-steering wheel began shaking while driving car and steering became very loose. Pulled into a pep boys and was told that the front control arms and bearings needed to be replaced (the car had 75K miles). I was told that this was a very common defect with these cars and that a recall should have been warranted. $1200 repair and car started shaking again 50K miles later. -continuous oil consumption. I put a quart of oil every two weeks in the car. I have had the car completely tuned by a family member who is a certified mechanic, and it still eats oil. I mentioned this to the repair technician who did the controls arms and bearings, and he confirmed that this was also a common problem with these cars. Many of the websites I went on to research this have hundreds of the same comments for both issues.

- Ocean, NJ, USA

Control arm bushings worn out at 37000 miles. Excessive tire wear and difficult steering.

- Columbia, MD, USA

I have had to replace the entire front "engine cradle", also known as the "K-frame" or "front sub-assembly". it is the structural steel framework bolted to the underbody that the lower control arms attach to. The steering rack is bolted to the top of it. The lower engine torsion connector is mounted to it. The reason? total rust out! the right wheel hub and lower control arm broke away from the K-frame because of rust. The car was being driven slowly at the time, and that was a good thing, because the car could barely be driven after. No accident occurred.

- Carleton, MI, USA

Consumer states the vehicle is pullin to the right while driving at the 65mph. Dealer has been notified.

- Corvallis, MT, USA

1. steering wheel became loose on shaft while traveling at 68-70 mph; 2. headlights would flicker from bright to dim, and 3. front weels out of alignment. Most problem was corrected by dealer. >> please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

- Glaflyn, CA, USA

I have a intermittent cyclic vibration at speeds from 65mph and above. The first time I took the car back to the dealer, they replaced 3 of the tires because they were not round. This helped the problem, but didn't cure it. I have taken it back twice more and although the service manager, after taking a test drive with me, agrees that the vibration is still there, they say they have checked everything and can't find a problem. He says he tested another PT CRUISER and it has the same feel. I have talked this over with the owners son and I am now told that I must just live with it. I feel that this is a potential safety problem. (tiresize: P205/55R16)( dot number: Tire size: P205/55R16 )

- Birmingham, AL, USA

Vibration problems encountered nationwide www.ptcruizer.com/cgi-bin/faq.pl?profile=pt+terry. (tiresize: P205/55R16)( dot number: Tire size: P205/55R16 )

- Durham, CA, USA