I spent a fortune with the engine light going off after each code fix and multiple "diagnostic analysis." The car would go into "limp mode" (the cars version of protecting the engine by not shifting out of second gear, no matter how hard you pressed the gas pedal).
They would tell me this what the "code read" but couldn't say that was the exact problem. I'd spend a fortune get it "fixed" next day and sometimes two minutes after leaving the repair shop the engine light would come right back on, the code would be something else. Finally, I was told it was the car's computer.
I replaced the computer ($900) and had to come back several times, because the same thing would happen. They would say the computer was bad. Upon the last update and programming of the computer, the engine light stopped coming on.
However, this new problem of the emergency brake light, seat belt light, and turn signal still on lights dinging an blinking, or the car jumping like it was losing power and going to cut off, while the speed odometer went crazy going back and forth at idle or while running in park, started.
Normally, the car would do this and then stop. Recently, the car did this and it never stopped every time I was at a light or idling. Then, the dreaded "engine light" dinged on! I will take it to a Chrysler dealership tomorrow. I have a video of this happening at idle, but I'm sure they'll come up with some outrageously priced repair that once again will not truly be the issue. There should have been a class action lawsuit about how poorly these cars were manufactured and the common issues that every PT Cruiser owner has faced.
I looked online and every problem I'm having or have had, are always listed by multiple PT Cruiser owners. Until someone dies, they will do nothing, because these cars are no longer being made. The sad thing is, these cars are so beautiful and most owners love them. My car runs well, when these electrical or mechanical issues aren't happening.
It's truly sad! I've written these type of companies that supposedly look at the complaints, but nothing really gets done, whether you leave your VIN# or not, which is why I didn't this time. My main motive for writing this is to let others know, it's not just an incident or in your head, it's something happening to many owners, and it's been happening since these cars left the assembly line.
The reason the dates for these postings are so old, is because nothing has been done, no matter how many complaints and dangerous situations the mechanical failures of these cars could possibly create! Do yourself a favor if you can, trade your car in and get a Hyundai or Kia, they back their cars with great power train warranties and are better made cars, period.
Leave Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, cars alone. Chevrolet and Ford are doing pretty good, but also have recalls and issues lately. Toyota with all of the deaths from their cars years ago, when they knew they were dangerous has lost my trust. Honda too expensive. Always review complaints and problems with the type of car you'd like to get. Good luck!
we just bought a used 2006 pt cruiser Convertible on 08-09-2012 that night the engine light came on., had to get it towed to the dealership it over heated and it miss fired what ever that means dealership said they fixed the problem 2 days later Now the ac wont blow cold air and the engine light came back on I'm tired of going 2 the dealership spending hours and hours there . they told me to use premium gas and i have it. had the car for not even 6 days and 2 of those days it was being fixed
car experienced check engine light coming on and car wanting to stall out while driving down interstate 11pm. Could not drive faster than 20mph or car would attempt to die. Once car was at mechanic, after about a week of looking at various things it was determined that the high temperature sensor that causes an internal fan to come on had failed and had caused the engine temperature to get so hot it warped the engine head. We had no indication that anything was wrong until the engine light came on and we were stranded. Car had less than 53000 miles on it when this occurred. Cost to us - nearly $3000. Opened a complaint with Chrysler and after providing them with ALL my service records, EVER, from the only CHRYSLER CERTIFIED mechanic that has ever worked on the car, they "graciously" offered us $750 toward the problem. They stated they would have paid more if we had had the car worked on at a dealership, despite the fact that my mechanic is a CHRYSLER CERTIFIED mechanic and I had a record of regular service on the car.
I totally hate, with a deep passion, Chrysler and Chrysler PT Cruisers. I had my car for just a year when it began to give me holy hell... I went to a Chrysler dealership (sidebar I bought the car from a rental company) and they told me they could do nothing for me... I took it to a car repair and the man there explained to me how awful these cars are to fix and that the PT Cruisers all have engine problems.... It overheats and stalls on me all the time... I am so sorry I bought this car, it has been a total nightmare....
