2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Complaints

ON JULY 10, 2003, MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DONATING BLOOD. SHE PASSED OUT AND THE 2002 PT CRUISER THAT SHE WAS DRIVING HIT A SMALL PINE TREE WITH A GLANCING BLOW TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE POWER POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE AND BRING THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES DOWN ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30 TO 35 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT , HER HEAD SNAPPED FORWARD AND HIT SOMETHING (I ASSUME THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WHICH CAUSED A BONE-DEEP GASH IN BER FOREHEAD REQUIRING 10 (TEN) STITCHES TO CLOSE.I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR BEFORE REPAIRS WERE BEGUN. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "....THE IMPACT, (WHICH DID NOT INVOLVE THE FRAME) DID NOT CREATE THE LONGITUDINAL (FRONT TO BACK) DECELERATION NECESSARY TO DEPLOY AIR BAGS.".IN FACT, THE FRAME WAS BENT. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP MANAGER, THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL WAS MOVED BETWEEN 7 AND 10 MM.*AK MY CONTENTION IS THAT AN IMPACT SUFFICIENTLY HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK A POWER POLE SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPOLY. I SAID THAT IN A LETTER BACK TO CHRYSLER AND HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THEM. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE PT CRUISER WAS $9,147.92

BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 11,000 MILES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,480 MILES, NOT ONLY THE PADS NEEDED REPLACING ROTORS WERE WORN AS WELL. THE DEALER DID THIS UNDER WARRANTY STATING IT WAS EARLY WEAR AND TEAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS AT APPROX. 22,080 MILES, THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY THE PADS BUT IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING FLUID BECAUSE OF A BREAK IN THE HOSE THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES OR THE POWER STEERING. AND THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NOT EARLY WEAR AND TEAR THIS TIME SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WITH THIS ISSUE THEY STATED THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I MAY BE A WOMAN BUT I KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT CARS AND 11,000 MILES FOR BRAKES IS NOT "NORMAL' WEAR AND TEAR!*AK

UNCONTROLLABLE WOBBLE OF FRONT WHEELS AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED . THE HIGHER THE SPEED ,THE GREATER THE WOBBLE. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION WIRING. *AK CONSUMER CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND EVACUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. *PH *JB

WHEN DRIVING AND SUDDENLY STOPPING IS NEEDED, AND THE HORN IS NECESSARY TO BE USED, HORN ONLY BLEATS OUT A SPUTTERING NOISE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN EVER THERE IS A CRITICAL OR EMERGENCY SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES AND HORN ARE PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME HORN DOES NOT HONK BUT SPATTERS.*AK

THE SPRING IN THE BRAKE BROKE AND DESTROYED THE FLACK ADJUSTER AND THE DRUMS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE THIS PART SHOULDN' T BREAK.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES THEY WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH CHROME PLATED 5-SPOKE WHEELS; CHROME PLATING HAS BUBBLED/CORRODED ON THE SEALING SURFACE OF THE TIRE BEAD. THIS HAS CAUSED SLOW LEAKAGE OF AIR IN TIRES. UNLESS THE PRESSURE IS ADJUSTED WEEKLY OR MORE OFTEN, THE TIRE PRESSURE GETS LOW CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND OVERHEATING WHICH COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPIC FAILURE. THIS CONDITION PROGRESSES OVER TIME AND EXPOSURE TO ROAD CAUSTICS & SALT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ON A MAJOR STREET AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK