Chrysler Pt Cruiser 2003

• Recall 83316 [USA]: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
  Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
  sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.In order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by sabersport.The list can be found under "document search" located at the bottom of your screen.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 80469 [USA]: The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. if the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. this may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
  Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. These parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above.
  federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on may 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket ball joint assemblies and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by the vehicle manufacturers.Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 64182 [USA]: Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an underhood fire.
  On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4l non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose may contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
  dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end. The recall began on september 20, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
  daimlerchrysler recall no. D18.Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

• Recall 64197 [USA]: If this occurs, the clutch may not disengage when the clutch pedal is depressed.
  On certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc.
  dealers will replace the flywheel and clutch assemblies with the updated design parts. Owner notification began on april 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
  daimlerchrysler recall no. C09. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

• Recall 2019420 [Canada]: Other
  Issue: this recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by vitro automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: this is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the motor vehicle safety act. Safety risk: glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury. Corrective actions: the company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “dot 287” along with the lettering “vmr” (replacement market) and a date code that is before july 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or [email protected] to arrange for replacement of the glass.

• Recall 2004186 [Canada]: Steering
  On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.4l non-turbo engine and an automatic transaxle, routing variation in the high pressure power steering hose could allow contact with the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose. Subsequent fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an under-hood fire. Correction: dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end.

• Recall 2003066 [Canada]: Engine
  On certain turbo vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly could become unseated and lodge between the flywheel and the clutch disc. If this occurs, the clutch may not disengage when the clutch pedal is depressed. Correction: dealer will replace the flywheel and clutch assemblies.

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Engine compartment fires investigation as of 20040315

  Pe04-028 was opened to investigate seven complaints alleging that the engine compartment caught fire on my 2002 pt cruiser vehicles.On june 3, 2004, daimlerchrysler (dcc) notified nhtsa of a safety defect in my 2001-2005 pt cruiser vehicles equipped with naturally aspirated 2.4l engines and automatic transaxles (recall 04v-268).The notification identified variation of the high pressure power steering hose routing, which allowed the hose to contact the transaxle differential cover, as the factor contributing to this defect.Contact between the power steering hose and the transaxle differential cover can cause hose damage and power steering fluid leakage, which can potentially result in a fire. (note: the failure data in this resume is limited to my 2001-2003 vehicles per dccs pe04-028 information responses.)this condition was limited to vehicles with automatic transaxles as vehicles with manual transmissions have substantial clearance between the transaxle differential cover and the power steering hose due to a smaller transaxle design.This condition also does not adversely affect vehicles with turbo engines, which have a different power steering hose routing that provides substantial clearance between the transaxle differential cover and hose.Daimlerchrysler will instruct owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the power steering hose assembly inspected and relocated, or replaced, as necessary, and to confirm the torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end.
  

  Show Content

• Safety belt cinching latch plate investigation as of 20021106

  There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.While conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).The information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.Further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
  

  Show Content

Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P1776 [2] Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction
• P361A [1] P361A
• B0000 [1] ISO/SAE Reserved
• P0234 [1] Engine Turbocharger/Supercharger Overboost Condition
• P0016 [3] Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
• P0622 [3] Generator Field "F" Control Circuit Malfunction
• P0522 [2] Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit Low Voltage
• P0462 [3] Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Low Input
• P0498 [3] Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit Low
• P0499 [3] Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit High
• P0335 [3] Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction
• P0339 [4] Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent
• P0340 [3] Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1)
• P0116 [1] Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit 1 Range/Performance Problem
• P1604 [2] TCU Unable To Control Desired Throttle Angle
• P0137 [1] 02 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank I Sensor 2)
• P1681 [1] Fuel Demand Command Signal Circuit Malfunction
• P2403 [1] Evaporative Emission System Leak Detection Pump Sense Circuit/Open

I replaced my vehicles battery 2 days ago(nov 12, 2019)(very old battery and with the cold in massachusetts it needed to be changed). Now with a properly functioning battery the voltage regulator in pcm (not alternator) is signaling alternator to raise charging voltage intermittently to as high as 17.1volts, but has been frequently bouncing between 14.1v -16.7volts. This increase of voltage to a unsafe level causes all electrical accessories that are in connected to the charging system and are operational to flash/ flicker. Extremely distracting at night with headlights and dashboard flashing/ flickering. After a lot of research i found out the pcm needs to be reprogrammed with the proper updated firmware in order to fix the factory weak parameters. I spoke with a service manager today(nov 14,2019) at my local chrysler dealership (central jeep chrysler dodge ram fiat @ 56 boston providence tpke, norwood, ma 02062) about the problem and asked to have my pcm reprogrammed since only that specific model car manufactures service shop will have the capability and pcm firmware to repair it. The manager refused to do any work on my car since he said, "i wont touch cars older than 10years and close to 100,000miles". Then asked if i was even a customer at that specific location, saying no again after i said i wasn't. There is no other option than the factory dealership to fix a factory flawed pcm, which makes the risk of my battery exploding due to the increased regulated voltage very likely. This problem isn't new to chrysler since they have issued several tsb(s) in my specific vehicle and this exact problem: 18-112-16 18-026-03 rev.A 18-016-03 18-020-04

There was an electrical fire where the radio cup holders and the shifter. Car is undriveable due to the damage. My car was stationary at the time. The radio kept turn on and off. I heard cracking when i went into work. When i came out i say there was a whole lot of damage. I did get the car started and was able to get it home, but it's not drivable since the car died as i was pulling into my driveway. When i went to put it into park it was like park was not an option. Amd the car kept moving so i put the e break on.

My exterior front lights are very dull and aren't bright when turn them on.

I don't truly know what's happen to it n if it's been fixed but i do know that prior it would have uncontrollable speed control n steering problems n gps n video n auto recording n radio frequencies.

Vehicle is leaking power steering fluid. Found recall notice for my year model but chrysler says my vin is not included in the recall. Added fluid about 3 months ago and steering was fine until a week ago. Since then, fluid only lasts a day before it has to be refilled.

Vehicle was parked. Turned off. Multifunction switch that had been replaced previoulsy malfunctioned again. Fog lights just came on out of nowhere luckily i turned around and noticed it. When i opened my car door i noticed the switch was smoking. After some quick thinking i pulled the fuse. If i had not thought of this i belive it would have caught my car on fire and the ones parked next to it. I have had the fuse pulled for a year. Flash forward to my current state in va and it's inspection time. I failed for a faulty function switch. The guys replaced the switch first stoplight i come to no signal. Took it back to garage they said switch was bad out of the box. After this epidemic this will be the 4th multifunction switch that i know of installed on this car. How in the world has this part not been recalled yet. Please do something!

I had purchesed a used 2003 pt cruiser and on the hwy home short time later i heard clunking sound three times first when merging onto hwy from car dealership. Futhermore, about 10 min into my hwy drive home i became frightend when my car ended up having a mind if its own and stared going to the left so i tried to turn stearing wheel towards right and i was unable to correct it for few seconds and ended on the otheride of white line just about off hwy and into gravel but at that point i seened to regain control of my car stearing and proceeding back beteeen yellow and white line on the hwy, following was another incident was when i came to complete stop following with left turn (started to make a clunking sound even louder).Durning my route i made a right turn the sound again. I ended up taking it to a dealership to take a look at . The mechanic said he knew at one point they had a safty recall on the suspension for pt crusiers because they could cause injury with motor vehicle accidents due to loss of control as a result of lower contol arm /sway bar / and bad ball joints which i personally prob expericend on my way home following my purchese of the car. The mechanic i spoke to checked my vin number and it did not have a recall on it however there was recalls for a set amount and that mine wasnt one of them but shoukd have been and that i should inform " nhtsa "about my situation because there could be others experiencing same situation due to malfunctioning parts because a malfuction can happen to even after market parts can lead to deadly accidents even death because of loss of control. I strongly agree with mechanic that the recall should be updated even on the after market parts for the suspenion such as control arm and called for every 2003 pt crusier gt because of loss of control that almost caused me to be in accident even could of been fatal. Thank you

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle started to jerk and stalled without warning while in traffic. The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to resume driving. The failure recurred twice. When the contact looked under the hood, she noticed fuel around the engine and the area where the power steering fluid was located, which caused a fuel odor to emit through the air conditioner blower. The contact also noticed that the rear of the vehicle was leaking fuel, which came from the fuel line. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vin was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 138,528.

Wheel bearings keep going out. This time it affected my gear shift.

The multifunction switch had to be replaced or else the fog lights remain on and drain the battery.

My car caught fire under the hood while i was backing out a driveway and then the whole car just burned to total loss of it and it caught fire down in the bottom of the engine.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. After the vehicle was started, the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic on multiple occasions where the catalytic converter, cpu, spark plugs, and fuel cap were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds and turning, the steering wheel failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering hose and auto belt transmitter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired twice for power steering failure. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v268000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Repeated wheel failures causing tire seals to leak air. Multiple tire replacements (5), multiple seal failures resulting in air replacement. I am forced to check my tire pressure every time i use my vehicle since i cannot trust that the seals have held or failed at any given time. Every auto repair and tire specialist i have spoken with is well aware of this issue. So far i have spoken to 3 different auto repair specialists and 4 tire specialists. The "when did this happen" option below only affords me 1 entry, but, this has been happening since i purchased the vehicle in 2013.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the throttle mechanism seemed to have become stuck several times at a high throttle setting. The vehicle was not towed to a dealer or independent mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. After starting the engine, smoke was present under the hood. After driving a short distance, the driver pulled over, looked under the hood, and discovered flames coming from the engine. The fire department extinguished the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Details of accident listed in police report.I was driving my2003 chrysler pt cruiser when being chased by another vehicle in road rage which caused my car to get hit by another car which is listed in police report.My passeger and i received bodily damages sustaoned by these airbags my passenger was struck by an object that was intact with the airbag ..Laceration above left eye, broken eyesocket,broken nasal passage,fractured ribs passenger will need facial surgery due to airbag impacts seatbelts where worn at time of accident.I also have photos and hospital records of passengers injuries.Please contact mr.Arthur ingram or jacob patterson at number provided.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that power steering fluid was observed leaking from the front of the vehicle. The contact used two quarts of power steering fluid. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pressure hose failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The viin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v268000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. After placing the vehicle into drive, the engine stalled and was unable to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 25 mph, there was a burning odor coming from the front driver side seat. The contact mentioned that there was a seat cushion placed on the driver seat and, when it was removed, it was discovered that there was a large burn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 202,078.

Engine runs rough at idle and shuts off while driving. Cannot restart. Replaced cam sensor, air intake, plugs, etc. Has happened 8-10 times in the 3 months we have owned the car.

Air bag lite comes on constantly and engine light is on concurrently

Car stopped at red light. Engine died and smoke began to rise from engine compartment, then flames shot out. Driver could not get door open at first then after short time locks released and driver was able to escape. Fire department extinguished flames and said fire appeared to be started by fluid leakage. This model had been subject to recall due to fires. Car had recall fix on 9/23/04. It now appears the recall fixes were not permanent and the original problem can recur. It is potentially life threatening. Attempts to discuss the problem with chrysler were unsuccessful. Chrysler stone walled and falsely rigged their response procedure so as to avoid any responsibility. Chrysler refused to allow me to speak with any person in a position of authority. The clerks i spoke with stated that someone would be in touch with me. Finally after three attempts to speak with someone at chrysler, and after more than one month from original contact, a letter dated may 13, 2015 was received from chrysler stating they had tried numerous times to contact us and the claim would be dropped if we did not respond in 10 days. This quite simply is a lie! No attempt was ever made to contact us, even after we contacted chrysler on three occasions asking to speak with someone. The letter instructed us to contact dekra automotive to arrange an inspection. We did and gave them all the information once again. We offered to send photos of the damage but dekra was not interested. On may 27 we received a letter stating they were unable to inspect the car since it had been sold (salvaged) and were closing the file. Thus, chrysler had created circumstances through obfuscation and manipulating the response time which they felt relieved them of any responsibility, even the need to discuss the issue with us. This fire hazard still exists.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and then caught fire without warning. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. The details of who extinguished the fire were unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 201,561.

Engine light came on, car shut down multiple times on freeway, terrifying...."we limped" home before car quit entirely. I had owned it for one night. Drove it 100 miles total. (bought it used, 106,000 mi on it.). *tr

I was previously having a difficult time shifting into 2nd gear. I was trying to merge into traffic on the freeway and i lost my 2nd gear. I currently can use all of the gears in my manual transmission except 2nd.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering failed without warning. In addition, there was fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering return line hose had a hole. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the clutch did not disengage when the clutch pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 03v076000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

The wiring harness melted, which caused the multifunction switch to burn out and running tail lights to not work properly. Replaced multifunction switch and burning smell came from steering column. Pulled new multifunction switch and noticed melted connectors. *tr

"takata recall" i was driving a 2003 pt cruiser when my wife and i were hit head on by a truck that went left of center when a van turned left in front of him. We were hit again on the drivers side and the airbag deployed and the steering column fell on my left leg. My granddaughter stopped at the scene because she was driving past and saw us. She saw i was bleeding from my head and put pressure on it as soon as she could. Upon being taken to the hospital i had both of my ears nearly severed off. It was determined that the shrapnel from the air bags had cut both my ears and severed them. Also it has been two years and i am still getting material out of my head from them. I have big sore spots where the material has risen and came out of my head.I also got mersa in my leg and my wife got 4 broken back ribs. They also determined i received a concussion. The vehicle was in motion but going about 25 as i was slowing down as the van in front of us was turning.We do have photos and medical records as we had a lawyer who sued the driver who turned in front of us and we can get pictures and records if you would like.I do not have them on my computer.

Battery went completely dead after only two years. Had the battery replaced and now the dashboard lights and the headlights flicker terribly and even more when on high beams. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, it independently accelerated. The contact took the key out of the ignition and then attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to shift out into any gear. The vehicle was taken to independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the dual mass fly wheel would need replacing. The dealer and manufacturer werealerted of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruise. The contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, the spare tire separated from the vehicle. The bracket that held the spare tire was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician verified the corrosion. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 77,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, he started to lose control of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that he was able to merge to the side of the road and after inspecting the vehicle he noticed that the front passenger's side sub frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the sub-frame was corroded. The failure was making the lower control arm malfunction and the contact was advised that the front sub frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 40,390 and the current mileage was 40,490. Updated 04/29/14 ma updated 05/2/2014 *js

Low voltage light came on, lost all power on the highway.I had to hit the shoulder quickly. I then tested code with key (3 clicks off/on) got code P0622 and P2403..Towed to a shop, to find out the wires from alternator to the computer shorted out, it's a known problem, wiring harness runs along cv shaft and rubs against a bolt near the frame, thus shorting out the charging system and burning out the computer. So now the bill for repairs are almost $650.00 and lucky we got off the highway in time, almost got hit by a semi cause we lost power so quick. I am glad we didn't get killed. If chrysler and the government knows this is a problem why is there no recall.....Or a safety warning . *tr

We were in stop & go traffic for an hour, the right front brake seized up and stuck on. Smelled burning brake smell. Got home and let sit and cool for 5 hours, all was ok. What has caused this ? Garaged kept, low mileage, car babied. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while reversing from a parking space, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed as power steering fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v268000( steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle experienced the same defect as listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 134,000.

I've had this vehicle approx. 2 years. At an earlier time i had used the fog lights twice with no incident. Later and prior to 12/17/13 the fog light indicator appeared on the instrument panel, the fog light switch wasn't even turned on but the light came on by themselves. I jiggled the switch and the lights and indicator went out, after that the fog lights wouldn't work at all. On 12/17/13 i went out to my garage to find the fog lamps on. The headlights were off, the car not running, the keys weren't even in the ignition. The lights just came on by themselves. I managed to turn them off (for the night) only to find when i got to work the next morning i couldn't shut them off. I drove the car home, finally pulled the fuse for the fog lamps and returned to work. I've also had incidences where the headlights will dim slightly and then illuminate fully. According to some of the forums i've read, there are a lot of people having this problem. Some people also report burning wires and dead batteries. I wish they would file a complaint. Thank you. *tr

Set cruise control and the car accelerated rather than set at speed. Car continued to accelerate despite application of brakes, including emergency brake which only got it down to 40 mph. Car had to be popped into neutral in order to be able to keep from crashing and stop the car. *tr

About 3 three years ago the headlights started flickering and the radio light would totally go out. Now the fog lights are coming on with the car turned off. I am taking the car to a mechanic - hopefully they can fix the issue. *tr

Fortunately at a parking lot intersection, the rf tie rod end suffered a catastrophic failure causing no injury, death or accident. The bolted end which fits into the socket pulled out from the socket. There was no indication ahead of time the tie rod end was near failure. I had previously replaced the lf tire rod end. In doing so, i was appalled at the poor design of the part. Chrysler's objective to produce a low price just barely adequate part was obvious. Typically, this part is made from a forging, chrysler chose to produce the part from stamped sheet metal. I replaced the part with a forged, after market part from moog. It is my opinion this is an unsafe design. It was very fortunate this failure occurred where it did otherwise, my wife could have killed or severely injured. *tr

I purchased the car and right from the start i've had to replace the wheel bearings , i have had to do so 3 times already within the short amount of time i have had the car , there has been no unusual stress on the bearings to make them wear out , now in my experience i have never had to replace a wheel bearing on a car with anything less than 100k mi on it , let alone 3 times , i don't know what to make of it, also im having stalling/rough idle problems that no one can seem to figure out it has stalled 5 times already and regularly idles rough, these problems are not normal and cannot be figured our ,i've replaces several parts including the erg valve pvc valve spark plugs and wires the iac cleaned the throttle body and the carb and im still having these issues. *tr

I was driving my 2003pt cruizer and all of the sudden my water gauge went into red ,had to pull over later on changed thermostat and flushed radiator,ran fine for a day then overheating again following day seems to be nothing wrong no leaking,just had trani.Fixed 2 months,husband drove car again after about seven miles car started overheating again,went to red had to pull over for car to cool down,what is going on,does chrysler have any recalls on this problem? *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated the power steering hose was leaking on the engine. The contact also heard a loud noise and the smell of burning fumes emitting into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the hose and motor mount needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance since her vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 37,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.

Year: 2003 make: chrysler model: pt cruiser engine: 2.4l turbocharged components: power steering high pressure hose the power steering pressure hose was rubbing up against the transmission of the vehicle listed above. The result of the power steering pressure hose ruptured due to contact with the hot transmission during normal driving. This has been the first incident since the owner purchased the vehicle. The owner purchased new power steering pressure hose and had it installed at a local automotive shop. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The vehicle was previously included in nhtsa campaign id number: 03v076000 (power train:clutch assembly) and was repaired prior to the contact having ownership of the vehicle. While driving approximately 30 mph, the the contact was unable to switch gears. The contact was depressing the clutch when he noticed that the gear shifter was fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostics. The technician stated the clutch assembly and the shifter cable would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

I am having overheating problems. I have talked with other owners of pt cruiser who have had the same issues. It overheats at idle and while driving. I have not found a solution to the problem yet. I have had it pressure tested and the thermostat changes and it is still overheating to dangerous levels. *kb

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated the airbag and the check light engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the battery was replaced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical system needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. The vin was not available.

When starting car in morning, it made a very unfamiliar sound then the sound disappeared. After driving a short distance the car was parked. Upon restarting the car, we heard two loud thuds as if something had fallen to the pavement. We saw nothing under the car, but after looking under the hood two motor mounts were broken and engine was completely dislodged. Mechanic told us this was his third repair of this type because the motor was too heavy for the type of motor mounts chrysler used in the pt cruiser. Please call owners to have this problem corrected before official recall damages chryslers image. *tr

Vehicle air bag warning light indicates air bag is disabled - due to faulty clock spring. Updated 08/18/15*jb

I am having issues with my 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The fog light switch has worn out and is causing my car battery to be drained due to the fog light staying on. I was going to replace the part. However i was checking online for quotes when i stumbled upon a forum full of complaints for the same issue. There are over 600 comments regarding problems with the pt cruiser, most of them with the same issue. I hope there is something somebody can do about this. I am hoping for a recall of the part, i will buy a new part i just don't want the same part again. This is a dangerous problem because i have been left stranded due to my car being drained of battery life more than 5 times. *tr

Gas fumes interior of car no physical gas under vehicle. *tr

Tl*the contact owned a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 60-65 mph, he remembered changing lanes and there was shaking in the steering wheel. The vehicle accelerated off of the ground per a witness since the contact doesn't recall the details of what occurred. He does remember that the engine was smoking and that the air bags never deployed. One passenger sustained head and hip injures. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000. Updated 02/02/11 *cn

The plastic headlight lenses on my 2003 chrysler pt cruiser have become so cloudy they are practically useless. This is dangerous. I have seen other pt cruisers as well as other chrysler products with this same problem. I am going to have to replace them as i am fearful of having an accident due to low visibility. I live in a rural area with alot of deer and this low visibility concerns me. *tr

2003 turbo pt cruiser issue with engine over heating light coming on engine was not over heating. A week later running lights and foglamps started coming on while car is off and sitting. Checked a site that said it was a problem in the turbo 2003 and 2004 turbo cruisers and the issue will get worse. My car is not included in the recall. *tr

