2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Tires & Wheels Problems

CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION - COOPER RESPONSE TOURING 205/55 R16 91H ON 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. TREAD DEPTH = 5/32, TIRES WERE NEW ON USED CAR PURCHASED IN 07/2014. NO DRY ROT OR VISIBLE CRACKING ON TIRES, 23K MILEAGE ON TIRES. IN 07/2018, TWO OF THE TIRES IN THE SET OF 4 WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE BEGINNINGS OF TREAD SEPARATION (WOULD NOT BALANCE). I AM A FORMER TIRE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER FOR A MAJOR US TIRE MANUFACTURER AND I HAVE ANALYZED HUNDREDS OF FAILED TIRES RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER. BASED ON MY ANALYSIS, I BELIEVE THAT THIS TIRE FAILED BY DELAMINATION OF THE TREAD DUE TO IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION OR CURING AND NOT DUE TO A TIRE PUNCTURE. SINCE 3 OF 4 OF THESE TIRES HAVE FAILED, I BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE BATCH MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

DRIVING ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A VIOLENT SHUDDER. CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER (SEVERE VIBRATION). PULLED OFF ON EMERGENCY SHOULDER. THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN TIRE SIDEWALL. SIDEWALL WAS SHREDDED. TREAD WAS NOT AFFECTED. 4500 MILES ON TIRES. TIRE WAS REMOVED AND SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED. *TR

DEC 2013 HAD TO REPLACE RIM ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE 2014SEPT RIM CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR.T. THE REAR PASSENGER RIM HAS BEEN CRACKED TWICE. TOTAL OF THREE TIMES RIM CRACKED.COMING HOME AND GOING TO GYM.FIRST TIME I HAD RIM REPAIRED SECOND TIME BOUGHT NEW RIM. THE THIRD NOTHING BUT TOOK OFF AND PUT DONUT TIRE ON. THE FIRST TIME I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE.I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES. 2014. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES, SIZE P205/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE HAD DEVELOPED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD BELT WAS SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,825.

CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE 2005, REPEATED LOSS OF AIR, TIRE FLAT, TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY, TIRES REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. GOODYEAR REPORTS RIM ISSUES. CHRYSLER NON-RESPONDENT, GOODYEAR SIMPLY REPLACES. RESEARCH YIELDS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES STATING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WHEELS ON CAR ARE DEFECTIVE, FLAKE AND TIRES WILL NOT HOLD AIR . BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER, 2012 WITH -53,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 2005 PT CRUISER'S. I OWN A 2011 CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND 2005 PT CRUISER AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WHEELS. SAID WHEELS ARE $884/PER WHEEL+60 LABOR/PER WHEEL+TAX. WENT TO CEO OF CHRYSLER. CORPORATE OFFICE CALLED, ACTED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO HELP, THEN BACKED OUT. COST TO REPLACE MY WHEELS/TIRES TODAY (CHEAPEST I CAN GET IS $1,600.00). TWO OF MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET: CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND STATED THAT THE CHROME WHEELS WERE FLAKING. AS A RESULT, THE AIR PRESSURE WAS SEEPING OUT AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE TIRES BUT WITH THE RIM ITSELF. MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. MARYVILLE,TN; I HAVE A 2005 PT CRUISER TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH FACTORY 17" CHROME WHEELS AND CHROME IS FLAKING OFF OF INSIDE OF WHEEL RIMS PREVENTS TIRE FROM GRIPPING PROPER SEAL. TIRES REPEATEDLY GO FLAT WHILE PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH NEW ONES, HAD TIRES CLEANED/RE-MOUNTED/RESEALED MULTIPLE TIMES. THREE DIFFERENT TIRE PROFESSIONALS TELL ME IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. HAVE MADE DEALERSHIP AND DOUG BETTS, CHRYSLER VP OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM PERSONALLY SINCE FEB. 2010. - KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC, USA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE RIMS WERE CAUSING THE TIRES TO LEAK AIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AS OF 8/18/2004 THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY CRASHES OR INJURIES. THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED ON A DAILY BASIS. UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOW OUT OCCURRED ALONG THE OUTER SIDEWALL. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 17,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

FIRST OCCURRENCE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, 38,00 MILES. SECOND OCCURRENCE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 50,706. BOTH TIMES WE HAD IT REPLACED. NEITHER WHEEL CAME OFF BUT THE MECHANIC'S SAID THE RIGHT FRONT WAS CLOSE. NO NOISE COMING ON THE RIGHT FRONT BUT THE LEFT FRONT DID AND WE TOOK IT IN. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THIS SINCE THE OCCURRENCE WERE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF EACH OTHER AND THEY ARE SEALED BEARINGS. SHOULD WE HAVE THEM REPACKED ANNUALLY OR WHAT. *TR

