2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaint Log

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER RECALL NOTICE FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NJ THE CONSUMER SENT IN A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER. RECALL # 01V288000 *JB

2 OF THE ALLOY RIMS LEAK AIR AT AN INCREASING RATE. 2 YEARS AGO IT WAS FILL MORE AIR ONCE A MONTH, LAST YEAR EVERY 2 WEEKS OR LESS AND LAST 2 MONTHS EVERY 2 DAYS. THE OTHER DAY I LOST A TIRE FROM LOW AIR AFTER DRIVING 50 MILES OVER A 7 HOUR TIME FRAME. I LOSE ABOUT 20 LBS OVERNIGHT ON THESE 2 TIRES BECAUSE THE CORROSION OF THE BASE METAL AND THE CHROME IS HAPPENING AT AN UNBELIEVABLE RATE. THE TIRE DEALERS HAVE SCRAPED OFF THE OLD CORROSION BUT TO NO AVAIL AS IT QUICKLY RECURS. I AM LUCKY IT WAS ONLY A FLAT THE OTHER DAY AND NOT A LOSS OF STEERING IN BUSY TRAFFIC. *TR

MULTI-CONTROL TURN SIGNAL LEVER ISSUE. FOG LIGHTS STAY ON, EVEN WITH CAR OFF. DRAINS BATTERY. 'VERY TOUCHY', SHORT? HAD TO PULL FUSE TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY SITUATION. *TR

2002 PT CRUISER, WAS SERVICED ABOUT 3-4 MOS PRIOR, RUNNING FINE, ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR VENTS, I PULLED OVER WHEN I EXIT THE CAR, I SAW SMOKE AND HEARD SOMETHING IGNITE IN THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, THERE WAS NO STALLING OF THE CAR, NOTHING. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON DURING TIGHT RIGHT TURNS AT SPEED. *TR

AFTER REPLACING THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE AUTO WE HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH KEEPING THE TIRES INFLATED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHROME ON THE RIMS WAS OXIDIZING AND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL CHRYSLER CORP. CHROME RIMS. WE HAD FIVE (5) FLAT TIRES WITH IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD AND DECIDED TO TALK TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER REGARDING THE PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER AND WERE TOLD THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE THEN SENT A LETTER TO CHRYSLER CORP. AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE. AGAIN WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ARE MANY CHRYSLER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH RIMS THAT WILL CAUSE A FLAT TIRE AT ANY TIME AND NO ONE AT CHRYSLER SEEMS TO WANT TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD, AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE SMALL CRACK IS NOW BIGGER AND ALMOST TO MY A/C VENTS AND THE VENT IN THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING BADLY. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING MIGHT FAIL BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

2 CRACKS IN MY 2002 PT CRUISER DASHBOARD SUDDENLY APPEARED AND ARE EXPANDING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD THROUGH THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE INJURED HER NOSE AND WRIST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A VEHICLE DEFECT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,300.

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT PLACES AND FALLING IN. *TR

2002 PT CRUISER: CRACKING DASHBOARD, IMPROPER MATERIALS USED IN CONSTRUCTION, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF DASHBOARD. *TR

A FIXED REAR WINDOW ON A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER IS COMING LOOSE. THIS IS A RECALL ON AN OLDER MODEL OF PT CRUISER. I ASKED A DODGE DEALER ABOUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR MODEL AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT EXTENDED TO THE 2002 YEAR MODEL. *TR

THE MULTIFUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ALLOWS STOPS WORKING AND FOG LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING THE BATTERY RUN DOWN AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE REMEDY IS TO DISCONNECT THE FOG LIGHTS, I PULLED THE FUSE. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. CHRYSLER SHOULD MAN UP TO THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT IF THERE IS A FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DEATH OR EXTREME BURNS COULD COME AS A RESULT OF CHRYSLER NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO SUCH EXTREME MEASURES FOR CHRYSLER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ELECTRICAL HAZARD. THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM OUT ON THE WEB, SO I KNOW CHRYSLER CAN'T SAY THAT THEY'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. I WILL SUE IF ME OR ANY OF MY FAMILY ARE HARMED BY THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS IS JUST A BAD ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS 3 CRACKS IN IT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I NOTICED THE GRATE IN THE DASH THAT DISPERSES THE AIR FROM THE DEFROST VENT ON THE TOP OF THE DASH WAS DETERIORATING AND THE PLASTIC GRATE PIECES WERE BREAKING OFF. EARLIER THIS YEAR I NOTICED 2 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DEFROST VENT. FINALLY, IN MAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A ROCK HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY DASHBOARD I HAD A HUGE CRACK THAT NOW SPLIT THE DASHBOARD IN HALF FROM THE DEFROST VENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD BACK TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE IT IS BEYOND WARRANTY. *TR

THE DASH PAD "COVER" ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN INTO NUMEROUS SHARP PIECES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. WE HAVE OTHER CARS, OLDER AND NEWER THAT HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH CRACKING DASHBOARDS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. WE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS DEFECT/SAFETY HAZARD OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE PULLED THE BRAKE HANDLE UP, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY. HE PURCHASED A PARKING EQUALIZER AND CLIP BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS BURNED AND FRAYED. HE WAS INFORMED AT THAT TIME THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM ASSEMBLY (LEVER, GRIP, HANDLE) RATHER THAN JUST THE 8 TO 10 INCH EQUALIZER CABLE AND CLIP. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,085.

THE MULTIFUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ALLOWS STOPS WORKING AND FOG LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING THE BATTERY RUN DOWN AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE REMEDY IS TO DISCONNECT THE FOG LIGHTS, I PULLED THE FUSE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. *TR

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORN OUT AT 79,000 MILES ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS WORN OUT 79,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND HAVE NOTICED THE FOG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH IS LIT. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE FRONT INDEED THE LIGHTS WERE ON. THE SWITCH WAS OFF BUT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. I NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE CAR AND IT DRAINED MY BATTERY TO ZERO VOLTS. THE AUTO ALARM ALSO SEEMS TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON. AFTER CHECKING THE WEB I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS QUITE A BIG PROBLEM AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD FIRES AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FOG LIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN USED SO THE SWITCH CANNOT BE WORN OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD HAD TWO CRACKS RUNNING FROM EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER VENT TO THE WINDSHIELD. NOW THERE IS A LARGE CRACK RUNNING FROM THE CENTER OF THAT VENT TO THE FRONT OF THE DASH. THE DASH IN THIS CAR IS JUST A COVER, A PIECE OF PLASTIC. THE CRACK IS NOT LIKE THE CRACKS YOU USED TO GET IN A DASH THAT WAS FOAM COVERED METAL. THESE CRACKS ARE WHERE THE PLASTIC HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN THROUGH. IN A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR

MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS HAD TWO SETS OF FRONT CONTROL ARMS REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILING. THE FIRST TIME THE BUSHING CAME OUT COMPLETELY. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS STILL IN PLACE BUT TORN. BOTH REPAIR SHOPS INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FROM MY PT CRUISER EXPLODED ON I95 NEAR KINGSLAND GA WHILE COMING BACK FROM A TRIP ON 3/3/08. IT HAS A EXCELLENT MAINTAINANCE RECORD ON THIS CAR. ALL SERVICES WHERE DONE WHEN DUE BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN HINESVILLE GA, WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2002. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INDICATIONS THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT NEVER MADE ANY STRANGE NOISE, LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, SKIPPED GEARS..AND JUST LIKE THAT IT EXPLODED. IT HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP PERFORMED ON PT CRUISER SEPT 2007. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN KINGSLAND GA. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $3,484.66 A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPLODED WITH 80267 MILES. I FEEL OVERALL THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS TRANSMISSIONS AND THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

CRACKING DASHBOARD AND THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. *TR

CAN WAS DUE FOR INSPECTION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON THE CAR FAILED FOR EMISSIONS BUT THE CODE THAT WAS GIVEN WAS FOR A POWER STEERING SECTOR SHORTLY AFTER THAT ON MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I PULLED OVER TRY A FEW TIMES TO START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT START HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE I TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT WHICH I HAD REPLACED 2 WEEKS LATER DROVE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 OR 35 MINS WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF I HEARD THE WATER IN THE ENGINE BOILING THERE WAS NOT WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING TO SHOW THAT THE CAR WAS OVER HEATED I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AGAIN AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAE SEE ABOUT HAVING IT REPAIRED AGAIN THIS IT GETTING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND IS COSTING ME TIME AT WORK BECAUSE IM A ONE CAR OWNER LIVING IN A RURAL AREA WITH NOT MANY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS AND ENDANGERING THE DRIVER. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. ESTIMATE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION $2,134.20. THE VEHICLE HAS 86,632 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED USED AT 77,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING. SHE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED, MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IN THE MIDDLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,591 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND NEVER SWITCHED FROM SECOND GEAR. THE ENGINE JUST KEPT REVVING. THE CONTACT DROVE TO A SAFE AREA AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE A SOUND AS IF IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