Car is manual trans, my wife drives it and has complained for quite a while of car jumping i told her it was her, the car never did it for me during test drives. In january switched cars with her it took 2 weeks for it to happen. Coming to a stop clutch would not disengage. Has also tried to engage on its own at lights. Went to dealer they said no recalls are open on car and recall for same problem was already done so you are on your own. Seems like newer of the same part was installed. Car is off the road and i have said my sorries to my wife. Please advise. Thank you. *tr

Lower control arm bushings are bad at 60,000 miles and the car is wandering on the road. Chrysler needs to address this known issue before someone is hurt or killed. *tr

2003 p t cruiser with 44000 miles am told it needs front bearings on the front. *tr

At approximately 70,000 miles the fog lights would remain on even in the off position. Placing the turn signal in the downward position when exiting the vehicle would remedy situation, further fixed by pulling the fog light fuse. Latter on at 80,000 miles the low beams failed and would not turn on. High beams would work or the fog lights would work (after putting the fuse back in). The danger was further enhanced by when you would use the turn signal the fog lamps would shut off. This was fixed by removing the multi-stick from the steering column and replacing it with a new component. All issue were resolved by this fix. *tr

Oem 17" chrome wheels on 2003 chrysler pt cruiser gt corrode, flake off, and tires lose pressure overnight. Low tire pressure can cause the vehicle to go out of control or skid. The consumer is forced to check tire pressure twice a day. Forgetting to do this, even once, can lead to an unsafe driving condition. *tr

With 59,000 freeway miles, at 65 mph vehicle downshifted abruptly and unexpectedly. Vehicle would only lurch along at a slow speed and unable to go into reverse. It had to be towed. Transmission overhaul required costing over $2,000 to repair. *tr

I saw a story on abc news concerning deceleration on bmw vehicles and i had a similar experience in a chrysler pt cruiser. I was traveling at interstate speed and experienced a sudden deceleration of my vehicle. If someone was behind me i would have been hit. I had the vehicle towed to a chrysler dealership and was told it was a sensor in the transmission. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph when the engine exhibited hesitation with a slight loss of power. The failure was sporadic. On a separate occasion, the engine completely stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer six times for diagnosis pertaining to the failure. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. A mobile computer was installed in the vehicle to possibly detect future failure occurrences. When the engine failure recurred, the mobile computer was unable to project an accurate reading. The technician recommended the oxygen senor be replaced however he could not guarantee that the repair would correct the problem. The contact planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer to have the oxygen sensor replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 01/14/11 *bf the consumer stated both oxygen sensors were replaced and the vehicle is operating as designed. Updated 02/23/11

My husband was driving east bound when he was hit t bone and eventually landed head on into a tree. The airbags did not deploy. *tr

Nhtsa 629139 exterior lighting headlights, moisture inside vented headlamp assembly. Headlights have hard water deposits on inside of lamp,with sun exposure have become so corroded they are not usable have to drive with high beams on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. Thirty seconds after starting the ignition, the engine stalled without warning. The "check engine" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. He was able to restart the engine and resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on three separate occasions. The technician was unable to locate cause of the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer on six separate occasions for the identical failures. The engine control module (ecm), four fuel injecters , spark plugs, and both oxygen sensors. Were replaced. None of the repairs have remedied the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. The current mileage was 113,000.

Fuel line abrasion and leakage on fuel line from firewall to fuel rail. 2003 mpt cruiser with 5 speed and 146,000 miles fuel abraded thru fire wall insulation and rubbed while thru protective sleeve and fuel line fuel line sprayed fuel all over engine, converter and firewall driver noticed fuel smell and stopped car. *tr

High beams coming on without being turned on, at first once or twice a week then everyday it would happen then everytime using the vehicle, the high beams came on after i turned them off when getting out of my car upon returning to my car would not crank, the high beams where still on, had to get my car jumped started, removed the fuse and haven't had the high beams to come on again, but i need my high beams esp. For long distance driving through the mountains, there's a shortage somewhere between the fuse and high beams lights. *tr

2003 chrysler pt cruiser factory chrome rims 17" corroding and flake off causing the air pressure to drop overnight. Causing an unsafe condition resulting in lose of control and unusual tire wear. *tr

Repeated overheating due to a problem with the cooling system. Antifreeze is properly mixed and the reservoir is full. Engine overheats after only a few minutes of operation. Thermostat and radiator cap have been replaced to no avail. When engine is shut off, gurgling noise can be heard from inside the car. Radiator was pressure tested and found no leaks. Antifreeze seems to evaporate constantly causing the overheating issue to occur again after additional amounts of antifreeze has been added. *tr

1. I generally drive our 2003 chrysler pt cruiser with the fog lights on during the day, and the headlights at night. This means i was turning the fog light switch on the turn signal unit several times a day. 2. Beginning early in 2009 i experienced times when the fog lights would not turn off with the switch without a lot of cycling, or the fog lights would turn themselves on when the door closed. The vibration of the vehicle made that happen. Then, when trying to get the fog lights to turn off, the switch began to smoke. Turning off the car cleared that, so i stopped using the fog lights. The turn signals and headlight portion of the switch worked fine. 3. I contacted the chrysler dealership and was told they were out of the switch. I then contacted a local auto maintenance company i have used in the past and trust. They quoted me a better service price, and that the switch was backordered. There were over 5000 switches on backorder and it was six months after the order was placed before we received the switch and had it installed. My concern is two fold: 1. The 5000 may well have been the tip of the iceberg in terms of failures, and 2. If i had not been sitting there, would the lights, after coming on by themselves have cause the switch to actually catch the vehicle on fire? I thought that the brief time i was smoke should have been enough to blow the fuse, but it didn't. *tr

This is the second time, control arms have to be replaced on my car. May 2007, mileage 40,054, both lower control arm bushings worn out/control arm hole oblong: both replaced. Again today, april 2009, mileage 55,000, car is in shop for same service. Also, april 2008, mileage 46,856 front left hub bearing failed, had to be replaced. *tr

Two pt cruisers, 02-03, both needing tie rods, control arms, watts linkage, wheel bearings at around or less then 50,000 miles. Basically the entire suspension needed to be replaced. This is unheard of. *tr

Fog lights continue to flash without my turning them on. This is my third dead battery? Is there a recall? *tr

I have a 2003 pt cruiser, i have 53,000 miles on this car, and the control arms need to be replaced. I have gone to the chyrsler forums, and there is a lot of complaints by alot of owners of chrysler having the same exact problems. Some with less miles than mine. Chrysler needs to step up to the plate and recall this part. Thanks, darlene smith *tr

I own two pt cruisers, both have had control arm bushing failures at 45k miles. This is a known problem to chrysler, all over internet, failures at earlier mileage as well. They do nothing. $650/car to replace control arm. *tr

Lower front control arm bushings and front wheel bearings went bad at 38,000 miles. 2 water pumps went bad on the car and car only has 38,000 miles on it. Camshaft sensor went bad with only 25,000 miles on it. Oil pan on engine started leaking when car had 17,000 miles on it. *tr

Power failure. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle lost all power steering without warning. The contact replaced the steering pump in october 2008 and the steering hose in april of 2009; however, the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was not repaired nor was the failure diagnosed due to the cost. The current mileage was 96,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.

Shortly after leaving the house, the fog light indicator came on even though the headlights themselves were off. Pressure on the end of the stalk turned the indicator off but it came back on when pressure was released. After parking and shutting off the engine, the indicator (and the fog lights themselves) remained on. Removing the keys from the ignition had no effect. The only thing that turned the fog lights off was setting the turn indicator in the 'left turn' (down) position. Further testing found that the only other way to turn off the fog lights was to remove the appropriate fuse from the interior fuse panel. Researching the problem online turned up several message boards with a large number of drivers reporting this exact problem going back at least three years, which turns out to be caused by a failing multifunction switch. (one such forum: http://www.Topix.Com/forum/autos/chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2/ ). *tr

Approached vehicle after visit and noticed strong fuel smell from 20 ft. Away. Opened car door, fumes even stronger. Felt dizzy & disoriented. Called service to have it towed (did not want to start car with strong fumes). Was told there was a problem with fuel line (recall) and that it was repaired. Nearly 1 year later, same problem, check engine light on. 1/2 tank of gas leaked in one day. No obvious source of leak from exterior. Lingering gas smell in interior. Was told nvld pump was replaced. Very concerned about safety, possible adverse health consequences, likelihood of fire. Car has had many other issues as well, including smell from ac system (originally non-functional) which smells like an electrical fire/burning plastic. Dealership is dismissive. Possible lemon. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact continued to hear a clunking noise and stated that the vehicle would "get away from her" while driving various speeds on the highway. The dealer repaired the tire, but an independent mechanic stated that control arm bushings and tie rod end repairs were common. The dealer offered to repair the vehicle at the cost of more than $600. They also stated that a front end alignment would be needed following the repairs. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 65,000. Updated 11/17/08 *cn updated 11/24/08. *jb

Fog lights are turning on by themselves even when light switch is not on and when car is not running causing battery to drain and many headaches! This happens 3 or 4 times a day! *tr

Failure of both front wheel bearings under 60000 miles.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact felt roughness and vibrating. The vehicle was not operating properly. There were no prior warnings. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was discovered that the front end control arm bushings failed. The vehicle was repaired for the malfunction. The failure mileage was 39,300 and current mileage was 39,330.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While slowing down to make a turn, the steering failed because the vehicle switched back to manual. The vehicle has been to a mechanic and the hose was replaced on three occasions, the most recent time being on may 28,2008. On june 2, 2008, the failure recurred. The current mileage was 37,000 and failure mileage was 28,000.

Pt cruiser lower control arm bushings need replacing at 60k miles. Have been told by mechanic that this is a common problem with this model and could cause loss of control of vehicle, added wear to brakes and tires, scraping of front end of car on pavement. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact heard a loud humming noise coming from her vehicle. She took the vehicle to a dealer and they stated that the power steering pump failed. Power steering fluid leaked out and caused the air conditioner to fail. The unit was replaced at the cost of $1,583. The technician stated that her vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v268000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections); therefore, they would not assume financial responsibility for the repair. Several weeks after the repair, the air conditioning unit failed again. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer on numerous occasions, in which she had to replace the water pump, the throttle body, the radiator, and various components in the powertrain and steering unit. The repairs cost $4,000. Typically, the failures immediately recur after the repairs are made. The manufacturer gave her a small reimbursement of $878. The failure mileage was 32,208 and current mileage was 66,500.

