGS CAME OUT, BACK SEAT BEHIND DRIVER CAME UN-DONE, UNLATCHED AND HIT DRIVER IN HEAD, DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS. RIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS DID COME OUT.*AK

12/24/2004
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/20/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B04T******
Summary

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

12/06/2004
Components: STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/03/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B64T******
Summary

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATIC 2004 PT CRUISER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR WEEKS AT A TIME DUE TO THE CAR STALLING WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE THE POWER STEERING LOCKS, AND THIS ACTION CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO IT STALLING AND DRIVING ROUGH. EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY FIND AN ISSUE BUT IT IS THE WRONG ISSUE. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE RENTED PT CRUISER RENTAL CARS TO VERIFY THAT ALL PT CRUISER DO NOT RUN ROUGH AND STALL AND THE RENTAL CARS RUN LIKE A DREAM COMPARED TO MY CAR. IF THE TROUBLES WITH THE CAR DO NOT CHANGE AND THE CAR CANNOT BE FIXED I WOULD LIKE OUT OF THE DEAL. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR DUE TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT.*AK

10/27/2004
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/23/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

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

10/22/2004
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/21/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

HOSE CAME LOOSE FROM TRANSMISSION CAUSING VEHICLE TO CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. *BF *TC

10/18/2004
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 10/14/2004
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD HITTING A CULDER. ONCE THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE FLIPPING ON THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING TRAPPED FOR OVER AN HOUR. THE CONSUMER DIED ON THE SCENE. PLEASE COMPLETE FORM. *JB *SC

10/14/2004
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/11/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B44T******
Summary

CAR STALLS & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CAR ALMOST STALLED BROUGHT TO DEALER TO PERFORM WARRANTY REPAIRS. DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, POWER TRAIN MODULE.*AK

09/17/2004
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/07/2004
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58B54T******
Summary

ON JULY 7, 2004, I HAD AN COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AND I HIT A POLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. *AK WHEN I INFORMED DAIMLER CHRYSLER OF THE ACCIDENT, THEY HAD AN INVESTIGATOR TOW MY CAR TO MANCARI'S CHRYSLER JEEP IN CRESTWOOD, ILLINOIS ON JULY 15, 2004 TO INPECT THE DAMAGES. WHEN FINISHED, THE INVESTIGATOR CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER WOULD CONTACT ME REGARDING THE DAMAGES. AFTER THE INVESTIGATOR CONTACTED ME, I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER ABOUT TWO TIMES A WEEK ASKING FOR A STATUS AND WOULD GET PUT ON HOLD FOR A LONG TIME ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY FILE IS STILL UNDER REVIEW. WHEN I ASKED FOR A MANAGER, THEY WOULD TELL ME NO ONE IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, I SENT EMAILS TO GET TO CHRYSLER TO GET A RESPONSE. ONE RESPONSE WAS ABOUT CONTACTING CHRYSLER FINANCIAL. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO A MR. LAMBERT AND HE GAVE ME AN EXTENSION ON MY CAR PAYMENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2004. I TOLD MR. LAMBERT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE PT CRUISER DUE TO MY ACCIDENT AND ARTICLES THAT I FOUND. THE ARTICLES ARE EXPLAINING DEFECTS OF THE PT CRUISER (WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM AND WWW.DAIMLERCHRYSLERVEHICLEPROBLEMS.COM). THEREFORE, MR. LAMBERT TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD REVIEW THE LEMON LAW TO SEE IF I CAN GET A NEW CAR. MR. LAMBERT HAS NOT INFORMED ME OF A DECISION ABOUT A NEW CAR BUT I HAVE OBTAINED A COPY OF THE LEMON LAW STATUTES TO PROTECT MYSELF. ACCORDING TO MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT, I HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND A NEW VEHICLE IF I FIND THAT MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. AS OF NOW, MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS PAYING TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT MANCARI'S CHRYSLER AUTO BODY SHOP IN OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS. MANCARI'S HAS SUPPOSEDLY BEEN FIXING MY CAR SINCE THE END OF JULY 2004 AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. THANKSFATIMAH R. MUHAMMAD

09/09/2004
Components: CHILD SEAT
Incident Date: 09/09/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

EVENFLO, MODEL # 3861364P1, DOM 06/13/2003. WHILE TAKING THE CHILD OUT OF THE CAR SEAT OFF THE BASE DID NOT DETACH. CONSUMER TRIED TO PULL IT APART AND IT DID NOT MOVE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

09/05/2004
Components: VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 08/18/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B34T******
Summary

SUN LIGHT REFLECTS OFF THE GLOSSY, SILVER PAINTED AIRBAG COVER ON THE DASHBOARD BLINDING THE DRIVER. *JB

08/28/2004
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 08/08/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE P.T.CRUISER IS ALMOST INVISIBLE, AND IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT REQUIRES THAT ONE TAKE HIS ATTENTION OFF THE ROAD TO READ ANY OF THE GAUGES, EXCEPT WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING DIRECTLY ON THE PANEL, OR IN THE DEEP DARK OF NIGHT (NOT TWILIGHT) *JB

07/22/2004
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 03/30/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I WAS DRIVING A RENTAL CAR IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. IT WAS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH DOWN WITH MY RIGHT ELBOW AND UNBUCKLE THE 3-POINT SEATBELT SIMPLY BY PUSHING DOWN WITH THE POINT OF MY ELBOW, THE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED AND THE TONGUE LATCH POPPED OUT. THIS MEANS THAT WHEN JOSTLING AROUND IN A ROLLOVER, THIS SEAT BELT CAN UNLATCH AND IS THEREFORE DEFECTIVE. I WAS NOT HURT IN THIS. *JB

07/18/2004
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 10/15/2003
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY58804T******
Summary

CAR CONTINUES TO MISS, DUE TO FAILURE OF IGNITION OR GAS OR MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. ITS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WITH NO HELP. THIS STARTED AFTER 3000 MILES ON CAR.

