2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO TREE TRUNKS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE BRAKE TUBE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V481000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,200.

WEB SITE TOPIX WILL CONFIRM THE INCREDIBLE # OF FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD FOG LAMPS TURN ON AFTER CAR IS SHUT DOWN CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN. 100'S HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT PART MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS CONTROLS FOG, HEAD, ACCESSORY, & DASH LIGHTING. TO PREVENT THE FOG LAMPS FROM COMING ON BY THEMSELVES, MOST HAVE REMOVED FUSE # 8 TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMPS FROM THE CIRCUIT. PEOPLE REPORT SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL LEVER, & THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING IS QUITE COMMON. I PERSONALLY HAVE REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES ON MY WIFE'S 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 50,000 TOTAL MILES & SHE BEING ORIGINAL OWNER. BY PARKING HER CAR MINUS FUSE # 8, NOT USING DOME LIGHTING, & ALWAYS PARKING WITH THE SIGNAL LEVER IN THE DOWN OR LEFT TURN POSITION HAS PREVENTED THE MYSTERY FOG LAMP ISSUE, & KEPT HER BATTERY FUNCTIONING. THIS "TEMP" SOLUTION HAS ALLOWED HER ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS OF DRIVING W/O THE PROBLEMS OTHER PT OWNERS STRUGGLE WITH. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL LOSE LIGHTING OR A FIRE WILL OCCUR INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, LOSS OF VEHICLE & POSSIBLY DEATH. CHRYSLER DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE, BUT WANTS MORE THAN $1,000.000 TO ANALYZE & REPAIR. THROUGH THE TOPIX P.T FORUM I WAS ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO DO THE WORK MYSELF FOR FAR LESS THAN $100. MANY ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF FOR HUNDREDS WHILE CHRYSLER KNOWS FULL WELL OF THE ISSUE. NO LESS THAN AN INVESTIGATION, PERHAPS STARTED WITH THE TOPIX FORUM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF FAILURES THAT STILL PLAGUE THE P.T. ON LATER MODELS SUCH AS 2001 THRU 06 OR 08. ALSO NEED 3RD. BRAKE JOB, & THE RIMS DO NOT SEAL CAUSING LOW TIRES THAT HURT MPG. DRIVING COMFORT, & SAFETY. DEALER & I HAVE TRIED MICHELIN TIRES HOPING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED GOODYEARS. I STILL HEAR EVERY 100 MILES OR SO THAT MY WIFE'S P.T NEEDS ADDITIONAL AIR PRESSURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE REPLACED HER ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM IN AUGUST 2008; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. A SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER ALSO ADVISED HER THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,837 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,420.

DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLAPSED AND WERE NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO GO THROUGH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE TREMDOUSLY WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES, HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO QUIT SHAKING. HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED AT BRAKE SHOP. THEY SAW S THIS MANY TIMES WITH THE PT CRUISER. HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON. IF CONSUMER WOULD STAND BESIDE THE BRAKES SHE COULD FEEL THE HEAT COMING OUT OF THEM. THIS WAS ONGOING A COUPLE YEARS, AND MOSTLY RECENTLY HAPPENED ON MAY 30,2005.*AK

CONSUMER BOUGHT CAR THAT HAD NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. AFTER TWO WEEKS A NOISE IN BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE CAR WAS HEARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, PLACED A SUPPORT BECAUSE BRAKE PADS WERE GONE, METAL ON METAL. THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, NEEDED ROTORS/SPARK PLUGS, AND TUNE UP ALONG WITH A PVC VALVE. NEEDED TO BE FIXED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX ANYTHING.*AK

DT THE BRAKE LINES COLLASPED AND HAS NOT ALLOWED THE BRAKE FLUID TO GO THROUGH. HAS TO GRIP STEERING WHEEL AND PULL OVER IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. STANDING NEXT TO THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE HEAT COMING OFF THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED IN MAR 2005. TUFFY FIXED IT, THEY SAID HAD OTHER PT CRUISER'S IN FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES IT SHOOK BADLY. IT WAS UNCONTROLABLE AT THAT POINT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDE ROWLAND JONES HUSBAND OF BARBARA JONES.*AK

BRAKES: NOTICED SQUEALING AND LOTS OF BRAKE DUST (6/04). HAD TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS. AFTER REPAIR, PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE STILL SQUEELED. TOOK BACK, ROTOR REPLACED AGAIN. MY FRONT RIGHT BREAK STILL SQUEELS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOOTING OFF MUCH BREAK DUST. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I WOULD THINK AFTER A MONTH THE SEMI-METALIC BREAKS WOULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN BY NOW.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

THE FRONT BRAKES AND TIRES EXHIBIT EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR. FRONT TIRES REPLACED APPROX. 40,000 MILES, REAL OK AT 68,000. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED TWICE SO FAR, WITH ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDING REPLACEMENTS. THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE OVERLY STRESSED DUE TO VEHICLE DESIGN.*AK