We owned a 2003 pt cruiser and i had a wreck on april 18, 2008 and the air bags didn't deploy and the shoulder strap did not catch to hold me from being thrown forward. I was stopped at a red light and a car rear ended me at approximately 50 mph. It threw me forward into the steering wheel and i injured my left shoulder where i had my had resting on the steering wheel. I had to have surgery and i feel that this would not have happened if the shoulder strap had caught when the collision happened. We bought another pt cruiser, a 2007 and my husband and his friend who was driving had an accident on january 21, 2009. They swerved to keep from hitting a dog and hit a guard rail almost head on and again the air bags did not deploy and the shoulder straps did not catch. I feel that this could be a bad problem with the pt cruisers. Have you had any other reports of this sort of problem? *tr

I just found out that i have to replace both the right and left front hub bearings on my 2003 pt cruiser. The dealership is charging me $600 to do the job. I have 69k miles on the car and chrysler says it is normal wear and tear and is not covered under the 7/70k warranty....So i searched the internet and to my surprise i found out i am not the only pt cruiser owner with this problem....I searched for front hub bearings for a pt cruiser and found many complaints about the defective bearings....The bearings are supposed to be a sealed bearing and never require maintenance....This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed by chrysler by issuing a recall and pay to fixed the problem...And repay the customers who had to have the bearings replaced.... The dealership even stated to me that it was a safety hazard and the bearings needed replacement....With only 69k miles on the car and others with fewer miles this should not happen on a new car...Myself and my family was not injured by an accident , but i wonder how many people have been injured from this defect???....Any help would greatly be appreciated....Thank you michael g kelly *tr

Both front bearings failing in 2003 pt cruiser...Have been getting progressively worse over the past year. *tr

03 pt cruiser. Sudden loss hydraulic pressure at shiftdown. Within 7/70,000 powertrain warranty. Chrysler refuses to stand behind warranty. This is a known problem. *tr

Front wheel bearings failed at 71,000 miles. *tr

While driving with cruise control on i tried to press the brake pedal which would not move. I had to disengage the cruise control with the hand control. This is the third time i have had this happen. The brake pedal is frozen in place and will not move with any amount of force. After disengaging and re-engaging the cruise control, the brakes begin to work again. *tr

I read on the internet that a great deal of owners of chrysler pt cruisers have had problems similar to mine. My 2003 has only 50,000 km. (not miles) and i have to replace the wheel bearings. This seems much too soon to replace such an item. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the steering rack on his vehicle malfunctioned. His wife stopped at a stop sign and experienced extreme difficulty when attempting to make a turn. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 30,234. Updated 03/13/08. *lj the steering gear was replaced.

I purchased a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser in july 2008 in oct we noticed lights flickering headlight switch started burning fog lights came on didn't work before took it dodge new switch and 22 pin connector . New pcm reprogrammed it still same problem lights flicker and check engine light stays on. *tr

The driver's side fixed rear quarter glass flew off the window while driving on the interstate. I contacted daimler chrysler to see about assistance because they recalled 2005 / 2006 pt cruisers for this very problem. They told me sorry vehicle is out of warranty. Well of course it is, but gosh are window's supposed to fly off the car??? No!!!!! Just fix it. *tr

When adjusting the steering column, or turning right or left, the radio and horn are disabled. Pulling or pushing the steering column will enable the radio and horn. The dealership worked on this problem, and at one point thought it was corrected, however, after securing a loose wire that corrected the horn problem the technician wanted the car to remain at the dealership overnight so as to confirm the correction in the morning with a cold start. The technician determined that the correction failed, and the dealership recommended replacing the steering column. This correction is at the cost of the owner. I was advised that on the day that my car was service another pt owner brought her car to the dealership with the indentical problem. *tr

2003 chrysler pt cruiser. Consumer states defect involving the lower control arm bushings in the front suspension *tgw in august 2007 the bushings had deteriorated after only 30,620 miles. The dealer replaced them at a cost of $414.84 which the consumer had to pay since the vehicle was beyond the 36 month warranty. In june 2009, the dealer informed the consumer they needed to be replaced even though it had only been 12,292 miles since they were initially replaced. The consumer went to an independent mechanic and had them replaced again. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that her vehicle's bumper is defective. She noticed a white, hazy tape mark one month after purchasing the vehicle. In july of 2007, the contact mentioned the failure to a service repairman and was informed of the defect at that time. Chrysler performed the repair, but the defect is still present. She would like the bumper to be replaced for free. The current mileage was 60,977 and failure mileage was 57,977.

The vehicle has oem chrome alloy wheels. Due to corrosion the tires will not properly seal and the tires constantly leak air pressure. Due to corrosion the nuts and lugs do not screw on/off with normal torque. Due to corrosion the center caps will not stay securely on the wheel.*ak

We own a 2003 pt cruiser. It has manifested three separate problems, all of which are similar to complaints i have found from others on the internet: first, the "check engine" light comes on. The dealer said we needed to click the gas cap. We did that, but the light came back on. Second, the fog light switch failed such so that the lights turned on without the switch being touched. We discovered the problem only after the battery had been drained, stranding my wife at work. I "fixed" this problem by pulling the fuse on the fog lights. I have read complaints in which this faulty switch has actually started fires. Third, we have the infamous intermittent starting"problem. I have replaced the starter and the battery. I checked alternator function and integrity of all cable connections to the starter. Then i read others' complaints and have found there is no available solution. The problem became more and more frequent, and now the vehicle is dead in the driveway. Our vehicle has only 54,000 miles on it, and we believe we should expect many more miles from it. We are afraid to take it to a dealer and have hundreds of dollars worth of fruitless diagnostics done on it. We still owe $1,800 to chrysler financial for the car. It pains us to make payments on a vehicle that is a lump in our driveway. We would like to have the vehicle repaired at no charge, assuming the manufacturer has found a solution. Although the vehicle is currently out of warranty, the problem began to occur long before the warranty expiration, but we could not get it to repeat for the dealer. Is there a "secret warranty" for this issue? We cannot find a full-text tsb to find out. *ak

On the street engine stopped, power steering inoperative, smoke appeared from under the hood. Turned the key off. Raised the hood, had fire beneath the battery area. Dealer stated that a misrouted cable between the battery and starter shorted out, causing the fire which ruined the cabling, battery and starter. Chrysler's extended warranty will not cover this damage because the battery cable was not covered. *ak

As my wife was driving the car she noticed a sudden loss of power assist in the steering. She was able to direct the car into a parking space, and upon exiting ,noticed large amounts of smoke coming from under the car. She asked others to call the fire department, and by the time they arrived, the car was totally engulfed in flames. Upon review at the accident scene there was a noticeable trail of power steering fluid on the road bed for approximately 4-500 feet before she came to a stop.*ak

I own a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The covers for the headlights have become totally yellow and hazy or foggy making them very, very dull at night. I contacted chrysler, was told this was not their problem. I have been advised and have spoken with other pt owners having the same problem. Due to the cost of these covers, i feel chrysler should be responsible for the replacement of same. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the fog lights activate by themselves and cause her to jump start her battery often. She believes that the cause of failure is the switch control device. The manufacturer advised her to take her vehicle to an authorized dealer and have them diagnose the failure. The contact has not yet gone to the dealer, however, she called them and they told her to bring the vehicle in for inspection. The powertrain and dealer information were unknown. The failure mileage was 75,000 and current mileage was 78,000.

I bought my 2003 pt cruiser turbo gt in august 2005. In january 2006, august 2006 and may 2007 i have been stranded due to the battery failing. Mechanics are befuttled because charging/starting system checks out okay on diagnostic. *tr

The lower control bushings have been replaced 3 times in 46,197 miles over 12 years. The last time control arm and bushing were replaced. First time was 5-21-07 with 20,204 miles on the car. Second time was 5-21-08, only one year later, 22,309 miles on the vehicle, just over 2000 miles from a year ago when it was done. The dealer covered it because it was warranty from a year ago. Wonder if it was ever done the first or second time. We just had the control arm and bushings replaced 5-27-2015 at 46,197 miles. Now the dealer originally told my wife this does not happen until the vehicle has about 80,000. Wow looks like a major issue for them.

Air conditioner (a/c) compressor failed at 51,000 miles. Resulting in replacement of compressor, condenser, line orifice tube, map sensor, and drier. Total repair $1,600. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the front passenger side rim was rotting from the inside out and causing excessive wear on the tire. As a result, he has placed air in the tire at least once a day for the past four months. The dealer and manufacturer were notified. The current mileage was 84,655 and failure mileage was 80,000. The consumer stated now has a 2nd tire that he has to maintain air in every other day. The consumer stated the problem is the center hub cover because it snaps in place and leaves space for sail and other materials to enter. Updated 10/23/07 *tr

The fog lights in the chrysler pt cruiser suddenly came on and will not shut off. I believe the multi function switches were defective in pt cruisers and need to be recalled. The battery could have died if i did not pull the fuse.*ak

Not long after i first purchased my 2003 pt cruiser on new year's eve, 2002, the engine light started coming on. Each time, i took it to the dealer, and each time, it was determined nothing was wrong. After the fourth time, i was ready to see about having it classified as a lemon if it happened one more time, but it didn't, until recently. In january 2007, i believe, i took it in for the same problem. Dealer said nothing wrong. In march, i took it in and dealer determined the source of the problem was powertrain control module, which was replaced at no charge. By then, another symptom was that all of the instrument panel lights would come on intermittently. Also intermittently, it would start, run for 5 seconds and die. If i disconnected the battery to reset the computer, it would start. One week, i had it towed in because it wouldn't start. I didn't reset the computer, because i wanted them to see the problem, but it started for the dealer, and they determined nothing was wrong. After protesting that the problem was not resolved, dealer agreed to take it in today, and now they tell me the problem is a defective instrument cluster, but they can't guarantee, after it's installed, that it will fix the problem. My complaint is that engine light started coming on years ago, and developed into the issue today, without being repaired. Also, a message appeared on the odometer that said "no bus." *jb

I purchased a new 2003 pt gt turbo cruiser and have electrical problems since day one. The battery has been replaced twice and the lights have never stopped flickering since the day i purchased the vehicle. The chrysler repair facilities were nice to deal with but the problem has never been resolved. I have always liked chrysler products and throughout the years have purchased quite a few, after this experience this will be my last chrysler product.

