CarComplaints.com Notes: Chrysler has taken the boring small car frame of the Neon, grafted a 1930s-era roadster body on top and named it the PT Cruiser. While the new look may appeal to some, the vehicle has unfortunately also inherited many of the same problems as the Neon.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,372 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owned a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that while slowing down to make a right turn, the vehicle was struck in the rear by another vehicle. The vehicle went airborne, was turned around 180 degrees and then struck again in the front of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained whiplash and several bruises and contusions and sore ribs. The vehicle was towed to the towing facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither a dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000. The vehicle was destroyed.
The contact owned a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving approximately 15 to 20 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a body shop. There were no injuries. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owned a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a front end collision while driving 25 mph. The seat belt pre-tensioner did not lock and the air bags did not deploy. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not towed to the contact's residence. A police report was filed. There was one injury that required medical attention. The contact suffered from a bruised chest, hands, shoulder pain, neck pain, and leg pain. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000. Updated 05/04/16
Center of steering wheel (where airbag is located) became so hot that it could not be touched with your bare hand. Pulled over and got out of the vehicle and turned vehicle off. Waited until it cooled down to normal temperature then got back in and restarted vehicle and moved seat all the way back from the steering wheel just in case. The heating phenomenon did not recur in the short drive home (5-10 minutes). Has not happened again. Scheduling a visit to local dealer to determine if this is a known problem. Nothing found on Chrysler recall information and email to Chrysler got no response. This is a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER with package 28G that included supplemental side airbags.
- North Chesterfield, VA, USA
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The contact owned a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact crashed the vehicle into the wall on the highway. The contact sustained second degree burns on her left forearm and a black eye due to the air bag deployment. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact was hospitalized. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN and speed were unknown. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Air bag light goes on intermittently and now stays on all the time. Code indicate passenger side squibb line open. Seems to be a lot of similar complaints on the internet.
Airbag light intermittently comes on and goes off. Sometimes will beep every few minutes until the engine is turned off for a few minutes. Local Chrysler dealership tried 3 times in a row unsuccessfully to find the problem. I was told it was not a safety issue and that it would not hinder from passing inspection, which it didn't. however I have now been told that when the light is on the airbag will not deploy making it a safety issue that will no longer pass inspection. There are quite a number of reports online of PT CRUISER owners having the same issue.
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving approximately 30 mph on normal road conditions, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The failure occurred without warning. In addition, the driver's side seat belt failed to restrain properly and forced the driver into the steering wheel. The driver sustained severe injuries and the police and ambulance were called to the scene. The vehicle was towed to the collision center and was completely destroyed. The cause of the failure has not been determined. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 151,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that the air bag light remains illuminated. The warning indicator chimes if the air bag light is on or off. The dealer replaced the module, however, the indicator continues to chime. The dealer is currently unaware of how to repair the failure. The current and failure mileages were 50,000. Updated 02-01-08. The ari bag module was replaced, however the consumer continued to experience the problem.
- the contact stated that while driving the 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER at 35 mph it crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. After the crash the air bag light was blinking, and would not go off. The contact's vehicle had the same problem with the air bag alarm. The contact was able to drive vehicle to a repair shop. The repair shop stated they were unable to determine the reason the lights continued to blink, and were unable to make the repair. The vehicle currently has 148500 miles.
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER. He indicated that the air bag light was on and the horn did not work. He noticed this on 9-5-05 as he was backing out of his driveway, he heard a clicking noise, and then the air bag light came on.he had not taken vehicle to a dealer yet. There were other complaints of the same exact problem filed on the NHTSA website. The contact indicated vehicle had not been in an accident of any kind. There was recall 04V480000 on certain 1998 Dodge vehicles pertaining to the clockspring that the consumer thought may relate to his problem. The dealer would not cover the cost of the part or labor.
I own a 2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER with 105K miles. The air bag light remain on when the car is running, also the horn does not work or the cruise control. I researched the problem and have determined the problem to be a defective clockspring. After some research on the internet I have found that Chrysler has recalled 1.2million 1998 - 2000 minivans for this same problem. The PT CRUISER has no recall but should since it is classified as a van.
2001 pt crusier was head head on by another vehicle at a high rate of speed. $7,000 to PT CRUISER and airbags did not deploy. Chrysler refused to investigate complaint saying that they are not made to go off on stopped vehicles. My car was stopped at a traffice light when hit head on. Injuries resulted
The consumer hit a cement divider head on, on the drivers side. The steering and wheel traction had gone out, also the air bags did not deploy. Refer ODI #770588, 1006108 scc
The air bag light illuminated on the dash board. The air bag swtich has been changed several times but the problem remained. The code on the left side seat squib open was found, which was taken apart and reinstalled. The stereo was defective. Scc
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sandston, VA, USA