Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop for regular maintenance, who determined that the head gasket was slowly leaking coolant. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the problem, however stated that there had been other vehicles with the same problem. A service dealer and the manufacturer were notified.
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser engine complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 74, newest first, as owners wrote them.
) on 9/2/03 I had to take the car in to have the brakes checked. Problem found was the front right caliper piston stuck > closed causing uneven wear > of brakes pads ( metal to metal on front right and 50% pads on other three). Dealer replaced the caliper piston, replaced pads and machined rotors. Had to get a rental for one day. 2) on 2/21/05 had the car in the shop again to have the tires rotated and brakes checked. Dealer said although the pads where wearing evenly now, they stated "but worn out front and rear", need to be replaced. Brakes front and rear, replaced front rotors, resurfaced rear rotors" this time I had to have a rental for three days. 3) on 3/12/05 not even a month later, while I was driving on the freeway to work the, entire windshield became engulfed with steam, I could not see a thing and the wipers could not take the steam away, so again I had to head back to the dealership to have this checked out. Dealer stated "found engine cooling fan not working & radiator cap not holding pressure" " replaced fan and radiator cap". Another rental for two days. 4) on 6/14/06, 161 miles after the extended warranty runs out, I have a major transmission problem. Engine light comes on, I get the car to the shop and the dealer states transmission solenoid pack shorted out and damaged the controller and I had to have this item replaced. No rental required this time but the bill was $1055.66 on my dime. Now ....the grand daddy of them all! 5) the car was back at the dealer on 8/1/06 for the same front right caliper piston issue as on 9/2/03, but on my dime this time.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated the engine failed while traveling at 25 MPH. The dealership determined that the engine block was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was maintained regularly.
2 years into my ownership, my car began having failures, my egr valve had to be replaced 3 times, the "brain" in the car was replaced, the battery was replaced,the fog lights started going on and staying on, the car broke down on the highway and overheated, thermostat had to be replaced, pipe carrying circulating coolant rusted completely out, o ring was replaced,manual transmission began being difficult to shift, fluid leaks,low fluid, plug is recommended to be replaced.
2001 pt cruiser had been at dealership for repair because fog lights would not turn off, thus killing the battery. Service dept. Reported that car "overheated" during repair and they replaced fan. Three weeks later, car engine oil light sounded suddenly on freeway with no prior warning and then the engine failed. Dealership refusing repairs under extended warranty due to alleged "sludge" in the engine they say was caused by poor maintenance when I know this to be untrue.
Dt*: the consumer stated while driving at 40 MPH on normal road conditions, the engine stalled. The engine over-heated and the warning light did not illuminate. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who determined the cylinder head was broken and the engine was damaged beyond repair. The dealer would not honor the one year warranty on the vehicle; they told the consumer the damage was due to owners negligence.
(1) normal driving on the freeway. (2) timing belt failure at 89,400 miles where schedule "b" maintenance schedule lists the part to be replaced at 120,000 miles and early failure is not covered under warranty. Leaving my wife and stepson stranded on the freeway with no shoulder to safely remove the vehicle from the flow of traffic. (3) defective part is to be replaced.
2001 pt cruiser developed a problem where it stalled in traffic on several occasions.*mr the engine light illuminated before the vehicle stalled. The consumer received a recall regarding the power steering pressure hose. The consumer wanted the dealer to inspect the vehicle to see if recall related issue was causing the vehicle to stall, however the dealer wanted more money.
I was driving and the front part of the car broke down I couldn't keep on the shift couldn't move to park, drive or reverse. I had to call a tow truck the part an axel. I paid a mecanic. But the bushings are also messed up they are too expensive here in puerto rico it costs me more thatn 1,000 dollars to fix it and I've been driving like that since the day I bought the car. The dealer told that the it didn't have garanteen. Know another problem there is in febreuary I took my car to the mecanic because the cargot hot they change the water bomb, and it continue to rise the temperature, then the temostat and they even flushed the radiator,and they put a computer if it can ditect where is the problem.they just don't know what is the problem and they are one of the best radiator mecanics in bayamon puerto rico. Whe n I drive around theres no problem as long I I am not in a traffic jam for more than half an hour and when I go visit my parents to the countryside going up the hills that after ten minutes on the hill the temperarure starts to rise both times that I have visited my parents for the past five months ago I can't go. The mecanics can't figure out the problem. Can you give me any suggetions e-mail me back and I can give it to the mecanics . About the bushings I've asked a person on the streets that have a 2003 pt cruiser and she said that these cars have that problem.