06/24/2004
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 11/09/2003
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I AM WRITING TO YOU TO ALERT YOU TO A HORRIBLE HAZARD IN CARS WITH ELECTRIC WINDOWS. IN NOVEMBER 2003 MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON VACATION IN SAN DIEGO AND WE RENTED A PT CRUISER. AT ONE POINT WE WERE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE CAR RUNNING TALKING TO ANOTHER GROUP WHEN MY 6 YEAR OLD STUCK HER HEAD OUT THE WINDOWE TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION. WHEN SHE DID, SHE ACCIDENTIALLY KICKED THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON WITH HER FOOT. THE BUTTON WAS LOCATED NEAR THE FLOOR IN THE BACKSEAT ON THE MIDDLE CONSOL. SHE ROLLED THE WINDOW UP ON HER OWN HEAD AND WAS STUCK IN THE WINDOW. SHE ONLY LIVED THROUGH THE EVENT BECAUSE 1) HER HEAD WAS TILTED AT THE TIME SO THE WINDOW ROLLED UP ON THE SIDE OF HER NECK AND NOT ON HER TRACHEA; AND 2) HER 8 YEAR OLD SISTER IN THE BACK SEAT WITH HER HEARD HER SCREAMS AND GOT HER FOOT OFF THE BUTTON AND ROLLED THE WINDOW BACK DOWN. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND PAINFUL AND TOTALLY PREVENTABLE. THE BUTTON SHOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE WHERE IT CANNOT BE KICKED OR BUMPED SO EASILY, AND THERE SHOULD BE A MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO ROLL BACK DOWN IF IT MEETS RESISTANCE. I AM WILLING TO TESTIFY OR TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT OR HELP IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED THROUGH CHANGES TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS. I KNOW THAT OTHER CHILDREN HAVE DIED FROM THIS. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION IF I HAVE SENT THIS TO YOU IN ERROR OR PLEASE NOTIFY ME SO THAT I CAN CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *AK

06/16/2004
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 03/01/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

NORMAL WEAR WTHIN 3 MONTHS OF A NEW PURCHASE GT LEATHER SEAT CUSHIONS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS HAD THE STITCHING SPLIT IN THE CENTER. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE SEATS.

06/06/2004
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,INTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/03/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B94T******
Summary

THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR KEEPS LOCKING UP, ALL THE DASH EMER LIGHTS COME ON AND NO DASH COMPONETS WORK, SPEEDOMETER, MILEAGE INDICATOR, TACK0METER INSTRUMENT PANEL OFF . ONE DOESN'T KNOW IF CAR IS WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT. COULD SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR A PERSON TO BE STRANDED ANYWHERE.*AK

06/04/2004
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 05/19/2004
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C4FY48B54T******
Summary

05/19/2004, WHILE TRAVELING FROM KNOXVILLE TN, ON I-40 IN A RENTED PT CRUISER, A CHEVY BLAZER CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF US AS TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. WE WERE ALREADY SLOWING FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WERE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 45 MPH. WE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY LOCKED UP AND STARTED TO SKID, THE CAR ALMOST STOPPED IN TIME BUT THE BRAKES WENT SOFT AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, PROPELLING US INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF US, TOTALING THE PT. WE LEFT 25 FEET OF SKID AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 500 MILES ON IT. WE RENTED THE CAR FROM BUDGET AND IT HAD 5 MILES ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT THERE IS A BREAKING IN PROCEDURE FOR THE CAR. THIS WAS NOT FOLLOWED IF IT IS A RENTAL WITH 5 MILES ON IT. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER THEY SENT ME A LETTER CLAIMING THEY "INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT." I DON'T BELIEVE THEM FOR A SECOND. THE VN IS [XXX], MY FIANCEE AND I WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES. IF YOU NEED AND MORE INFORMATION I CAN FURNISH IT UPON REQUST.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

04/23/2004
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/26/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G84T******
Summary

MISSING TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR DOWN PAYMENT FOR 2004 PT CRUISER. (NAR) *PH PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB

04/20/2004
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 03/24/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY68B74T******
Summary

PT CRUISER IDLES ROUGH AND SHAKES AND PULSATES. FEELS LIKE YOU'RE STANDING IN A BRISK WIND WHILE IT IDLES. DEALER TOLD ME " IT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST" THEN ON 2ND. SERVICE FOR SAME PROBLEM TOLD ME DAIMLERCHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT DEFECT AND DOESN'T HAVE A FIX TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PCM AND 02 SENSORS DEALER STATED. LOOKING AT LEMON LAW RIGHTS AT THIS POINT. BOTH WANT TO BLAME THE OTHER FOR NON REPAIRABILITY.

03/17/2004
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/21/2004
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3C8FY78G74T******
Summary

EXHAUST PIPES ARE LOCATED SOMEWHERE UNDER THE CARRIAGE. DRIVER IS CONCERNED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLING. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TAIL PIPE EXTENDED PAST THE BUMPER. *NM

3 Recalls

for 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
03/06/2004
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V268000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Campaign Number: 04V268000
Manufacture: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Components: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Summary

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.

Notes

DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. D18. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

14/04/2008
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E033000
SUSPENSION
THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Campaign Number: 08E033000
Manufacture: FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS PRODUCTS
Components: SUSPENSION
Summary

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

07/04/2009
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E012000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Campaign Number: 09E012000
Manufacture: SABERSPORT
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT. THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

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