2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO BURNING OIL AND LEAKING FUEL EXCESSIVELY. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THAT THE SPEED WAS 70 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS FROM REVERSE INTO THE PARK POSITION, SHE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THEN REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INPUT/OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, THIRD GEAR RATIO AND THE FUEL PUMP MOUNTING FLANGE ON THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V215000, FUEL SYSTEM AND RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 01V288000 FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; DID NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98100.

CAR'S PLASTIC DASHBOARD SUDDENLY CRACKED IN THE CENTER AND PIECES FELL INTO THE CENTER VENT. DASHBOARD NOW HAS SHARP EDGES FROM THE CRACKS, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY IN THE EVENT OF COLLISION. DO TO THE NATURE OF THE DAMAGE I DON'T BELIEVE THE DASHBOARD COMPLIES WITH FOLLOWING: 571.201 STANDARD NO. 201; OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT. *TR

I OWN A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS CEASED TO DISPLAY ANY INFORMATION. THAT IS, I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEED, TACH, FUEL GAUGE, OR ANY SAFETY WARNINGS. EACH TIME I TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. WHEN THEY RECONNECT IT, I BEGINS TO WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LINKAGE ARM HAD COME OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WERE HELD ON BY BUSHINGS. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE MANUFACTUER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WILL DO THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNS ON BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. AFTER TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, IT COMES BACK ON SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, AND ACCELERATES! VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND THEY JUST CALLED SAYING THEY HAD COMPLETED UPDATES TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MALFUNCTION ANYMORE. THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP THE CAR FOR ANOTHER DAY, AND DRIVE IT AROUND PERIODICALLY, TO SEE IF IT'S SOLVED, AND I'LL GET IT BACK TOMORROW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE FOG LIGHTS CONTINUED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

EVERY TIME I UNPLUG MY BATTERY IT TAKES SOME HOURS OF DRIVING BEFORE THE FAN COMES BACK ON AND THAT CAUSES OVERHEATING BY THE TIME THE CAR'S FAN START WORKING AGAIN. WHEN IT OVER HEAT IT BOILS THE COOLANT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE HEATER ON FULL BLAST IN ORDER TO SUPPRESS THE OVERHEATING. AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE IS ON PART OF THE RADIATOR THAT MAKES IT MELT WHEN THE COOLANT GETS TOO HOT. *TR

2002 PT CRUISER 55,000 MILES DASH CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE FOG LAMP ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SOME TIME LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP IN EL SEGUNDO, CA FOR REPAIR ON 03/29/06 WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL SWITCH AND REPAIRED FOR $86.58. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THEN IN 2008 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I TOOK IT INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN W. LOS ANGELES, CA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN SO IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $340. NOW ON EASTER (04/04/10) ON MY WAY TO A BBQ TO MY PARENTS HOME, THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN ...AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSED ME TO PANIC BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHILE I WAS JUST GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS NOT TO FAR FROM MY PARENTS HOME WHERE MY BROTHER WHO WAS FORMALLY A MECHANIC HAD THE MIND TO PULL OUT THE FUSE TO THE FOG LIGHTS. THE FUSE WAS VERY HOT WHEN HE PULLED IT OUT AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. HE DID STATE THAT THE CAR COULD OF CAUGHT FIRE IF HE HAD NOT PULLED THE FUSE OUT IN TIME. I WAS LUCKY. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET THE HORN TO WORK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.RL

THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT STAY IN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE CAR IN OCTOBER SAID HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL IGNITION SWITCHES IN THIS MODEL CAR. COULD IT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE GM RECALL? THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SOMETHING YOU MAY WISH TO LOOK AT WITH CELL PHONES AND THESE INCIDENTS WITH ACCELERATION ON CARS. WE HAVE A PT CRUISER AND SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE PLACED THE PHONE IN THE STORAGE AREA IN THE MIDDLE IN THE DASH. WITH THE KEEY OFF, THE PHONE RINGS AND THE CAR STARTED TURNING OVER UNTIL WE MOVED THE PHONE AWAY FROM THE IMMMEDIATE AREA OF THE DASH. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT?? [XXX] *TR

DASHBOARD ON MY PT CRUISER -2002 JUST STARTED CRACKING FIRST A THE WINDSHIELD LIKE A HAIR LINE CRACK - THEN DEFROST VENT INVOLVED - NOW IT HAS A HOLE IN THE VENT - AND NOW JUST THIS WEEKEND ANOTHER HAIRLINE CRACK STARTING AT THE AIR VENT AND GOING NOW TO THE CONSOLE. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY DASH? THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE AIR BAG JUST DOWN BELOW. NO WRECK INVOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SEEMED TO FAIL; SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANY OTHER GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 01V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING: INTERIOR/UNDER DASH). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