Pt cruiser 2003 fog lights came on without warning, battery ran dead, cost over $200 to replaces the turn signal stalk. Chrysler mechanics were aware of this issue and clearly were enjoying the profits. They refused to cover the repair or participate in any way. I submitted a request for consideration to chrysler, which they rejected because the car has 70,000 miles on it. Reference number: 16043282, email case number: 1688956. Obviously, the number of miles on the car have nothing to do with the turn signal stalk wearing out! This was obviously a poorly-designed part, judging by the number of other owners who have complained about the same problem. While i appreciated that my warranty was up, problems of this nature should receive active consideration for compensation. This was not going to make or break chrysler, although it has a significant impact on me. I would think you would be interested in having me tell people how impressed i am with your support for such a situation, rather than tell them they should avoid chrysler products because they could easily find themselves in my situation. I plan to make good on my statement to pursue other avenues of satisfaction. Was there anything you could do to help? *ak

While letting my car warm up, with the heated seats on low, the drivers seat started smoldering, and filled the car with smoke. I phoned 911 for the fire truck. The cushion under the leather upholstery disintegrated under the heat. The car is a 2003 pt cruiser gt turbo, with only 23000 km. I have not contacted my dealer, yet. *jb

Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The vehicle would not start. The tow truck mechanic jump started the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to a repair shop, the vehicle began to smoke. During diagnosis the repair shop found the vehicle to be operating with our errors. The following day the vehicle would not start and the contact had to jump start the vehicle. The contact purchased a new battery, and while driving at 40 mph the vehicle lost power in traffic. There was smoke under the hood, and the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where the mechanic removed the head gasket and discovered the motor was burned and would need to be replaced. The vehicle is currently at the dealer waiting to be repaired. The contact stated there were no warning indicator lights. The failure mileage was 51,747. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated a deflated tire was noticed on the vehicle. After inflating the tire, it was driven to the dealer who determined oxidation on the rims caused slow leaks in all four tires and suggested replacing the rims.

I have a 2003 pt cruiser with 82000 miles on it. In march of 2005 with 47765 miles on it, i took the vehicle to a chrysler dealer to repair a vibration while braking. The chrysler dealer noted there was a grinding noise coming from the transmission and stated the compressor was rubbing against the front frame due to some kind of collision and stated there was a broken motor mount. We took the vehicle to the dealer where we purchased the vehicle to address this diagnosis since this was a new vehicle when we purchased it. The dealer claims they found no broken motor mounts, no signs of accident and did not even address the transmission noise. On 11/17/2006 i was traveling on a two lane highway with my 3 year old daughter at night, and without warning,noise, hesitation, or lack of power, my transmission went out. I was not able to move in any gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where i purchased it and they told me it has major transmission damage and the transmission needs to be replaced. The cost of the transmission replacement is $2715.00 and the dealer will not cover any of the cost. *jb

I went to have my brakes checked and was told my right and left lower control arm bushings were broken. I took the car to the dealership (towed in because the transmission went out) and the bushings were replaced. The mechanic said he has very seldom seen bushings in the suspension break with only 60,000 miles on the car. My car is a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. I complained numerous times about the transmission but was not acknowledged until the car was inoperable. I am quite happy that the mechanic who does my brakes noticed the control arms. I asked chrysler to check them while my transmission was being repaired, if not, they would never have checked. The suspension is of course, not covered by the warranty any longer. Repair costs were nearly $600. *nm

Pt cruiser lower control arm bushings shot with only 32000 miles. This is a common problem. A defect in the bushing material is suspect and failure can lead to loss of control. *nm

We recently purchased a used 2003 pt cruiser gt turbo. We really love it. However, there is an issue we have been trying to figure out. The lighting flickers when you start the car. It is intermittent. After running awhile it decreases. Usually when first starting the car it is really bad. We didn't notice a difference when we used more or less power in the car, like turning on the radio and a/c. The power fluctuation makes all the lights flicker inside and outside of the car, as well as the panel lights and radio. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated when the clutch was engaged at any speed, the transmission did not shift into gear effectively. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who was unable to determine the problem. The vehicle was subsequently taken to a private repair shop, who determined that the clutch assembly had come apart. There was a nhtsa recall# 03v076000, which pertained to the clutch assembly. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds when depressing the brake pedal, the brakes squealed. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who replaced the front pads and rotors. Also, while driving up hill the vehicle lost speed and intermittently when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle shook. The dealer could not duplicate the problem.

9/1/06 as i was parking my car my drivers side air bag deployed . After several phone calls and emails to chrysler's customer service division, there was no reply. On 9/29/06, my passenger side airbag deployed, as well as my passenger side seat belt locked up while i was driving 50 miles an hour. That day i called chrysler again and an investigation was created. After the investigation chrysler found no responsibility on their part. I submitted a claim into my insurance company, and they found the defect to be a manufacturers defect, and will not cover the deployed air bags or locked seat belt. At this time there has been no reparation. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 mph on the highway, another vehicle pulled out unexpectedly causing a rear end collision. There was braking prior to the impact however, the air bags did not deploy. The occupants of both vehicles sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop and the dealer was notified. A police report was taken.

2003 chrysler pt cruiser vehicle with an automatic transmission with 56,414 miles on it began lurching when accelerating or slowing down on interstate. Problem started with no prior warning of transmission problems. Vehicle later died in the middle of a side street. Could not get vehicle to move in any gear, and check engine light came on and stayed on. Finally got vehicle to limp around the corner in drive, then vehicle died. No transmission fluid found in reservoir. Fluid noted on ground under vehicle. Had to tow vehicle 30 miles to dealership, who could not repair it after three days of waiting, due to lack of transmission service technician. Vehicle was ultimately repaired at aamco transmission, requiring another 20 mile tow. Vehicle had to have transmission replaced. Total cost of repairs was $2222.73 between chrysler dealership and aamco transmission - not covered under warranty which ran out at 36000 miles. *jb

I have a 2003 pt cruiser that just went out of power train warranty 7k miles ago-with no warning, no hesitation, lack of power, my transmission went out taking the converter, pump and torque converter-leaving me stranded in the middle of a busy intersection! I was not able to move in 1,2,3,d or r-now i am stuck with a $2643.50 bill. My right front tire constantly vibrates, been to shop numerous time to resolve but no body can find anything-tires are fine, cv joint, nothing can be found. I am absolutely terrified to drive this car anymore-my seat belt unbuckles by itself, possibly leaving me with no restraint in the possibility of a wreck. I am filing complaints with chrysler, bbb, district attorneys office, nhts, lemon law and anything else i can find- *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the spring inside the hood latch fractured causing the hood latch to become inoperable. The manufacturer has been informed. An independent mechanic determined the spring was not strong enough to sustain the hood latch.

Dt*: the contact stated that the brake and tail lights would not illuminate properly. The bulbs intermittently burned out . The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the bulbs were changed 4 times. The fifth time the bulbs failed, the dealer determined that the light fixture was defective. Updated 7/25/2006 - *nm

Dt*: the contact stated a knocking sound is heard when the vehicle is placed into reverse, or when a stop, and then placed into park. The sound is coming from the driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle stalls after each start and has to be restarted. The dealership determined the lower control arms and the skim model in the computer was defective and needs to be replaced. Updated 07/05/06. *jb

2003 pt cruiser clutch does not disengage. *ts the clutch would not disengage and as a result the vehicle jump backwards about 6 feet in the consumer's driveway. The flywheel and clutch assembly were recalled, recall 03v076000. The consumer continue to have clutch problem after the recall repairs were made. The vehicle has been take to three different dealers on four different occasions. The transmission has been pulled out of the vehicle three times. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 30 mph, with prior braking, the front end of the vehicle made impact with an suv. When this occurred the airbags did not deploy. There was a police report taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and has been deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic and the manufacturer was not alerted.

Pt cruiser 2003 fog lights come on without warning, battery runs dead, defective parts etc. $75.75 new battery, labor $110.05 $76.14 new switch, and $129.98 a second time labor for the same problem. Chrysler mechanics are aware of this issue and clearly are enjoying the profits. In a one (1) week period. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated upon inspection of the vehicle it was noticed the covering of the headlights were cloudy. The dealership cleaned the headlights. The manufacturer was alerted.

This problem started in the spring of 2006. Although i didn't know it at the time, the fog lights came on by themselves while just sitting in the parking lot or at home. No warning, so i didn't know until i went to start the car and the battery was dead. Since this was intermittent, no lights on the dash advising me the fog lights were on and during daylight hours, i never noticed that the fog lights were on. After several times of this happening. This caused me to replace the battery. While replacing the battery i noticed that the original cables had inferior battery connector leads. The cables connectors were mostly eaten through causing me to have to replace them. (i noticed that when i got the new leads that the connectors were of a better material). Due to this not having any rime or reason as to why the battery kept going dead and no one had any idea why this was happening i simply had to wait until i discovered the cause. In dec 2007 i went to start the car and sure enough the battery was dead. However this time when i jumped the battery the fog light on the dash stayed on and that is when i found the problem. I was unable to turn them off since the switch was already in the off position. My only recourse was to remove the fog light fuse. Since removing the fog light fuse i have had no further issues to date. I still do not know the cause or the cure so, i logged on to this site to look for a service bulletin or information to tell me that and here i am. The mileage on the vehicle when this whole stuff started was approx 36,000 and it now has 42000 miles on it. *tr

My 2003 pt cruiser, still under the original warranty, has had a serious problem with oil leaks. The first time i took the car in for service was one year ago. Now, within the past several weeks, i have had to bring the car in for oil and/or brake fluid leaks three times. I am taking it in for a fourth time tomorrow. I am simply looking for any and all avenues with which to formally complain about the lack of quality in the vehicle and the lack of quality service at the "five star" dealership i bought the car from. I have notified chrysler of the problems and the cavalier response was extremely disconcerting. It is quite clear to me chrysler does not care about quality or its customers. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while braking, at any speed, the vehicle stalls without warning. When this occurs, the steering wheel locks up. The vehicle immediately restarts. The vehicle has been to the dealership 15 times and multiple components including the fuel pump have been replaced. These repairs have not repaired the stalling problem. Updated 6/12/2006 -*nm

I have a 2003 pt cruiser with about 30,800 miles on it. This car when stopped in gear and your foot on the break suddenly goes into gear and it takes two feet on the break pad to hold it. This only lasts about 3 seconds and then stops. On 03-28-06 i was dropping off my daughter and as she went to cross in front of this car it jumped into gear and i almost hit my daughter. I took it to the local dealership and told them about this problem. They said they did a road test and drb test and showed no codes. They said wait until it gets more regular and bring it back in. I did email chrysler corp. On this and have not heard back from them yet. I don't feel this car is safe to drive until this get fixed. It seams they could rebuild the transmission instead of waiting for me to run someone over. My 3 year/36,000 will be up sometime this april. I don't feel its fare for me to wait till it gets worse and then dig me $1500.00 to rebuild the transmission especial after it has been brought to chrysler attention during the warranty period. Very frustrated right now with all this. *nm

I just found a recall on my pt cruiser on the web and i haven't gotten a notice to date. I took my car back to the dealer many times to complain about the problem and i think they knew about the recalls. My problems with my car are problems related to the recall issues. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated the interior and exterior lighting flickers and there is wind noise noticed near the passenger side door. Although the dealership and manufacturer were alerted no repairs have been made.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that all of the original rims are rusting and flaking on the inside. The rims destroy any tire that is placed on the vehicle. The dealer stated that nothing could be done. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 62,000 and failure mileage was 42,000.

