2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Complaints

THE CAR HAD A FITTING IN THE POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM THAT WAS LOOSENING. IN A DRIVING CONDITION OF HIGH PRESSURE, THE SYSTEM DEVELOPED AN INSTANT, FAST LEAK, WHICH REACTED TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS REACTION ULTIMATELY STARTED THE FIRE, WHICH BURNED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK SAME INCIDENT AS VOQ#10039792 PER CONVERSATION WITH PAUL ABBEY ON 6/16/04. PE04029_CAT

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ALL AIR BAGS FAILED TO INFLATE IN A SIDE AND FRONT IMPACT CRASH OF 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. *NLM

I PURCHASED MY 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING LIMITED ON 5/20/2002 WITH ONLY 4,780 MILES FROM: FERMAN AUTOMOTIVE, 11025 NORTH FLORIDA AVE., TAMPA, FL UNITED STATES 33612, (813)371-9700, HTTP://WWW.FERMANAUTO.COM, SALESMAN: RICK MARTINO SERVICE REP: ERIC FLANNIGAN; SERVICE MGR: CHRIS WEATLEY; WARRANTY MGR: TOM SAWYER. MY PT CRUISER EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT THE TIME OF THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. IT CONSUMED ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE FIRST ACTUAL ATTEMPT AT REPAIR FERMAN MADE WAS TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER GASKET, THIS FAILED. THE SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS REPLACING THE ENGINE THEY TOLD ME. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK, AND THIS ALSO FAILED. I SENT A VEHICLE DEFECT NOTIFICATION TO THE MANUFACTURE AND ONE TO THE STATE TO START THE LEMON LAW PROCESS. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE SENT THE REGIONAL LEAD TECHNICIAN TO OVERSEE THE LAST REPAIR ATTEMPT. FERMAN TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY FOUND NINE BAD VALVE SEALS. FERMAN REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEAD. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE VALVE COVER, THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SOME 2001 MODEL PT CRUISERS HAVE A DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER THAT CAUSES THE PCV VALVE TO SUCK IN OIL. I DROVE ABOUT 370 MILES AND CHECKED THE OIL TO FIND IT CONSUMED A QUART OF OIL! I LOCATED AND CONTACTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER MR. BENNETT ON 4/13/2003. I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD PURCHASED THE PT CRUISER AT FERMAN AUTOMOTIVE BRAND NEW. MR. BENNETT HAD THE EXACT SAME OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND CONTINUED CONTACT WITH THE CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE THE DEALER CONTACTED HIM AND REPLACED HIS VEHICLE WITH A BRAND NEW ONE FROM THE LOT. I CONTACTED FERMAN AND THE CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE INFORMING OF THIS MATTER. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES WITH THE PT CRUISER. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS STRUGGLING WITH THEIR CHRYSLER DEALERS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. *NLM

PREMATURE, UNEXPLAINED WEAR, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT DISCS AND CALIPERS, BRAKES. *NLM

CONSUMER MADE RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER REGARDING RECALL 02V215000. WHEN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT RECALL COULD NOT BE DONE DUE TO "DEALER" ISSUES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, APPLIED GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE. MUST COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,WHILE VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO KEEP RUNNING. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, IT WILL NOT RESTART. *NLM

REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED WITHIN 18,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ROTORS WERE MADE OF A CHEAP METAL. *AK

AFTER 23,000 MILES THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON ONLY WHEN TAKING OFF QUICKLY FROM A STOP. BRAKES DID NOT SQUEAL AND THERE WAS NO OTHER SIGN THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT COMING ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AND HAD THEM CHECK THE LIGHT WHILE I WAS THERE. THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKE PADS WERE SLIGHTLY WORN, BUT THE ROTORS WERE DOWN TO 30% THICKNESS AND MUST BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS CAR IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT! PLUS IT'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I DOWN SHIFT A LOT TO SLOW THE CAR INSTEAD OF BRAKING. OTHER THAN THAT OCCASIONAL LIGHT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I NEVER IMAGINED THE ROTORS WOULD WEAR OUT THAT QUICKLY, THEREFORE I MIGHT HAVE JUST IGNORED THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY AND DESIGN ISSUE I THINK CHRYLSER NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. *JB

I WAS IN MY CAR, PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT WAS QUICKLY INVOLVED IN FIRE. I EXITED MY CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FLAMES SHOT UNDERNEATH MY CAR AND UP THE BACK END. I CALLED 911. I RECEIVED BURNS ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND SMOKE INHALATION DAMAGES TO MY LUNGS. *JB