Dt: consumer states 2001 pt cruiser acted like it was going to stall and then the yellow warning light came on. He took the vehicle to the service department and they fixed the power steering, which was part of the federal safety agency recall 04v268000. Consumer was told the light would still be on and the problem would still occur. To find out why this is happened consumer had to pay to have diagnostic work done. This started day before yesterday, on july 5, 2005. It did not matter what speed the vehicle was going.
Consumer bought car that had not been thoroughly inspected. After two weeks a noise in both the back and front of the car was heard. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealership, placed a support because brake pads were gone, metal on metal. The motor mount broke, needed rotors/spark plugs, and tune up along with a pvc valve. Needed to be fixed, but dealer refused to fix anything.
Complete replacement of the cooling system in my car. At the time I only had 39000 miles on it. I just want to know if you think my manufacturer warranty from chrysler should have covered this repair. My warranty had expired at 36000 miles, even though I had only owned the car for 2 1/2 years. I have never had a radiator replacement on a car with so few miles. I am asking this question because I have had several very expensive and unusual parts replacement recently on this car., ie the main engine wiring harness and the power control module. I had already had the powersteering unit replaced and the fuel pump replaced as part of a dealer recall. This seems like a lot of expensive major repairs for a car with less that is less than 5 years old.
The right side motor mount tore after only 40000 miles! Of course it was right after the warranty expired! It was replaced at my cost!
Problems with transmission in 2001 pt cruiser.*mr the vehicle cooling fan motor failed then a week later the planetary gear exploded. The vehicle is currently sitting in the consumers driveway.
I had no advance warning that my water pump was failing. Luckily, I was just pulling in at home when the temperature bell sounded and the thermostat was advancing near the red area. When I shut the car off, I heard a noise and looked under the hood. The water in the reservoir was down to the add lin and was boiling furiously. Had I been on the interstate, I fear that my car could have blown while driving. My car is a pt cruiser and I have heard about a similar incident from a friend who has an intrepid. I am very disappointed and upset about this incident! I have had recurring problems with the steering, and the service people told me that they couldn't hear the sound and that it was just "the car". I am becoming apprehensive about driving my car - especially on big roads or a few miles from home. I am thankful that, so far, only my finances and temperament are damaged.
Bolts that hold the exhaust system onto the frame of the car break, leaving the exhaust system dangling. This has happened twice, now-- once in 2002, then again this year (2004) after a collision repair using chrysler bolts.
While driving vehicle lost power brakes, power steering, and stalled. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, technician determined that radiator hose broke, and coolant fell off.
Engine stops dead in the middle of driving...dealer has not been able to repeat problem but 4 warnings come up on computer
Have a 2001 pt cruiser. Poor performance in gas economy, failed catalytic converter now egr valve has failed, I believe it is due to the catalytic converter failure. Since chrysler has had other complaints about this issue with the cruisers why have they not been repairing them to the customers satisfaction?
Vehicle was parked for approx. Two days, started vehichle and all lights on the instrument panel stayed on; brake light, ABS light, engine light, security light, crusie control, etc. As well as words "no bug" over the odemeter/mileage gage. These lghts would not go off after turning the engine on and off several times. The engine light stays on and will not shut off. Scheduled an appointment with dealer to connect to computer.
The timing belt failed, which caused the engine to stall.