LEAKING STEERING RACK AND SOLENOID PACK. POSSIBLE LEAK IN STEERING PUMP ALSO. SAFETY OF TIE ROD ENDS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, CONTROL ARMS NOTED IN INSPECTION OF FRONT END BOTH BY A CHRYSLER DEALER AND BY AN AUTO-REPAIR CHAIN. BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF PARTS (IN SHOP RIGHT NOW) TO ELIMINATE A SAFETY RISK. IN SPEAKING TO ANOTHER OWNER OF THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, I LEARNED THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

THE MULTIFUCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ALLOWS STOPS WORKING AND FOG LIGHTS STAY ON MAKING THE BATTERY RUN DOWN AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE REMEDY IS TO DISCONNECT THE FOG LIGHTS. THIS PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY PT CRUISER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD IN HIS VEHICLE WAS BEGINNING TO SPLIT IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. ONE SPLIT WAS IN THE MIDDLE AND THE OTHER WAS APPROXIMATELY A THIRD OF THE WAY FROM THE LEFT. HE WAS ABLE TO LIFT UP THE CENTER PIECE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $270 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

DASHBOARD CRACKED STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE (NORTH TO SOUTH). *TR

MY CRUISER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHEN THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE WORN. IN READING THIS SITE, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM FLEET WIDE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PLUS THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE ON THE EXTENDED WARRANT. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I THINK THAT THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

TBC SIGMA REGENT TOURING TIRE, TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING THE WHOLE REAR DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND REAR FASCIA TO BLOW OFF OF VEHICLE ,TIRES WERE PURCHASED A FEW YEARS AGO LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON TIRES . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE PLACED POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, BUT A NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CAP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DRIVEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,164 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 12/30/08. *JB

WE PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. AFTER WE HAD IT A FEW MONTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS JUST NEEDING TO BE RESET. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 WE TOOK IT TO PUCKETT DODGE IN SOUTH BOSTON, VA FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE EXHAUST VALVE ON CYLINDER #3. WE PAID THEM 1700+ TO FIX IT AND SINCE JANUARY IT HAS BEEN CODING ON THE OBD CYLINDER MIS FIRE ON #3. WE TOOK IT BACK YESTERDAY AND SINCE THE MILES WERE OVER THE WARRANTY WE WOULD NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. WE ARE BOTH RETIRED AND JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE DONE RIGHT THE FIST TIME. MAYBE THE DEALERSHIP DID ALL THEY COULD DO AND IT IS JUST A BAD ENGINE BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME NOR THE MONEY TO HELP THEM SOLVE THIS BEFORE IT BECOMES AND EPIDEMIC. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED IN CENTER FROM FRONT WINDOW TO INSIDE EDGE, RUNNING ACROSS VENT, WHICH HAS FALLING INTO DASH IN PIECES; ALSO FREQUENTLY "SHORTS OUT" AND RADIO, INSIDE LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, ALL GO OUT MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $539. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VIN PROVIDED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB

2002 PT CRUISER. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 46.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO AT 38,000 MILES. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. *TR

COMPLETE FAILURE OF EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD, I.E. SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, COOLING, ODOMETER. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS. FOG LIGHTS STAY ON UNLESS YOU TURN ON YOUR TURN SIGNAL AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AS A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES ON THE SITES THAT I HAVE VISITED. THE CAR IS A 2002 PT CRUISER, AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR TO BE MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, HOWEVER MY PT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR

I DECIDED TO DRIVE TO A CITY ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF WAY. NOT KNOWING ON THE WAY BACK I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TIE THE BACK DOOR SHUT. ME, MY BOYFRIEND, AND MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE WITH ME. WE HAD WENT INTO A MALL. WHEN COMING BACK OUT I HAD OPENED THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN TO LET MY DAUGHTER IN. AFTER I HAD HER BUCKLED IN I TRIED TO SHUT THE DOOR AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WE USED SHOE STRINGS AND BELTS TO HOLD THE DOOR SHUT AND MY BOYFRIEND ROAD HOME IN THE BACK TO ALSO HELP HOLD THE DOOR. FOR I DIDN'T WANT MY 4 YEAR OLD TO FALL OUT THE DOOR ON THE WAY HOME. SO FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS I HAD A ROPE TIED FROM ONE DOOR TO THE OTHER DOOR AND MY KIDS HAD TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT TO THE BABYSITTERS A FEW BLOCKS AWAY WHICH IS COMPLETELY ILLEGAL BECAUSE OF BEING 4 AND 5. BUT WHAT WAS I TO DO I'M A SINGLE MOM. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME 80 DOLLARS JUST TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEN ANOTHER 80 TO FIX IT PLUS THE PART. NOW I'M HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH MY 2002 PT CRUISER AND NO MONEY TO FIX IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE SAME MONTH, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

MY CAR OVERHEATS JUST WHEN GOING SLOW CHANGED RADIATOR CAP THERMOSTAT CLEANED RADIATOR STILL OVERHEATS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED OFF. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, HOWEVER; THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,266.