My daughter's 06 Route 66 PT Cruiser had a check engine lite and turned out to be the #3 valve sticking in the engine. The engine only had 57,000 miles on it and was up to date on all maintenance issues. The engine was torn apart and fixed by my local mechanic at the cost of $2000. I contacted Chrysler with my problem and forwarded the work order to them to consider for reimbursement. Their attitude was too bad too sad. I think when companies push customer service, this shows why maybe they quit making the PT. They couldn't get it right under Dailmer how can they possibly get it right under Fiat. Maybe the US government shouldn't have bailed them out.
The car belongs to my 19 year old daughter. She took it in and they told her that there is only 90 pounds of compression in #4. As you see there is really not a lot of miles on the car.
Has anyone else complained? She still owes on the car and she drives it to school and work every day.
After buying this car barely two years ago we are now being told by a chrysler dealer repair shop that it needs a new engine at the cost of $6,000.00!! It was diagnost first with low compression on 3rd cyclinder by one auto shop. It idles rough but runs just fine, the check engine signal of course is going off constantly, which is really annoying, it also was getting warm so we replaced the radiator cap and thermastat which seemed to solve that issue.
I don't see how it could possibly need a new engine when it is only 4 yrs old!!!!! I plan on filing a complaint with Chrysler, don't know if it will help but sure as heck going to try.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I spent a fortune with the engine light going off after each code fix and multiple "diagnostic analysis." The car would go into "limp mode" (the cars version of protecting the engine by not shifting out of second gear, no matter how hard you pressed the gas pedal).
They would tell me this what the "code read" but couldn't say that was the exact problem. I'd spend a fortune get it "fixed" next day and sometimes two minutes after leaving the repair shop the engine light would come right back on, the code would be something else. Finally, I was told it was the car's computer.
I replaced the computer ($900) and had to come back several times, because the same thing would happen. They would say the computer was bad. Upon the last update and programming of the computer, the engine light stopped coming on.
However, this new problem of the emergency brake light, seat belt light, and turn signal still on lights dinging an blinking, or the car jumping like it was losing power and going to cut off, while the speed odometer went crazy going back and forth at idle or while running in park, started.
Normally, the car would do this and then stop. Recently, the car did this and it never stopped every time I was at a light or idling. Then, the dreaded "engine light" dinged on! I will take it to a Chrysler dealership tomorrow. I have a video of this happening at idle, but I'm sure they'll come up with some outrageously priced repair that once again will not truly be the issue. There should have been a class action lawsuit about how poorly these cars were manufactured and the common issues that every PT Cruiser owner has faced.
I looked online and every problem I'm having or have had, are always listed by multiple PT Cruiser owners. Until someone dies, they will do nothing, because these cars are no longer being made. The sad thing is, these cars are so beautiful and most owners love them. My car runs well, when these electrical or mechanical issues aren't happening.
It's truly sad! I've written these type of companies that supposedly look at the complaints, but nothing really gets done, whether you leave your VIN# or not, which is why I didn't this time. My main motive for writing this is to let others know, it's not just an incident or in your head, it's something happening to many owners, and it's been happening since these cars left the assembly line.
The reason the dates for these postings are so old, is because nothing has been done, no matter how many complaints and dangerous situations the mechanical failures of these cars could possibly create! Do yourself a favor if you can, trade your car in and get a Hyundai or Kia, they back their cars with great power train warranties and are better made cars, period.
Leave Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, cars alone. Chevrolet and Ford are doing pretty good, but also have recalls and issues lately. Toyota with all of the deaths from their cars years ago, when they knew they were dangerous has lost my trust. Honda too expensive. Always review complaints and problems with the type of car you'd like to get. Good luck!
- thefox1, Cincinnati, US