RECALL ON FUEL PUMP MODULE NEVER DISCLOSED BY DEALER! RECENTLY HAD SERVICE TO MY CAR AT A DODGE-CHRYSLER DEALER IN ATLANTA, GA AND THEY NEVER DISCLOSED THAT I HAD A RECALL PART ON MY CAR. MY FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDS A SECONDARY SEAL PLACED OVER IT SO IT WON'T LEAK IF A ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT OCCURS. TOOK CAR TO A SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER, AND THEY TOO NEVER DISCLOSED MY RECALL FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDS REPAIRS. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THESE DEALERS NOT INFORMING UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS OF SOMETHING SO SERIOUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE FOG LAMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED THERE WAS A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE ALSO SMELLED BURNING RUBBER; HOWEVER, AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SEVERAL PT CRUISERS EXHIBITED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEIR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT HER TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. THEY ALSO ADVISED HER NOT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR TOWED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

I HAVE A 2002 PT DASH STARTED CRACKING AT CENTER VENT CRACKED 2 WAYS NOW IS A LARGE CRACK AN VERY SHARP EDGES ON PIECES NO WRECKS , HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF .THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT . THIS UPSETS ME ON THE PROBLEM WITH IT . I NEED IT FIXED. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, NAMELY THE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH SEEMS TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS DEPLETES THE BATTERY, AND HAS LED A NUMBER OF PT CRUISER OWNERS TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH NUMEROUS TIMES OR REMOVE THE FUSES FOR LIGHTS, SUCH AS THE FOG LIGHTS. CHRYSLER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION ON SUCH EXPERIENCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB AT FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 OR AT PTCRUISER.COM. *TR

THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHT SWITCH ON PT CRUISERS IS DEFECTIVE. OVER 500 PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT SUDDENLY THE FRONT & BACK FOG LIGHTS COME ON & DO NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE MOTOR & ALL OTHER SWITCHES ARE TURNED OFF. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEING TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN CONSTANT FORCING ME & OTHERS TO REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY DOES NOT DRAIN DOWN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. I AND OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

DASHBOARD IN 2002 PT CRUISER HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE AND HAS BEGAN TO SEPARATE INTO PIECES. THIS INCLUDES THE CENTER DEFROST VENT. PER THE JUNE 18, 2007 MIAMI HERALD YOU HAD 9 COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS AND 12 FROM 2001 OWNERS. THIS WAS OVER 2 YEARS AGO. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS MANY MORE COMPLAINTS THAT PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS ( E.G. COVERKING) HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING DASH COVERS FOR THE PT CRUISER SPECIFICALLY TO COVER CRACKED DASHES; BUT I CANNOT USE ONE AS THESE COVERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE CENTER DEFROST VENT WHICH HAS BROKEN INTO PIECES AND FALLEN INTO THE VENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH COVER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ENOUGH CARS SURELY TO INITIATE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DASHES! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AN ATTACHMENT THAT WAS MAILED TO HER THAT INCLUDED INFO ABOUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HER.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PT CRUISER, I WAS STOPPED AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT AND WITHIN A MINUTE THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE DAMAGE. *TR

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (THAT CONTROLS THE FOG LAMP) SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BE ON NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE SWITCH WAS TURNED TO. I WAS FORCED TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMP FUSE; CHRYSLER HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED OR MORE ON BACKORDER, I'VE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE I CAN GET A REPLACEMENT. *TR

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONNECTOR HOUSING DEGRADES DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE OVER TIME WHICH CAN CAUSE SHORTING, LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE OR A SMOKE/FIRE HAZARD. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FOG LAMPS WOULD TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE MAIN LIGHTS TURNING ON AND A FEW INSTANCES OF THE STEERING COLUMN BILLOWING SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER HAS 2000+ MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES ON BACK ORDER AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AFTER MANY OWNERS HAVE CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,200. UPDATED 10/27/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB

FOUND 2002 PT CRUISER WITH DEAD BATTERY ON OCCASION, NO CONSISTENCY. REPLACED BATTERY (7.75 YEARS OLD, 90K MILES) AFTER 3RD INSTANCE OVER 2 MONTHS, ISSUE RESOLVED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. CAR PARKED IN HOT PARKING LOT, FOG LIGHTS WERE DIM WHEN APPROACHING CAR. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, HAD IT JUMPED. UPON RETURNING HOME, WENT TO TURN OFF CAR, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. FIDDLING WITH LIGHT SWITCH WOULD MAKE THEM GO OFF TEMPORARILY, THEN RIGHT BACK ON. FOUND TURNING LEFT BLINKER IN ON POSITION KEPT FOGS OFF. RESEARCHING ISSUE, FOUND THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM CHRYSLER ON REPLACEMENT PART, AS ALL ONLINE SOURCES SAY IT IS BACK ORDERED 30-60 DAYS. *TR