FOG LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF HAD TO PULL THE FUSE, IT'S A 2002 PT CRUISER. SAME AS ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. JUST GOT THE CRUISER USED DON'T THING IT'S RIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE IT FIXED, SO MANY COMPLAINTS UNBELIEVABLE, DON'T GET IT DEAL SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE DON'T NEED A FIRE. THANKS *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION ON THE GROUND. GOODYEAR TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BOLTS SEPARATED IN HALF AND RELEASED THE TRANSMISSION. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES AND A BRACKET NEAR THE TIMING BELT WERE ALSO DAMAGED. DAIMLER CHRYSLER STATED THAT HER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT HAS THE BOLTS AND FAILED PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY GOODYEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,146 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99746. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ

THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, WHEN MY BATTERY WAS SUDDENLY DRAINED AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY, AND FOUND IT DRAINING AS WELL. I FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT MY FOG LIGHTS WERE COMING ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SHORT OR SOME WIRING PROBLEM IN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH LEVER, WHICH HAS THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE END, AND THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOT WORSE. FOR NOW, THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO FLIP THE LEVER DOWN TO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, WHICH SOMEHOW KEEPS THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH FROM ENGAGING. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT HEAT, RELATED TO THE TIME OF THE DAY, SEEMS TO ALSO PLAY A PART IN IT. WHEN IT IS COOL, LIKE IN THE MORNING, THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON. AS SOON AS IT WARMS UP FOR THE DAY, THEY COME ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I DECIDED TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH TODAY, AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN A POST REGARDING THE PROBLEM, AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NEVER ADDRESSED IT. THE COMPLAINTS ALL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE LEFT-TURN-SIGNAL SOLUTION I FOUND ON MY OWN IS THE ONLY WAY TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTED OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED THE TEMPERATURE RELATIONSHIP, WHERE HEAT FROM THE TIME OF DAY MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE THREAD CAN BE READ HERE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 *TR

2002 PT CRUISER, REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND WITH 50, 000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY HAD AN EPISODE OF OVERHEATING. WHEN CHECKED, ONE OF THE SOFT PLUGS (FREEZE PLUGS) HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND ALL THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED OUT. PLUG WAS REPLACED, CORRECT COOLANT PUT IN, RAN FINE FOR 2 WEEKS. OVERHEATED AGAIN, STOPPED DRIVING IT AND HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AND NEW CAP INSTALLED. DRIVING HOME (30 MINUTES) OVERHEATED WORSE THAN BEFORE FLUSH AND NEW CAP. NEW MECHANIC SAYS NEEDS A NEW RADIATOR (LEAKING AND CLOGGED) AND THE #1 CYLINDER HAS WATER IN IT SO THE HEAD MUST BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS THE 2ND 2002 THEY'VE SEEN IN 2 WEEKS, AND HE'S DONE 5 OTHERS THIS YEAR. AND THIS IS NOT A LARGE CITY - AND ONLY ONE MECHANIC. MAY FORUMS SEEMS TO BE FILLING WITH MESSAGES ABOUT THIS OVERHEATING ISSUE AND THE WARPING OF THE ALUMINUM HEADS. POORLY DESIGNED AND OUT OF WARRANTY? *JB

POSSIBLE AIRBAG OR ELECTRICAL DEFECT ON 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION. I WAS DRIVING UP THE ROAD IN MY 2002 CRUISER WITH APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY $800.00, MY LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND AIRBAG MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *JB

FIRE IN ENGINE DEPARTMENT. *TR

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. LEAVING MY WIFE UNABLE TO ATTEND HER CHEMO THERAPY SESSION ON TIME, DUE THE NEED TO GET CAR JUMP STARTED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS MIS FUNCTION WAS NOTICE,BROUGHT TO DEALER AND REPAIRED BY SAME AT NO CHARGE . *TR