2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Complaints

OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 50 PLUS TIMES WHERE I HAVE FOUND MY BATTERY DEAD AND THE FOG LAMPS ON. OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD FEWER , BUT , REGULAR TIMES WHEN THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED. I CHECK TO SEE THAT THEY ARE OFF AS I EXIT THE VEHICLE , AND RETURN TO FIND THEM ON AND THE BATTERY DEAD. THE SWITCH ON THE END OF THE LIGHT CONTROL STICK IS NOT A GOOD ARRANGEMENT. IT WEARS OUT THE STOP AND THEN ( AS MINE IS NOW ) YOU CAN NOT TURN THE FOG LAMPS OFF. ANY LITTLE BUMP WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THEY COME ON. I HAVE HAD TO UNPLUG THESE LAMPS ( RATHER THAN PAY THE RIDICULOUS DEALER REPLACEMENT FEE ) TO KEEP MY CURRENT ( 3RD THIS LAST 2 YEARS ) BATTERY FROM DYING. I GOT THE FIRST RETAIL PT DELIVERY IN WI ON APRIL 12 2000 AND AM SURE IN TIME ALL OWNERS WILL FIND THIS PROBLEM. *NM

THE CONNECTOR PLUG FOR THE FOG LIGHTS SHORTED OUT CAUSING IT TO SMOLDER AND THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THERE WAS FIRE BUT NO FLAME. THE PLUG MELTED AND CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

OVER APPROXIMATELY THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THELEN AUTO GROUP IN BAY CITY, MICHIGAN REGARDING DEFECTIVE RIMS ON MY 2001 PT CRUISER. I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING AIR IN FAIRLY NEW TIRES DUE TO THIS. AFTER SPEAKING TO THELEN SEVERAL TIMES CHRYLSER WAS CALLED IN DECEMBER OF 2005 (DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE). AFTER THE DEALER SCRAPED AND SPRAYED THE RIMS TO STOP THE PEELING A COUPLE OF TIMES THELEN'S MECHANIC (PAT) STATED THAT THIS JUST WOULDN'T WORK. PAT ALSO WENT ON TO ADD (IN THE PRESENCE OF MY FATHER) THAT HE NEVER SAW SUCH A THING. THIS WAS ON A JUNE 2006 VISIT TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS CHRYSLER NOW STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM IT WAS JUST SALT EROSION AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE RIMS. CHRYSLER ALSO STATES THAT THIS INFO WAS GIVEN TO THEM FROM MIKE THELEN AND HIS MECHANIC. MR. THELEN STATES HE DID NOT SAYS THIS. WHEN ASKED IF HE WOULD REPLACE THE RIMS FROM HIS DEALER NO MATTER WHAT CHRYSLER SAID; HE REFUSED. OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE IS LYING AND I AM AT A STALEMATE. CHRYSLER WON'T CHANGE IT'S MIND-BECAUSE OF THEIR PHONE CALLS WITH MIKE THELEN-THE OWNER- AND HIS MECHANIC. ON 07-17-06 I WAS TOLD BY DAPHNEY (PHONE FOR CHRYSLER HEADQUARTERS 248-576-5741) THAT ONCE A DECISION WAS MADE IT WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. SHE ALSO REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR OR GIVE ADDITIONAL INFO FOR THE PRESIDENTS HEADQUARTERS-SHE STATED HER OFFICE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO CONTACT THEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH UPHILL ON A HOT DAY AND ON DRY ROADS. SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SO THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED AND THE TRANSMISSION'S LEFT DRIVER SIDE, EXHAUST, AND REAR TIRES WERE OBSERVED TO BE COVERED IN TRANSMISSION OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE CLAMPS WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE HOSE CLAMPS WITH STAINLESS STEEL WORMGEAR CLAMPS, AND FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH TRANSMISSION OIL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. THE VEHICLE IS A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER.*AK

FOG LIGHTS DIFFICULT TO SHUT OFF EVEN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH TO AVOID FIRE/WIRING MELTDOWN. UPON REMOVAL OF SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY OF COMPONENT PLASTIC ARM WORN OUT ALLOWED SPRING LOADED CONTACT TO MAKE LIGHT AND CONSTANT CONTACT PRODUCING A SHORT CIRCUIT. ONCE PLASTIC FAILS NO WAY TO TURN FOGS OFF. *JB

HELLO, I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE FRONT WINDOWS OF THE 2001 PT CRUISER. I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE SAW A TRICKLE OF SMOKE ONCE COME OUT OF THE WINDOW CONTROLS. PLUS, THE WINDOW MAKES A "SCREECHING" SOUND WHEN IT GOES DOWN. *NM

2001 PT CRUISER WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEALER CHECKED RATTLING NOISE IN REAR AND REPORTS REAR AXLE IS SHOT. REPAIR COSTS ABOUT $2,000.00. CHRYSLER OFFERED TO PROVIDE PARTS. DEALER LABOR IS ABOUT $600.00. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING WAS CRACKED. THERE WAS NOT A NOTICEABLE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM. UPDATED 6/19/2006 - THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE RUBBER OF THE BUSHING POORLY BONDS TO THE STEEL OUTER RING CAUSING FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 3-5 ALSO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE HORN FAILED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 06/05/2006. *AK *TS