Dt*: the contact stated a noise was coming from the front end while driving straight. An independent repair shop determined the right front wheel bearing needed to be replaced. Updated 2/28/2006 - *nm

Rear bushing on front-right and left lower control arm of suspension failed at approximately 65,000 miles, causing slop in control arm, wheel camber to vary during operation and auto to tend to wander on road (along with the sound of metal-to-metal contact in the suspension). Dc dealer refused to cover replacements as a defective bushing (out of warranty) and advised me on 1/20/06 that the part is currently unavailable - on back order - 7,500 units on order from supplier. I am very concerned that this is a potentially wide-spread failure of this bushing with the resultant loss of steering control due to camber changes during operation. - i have also been informed that this failure can lead to damage to the watts linkage in the drive train, and excessive wear of tires.*ak

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated the passenger side motor mounts bolt fractured causing the engine to lean onto the passenger side axle. As a result, the cv boot fractured from the constant friction of the engine leaning on the axle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer advised that the vehicle was not under recall. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash therefore, they were unable to assist. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash because of the failure. The contact stated that the motor mount bolts were replaced three times previously but none of the repairs remedied the failure. The failure mileage was 97,700. Updated 03/24/11*lj updated 1/4/11 *cn

Rear bushing on front-right lower control arm of suspension failed at approximately 35,000 miles, causing slop in control arm, wheel camber to vary during operation and auto to tend to wander on road (along with the sound of metal-to-metal contact in the suspension). The bushing was replaced by dealer under warranty at that time. At 64,000 miles 1/10/06) the rear bushing on front-left lower control arm of suspension failed causing similar problems. I then inspected the rear bushing on the right side that was replaced at 35,000 miles and determined that it is showing indications of beginnings of another failure. Dc dealer refused to cover left side as a defective bushing (out of warranty) and advised me on 1/16/06 that the part is currently unavailable - on back order - 7,500 units on order from supplier. I am very concerned that this is a potentially wide-spread failure of this bushing with the resultant loss of steering control due to camber changes during operation. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 mph a side impact accident occurred however, the airbags failed to deploy. Even though the contact was wearing his seat belt injuries were sustained. Although, the vehicle was taken to the dealership the airbags were not inspected. The passenger side door was replaced. The police were alerted and a report was filed. Updated 05/04/06. *jb

Brake light mechanism fell out from position under dashboard which made the brake lights stay on constantly, resulting in a dead battery and a dangerous situation with the brake lights being constantly on. *jb

Nov 19, 2005 i purchased a new lot model 2003 pt cruiser with 14 miles on it. At 500 miles i notified the dealership where i bought this vehicle that there was a problem of flickering headlights when any other electric was touched in vehicle, this also happens when nothing is touched. They replaced the battery twice to see if this was the problem, but that didn't help. I have taken the vehicle back to the dealer on at least four occasions but they still cannot find the problem.. I was issued a ticket by the police for this problem and have given a copy to the dealership, the ticket said that the problem is to be fixed or i am supposed to stop driving it.. I took it to another dealership and they reprogrammed it and that hasn't helped either. I need to have this problem fixed or replaced as i am not supposed to use it legally by order of police. The dealership where i purchased my vehicle said that this is just a problem that i will have to learn to live with as it is a problem with 2001,2002,2003,2004 pt cruisers. If this is so, then there should be a disclosure when you purchase the vehicles. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact noticed that the headlight lenses were scratched and discolored, which diminished the visibility of the headlights. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of failure. The current mileage is 22,000 and failure mileage was 10,000.

Check engine light comes on, car idles at low rpm, and stalls at anything near 1000 rpm, which is its normal idle speed, at least 25 stalls in the past 2-3 months. So far chrysler knows there is a problem but can't find it, so they keep giving it back to me. *jb

I have taken my pt cruiser into dealer 10-12 times for problems that they are unable to correct. There have been parts loose that needed to be tightened, such as belts, hoses, connections and interior parts that have fallen off the car and dealer does not know how to fix. I submitted a complaint to manufacturer and applied for lemon law, but chrysler representative did not listen and took dealer side. They claim they cannot duplicate noises, but i recently found out the shop supervisor who has been checking out my car for the noises has a severe hearing loss and a claim against insurance company for hearing problems. There are high pitch whining noises, squeals and loud screeching noises coming from the engine compartment. The car loses power and seems to hesitate at freeway speeds. There is also a noise that sounds like a train whistle in the distance. I have heard popping sounds in the front end and squealing and screeching sounds from the brakes and under hood is constant. There is also a noise that is heard sometimes in steering and turning. The dealer told me they would replace the power steering unit to see if it would solve the problems and ordered the part. When i took the car in for the service, they said they could not duplicate the noise again and did not do anything. When i step on the brakes the noise is so loud it can be heard for a long distance. It sounds like cars being crushed. The noise is also present in turning corners and driving, but worse in stepping on brakes. The dealer acknowledges a brake problem but say they do not know how to fix it. There have been other problems such as radio/cd player did not work when new, sensor light replaced, rattles under dash, check engine light, etc, but the noises and in-ablility to repair have me worried about serious problems. They hear the noise, but then tell me the mechanic cannot duplicate and do nothing to repair. This has been an ongoing problem since i got the vehicle in 2003. *jb

On july 30, 2005, i was driving home from work when i suddenly heard a horrible screeching/grinding noise. I managed to get my car to the nearest chrysler dealership and was informed that there were no rear brake pads left and that there were grooves in the rotor (metal on metal). I recently had my front brakes replaced in may 2005 and the rear brakes were in good condition with 1/2 brake pads left on both sides. I primarily do highway driving so my brakes tend to last long. I was informed that chrysler uses metallic brake pads on the pt cruisers which most manufacturers do not use as it causes much heat and friction when stopping and prematurely wears out the brakes. There was no indication that the rear brake pads were low, there were no noises, squeaking, etc. The only noises i heard were when the brake pads were completely gone and the caliper was digging into the rotors every time i stepped on the brake pedal. I later learned that chrysler uses wear indicators only on the two front brakes, not the rear. There are no wear indicators on the rear brakes so customers will never know that the rear brakes are getting low until they have no more brake pads left and the caliper starts eating up the rotor. This is a huge safety issue. I routinely have my car inspected (every month). The rear brake pads should have never worn so prematurely in the span of 3 months, considering 95% of my driving is on the highway. Additionally, there is no excuse for not having wear indicators on all 4 brakes. It is unacceptable to be driving around with only 2 front brakes and no rear ones and to not even know it until it is too late! *jb

There is no one specific incident date. (see related correspondence 10161568.) date unknown: remedy for recall 03v-076 provided by goeke dodge. No transmission problems noticed prior to this date. 07/20/05: clutch failed to disengage during unrelated warranty work at goeke dodge. Recall remedy provided for the second time, at no cost to owner. 05/01/06: clutch intermittently failing to disengage. Clutch fluid found leaking at improperly connected quick disconnect by kahlo chrysler, fluid and labor $91.98. 06/07/06: clutch intermittently failing to disengage. Clutch kit and input shaft replaced under extended pt warranty by champion chrysler. Date unknown: clutch failing to disengage. Clutch line slave cylinder replaced by champion chrysler. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving less than 65 mph, the vehicle stalled and was taken to the dealer. The failure could not be duplicated; however, an independent mechanic performed a fuel injector flush, cleaned the battery, installed fuel system cleaner in the tank, and also cleaned the throttle body. The repairs did not correct the failure and the vehicle continued to stall repeatedly. The contact heard a thumping noise and the vehicle went from 55 to 15 mph before stalling. In addition, the check engine warning indicator has remained illuminated on the instrument panel since the vehicle was purchased. The failure mileage was 55,000 and current mileage was 150,000.

The air conditioner began malfunctioning. The car, a 2003 pt cruiser with approximately 38,000 miles, was just out of warranty. It was the middle of the hot summer, and instead of taking the car across town to a dealer, i took the car to a local mechanic, who determined that the low speed on the fan relay had gone bad. He told me the part was on national back order, and they were replacing about 300 per week. This is a high number, plus this part shouldn't fail with this many miles in my opinion. I spend $500 total to replace it (labor, diagnostics, and part). I contacted chrysler, who was sympathetic, but after sending them the original copy of the invoice, they told me they couldn't pay for it since it wasn't done at their dealership. I believe a recall is in order to prevent the same thing happening to other consumers. *jb

The multi-function light switch on both the pt cruiser and srt-4 has been known to melt and/or catch fire. Dcx has known this has been a problem since the pt came out and now the srt-4 is suffering this same problem. I am now afraid to use my fog lights on my srt-4. *jb

Dt: brakes failed. Was stopping at stop light and the brake pedal went to floor, car did not stop. There was a crash. Vehicle hit a suv . There were injuries. The car is not drivable due to the brakes and crash. No inquires about recalls, but would like to search for recalls after complaint.*ak

Automatic transmission went out after 42,000 miles, mostly highway miles.

2003 pt cruiser sway arm link bar broke.*mr the vehicle was 2231 miles over the warranty when this occurred. The dealer told the consumer that this failure likely occurred due to a design flaw. *nm

Consumer's vehicle caught on fire while driving. Driver was able to pull over, and called the fire department to extinguish the fire. No injuries reported. Vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. *ak

While on cruise control and going up hill i have to step on the brakes and they would not release. I had to step on the brake pedal several times with increasing force until the cruise control disengauged. I have done thistime on my drive home from work and it requires much more force going uphill then on level ground. The first time this happened there was almost an accident but i had the additional time to step on the brakes several time to get the cruise control to turn-off.*ak

2003 pt cruiser gt purchased brand new april 29, 2003. Clutch has failed 3 times over 10 consecutive months. March 8, 2004 mileage ? 19,842: driving home at night entered onto the 60 fwy east the clutch goes out on the freeway in traffic! Have truck towed to jammin dodge chrysler that night. The car is almost 12 months old! March 12, 2004 removed and replaced clutch module assembly. Car picked up. December 17, 2004 mileage ? 35,930: this is just 9 months after the clutch was first repaired! Clutch goes out. While attempting to start the car; it launched forward because it was in first gear. It misses the concrete walkway to my office building by less than a inch. December 21, 2004 star chrysler repairs clutch january 22, 2005. Mileage ? 37,275: just one month since last repair to clutch! I am driving to bank in morning. I come to stop at the end of my street at the stop light. My car clutch is malfunctioning. I stop the car. I try turning it off and then back on. The car launches forward hitting the bottom of the truck in front of me. The man gets out of the truck. He looks and there is not damage to his truck. He asks me did i see him? I told him that my clutch went out and he came over and saw how the clutch just went to the floor. He shrugged his shoulders wished me luck and took off. My grill in the front is bulging. My license plate frame cracks. And the top of my bumper is scratched. I call aaa. Have the car towed to jammin dodge in pomona. I request no work to be done. I will call chrysler corporate monday morning. I will no longer drive this vehicle as it is not safe. *ak

