2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Engine Problems

VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM D (DRIVE ) TO 3RD GEAR, BUT STILL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH A FULL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING UPWARDS.. I COULD SMELL BURNING BRAKES. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN WHERE THE ROAD WAS LEVEL, STILL WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. I SHIFTED THE GEARS FROM 3RD TO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK TO STOP THE REVVING,BUT IT CONTINUED AND I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I STARTED THE VEHICLE A FEW MOMENTS LATER AND THE REVVING NOW LONGER OCCURRED. I WAS ON AN ISOLATED HIGHWAY IN THE BACK COUNTRY. HAD I BEEN IN THE CITY THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THIS SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION (TOYOTA VEHICLE) HAPPENED TO A FAMILY LOCALLY AND THEY CRASHED AND ALL PERISHED IN THE RESULTING FIRE.

AFTER 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STOPPING WHILE DRIVING AND FAILING TO START. I HAVE HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND RADIATOR REPLACED. DESPITE THESE PARTS BEING REPLACED, MY CAR CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY STOP WHILE DRIVING AND THEN DOES NOT START. THESE ITEMS WERE REPLACED AS THEY WERE "THOUGHT" TO BE THE PROBLEM BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. MOREOVER, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE LAST TIME MY CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS WAS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DANGEROUS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SO THE MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO PIN POINT THE EXACT PROBLEM OF WHY MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN FAILS TO START. ALSO, AT TIMES, MY LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND TURN ON ALONG WITH THE WIPERS RANDOMLY BUT NOT WHEN THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT PROBLEM HAPPENS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CAR SHUTTING OFF. IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT WILL SOMETIMES TURN ON AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BUT THEN THE CAR WILL SPUTTER A BIT AND THEN CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED MANY TIMES WHEN THE CAR DID NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.

ON 6/15 IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER SINCE IT'S ISSUES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY WITH EACH DRIVE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL DRIVING WHICH NECESSITATES STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS IS CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST. BECOMING INCREASING DIFFICULT TO START; ENGINE BUCKS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND CONTINUES TO DO SO WHILE DRIVING. IT CONTINUES TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND MY MECHANIC CANNOT EVEN GET MY DASHBOARD TO FUNCTION; NONE OF MY GAUGES ARE OPERATIONAL AND OF COURSE I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTING AT ALL. I HAVE READ SO MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES BEYOND OFFERING A KIT FOR PURCHASE WHICH WILL NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTABLE RESULTS. I URGE EVERYONE FILING AND/OR READING THESE COMPLAINTS TO TAKE SOME ACTION. CONTACT THE DOT, SPEAK WITH A LAWYER, BE A VOICE AND CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE UNTIL SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE TAKES ACTION ON OUR BEHALF. I'M NOT ABLE TO TRADE THIS CAR; WHO WOULD WANT IT; STILL PAYING DOWN MY LOAN ON IT AND PRAY EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE HOUSE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY. WHAT A DISGRACE THIS IS.

HAVE REPLACED CRANK SHAFT SEAL 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE SEAL IS BLOWN. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDE A KIT $787 PLUS $2,000 TO INSTALL) THAT REPLACES THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE CRANK SHAFT, CRANK SHAFT BEARINGS, CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS, AND TIMING BELT AND THE DEALERS DO NOT GAURANTEE THAT REPLACING THESE WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SPOKE TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN WILLING TO DO AS OF THIS DATE UNLESS ENOUGH CONSUMERS FILE A COMPLAINT. READING ONLINE, THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS COMMON IN ALL 2.4L SIZE ENGINES IN VARIOUS MAKES, MODELS AND YEARS INCLUDING JEEP, DODGE AND CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER APPARENTLY CORRECTED THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR ENGINES IN LATER YEARS BEYOND 2007, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT OFFERED A SOLUTION FOR PRIOR YEARS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND POSTING THIS ISSUE (AS THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE DONE) ON RELATED AUTO MECHANICAL WEBSITES PERTAINING TO THIS KNOWN MECHANICAL FLAW WITH THE ENGINE DESIGN.

2.7 LITER ENGINE RIGHT EXHAUST CAMSHAFFT FAILED. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET A REPLACEMENT I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBERS OF FAILURES THE PART IS ON A SERIOUS BACKLOG. THE CAM FAILED WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FAULTY. THE TOP MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED SHAKING AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,736.

