2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Powertrain & Transmission Problems

See attached document for complaint.

IT STALLS AND WON'T GO OVER 40MPH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I-10 CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (79200 VARNER RD, INDIO, CA 92203) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLING FAN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY, MODULE, HIGH AND LOW SPEED RELAYS, THE THERMOSTAT, COOLING FAN, RADIATOR CAP AND COOLANT WERE ALL REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRYSTAL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (36444 AUTO PARK DR, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO MANUFACTURER AND LEFT A MESSAGE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

FRONT CRANK CASE SEAL FAILED DUE TO THRUST BEARING FOR CRANK SHAFT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND I STARTED TO HEAR THIS VERY LOW WINE. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY CLUTCH. I HAD A 1200 CLUTCH REPLACEMENT DONE AT APPROX 56000 AND NOW AT 101000 I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH NOT GOING INTO GEAR WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE OR THE AC IS ON. MY CAR WORKS PERFECTLY IN THE WINTER AND EARLY MORNING HOURS BUT ONCE IT REACHES 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE I AM HAVING TO FORCE IT INTO GEAR. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE 3 CLUTCHES IN LESS THAT 5 YEARS. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2007 PT CRUISER TO THE DEALER FOR A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE. THEY OF COURSE HEARD NOTHING AND RECOMMENDED A TUNE UP WHICH I HAD HAD DONE THE PREVIOUS MONTH. I TOOK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT REPLACED. I HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AS THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE ENGINE AT THIS TIME AND TRIED TO SAVE MONEY. THE MECHANIC ADJUSTED EVERYTHING TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *TR

2007 CHRYSLER T CRUISER. CLUTCH FAILS TO DISENGAGE RESULTING IN DRIVER BEING UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF THE PRESSURE PLATE FAILING AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN MOST CARS. MOST OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE ACTUAL CAUSE AND TRY REPAIRING THE HYDRAULIC PORTION OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PT CRUISER WHEN ONE CHECKS ON THE INTERNET AND SHOULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT SEVERAL YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE TEMPERATURES EXCEEDED 90 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SLAVE CYLINDER AND MASTER CLUTCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH PARTS HIMSELF. MOST RECENT, THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

I PURCHASED A 2007 PT CRUISER WITH ZERO MILES ON IT IN DECEMBER 2007,FROM LITHIA 5504 L ST, OMAHA NEBRASKA. I TRADED A 2006 JEEP COMMANDER FOR IT TO ECONOMIZE. AFTER 4500 MILES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT, THEY FIXED IT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE HORN ON THE CAR STICKS AND WONT STOP HONKING. ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING I HEARD A "BINK" ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THEN THERE WAS A CRACK ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG ON THE FRONT WINDOW, NOT A PIT, BUT AN ACTUAL CRACK. I CALLED AND ASK WHO WAS THE GLASS MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE GLASS WASN'T A PART OF THE WARRANTY. I FELT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG AS I HAD NEVER SEEN GLASS CRACK, IN THE MANNER THIS GLASS DID. I ASKED WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, AND NO ONE WOULD REVEAL. I ASKED WHERE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED, AND HAD TO CONTACT THE CHRYSLER COMPANY, FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. THERE ARE RECENT NEWS REPORTS OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS BEING PLACED IN VEHICLES IN MEXICO. TODAY, WHILE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 82 DEGREES, THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW JUST EXPLODED. I TOOK PHOTOS AND CALLED THE DEALER, AND SPOKE WITH A MANAGER WHO STATES "DID IT SHATTER INTO MILLIONS OF PIECES AND I REPLIED YES IT DID. HE STATES THAT IS HOW "TEMPER WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY GET HEATED." I INQUIRED IF THE WINDOWS WERE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT OVER AND HAVE A SERVICE MANAGER LOOK AT THE WINDOW. A YOUNGER KID TOLD ME IMMEDIATELY IT WASN'T COVERED, AND I TOLD HIM THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE GLASS IN THIS CAR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. WHAT IF MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CAR, AND THE WINDOWS EXPLODED INTO PIECES. I NEED SOMEONE TO SAMPLE THE GLASS AND DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF GLASS IS IN THIS CAR. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS OF THIS CAR MOST CAR WINDOWS WILL PIT, BUT NOT CRACK. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR WHERE THE GLASS EASILY EXPLODES IN MY DRIVEWAY, OR CRACKS LIKE AN EGG SHELL. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD IF THE WINDOWS EASILY BREAK AS EXPLAINED. *TR

AS WITH THE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES SHIFTING GEARS BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED YEARS AGO AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. IT'S AS IF THE BUSHINGS IN THE SHIFT MECHANISM EXPAND WHEN HEATED AND THE SHIFTER STICKS IN ITS CURRENT GEAR; WITH GREAT FORCE YOU CAN KNOCK IT OUT AND WITH GREAT FORCE YOU CAN RE-ENGAGE. THE NEXT MORNING AT 50 DEGREES THE SHIFTER WORKS PROPERLY ONCE AGAIN. LATER IN THE DAY ABOVE 80 DEGREES THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS; THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE RESULTING HAZARD LEAVES YOU STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, WHICH IN TURN MAKES YOU A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISS (REAR END) COLLISIONS AS A RESULT. CHRYSLER STOPPED PRODUCTION OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION PT TWO YEARS BEFORE DISCONTINUING THE AUTOMATIC PT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. CHRYSLER DID NOT AND AS A RESULT I'M SURE THE OTHER AFFECTED CUSTOMERS DID AS I HAVE DONE AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE BRAND. I'VE PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES SINCE THAT TIME AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY NOT A CHRYSLER PRODUCT. THE LATTER IS COSTING CHRYSLER MORE THAN THE $300 IT WOULD HAVE COST TO CHANGE THE BUSHINGS TO A TYPE THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY HEAT.

PT CRUISER HYDRAULIC CLUTCH NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER TRIES TO REPLACE ENTIRE CLUTCH AND SAYS THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL THEY DO THE $1400 CLUTCH JOB. PROBLEM LIES IN EITHER SLAVE CYLINDER OR IMPROPER BLEEDING AT FACTORY AND AT DEALER ON MINE WHEN THEY CHANGED CLUTCH, SHIFTER CABLES, TRANSMISSION AND SLAVE CYLINDER AND STILL DOES IT. PROBLEMS MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WHEN HOT. WORKS IN EARLY MORNING OR COLD WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE GEAR SLIPPED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON JANUARY 19, 2007 AT 1,443 AND ON JUNE 28, 2007 AT 4,404 MILES, JULY 16, 2007 AT 4,838 MILES AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 AT 6,306 MILES. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED GEARS, LUNGED FORWARD, AND THEN BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALER AND A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED GEARS, LUNGED FORWARD, AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE CORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO REVS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT HER RESIDENCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,301 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,443. UPDATED 10/04/07 *TR