1/30/03,engine check light came on,started running rough. Problem was crank sensor, it was replaced,it took 3 days, no part in stock. 1/21/05, engine check light came on again. I called the dealer service center,was asked if light was flashing, if not you can drive, if flashes bring in. Im out of warranty this needs to be fixed, it makes no sense. What happens in 2 years? Will the same thing happen again? It will be in the shop on 1/23/05. I hope i don't have this problem again, we like to travel to florida, i don't need a break-down like this on my way down there. Thank you for your help and consideration in this matter. Howard h. Herold *jb

Dt: contact stated the air bag warning light came on intermittently. Also, it made noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on numerous occasions. They were unable to duplicate the problem. *ak the air bag module was replaced. Updated 01/11/06. *jb

I have a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser with chrome plated wheels. I had a flat tire and brought the vehicle to a tire store for repair. They said there was nothing wrong with the tire but the wheels were corroded to the point that the air leaked out around the valve stem. I took the vehicle to the local chrysler dealer and they ordered new wheels and said they would be replaced under warranty. When the wheels came in they called me and i setup an appointment to have them installed. I took the car there and they said they would call me when it was done. They called three hours later and said they could not replace the wheels under warranty because chrysler recently changed their policy. They said the corrosion was due to enviornmental reasons due to the area i live. Southwestern new york. The car has only been through one winter and part of another. These wheels were standard equipment on the model i purchased. I feel this is a tremendous safety hazzard as you can not tell the air has leaked out unless you look at the tire. It has been down to five lbs. Of air and you can't tell while driving down the road. I would think the tire could come off the wheel and cause loss of control and serious injury.*ak

Vehicle experienced an acceleration problem. Owner took the vehicle to the dealer on several occasions, and had several adjustments made. Engine light came on when the vehicle was at the dealers, and problem did not duplicate itself. However, the original problem still existed. *ak....*ak

Dt: the wheels are cast aluminum with a metal chrome plate put on it, allowing air leakage around the rims. There was corrosion between the wheels and axle. A mechanic told the consumer that he had seen other similar vehicles with the same problem. There was a high chance that the wheel and axle will separate. The problem first started on december of 2004. There have been no accidents as of yet. *ak updated 12/07/05. *jb

I was driving 40 miles an hour and tried to swerve to miss an animal, lost control of the car and pressed on the brake pedal and the car continued accelerating. *jb

Shortly after purchasing our brand new 2003 pt cruiser, we noticed the dash lights and headlights would occasionally flicker for no apparent reason. At first, it was very intermittent and we did not pay much attention to it. However, since about the middle of october of 2004, the problem has gotten much worse. Now whenever the brake is applied, the dash lights and the headlights flicker very noticeably, and the frequency of the flickering for no reason has increased dramatically. On november 18, 2004, we took the cruiser into spokane chrysler to correct the problem (invoice 147545). Spokane chrysler was very courteous and tried diligently to fix the problem. They replaced the generator, the powertrain control module, and even tried a new battery -- unfortunately, none of their efforts fixed the problem. Spokane chrysler did discover that this flickering lights defect was not unique to our cruiser. The technician tested several 2002, 2004, and even brand new 2005 pt cruisers and found that in each of these models, while not all, but some of them had the same defective electrical system. This problem is particularly disturbing considering the nature of many of the pt cruisers control systems. The pt is in many respects a fly-by-wire type of vehicle. Everything from throttle control, air/fuel mix, speed control, automatic transmission shifting, traction control, to abs brake control is governed by electronics. The flickering lights are a defect that can clearly be seen, but what about defects that cannot be so easily seen. What about a brake control flicker or an erratic throttle control flicker that you do not notice until it is too late. Or, what happens if it is pitch dark, you are rounding a curve at 60 mph, and the headlights flicker out and stay out! At this time, the problem has still not been fixed. We feel chrysler has two options--either fix the defect immediately (this is our preferred choice) or replace the vehicle immediately.

Consumer's vehicle t-boned another vehicle at 40 mph, and neither frontal air bag deployed. Consumer reported no injuries. Manufacturer was notified.*ak

Consumer was driving on the freeway at 50 to 55 mph and rear ended a truck. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy.*ak

The power steering hose and brakes failed. The consumer received a recall for the hose but the dealer would not fix under warranty. *bf recall# 04v268000. *sc *jb

Dt: the spare tire did not fit on the rim of the front tires. The car has been taken to the dealership and they would not replace the tire. The manufacturer has been contacted also and they were not any help either. The owner has tried to put the spare tire on the front when she had a flat, but that did not work. The spare also doesn't fit the front. This has been a problem since 2004, when the owner noticed it. The owner went and bought brand new tires, but did not buy a 5th tire to make a new spare. It is the rim that is the problem, not the tire itself. *nm

The consumer stated the spark plugs continued to burn out. It was always spark plug #1. The consumer has taken the vehicle back to the dealer on 4 separate occasions for this defect. The owner also stated that the spark plugs have been re-wired and the fuel injector was replaced in march 2004, this happened after the second visit to the dealer. *jb the vehicle acted as though it wasn't getting any gas. The vehicle would buck at red lights and or stop signs with a difficult time continuing to drive. The check engine light had come on and the vehicle experienced rough idle. *sc

2003 pt crusier bought brand new. Head lights, interior lights, and dash lights all flicker hard to pay attention when driving. Chrysler is aware of the problem and says no fix. I will never buy another chrysler again, poor customer service. Just waiting for all lights to finally go out. *jb

While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted vehicle ten minutes later. Then, vehicle jerked and stalled. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that engine needed to be replaced. *ak

"check engine light" came on regularly, prompting visits to the dealer. Was told i wasn't "clicking" the gas cap enough times upon closing it. Number of times to be clicked started out at 3 and eventually moved up to 7, increasing with each return visit until i screamed in the middle of the service area and they actually fixed the problem by replacing the leak detection pump and the natural vacuum detector. Sunroof motor wouldn't run continuously, the switch would have to be pushed repeatedly to get the roof to close, moving a fraction of an inch at a time. This happened on three separate occasions. Parts replaced included the switch, the motor, and eventually the entire sunroof motor assembly. The big problem: car wouldn't start, even after being jumped. This happened on five separate occasions during the first 16 months i owned the car. Parts replaced include the battery (replaced twice) the starter, the starter relay, and finally the powertrain control module. The car was deemed a lemon under the florida lemon law and i was refunded my money from chrysler under a "byback" program not arbitrated by the state.*k

Consumer's vehicle experienced the same problem as stated in nhtsa recall 03v076000: on certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc. The dealership indicated this vehicle was not part of the recall due to vin. *ak *tc

2003 pt cruiser was purchased new in 03 and shortly after had to have transmission work done. Now i have front end groaning noises that, after 5 visits to the dealer, cannot be fixed. Car sounds like an antique when going over bumps. Car also does not handle well and feels unsure. Galeana chrysler in columbia, sc has tried 5 times (as of 9/8/04) to fix problem, has verified a problem, but cannot locate it. To date, struts, strut mounts, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings, and greasing has been replaced or taken place...All to no avail.*ak

Consumer has been experiencing problems with the 2003 turbo charged chrysler pt cruiser. Clutch when depressed to start the vehicle it feels like it does not have any pressure and drops to the floorboard. *ts the mechanic replaced portions of the clutch. *jb *nm

The transmission failed. A piece of the clutch broke off in the housing. Per the dealer. *jb the consumer has not heard anything from chrysler and would like to know the next step he needs to take. *tc

Consumer noticed excessive amount of oil in the air filter box, and an oil stained filter. The oil pressure light came on intermittently, back soot on the tail pipe, and there was a distinguished mechanical knocking noise coming from the engine at idle. Vehicle had been in repair shop 3 times. On the third time the oil pressure sensor was replaced, but the knocking noise and excessive oil problem was still present. Upon investigation of the problem, consumer found that an improper machine part, that was related to the valve train/camp shaft, caused the problem. But, manufacturer didn't have a solution for it. If this part failed while driving at highway speeds it could result in engine failure followed by rapid deceleration which could result in an accident. This vehicle was equipped with traction control.*ak

I have taken my 2003 pt cruiser gt back to the dealer eight times to have a check engine light problem repaired. The first visit to the dealer occured on july 3, 2003 the second visit to the dealer occurred on july 9-12, 2003 the third visit to the dealer occured on august 15-18, 2003 the fourth visit to the dealer occurred on may 7-12, 2004 the fifth visit to the dealer occurred on may 26-27, 2004 the sixth visit to the dealer occurred on june 9th, 2004 the seventh visit to the dealer occurred on june 28th., 2004 (replace leak detection pump) the eighth visit to the dealer occurred on july 16th., 2004 (car towed) general syptoms leading to the light coming on were hard starting several days or weeks prior to light coming on, as well as hesitation under acceleration (occured twice), and the latest incident in which the car completely lost power while accelerating away from a stop sign onto a main road. During the course of my many dealership visits, they have reprogrammed the computer, replaced the solenoid duty cycle purge, contacted chrysler's star technical center and replaced what they claimed to be a bad leak detection pump. Upon the last failure, the car was driven back to my residence and the dealer contacted to tow to the dealership. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that this vehicle had a transmission failure on four occasions while driving 65 mph. The hoses were repaired the first three times and the transmission was replaced the fourth time. During each failure the transmission shifted from low to second gear and then shut off. The mechanics stated that the gears malfunctioned and replaced everything inside the transmission. The current mileage is 61,000, and failure mileage was 13,000.*ak

Consumer request all pertinent information regarding daimler chrysler recalls. *mr *nm

Consumer stated that after hearing that the pt cruiser was on recall he phoned the manufacturer to see if his vehicle was included the recall. Consumer was told that the problem he was experiencing was not on recall, but that he should report the problem to manufacturer. When consumer was driving at 60 mph, the steering wheel shook. He did not feel very secure. Consumer contacted dealer, and was urged to wait before bringing the vehicle in, and to see if the vehicle was included in the recall. *ak

While driving at an undetermined speed vehicle stalled, causing the consumer to drift off the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. *ak

Reported on 11/18/2003 to service advisor 15 timothy m coy sr of nick abraham chrysler that parking brake will not hold vehicle from moving. They adjusted brake.Ife parked subject vehicle on 4 grade parking lot or slight grade.*ak she set parking brake and left car parked, she returned to find that the vehicle had rolled 100 ft. Down the hill and was sitting against parking lot guard rail. Car was locked and parking brake lever was in same position as she had left it. After looking at car's damage i tried parking brake and i found that it would not hold as well, in same lever position

While driving a noise was heard coming from the rear. Vehicle was taken to the dealership, and mechanic determined that rear brake was leaking. Mechanic replaced new cylinder and cleaned the surface of the brake pads. One month later, consumer experienced the same problem. *ak

I bought my 2003--never titled--pt cruiser last may. I noticed several weeks later that while driving the headlights and panel lights flickered continuously. Afraid of a short and causing a fire i contacted my dealership immediately. I had the car back 5-6 times and they tried everything from checking for shorts, to replacing a switch, to installing a new panel cluster, and nothing fixed the problem. At one time they had my car for over a week working by phone with the technicians from chrysler to try to solve the problem and it still exists. I have been very patient them, but my patience has worn out. On one occasion 50 miles from home the lights flickered so bad they went out temporary and i had to pull off the road. *ak

While driving engine light illuminated and stayed on the remainder of the time that vehicle was being operated. Dealership will be notified. *ak

We bought our 2003 pt gt cruiser in jan.2004 with 600 miles on it. At 36,000 miles the front wheel bearings had to be replaced ( at our expense) for the first time. Dealer ( preston of warren, ohio ) said it wasn't covered under warranty. They were replaced again at 45,000 miles, and 6 more times since then. They are again needing replaced for the ninth time.I also replaced tierods and bushings once, and hubs twice. I have read hundreds of online posts from other pt owners with strikingly similar stories which prompted me to file this complaint. *tr

When driving a noise was heard coming from the front end. Each time i mention the noise to the dealership during routine maintenance on 12/30/04 and1/7/04, i was told that the brakes made noise on the pt cruisers. *ak on 4/6/004 the auto was taken to the dealership where it was determined that the rotors needed to be replace. The charge was $527.47. After the rotors were replace the nois continued. The vehicle was returned a second time for service on 6/15/04.

When turning the steering wheel towards the left the steering wheel skipped. Consumer notified the dealer about this issue. *ak

2003 pt cruiser gt turbo, bought new in 2004 with 400mills on it. Transmission will lag when down shifting from 2nd to 1st gear. Also, all lights will dim when braking or windows are brought down. Dealer said. " theres nothing they could do for the dimming lights." for the transmission down shifting lag, the dealer corrected output speed sensor connection. I'm still have the problem and in stop and go trafic i noticed when the vehcile was down shifting the radio stoped working and the lights dimmed for a second. Dealer said to wait to see if it does it again before repair.*ak

2003 chrysler pt cruiser 5 speed turbo: on 3 occasions, with the clutch in the car lunged forward upon ignition. 1st incident around 12,000 miles then again a few hundred miles later twice. The dealership is not familiar with this problem & not too motivated to fix it. What do i do now? *ak

While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the steering column. Dealerships mechanic determined that the problem pertained to rack and pinion. *ak

I purchased a 2003 pt cruiser gt, after trading in my 2002 pt cruiser touring edition. My '02 had a rear stabilizer bar my '03 does not. It is listed on the window sticker, it is shown in the 2003 factory service manual, it is shown in the 2003 parts manual. My 2003 has a lot more body roll than the 2002 did. Chrysler states they upgraded the "twist beam" and external bar was not needed, and if installed could be dangerous, and void suspension warranty, according to the service and general manager of antwerpen motor cars in maryland. If this is true why would chrysler offer parts for sale? I am concerned of other short-cuts that may have been taken to save money. A top heavy vehicle like the pt needs to control body roll for safety and comfort of occupants. Like i stated, i owned a 2002 model year and "upgraded" to a 2003. Thanks. *la

Vehicle tends to make noise and rumble from the engine like it is going to stall when started or is moving. Dealer changed spark plugs 3 times, but the problem recurred. *ak *nm

While driving 70 mph automatic transmission failed. *ak

While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The driver tried to restart the vehicle and was able to do so. The driver noticed that the vehicle did not accelerate over 60 mph. While driving 60 mph, the driver applied the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection numerous time. However, the mechanic can not duplicate the problem. Please provide further details.

Purchased 2003 pt cruiser in oct 02. March 03- check engine light came on and engine idled very rough. Brought it in and they said it had a cracked spark plug. Fixed? No... June 03 check engine light came on and it idled very rough. Brought it in and they said it needed a new alternator. Fixed? No. Same thing is happening again. Check engine light is on and it is idling very rough. *la

While attempting to remove the right rear seat, it became stuck then released suddenly causing the consumer to fall and severely injure his right wrist. *ph *mr

Automatic door locks engage and disengage randomly both while driving and when the vehicle is shut off and parked. *la

Vehicle made a rattling noise when accelerating. Consumer stated gas was leaking into the engine. *ak

When coming to a stop driver would press on the brakes and vehicle would accelerate.*ak

Odor or smell in a/c system. Dealer tells us that it is mold and there is nothing that can be done. *ak

Stop at a red light and was hit from behind by another car going over 30 miles per hour. It pushed us into another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. My husband and son got whip lash. *tr

While driving at 55 mph headlights were flickering and finally burned out. Vehicle was taken to the dealer eight times for this problem. Dealer has checked every component, trying to repair the problem, but to no avail.*ak the manufacturer repurchased the vehcile from the consumer. *mjj

Dt: the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact's wife was involved in an accident where the break away design of the steering wheel caused a fatal injury. The police ruled that the fatality occurred as overcorrecting. The contact stated he knew of another case within a ten mile radius where the same type of fatality happened. *ak

I bought my 2003 pt cruiser turbo oct 13th 2002, in feb 2003 i took it in for service because i had noticed red fluid leaking . I was alarmed 2 c atf leaking from a car with less than 9,000 miles on it. Anyway i took it in & they replaced the seal & bearing on the left side. On may 28th i took it to a bodyshop 2 get ghost flames painted on it. June 12th came along and they called me to come see the car finished. It took my breath away. I proudly approved of the work they could then buff and detailed it. On june 14th after being buffed out the car was being driven to the detail shop on the freeway when all of a sudden the front left tire seized up and threw the car across 4 lanes of traffic and into an embankment where it came to rest.The driver got out of the car after collecting himself. The front left wheel was broken off, fluid everywhere. Utah highway patrol impounded the car until i could be notified. I got the call from the bodyshop owner, he took full responsability and was willing to do whatever to make my car new "again". Upon investigating the damage he noticed that the left front axle would not come out of the transmission. He littrially had to take the right side apart and use a bar to pound out the left side. He got 2 second opinions before calling me 2 tell me that the axil had seized 2 the bearing inside of the tranny. He suggested that i call the dealer. Finially on the 23rd of june the dealer came and got my car where it is still sitting up till this current day. They found $5500.00 worth of damage to the transmission/axle and such. They called a accident investagator that showed up july 2nd. I took him to the accident site where after 3 weeks you could still see the skid marks. The investigator gathered all his information and went back to chrysler. I have call nearly everyday. I have just found out that my file is in their "legal" department. No one is talking. Now 2 wait and see what chrysler is going to do. *ak

Heated seats went on by themselves and poor/dangerous location of on/off switch (on seat base between seat and door) is unsafe. *la

Nhtsa#03-v-076-000:on certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc. The consumer purchased the vehicle on may 23/2003 and on may 25/2003 the clutch assembly failed. *jb

The vehicle was involved in an accident, and the passenger air bag did not deploy, also the seat belt failed to restrain the passenger properly. *jb

While driving power door locks locked and unlocked on their own.. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate or correct the problem. *nlm. *ak

The front end of my 2003 pt cruiser is set too low. Even with care, the underside of the front bumper snags on parking bumpers. It has now caused the entire front section (from the headlights forward) to crack in the side area and is now flopping back and forth. Is this a design flaw or, or is this supposed to be an an acceptable height on this front end. *ak

I smell strong fuel while driving. As far as i can recall, the smell occurs while the air conditioning is on. Since i live in texas, my air conditioning is almost always on, so the fuel smell is a constant reminder. I checkd if my air circulation knob is turned to interior only. That didn't matter. The smell of fuel is there whether air circulation is external or internal. I believe there was a recall related to fuel/gasoline delivery problems for make : chrysler model : pt cruiser year : 2002 nhtsa campaign id number : 02v215000 recall date : aug 07, 2002 component: fuel system, gasoline:delivery i don't know if my problem is the same as 2002 model recalls. Please investigate and advise. I couldn't tell if this leads to fire or injury to myself and family. Thanks for your help! *ak

The vehicle would suddenly accelerate while stopped at a light or a stop sign. The recalled clutch assembly was replaced. *nlm *nlm

Consumer states that vehicle's dashboard is completely unreadable in sunlight and/or "rainy" weather. Ph

The gasket on the third break light does not fit up to the rear windshield. There is about a 1/4 inch gap. A new one was installed but it has the same problem. It must be a design flaw. *la

When consumer brakes, the headlights would flicker. This causes a distraction at night time. Dealer has been notified. Ph this also occured when window switch and auto door locks were engaged. Dealer checked wiring to pcm, allg rounds and electrical connections. Nothing found. *tt

Locking mechanism broke during the instillation of a child seat. If this can break this part i feel that it would not hold up in an accident. Dt

The complaint involves a missing part, the real stabilizer bar. This model states on the window sticker that a rear stabilizer bar is included. This car does not have a real stabilizer bar. The dealer said that he could install one for $520. Chrysler would not reimburse the dealer because they claim that they beefed up the real axle and that is their stabilizer bar. I contend that this is misleading the public, particularly an informed public that knows what a stabilizer bar is. They continue to produce this model with this misleading information on the window stickers. I ask why do they show a rear stabilizer bar in their parts computer that the dealer located and offered to install for $520 if what they claim is true. The service manager agreed that this was misleading but refused to absorb the costs. Other owners with same model report that their cars are missing this part as well. I hope that you can correct this situation by requiring chrysler to install the part at no cost to the owners. Dt

While driving at any speed the transmission decelerated even when the consumers foot was on the accelerator it was difficult for the consumer to control vehicle. *ak the transmission leaked fluid. The dealer continued to fix the hoses. *scc *jb

2003 chrysler pt cruiser with defected control arm bushings. Consumer stated that the bushings are wearing prematurely. *kb the consumer stated he has had problems with the transmission, steering column, front bearing and water pump. *jb

Consumer called complaining about locking system problems. While vehicle is running, and if the consumer leaves the vehicle or stands out of the vehicle, the doors will automaticly lock. Manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call.*ak

Air bags did not deploy when vehicle was hit in a 3 car collision. This vehicle was in the center of this collision.*ak

The gas tank filler pipe and cap broke while driving. Gas nozzle slipped down near where the rear brakes were located. Consumer was not able to put gas into the vehicle. *ak