2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser: won't start

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 Oct 2, 2015 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start when prompted. The dealer required that a new computer be installed into the vehicle related to the manufacturer's key in order to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Sep 25, 2015 · 168,000 miles · KY

I was driving 55 mphr and the car died. It wouldnt start back up had to tow it home. Replaced the timing, water pump, head gasket. It would crank but wont start. I never in my life had this much problems out of a some car.

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 24, 2014 · Engine · 202,501 miles · FL

As I was driving down the highway my car started to overheat so I pulled over and let it cool down. After adding more coolant to it I started to drive it home only to have it start to overheat again, so parked it at a nearby school and left it over night. Upon getting it the next morning it started right up and I drove it home, when I went to go start it again it wouldn't start. After calling my mechanic and having him look at it he informed me that there was water in the exhaust and I would have to get a new motor. After reading all the complaints on here for the same or similar thing, it makes me wonder why there hasn't been a recall on these systems in this particular car?

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Engine · 127,870 miles · TX

Driving at 35mph. Suddenly the engine shut off. The car coasted/rolled down-hill for 1.5 blocks. I stopped at the first red light. The car would not re-start. It began to crank but would never turn the engine over. Checked the oil stick and there was no (zero) oil on the stick. We added 4 quarts of oil. The oil did not leak out of the car. We let the engine cool and tried to start the car. It would not start, it cranked again but didn't turn over. I had the car towed to the mechanic shop.

Filed Dec 14, 2010 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 1,000 miles · LA

2002 pt cruiser sport model. Car would not start, when sitting far a few days, had been driving car all day and turned car off to do an errand and car would not start. Car has left me stranded where I had to have it towed several times. Bought car new and have had this problem for 7 years. Kept bringing back to the dealer and couldn't find any problems every time. Finally found a dealer service manager that knew the problem. Insufficient quality parts were being used when chrysler was about to go bankrupt. The battery wires from the battery to the alternator were not supplying enough voltage to maintain enough to recharge the battery. Upgraded the wires to a higher voltage and have not had the problem for about 10 months. It took 7 years to find the problem which caused problems of me using the car. Chrysler used low grade parts through out the car and people are getting rid of them and then someone else buys it and it continues. I will never buy a chrysler made car again, very unsatisfied customer considering how much I paid for it. Was way over priced at the time I bought it. I could buy a much better car and higher end model for what I paid for my car.

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Steering · FL

May of 2009, car would not start. No clicks, nothing. Then after several tries, turned over. Progressively got worse until had to have the car towed to shop. Mechanic advised it was the entire steering column and chrysler told them to look at a junk yard. Cost several hundred dollars to replace. Starting to have identical problem almost 1 year later. Low miles, one owner. Scared to go anywhere because car won't start.

Filed Nov 16, 2009 · Electrical · 1,842 miles · LA

Had problems with my 02 pt cruiser not starting for 7 years and went on line and found others were having the same problem. Called chyrsler and told them they were going to fix and pay for problem. Service manager said he knew what the problems was and notice chrysler was putting cheap parts on their vehicles. He upgraded the cables connecting to and from the battery and have not had this problem since. The cables were under volted and weren't able to charge the battery and I got stranded sometimes. Chrysler called dealer and had this work done at no expense to me. It's not the battery, alternator or the other connection I can't remember. It has been 3 months and I haven't had any problems since. Please let your service manager know that it is the low voltage battery cables to these areas. Having problems starting, hesitation starting or wouldn't start at all happen after not driving the car sometimes for 2 days just after bringing it back to the dealer.

Filed Sep 19, 2009 · Electrical · 4,000 miles · LA

Car won't start at times. Had to jump it then it started. Something draining the battery if car sits for a day or two. Changed battery 3 times, still having problem. Bought car brand new, dealer still can't find the problem. Car not reliable. Started having problems not long after I bought it. I've had to charge the battery and then after a few days would have trouble starting.

Filed Jul 15, 2009 · Electrical, Lights · 91,000 miles · CO

Found 2002 pt cruiser with dead battery on occasion, no consistency. Replaced battery (7.75 years old, 90k miles) after 3rd instance over 2 months, issue resolved for about 2 weeks. Car parked in hot parking lot, fog lights were dim when approaching car. Car would not turn over to start, had it jumped. Upon returning home, went to turn off car, fog lights would not turn off. Fiddling with light switch would make them go off temporarily, then right back on. Found turning left blinker in on position kept fogs off. Researching issue, found the following forum: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2 where hundreds of people have experienced the same issue. Waiting to hear from chrysler on replacement part, as all online sources say it is back ordered 30-60 days.

Filed Sep 25, 2008 · Electrical · 102,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. Whenever the vehicle was started, the lights would illuminate, but the engine would not turn over. The dealer stated that the starter needed to be replaced. The starter has been replaced three times within the same month, but the failure persists. The current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 102,000.