2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 25, 2017 · Lights · 48,000 miles · IL

On returning home from an event in the evening I parked my vehicle in the garage. I turned off lights and then the ignition and everything shut down except the fog lights stayed on (the vehicle was completely shut off). I never had the fog lights on that evening. I tried various a temps I.e. Pushing the butten in, turning the vehicle on and then off again, etc., but did not have any success. My wife went online and found (from many people having the same problem with their pt crusiers) to put the left turn signal on, shut off the vehicle, then push the fog light butten in. This worked so that I didn't wake up to a dead battery. If you go online you will find many people who own pt cruisers with the identical problem including some having smoke coming from the multi function switch. I hope to hear from someone soon!!

Filed Mar 2, 2017 · Airbags · 90,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

Takata recall: I was driving north, turning right on a 20 MPH curve, when someone heading south, turned left on the curve, went over the line and hit me head on. When I came to, I heard myself screaming that I was on fire! ( but my car was not on fire.) then I didn't remember anything until I woke up in the hospital. I was covered in this hot powdery substance and I had burns where ever my skin was showing. I had cuts everywhere and dark marks in my skin for years. I had corneal scratches and irritated eyes too, along with dislocated jaw, seat belt injuries and a few other injuries. My tmj specialist realized I had metal in my face, looking at my mri. A few days after the mri, my face swelled up on the right side, my right eye was swollen shut and my face had a huge bump where the metal festered up from the mri, the er lanced it open, found particals but didn't do a biopsy, just threw it away. I never had face surgery or anything like that and it was too high on my cheek to be from dental work. I have documents on accident reports, drs documents, x rays, mri's showing the bloom of metal hiding my broken jaw. I have pictures too of me and deployed airbags. Although I don't have them here to scan. Hopefully I can come back to my form and update any information that is missing. Thank you. My tmj dr and my maxio facial specialist said it had to be shrapnel and they cannot make any proper diagnosis of my tmj or broken jaw. I still have pain and still have shrapnel that has been coming out of my eye area and face for some time. I knew of all of this prior to the takata issues, I haven't been well enough to follow through with you until now. Thank you for your time.

Filed Apr 25, 2016 · Lights · 180,000 miles · NC · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the fog lights illuminated independently and would not turn off. The contact also stated that there was an odor and evidence of smoke coming from the steering wheel. Afterwards, the contact was able to turn the fog lights off and the odor dissipated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2015 · Engine · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate severely. In addition, the vehicle overheated without warning. The contact noticed fumes and smoke coming from the hood. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 31, 2015 · Engine · 100,755 miles · TN · fire

Ok this is the 10th complaint filed on this vehicle both by myself and mechanics who have worked on it in last 6 months. My vehicle caught fire beside my house this morning at 6am. Nobody in car and the only thing that alerted me was when my dogs went out and were barking like crazy. I will have the fire investigator report on monday or tuesday. I suggest chrysler who has all the same complaints as you do pay attention when you are told a car is unsafe. I could have lost everything this morning so chrysler better be glad was just car. I am still shaking and I am a single disabled mom thank god fire department got here when they did. I want answers!

Filed Oct 6, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · TN · fire · 1 injury

Ok maybe 4th time is a charm on trying to get pt cruiser off road. I had a fire in this vehicle due to overheating which was reported but dumb me put it out and replaced grill and radiator and had to take seperate loan out for $2500 in repairs and now vehicle won't start and now being told is computer well that explains why when we were trying to get out of car when was on fire the door locks didn't won't to work first time. The car is a 2002 with 100,000 miles on it and I have already put new tires on it and battery and had all these repairs done trying to save the car because I am a single mom on disability maybe since chrysler is under investigation for injuries and deaths not being reported you can add me because I was burned during the fire trying to put out. I have forwarded every single documentation of every incident not only to chrysler but the federal safety agency and now want me to replace a computer at $1300 this car is dangerous and have been told by everyone who has examined car it is serious but I guess if me or my son had died in car then maybe something would have been done. I have made my payments and paid full coverage insurance for 6 months while all this has been going on and only was able to drive car for a month. The vehicle is at chrysler dodge in columbia,tn and phone number is 1‑931‑380‑0326. I have 9 tow bills and nobody cares that me or my son could have lost our lives!

Filed Sep 14, 2015 · Engine · 89,000 miles · TN · fire

Ok this is my 3rd complaint on this vehicle the first problem was overheating and yes caught fire after a month of that everytime temperature gauge would rise I pulled car over and had towed I have 7 tow bills on that well last time caught fire was able to put out had to replace radiator,hoses,had a cracked head,fan,fan sensor and thermostat and grill that was $2000 for all that. I got car back and now have had back for a month and car won't start had battery changed out,had 25 point inspection done and now saying alarm system is triggering something or possibly computer going bad. This is a 2002 with only 100,000 miles on it. I owe $2300 to chase for purchase then have 2nd lien because of all these other problems of $2000. I bought the car back in 4/2013 and had to have all recalls done on it and I have reported all this before and chrysler refuses to admit it is a lemon. I have been told by dealer and 2 other mechanics this car is not safe and should not be on road. I am a single mom with ms and on disability and now scared to drive car. The car is parked and I am still making payments on something I can't drive. I do know car was assembled in mexico and don't know if a siesta was taken during my car or not. I am told not to drive car it is a hazard and chrysler after fire should have taken car back but they refused a fire and was me and my son 2 lives could have been lost. I want car taken back by chrysler and I want payoff on loan of $3000.00 by chrysler this car won't be driven. I have been very cooperative reporting everything but when mine and my son's life is at risk that is enough! If you do research the overheating and electrical has been a serious problem and I would think that a fire would get you to make chrysler take these cars back.

Filed Jul 7, 2015 · Steering · 142,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a noise and noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. In addition, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering belt fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired multiple times; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v268000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 142,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 124,000 miles · IA

I had just put fuel in my car and was driving across a parking lot. I proceeded to park my car and noticed smoke rising out of my steering wheel and a burning smell. My lower set of lights ( fog lights) had turned on by themselves, which is odd since they haven't been working for at least two years. In order to stop the smoking in the steering wheel, I had to remove fuse #8. Same set of lights have turned on before a few years back draining my battery since I couldn't turn them off with their switch. In addition, my headlights turn off automatically at random while I'm driving and my clock lights go out frequently. Headlights have gone out on me 5 times over the past 3 years. I try not to drive much at night as a result.

Filed Oct 4, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · FL

Fog lights came on by themselves while parked with no key in ignition (while at work). Common issue found all over the internet. Cause is a defective multi-function switch. Smelled a burning smell. Repair shop was unable to find any problems through diagnostics which was before the car had been seen during the day with it's running lights on. That drained the battery and required a jump start. Happened several times. Due to overwhelming number of complaints listed throughout the internet for this same issue we feel a recall should be issued as this is a fire hazard. The 15 amp fuse (number 8 on interior fuse panel) never blew but was discolored from heat.

Filed Jul 22, 2013 · Electrical · 84,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the turn signal controls caught on fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2010 · Lights · 28,000 miles · WA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving at approximately 30 MPH with the fog lamp illuminated, the contact noticed a burning smell. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where a switch in the steering column was replaced. Some time later, the contact was unable to turn off the fog lights. She called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 56,000. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.