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FAILS. LIGHTS ERRATIC, SAFETY PROBLEM BIG TIME AT NIGHT. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2001 CAN BE VIEWED ON LINE UNDER VARIOUS POSTS AND THREADS. OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS. SINCE THE COMPANY IS NOW RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD I CALL THE WHITE HOUSE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HOUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED INTO POSITION & WOULD NOT PROTRACT. HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET IT TO DO SO BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I HAVE SENT CHRYSLER MANY LETTERS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK. MIND YOU I KEEP MY CAR GARAGED AND IT IS WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY BY A SHOP THAT I HAVE USED FOR YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WERE GONE. SO I CONTACTED MY NEXT CLOSEST DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT MY CPU WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY LASTED MORE THAN A DAY. THEN MY DASH COMPLETELY CRUMBLED. IT CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT IN THE CENTER AND ON BOTH SIDES. I WROTE A LETTER AND EMAIL WITH NO ANSWER. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY PHONE AND THE LADY TOLD ME TO F%*K OFF AND HUNG UP ON ME. SO I GAVE UP. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO IS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE SCANNED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS MY CPU AGAIN! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SO I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER BECAUSE THIS REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $1400.00 DOLLARS. NO RESPONSE. BUT THE SCARIEST WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 13 MONTH OLD NIECE IN THE CAR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I ALMOST HAD GOT IN A WRECK TRYING TO GET US TO SAFETY. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I FIGURED WHATEVER IT WAS DONE FOR NOW. WE WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A NOT SO DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT SO I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE CAR. WE HEADED OFF ON OUR WAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING MY FAIRLY NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. MY FLOOD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND HAD BEEN ON ALL NIGHT. *TR

MAY OF 2009, CAR WOULD NOT START. NO CLICKS, NOTHING. THEN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, TURNED OVER. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND CHRYSLER TOLD THEM TO LOOK AT A JUNK YARD. COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. STARTING TO HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ALMOST 1 YEAR LATER. LOW MILES, ONE OWNER. SCARED TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE CAR WON'T START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SINCE MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WITH A USED ONE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TWO WEEKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED FROM CENTER WINDSHIELD REGION TO THE AIR VENT. THE GRILL ON THE AIR VENT HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. *TR

THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE FOG LIGHTS TO BE PERMANENTLY ON AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. *TR

TIRES , LEAK AIR PRESSURE@ 10 # PER DAY . BALANCING AND ROTATION IS DIFFICULT DUE TO CHROME PEELING OFF RIMS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PEELING IS INSIDE THE TIRE ALSO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BALANCE. I INSERTED (FIX AFLAT) TO HELP STOP THE LEAKING BUT THIS ADDED TO THE IMBALANCED CONDITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO RESPONSE WAS GIVEN FOR THIS CONDITION. *TR

I OWN A 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION AND RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BATTERY DEAD, I HAVE A NEWER BATTERY SO THIS BAFFLED ME UNTIL I REALIZED TODAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE MULTI SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS THAT CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVENTHOUGH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS MAY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE OTHERS UNTIL I FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING I HAVE PULLED THE FUSE FOR MY FOGLIGHTS.HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F6957. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THESE SWITCHES IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND GIVEN THE MASSIVE AMT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER CAR FORUMS HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NOONE ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE SWITCHES? *TR

FOG LAMPS STAYED ON WHEN 2002 PT CRUISER WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER DISSEMBLING OF THE SWITCH BOX THE INTERNAL SWITCH HAD ARCHED ENOUGH THAT IT WELDED ITSELF TOGETHER CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO MELT AND SMOKE. I USED A REAL RELAY TO REWIRE THE CIRCUIT WITH A SWITCH ON THE DASH. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND NOW I HAVE A OIL LEAK. GREAT CAR FROM CHRYSLER. I ONLY HAVE 74,000 ON THE CAR. *TR

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FELT LIKE IT HAD ADDITIONAL FRICTION WHEN TURNING LIGHTS ON. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE HEAD LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULD. FIRST UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. SECOND INSTANCE THE SWITCH DID NOT HAVE ANY PRECURSOR INDICATION OF FAILURE, ALL LIGHTS FROM SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY. SECOND UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. PART ONLY LASTS ~18 MONTHS. *TR