MY 01 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, 25,602 MILES, HAD A STIFF BRAKE PEDAL. CAR FELT AS IF I WAS DRIVING W/FOOT ON BRAKE. CHRYSLER TOWED CAR TO DEALER. THEY SAID I HAD CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID, REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY REGULAR OR EXT. WARRANTY. MY BILL FOR REPAIR WAS $2643.48. THEY REPLACED ALL BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS.*AK

THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AT 10,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES LATER AFTER HAVING THEM CHECKED THERE WAS A LOUD MOANING NOISE. FOUND THAT THE PADS HAD CUT INTO THE ROTORS, AND THE ROTOR DISHED WAS BENT VERY BADLY. NOW AT 15000 MILES THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.*AK

I OWN A 2001 PT CRUSIER AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS BECAUSE OF EXESSEIVE WHEAR AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES PLEASE ADVISE . *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS CRYSTALIZE REQUIRING ROTOR REPLACEMENT EVERY 30000 MILES. BRAKE SHOP SAYS EVERY PT COMES IN THIS WAY. REAR BRAKES DO NOT ADJUST OUT AND THE FRONT BRAKES STAY PARTIALLY ENGAGED. THIS OVER HEATS THE BRAKES CAUSING MANY COMPONENTS TO FAIL. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE OF REPLACEING THEESE PARTS, I AM WORRIED THAT I COULD HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE LEADING TO A CRASH.

) ON 9/2/03 I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. PROBLEM FOUND WAS THE FRONT RIGHT CALIPER PISTON STUCK > CLOSED CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR > OF BRAKES PADS ( METAL TO METAL ON FRONT RIGHT AND 50% PADS ON OTHER THREE). DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPER PISTON, REPLACED PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. HAD TO GET A RENTAL FOR ONE DAY. 2) ON 2/21/05 HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND BRAKES CHECKED. DEALER SAID ALTHOUGH THE PADS WHERE WEARING EVENLY NOW, THEY STATED "BUT WORN OUT FRONT AND REAR", NEED TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, REPLACED FRONT ROTORS, RESURFACED REAR ROTORS" THIS TIME I HAD TO HAVE A RENTAL FOR THREE DAYS. 3) ON 3/12/05 NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO WORK THE, ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME ENGULFED WITH STEAM, I COULD NOT SEE A THING AND THE WIPERS COULD NOT TAKE THE STEAM AWAY, SO AGAIN I HAD TO HEAD BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. DEALER STATED "FOUND ENGINE COOLING FAN NOT WORKING & RADIATOR CAP NOT HOLDING PRESSURE" " REPLACED FAN AND RADIATOR CAP". ANOTHER RENTAL FOR TWO DAYS. 4) ON 6/14/06, 161 MILES AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RUNS OUT, I HAVE A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, I GET THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK SHORTED OUT AND DAMAGED THE CONTROLLER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS ITEM REPLACED. NO RENTAL REQUIRED THIS TIME BUT THE BILL WAS $1055.66 ON MY DIME. NOW ....THE GRAND DADDY OF THEM ALL! 5) THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALER ON 8/1/06 FOR THE SAME FRONT RIGHT CALIPER PISTON ISSUE AS ON 9/2/03, BUT ON MY DIME THIS TIME. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. TWO DAYS, STARTED VEHICHLE AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STAYED ON; BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, SECURITY LIGHT, CRUSIE CONTROL, ETC. AS WELL AS WORDS "NO BUG" OVER THE ODEMETER/MILEAGE GAGE. THESE LGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO CONNECT TO COMPUTER. *AK

THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE ENGAGED ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

2001 PT CRUISER, CALIPER FREEZING TO ROTOR CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO WEAR DOWN TO MEDAL AND ROTOR TO TURN BLUE, ONLY ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE THE BRAKE PADS FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE PADS FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOK LIKE NEW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER OVER THE WARRANTY ON THE CALIPER AND CONTEMPORARY CHRYSLER DODGER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR" AND "BRAKE DUST AND DIRT PARTICLES" THAT CAUSE THE CALIPER TO STICK? I BELIEVE IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR ONE SIDE TO BE WORN DOWN TO THE MEDAL? THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER FROZE AND CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY. 20,316 MI. BUT THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT A DIFFERENT DEALER. ALSO, CAUSING SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. *JB

2001 PT CRUISER, CALIPER FREEZING TO ROTOR CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO WEAR DOWN TO MEDAL AND ROTOR TO TURN BLUE, ONLY ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER FROZE AND CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY. 20,316 MI. BUT THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT A DIFFERENT DEALER. ALSO, CAUSING SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END.*JB