BRIDGESTONE, FUZION HRI, TIRES CAN ONLY BE MOUNTED ONE WAY WITH LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE ) BEAD/TREAD POINTING >, BUT PASSENGER ( RIGHT SIDE ) TIRES CAN ONLY BE MOUNTED WITH BEAD/TREAD POINTING <, THIS LEADS TO RIGHT SIDE TIRE FAILURE; AND VEHICLE HANDLING ON WET ROADS PULLS TO RIGHT; WHEN HITTING PUDDLE AT 55 MPH JERKS CAR TO RIGHT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT AT 21,919 MILES 4/12/2008, REPLACED THEM, AND THEN THEY WORE OUT AGAIN AT 32,100 MILES (SAME WHEEL). CAUSES STEERING WOBBLES & COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PT CRUISER TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH FACTORY 17" CHROME WHEELS. THE CHROME IS FLAKING OFF OF INSIDE OF WHEEL RIMS PREVENTS TIRE FROM GRIPPING PROPER SEAL. TIRES REPEATEDLY GO FLAT WHILE PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH NEW ONES AND HAD TIRES CLEANED, RE-MOUNTED & RESEALED MULTIPLE TIMES. THREE DIFFERENT TIRE PROFESSIONALS TELL ME IT IS A FACTOR DEFECT. TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE MADE THE DEALERSHIP AND DOUG BETTS (CHRYSLER VP OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS) AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF NEEDED AND CITE ONLINE RESOURCES WHERE I SAW OTHERS COMPLAIN OF SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM PERSONALLY SINCE FEB. 2010. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ELEVATED UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE DUE TO THE WHEEL HUB STEAL BAND SPEARED CAUSING THE TIRE TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL HUB BAND AND TIRE. ON OCTOBER 31, 2010 THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB STEEL BAND, BOLTS, AND BEARING SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, FRONT AND REAR FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB, STEAL BAND, BOLTS, BEARING AND TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON HER VEHICLE WHEN ONE OF THE LUG NUTS SUDDENLY CAME OFF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE OTHER THREE LUG NUTS WERE FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISERS AND RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A TIRE COULD FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

PT CRUISER 2005, FROM WHEEL BEARING ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PT CRUSIER TURBO AND I RECENTLY HAD ONE OF MY TIRES GO FLAT WITH NO PUNCTURE OR DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE TIRE AND IN TWO WEEKS THE NEW TIRE WENT FLAT, AGAIN NO APPARENT DAMAGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE TIRE STORE, THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE, HOWEVER THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WAS PEELING OFF AND THE SEAL THAT IS FORMED COULD NOT HOLD DUE THIS PEELING OF THE COATING ON THE RIM. I ASKED FOR A NEW TIRE, THEY AGREED AND IT HELD FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, HOWEVER WHEN THE WEATHER GOT EXTREMELY COLD, THE TIRE WENT FLAT OVER NIGHT AGAIN WITH NO DAMAGE. THE RIMS ARE DEFECTIVE ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER. *TR

THE TIRE ON MY 2005 PT CRUISER WAS FLAT AND WHEN I WENT TO GET IT FIXED WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE BUT THE FINISH WAS COMING OFF THE RIM AND THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. I WENT TO A NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CHAIN TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD PUT A TYPE OF SEALANT AROUND THE TIRE SO IT WOULD NOT GO FLAT. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT GO FLAT AS THEY STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PT CRUISERS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET IN REGARDS TO THIS AND FOUND THAT INDEED, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR MODEL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE RIMS BEFORE A TIRE OR TIRES GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I WAS FORTUNATE AS THE CAR WAS PARKED. BUT TO BE STUCK IN WINTER WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MULTIPLE FLATS WHILE DRIVING IS A VERY RISKY VENTURE FOR ME AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. I WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO AND WHAT MY FUTURE OPTIONS ARE IN REGARD TO MY PT CRUISER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME WHEELS WERE FLAKING. AS A RESULT, THE AIR PRESSURE WAS SEEPING OUT AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES A TOTAL OF SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE TIRES BUT WITH THE RIM ITSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

ON DECEMBER 2, 2007 MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW APART. AFTER GETTING TIRE CHANGED I WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT A NEW TIRE. ON JULY 22, 2008 THE SAME KIND OF TIRE AGAIN HAD A PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE BELT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR VIVA 2 P195/65R15BW VIVA 2. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY TO A PLACE TO HAVE THE TIRE CHANGED BUT HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE EACH TIME. *TR UPDATED 08/27/08

I OWN A 2005 PT CRUISER TURBO. HAVE HAD CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR LEAKING OUT OF THE TIRES. FINALLY, WAS TOLD THE RIMS HAD A COATING PROBLEM THAT ERODED SO THEY DON'T SEAL PROPERLY. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW RIMS. SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO ME SINCE THE TIRE COMPANY SAID THIS WAS COMMON ON THE PT CRUISER. *TR