Depending on driving conditions, vehicle burns oil at the rate of approximately one quart every ~600 to ~1000 miles. If the vehicle is driven mostly on expressways, the oil consumption is greater than if driven primarily on surface streets. I first brought this problem to the attention of the daimlerchrysler (dc) dealership at 9,770 miles, though I had noticed it earlier. At 9770 miles, I told the dealer that the car had consumed 1 quart of oil in 1,000 miles. On a subsequent trip to the dealer, the vehicle consumed 1 quart in just 616 miles. Under warranty and over several service visits, the dealership replaced the pc valve twice and replaced one valve stem and 3 valves, all vallve seals, machined the heads and replaced the warped exhaust manifolds. The last time the vehicle was in for this problem, the dealer had it 15 days. The vehicle still burns oil at the same rates as before. Dealer wants to replace the short block. Dc has offerred to repurchase vehicle but we cannot agree on the price. I am suing undr california's lemon law
On 9/24/2002, my catalytic converter blew out the welded seam. Making a deafening sound inside the car. Upon inspection of the vehicle the next day they told me the catalytic converter blew out the seam on the top. After the parts department ordered a new catalytic converter from atlanta, they told me it would be in the next day. However, in the mean time they checked with chrysler service contract I have for 100,000 miles or 3 years did not cover the part, however it was covered by a 80,000 mile warranty. Which I was 4,600 miles past. I average about 3-4000 miles a month in my job. Then the next day when I called to check on the car to see if it was finished, they told me the part was on national backorder. I was renting a car at the time for $36.99 a day. So I called chrysler and told them of the situation on 9/26/2002, they said since it was on national backorder that the situation was different and they would help me out by paying for 1/2 the rental of the car. Which I agreed was some what fair. So I callde the dealer back on monday and he said the part was still not in, didn't know for sure when it would be in and then later that day they ssaid they had a promise date of 10/7/2002 of shipment. It finally came in on 10/4/2002. Which they finished fixing it by closing time that day. The service manager looked at the catalytic converter and said he would confirm quote"that this has been leaking for quite some time now and was not just an overnight happening by the corrosion of the part. So I feel a full refund is in order for parts, labor and car rental. The service manager "ricky hendrix" said he would confirm this with any one that needed to know. Please advise! Mr
Engine died without any warning - power control module failed killing engine - on major hwy without a shoulder - put on flashers but still rear ended by another driver after fully stopped who was passing on right.
During the first couple of minutes of operation, during closed phased of engine operation the vehicle will hesitate during acceleration. This is most noticeable in first, second and third gear and during cooler damp conditions. Also during this closed phase, there is popping noise in exhaust system upon deceleration using the engine. The other major concern is a vibration from the engine and or transmission upon full accelerations in 4th gear. This even occurs when the engine is at or above 2500 RPM(recommended speed for starting 4th gear), and dissipates as the car speed increases. It is particularly a concern when entering express ways from on ramps. *ts *jb ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis****761677
Very poor performance and gas mileage has been observed while driving this car. Mopar own website for ptcruiser has parts for air cleaner and exhaust system to fix this problem but at the owners expense. Www.pt-tuning.com has a website with owners information about air cleaners and exhaust systems to fix the problem. I beleive the average gas mileage of a light truck is 20.7mpg and this car gets nowhere near that. I think for that reason the air cleaner and exhaust system should be replaced as a recall item to provide the owners with an enjoyable car instead of the lemon it has turned out to be. *ak (dot number: mkt2 bmdr tiresize: 205/55r16)
While driving on highway engine mount bolts broke, causing a loss of steering. Had been in contact with dealership.
When vehicle is driven between 25-55 MPH engine completely shuts down without warning. Also, when engine shuts down oil light illuminates. Dealer replaced wiring harness which did not correct the problem.
My pt used 1 quart of oil in the first 2700 miles and the another quart in the next 2000 miles and so on. Carmax first visit said normal for break in period and wanted to do consumption test. Brought back after 2k miles, quart low again. This time they said can't do anything since dc says allowable tolerance is 1 quart every 1k miles. I am calling dc tomorrow, dealer refused to call.
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