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, LIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WERE SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THE HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. ALL LIGHTS FAILED, INTERIOR, HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE FOG-LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INTERIOR PANEL IS FAULTY. IT SHORTS OUT, CAUSING SMOKE, OR THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, AND DRAINS THE BATTERY OF ALL POWER. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THE FOG LIGHTS ARE ON, WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVATED, THEN THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON, TURN ON THE BLINKERS OR STOP TO GET THIS PROBLEM TO SUBSIDE. CHRYSLER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHES THAT HAVE THE FOG-LIGHT OPTION. PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL BEFORE A FIRE OCCURS WHICH MEANS THE LOSS OF SOMEONE'S' LIFE. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED BY IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE GOVERNMENTS PART. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY, VERY WEAK. *TR

BUYBACK REQUEST: MY 2002 PT CRUISER WAS BOUGHT NEW, WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WAS DISABLED BY FOOTHILL CHRYSLER ' JEEP IN FOOTHILL RANCH CA, WHILE PERFORMING A FACTORY RECALL. IT HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE THEN, BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR 60K MILE MAINTENANCE ($399). THE MECHANIC DEMANDED THAT I ALLOW THEM TO DO A RECALL FOR THE 'SECONDARY FUEL PUMP SEAL', WHICH THEY DID INCORRECTLY, SO THE RED 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT REFUSED TO SHUT OFF. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS THE CALIFORNIA SMOG REQUIREMENT. CHRYSLER WAS THEN SOLD TO FIAT, AND FOOTHILL RANCH CHRYSLER JEEP THEN WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DISABLED, AND HAS BEEN STORED ON MY DRIVEWAY SINCE 2009, WHERE THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING. THE DEALER HAD INSISTED THAT THEY FIX A RECALL. I DECLINED THREE TIMES, THEN RELUCTANTLY SAID YES. FOUR HOURS LATER HE SAID THEY HAD A PROBLEM, THE RED 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT REFUSED TO GO OFF. I PAID $399, AND SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. RECALL WORK INVOLVED REPLACING THE GAS CAP AND OTHER PARTS. FOR A THIRD APPOINTMENT, I WAS CHARGED $250. I PAID FOR THE RED LIGHT REPAIR 5 TIMES, FOR A TOTAL OF $800. I DROVE THE CAR WITH THE RED LIGHT ON. SIX MONTHS LATER, I WENT TO THEM FOR THE SMOG CHECK, BUT THE CHRYSLER DEALER WAS GONE, REPLACED BY A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. I WAS UNABLE TO SMOG MY CAR, OR TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE. CHRYSLER WAS THEN BOUGHT OUT BY FIAT. SERGIO MARCHIONE REPLIED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT CHRYSLER DEALER, BUT I COULDN'T LEGALLY DRIVE IT. THE CAR IS WORTH $6,000 AND NEEDS $2,000 WORTH OF WORK, TO FIX THEIR FAULTY RECALL WORK. AFTER SPENDING $800 TO REPAIR THEIR FAULTY RECALL WORK, I WILL HAVE A CAR THAT DOESN'T RUN. IT IS THEIR FAULT. I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE CAR TO THEM, AND EITHER GET A REFUND OF $6,000, OR APPLY IT TO THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT CAR THAT RUNS.

I OWN A 02 AND 03 PT CRUISER. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AS WELL AS IDLER ARMS. WERE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AT LESS THEN 50,000 MILES. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION-ALL OVER THE NET, REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING, SAYS IT'S NORMAL WEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TIRES, SIZE AT205/55/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED MODERATELY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REST STOP AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DOT NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08T029000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT). THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

REAR QUARTER GLASS ON DRIVER SIDE DETACHED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTHING LED TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER MULTFUNCTION SWITCH SMOKING AND SHORT CIRCUITING RESULTING IN FOG LAMP FAILURE. *TR

FOG LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CARE IS TURNED OFF. *TR

2002 P T CRUISER BY CHRYSLER THE DASH BOARD IN MY CAR STARTED CRACKING. I AM HOLDING IT TOGETHER WITH TAPE. I AM FEARFUL OF THE PLASTIC CAVING IN AND CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER CORP., USING THEIR 800 NUMBER THEY WERE RUDE AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS DEFECT TO BE CORRECTED? BONITA SMITH *TR

FAILURE OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH: INITIALLY THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN APPROXIMATELY 11/2008. INITIALLY THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/PARKED. THIS REQUIRED THAT I REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGE BOARDS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING, BUT IT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE (ELECTRICAL) HAZARD. I FEEL I RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR

2002 PT CRUISER: DASHBOARD CRACKED IN CENTER FROM FRONT WINDOW TO INSIDE EDGE, RUNNING ACROSS VENT,REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF DASHBOARD.*TR