I WAS DRIVING HOME ABOUT 7PM DOING ABOUT 25MPG WHEN MY CAR SHUT OFF,WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE A QUITE SNAP,I TRIED TO START IT AND IT WAS MAKING LIKE A WHIRLING SOUND SO I STOP TRYING TO START IT AND TOWED IT HOME AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A BROKEN TIMING BELT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS ON ENGINE POWER AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,740 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 3. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

FAILED CRANK SEAL. CAR WENT IN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION AT DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR MOUNT. WHEN THEY RETURNED THE CAR, THEY MENTIONED IT HAD A LEAK AT THE CRANK SEAL. WE TOOK THE CAR HOME AND IT WAS HEAVILY LEAKING OIL, SO WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCAL GARAGE. THEY "REPAIRED" THE SEAL, ALONG WITH THINGS LIKE A NEW TIMING BELT, ETC "WHILE WE ARE IN THERE" AND RETURNED THE CAR AT A COST OF $1700. DROVE IT FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS WHILE DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON A FEW MILES FROM HOME. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR HOME THERE WAS NEARLY NO OIL LEFT IN THE CAR, THE CRANK SEAL HAD BLOWN/ BURNED OUT AGAIN. TOWED TO GARAGE. TOLD BY GARAGE AND ALSO DEALERSHIP THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, THE CRANK BEARING WAS WORN AND WOULD "WALK OUT" AND THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. (AT 39K MILES???) MY BROTHER REMOVED THE ENGINE HIMSELF, TOOK IT TO A MACHINE SHOP WHO REMOVED THE CRANK AND USED SOME SORT OF KIT TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE COST WAS $600 PARTS, $600 LABOR. THE CAR RECENTLY WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE BUT IS NOT TRUSTED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT UP. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN HARD IN ITS LIFE (DRIVEN MY BY 70 YR OLD MOTHER) AND HAD REGULAR SERVICE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,205.

CRANK SHAFT MOVEMENT (APPROX. 0.025) HAMMERED OIL SEAL FROM BLOCK. ROOT CAUSE IS WORN THRUST BEARING. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CALL CENTER, EMPLOYEE'S REACTION AND INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ENGINE USED IN DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODEL YEARS, MINI VANS JEEPS....... I HAD THE OIL CHANGED FREQUENTLY AND OTHER ROUTINE MAINTENENCE PERFORMED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND EXHIBIT A RUMBLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,600. UPDATED 10/17/12 *CN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 3,000. UPDATED 10/22/12

OUR PT CRUISER STARTED EXHIBITING MOMENTS OF ENGINE FAILURE AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO HAS REPLACED A CHIP IN THE BOARD, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. IT HAS BECOME VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE PT CRUISER, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PREVALENT DURING THIS TIME. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL VISITS TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED BUT ALL SUBSEQUENT VISITS HAVE NOT GIVEN US ANY RESULTS AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

2006 PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRANKSHAFT ISSUES AND VEHICLE REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEREFORE, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 03/13/12. THE CONSUMER WAS CONTACTED AT THE END OF THE DAY AND INFORMED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD RUINED THE ENGINE BLOCK AND NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $4,000-5,000. THE CONSUMER HAD THE SAME ISSUE AT 4,000 WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. CHRYSLER APPROVED THE SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT, BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY A CO-PAY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER ON 03/21/12 AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. HOWEVER, UPON ARRIVAL THE NEXT DAY, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS REPLACED, WAS THE CRANKSHAFT, THE DEALER KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SHORT BLOCK. THE CONSUMER WAS ASSURED THE BLOCK WAS NOT DAMAGED, EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD PREVIOUSLY THE BLOCK WAS DAMAGED. *JB

I WENT IN TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012 FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE AN ENGINE MOUNT. I HAD TO REPLACE ON IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010 AND I WAS QUITE SHOCKED THAT I WAS FACED WITH THIS REPAID AGAIN. IT WAS A DIFFERENT MOUNT THIS TIME. SO I ASKED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING. I AM 57 YEARS OLD AND IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO ANY ONE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PT CRUISER AND THAT THIS PARTICULAR DEALER PERFORMS 20 TO 30 LIKE REPAIRS A WEEK.. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE. I CHECKED ON LINE AND SURE ENOUGH, IT APPEARS THAT THERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PT CRUISER ENGINE MOUNTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? IT IS NOT FAIR THAT CHRYSLER CAN SELL A PRODUCT LIKE THIS - KNOWING THAT THERE ARE ISSUES - AND KEEP RAKING IN MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS. SHOULDN'T THEY BE HELD TO SOME KIND OF STANDARD? THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER, FOR SURE. IT IS A MORAL ONE AS WELL. *TR

2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS EVEN AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR FAN, AND ANY PARTS NECESSARY FOR THE VEHICLE TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS KNOW BY DIAMLER CHRYSLER; HOWEVER, A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *KB

I PURCHASED A 2006 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, LESS THEN ONE MONTH LATER THE CAR BEGAN POURING OUT OIL. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED IT WAS EITHER THE CRANK SHAFT OR CAM SHAFT SEALS. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHIN A WEEK WITH A NEW HEAD GASKET, CAM SHAFT SEAL AND CRANK SHAFT SEAL AND SINCE IT WAS RIGHT AT 62,000 MILES A NEW WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT. 1 MONTH LATER THE CAR WAS AGAIN LEAKING OIL. CAR IS IN SHOP CURRENTLY, NOT SURE WHAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR