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.
It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (P, D, R, N++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats not too long ago with both of my toddlers in the car on a 3 lane highway locked up on me couldn't use the steering wheel or brakes had to pull the emergency break it's just been repetitive I bought the car from my sister who's grandmother got tired of putting money into it it stutters sometimes like it's slow to shift into gear to accelerate it can happen anywhere. It was my first car it's never been wrecked, I never thought to check for any recalls, I bought it in July of 17. It's only had a total of 2 owners. It used to shake real bad I couldn't go over 55miles an hour but even 55 was iffy. The scariest thing for me was it locking up on a highway with an intersecting lane I had just had everything replaced for a second time before it started smoking and locked up and completely shut down my kids 3 & 1 were in the back all I could think to do was pull my emergency break I drifted and swerved until the car finally came to a stop luckily not wrecking or injuring anyone, just fear of driving I really trusted this car. I had to call the police to get ahold of a state trooper who gave me a couple days to move it given my circumstance and 45 min away from home, a stranger stopped to help and offered to give us a ride back to ironton from the West portsmouth highway he lived in portsmouth out of kindness moved my car to his house there after dropping us off that night to keep from getting it towed. Officer noted everything. I didn't think of anything until I just recently got another 2004 pt that started fire in the headlights and going through a lot of the same problems.
This vehicle has a P0037 and a P0037 dtc's that won't cancel. Findley Chrysler replaced the oxygen sensors. It didn't fix it. They say the computer is bad. I sent the computer 5033293af to be repaired. They said the computer is ok. I got the codes to go away for a brief time by messing with the computer wire loom. Ihave heard there was arecall for this. Is it still available?06/08/2018
While driving the engine will sputter and die. When pulling up to a stop light the check engine light will come on and the engine will immediately die. While driving on the freeway at 65mph the engine will suddenly die.
Just under 78,000 miles turbo goes out, took to dealership, replaced turbo (took 6 mos) finally returned the vehicle and within 1 month head gasket goes out (blowing white smoke), while driving at 35 mph on a side road (dealer says known problem, wants another $2000 for head gasket, local dealer says "the head gaskets for that car are the weak point, when you return the comp ratio to new/normal with a new turbo. It will blow the head gasket out") replaced myself (cant afford dealer) new head gasket (multi layered pos), new bolts (required), new timing belt, now it wont start, tested all sensors, cam, crank, O/P, water, throttle pos, replaced coil, replaced PCM, chased and inspected all wiring, still nothing engine cranks over, but-it will not start. Mechanics and dealers alike say its normal for this car but they have no idea or reason for it not starting, I keep being told to check this sensor, replace that $300 part, look here, look there, replace that (another$300) again. Chrysler has a known problem with this piece of crap and has never done anything about it I have been fighting this for 4 years now Chrysler needs to repair this and reimburse for all the crap I've had to replace and all the B/S I've gone through. They knew the head gasket would blow out after a new turbo was installed, and did nothing about it, they have known about this no start/no crank issue these cars have, but have never done anything to address or fix the poor condition of their vehicles. Now there's a line that says its possibly the ignition switch that's causing the problem. Sounds to me like they sold the public a lemon and got away with it. Chrysler should be made to fix these pieces of garbage or buy them all back at what they sold for originally I will never buy another Chrysler as long as I live. Not worth even using as a boat anchor.
The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact replaced the multi-function electrical switch, which caused the fog lights to remain illuminated. The failure caused the battery to drain. The customer removed fuse #8 daily to reduce the possibility of an electrical fire. The contact had the multi-function switch replaced at henkel Chrysler Jeep Dodge (1275 w dickman rd, springfield, mi 49037, (800) 865-6185). The failure mileage was 108,773.
- Dowling, MI, USA
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After shopping for 1/2 hour, I returned to my car in the parking lot. I opened the driver's side door and discovered gray colored smoke coming up from the steering column hazard button. It smelled odd. Not like wood smell. The auto club towed my car to my local mechanic and disconnected the battery connections as he said to prevent fire. My mechanic said the wires caught fire and melted the connectors. The parts: Combination switch, combo switch connector & electrical connectors, shrink tubing = total $320 parts. Labor: Remove & replace all applicable models (multi-function switch); replace multi-function switch harness (burned out connectors) = total $380 labor the day of the incident, I drove an estimated 15 miles total with two prior stops.
Fuel gauge suddenly drops to empty. Even after a complete tank refill. It would seem to be an electrical malfunction in either the sensor or dash gauge itself. It can be "cleared" from being stuck on empty by shutting off the engine and then restarting it. Also, speedometer suddenly drops to zero for several seconds and then jumps back to the present speed.
My PT CRUISER by chrylr 2004 got on fire in the control areas for the gear control areas, I was driving home on the 29th of February 2016, and I was about a mile from my home when my grand daughter said she smell smoke and seen it as well, but we didn't know where it was coming from. I got home from driving a regular city street, which was about 5 minutes from my home. I park the car and raise the hood to see if the fire was under my hood, no not there. So I park my car at my home and said I would investigate it in the morning since it was night time. I went to my car the next morning on the 1st of March 2016 and try to change gears, my gear wouldn't move. I had my car tow to my mechanic to fix the problem. He told me I had a fire in the gear areas, he was dumbfounded on how the fire started, but said the only thing he could come up with was the cigarette lighter could had started the fire.
The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving 20 mph, the front driver side heated seat caught fire. The contact stated that the fire department was notified and was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving at 35 mph, the left turn signal was activated and the contact noticed smoke coming from the left turn signal switch near the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the fog lights remained illuminated and the contact had to lift the steering wheel upwards in order to engage the horn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failures recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 30,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The multifunction turn signal switch started to smoke and we couldn't turn off the fog lights. We had to pull the fuse since there continued to come smoke out of that switch -- we had to open the windows to drive home in order to get rid of the smell/smoke. Our Chrysler dealer said that this part is in high demand. The part was $275 and a similar high amount for labor the first time. From that time on I ordered online and replaced the switch two more times. Today, 10/01/2014, the switch started to smoke again. This would be the fourth switch. This is a known problem and should be a recall since it can cause a fire and drain the battery.
Driving on freeway when all the engine lights on the dash light up, flicker, then go dead. Then the car loses power, including steering and brakes and cannot be controlled. It will start again later and will be ok for a few days or weeks when the problem re-occurs. Neither an independent mechanic nor Chrysler can find the problem. It happens without warning at any speed and circumstance. I managed to get video during one such episode on surface streets. This is similar to the problem GM is having and should lead to a recall before anyone is killed. I can't in good conscience sell the car, and am afraid to drive it but have no choice. This has happened to many other PT CRUISER owners and Chrysler has turned a deaf ear to the problem.
Rough idle at stopped intersections, lunges and stalls. Stalls a approximately 15-25 mph while making left or right turns making it very difficult to turn while placing the vehicle in neutral and starting the engine again. The fog lights turn on by itself after the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off draining the battery. Had to disconnect the fuse in order to prevent this from happening again. To this date non-functional fog lights. The vehicle has several electrical problems from instrument cluster not functioning while driving to radio and climate control not working until you stop the vehicle and turn it off. Then start the vehicle again then it works properly for another few days. This is a recurring problem. Wheel bearing has been an issue too and currently needs to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that after making a left turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle coasted downhill before it came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who ran a diagnostic test and determined that the automatic shut off fuse was blown. The mechanic replaced the fuse. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 86,000.
While driving the engine will sputter and die. When pulling up to a stop light the check engine light will come on and the engine will immediately die. While driving on the freeway at 65mph the engine will suddenly die. Sometimes it will start up again right away, but most of the time it takes a few minutes to start back up, while people are honking and having to go around my car. Most of the time the car will run rough after re-start, but will run normally after sitting overnight, until the next time it dies. Many other pt owners are experiencing the same thing. Very dangerous and scary! four mechanics have tried to figure out the problem. No luck. Have replaced the ECM and just about every sensor and replaceable engine part. No luck. This is occurring in other Chrysler vehicles, too. It seems like no one has found an answer to the problem. This is a very dangerous situation and Chrysler should figure out the problem and provide a fix.
Fog lights will not turn off. I had to unplug the lights in order for them not to stay on. Now they are completely off. Will never buy a Chrysler product again. I have 46,000 miles and everything described in these reports went wrong with my vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ironton, OH, USA