2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jun 12, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 153,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the high beam head lamps would illuminate randomly day or night. The contact stated that the failure occurred at least six times in one week. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that the multi-function switch that controlled the headlights was replaced by him. The contact noticed that the plastic clip holding the electrical harness to the switch had burned. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 224,441 miles · NC

My lights shut off while driving. Not only did my headlights shut off but my dash board lights and the lights on my gear shift did as well. My doors will not lock as well.

Filed Oct 29, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 135,000 miles · OH

Takata recall. I was driving down the highway and my headlights went out I pulled over and I didnt have door locks to unlock the doors. All the fuses are good. I was researching online and alot of pt cruisers are having the issue it seems that the connector for the fuse block goes bad I have been dealing with this for a few months now. I think its redundant that ypu have to pay 150-250 dollars every time this happens. When no one really has that kinda money

Filed Oct 26, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · CA

2002 chrysler pt cruiser. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlights and other electrical problems. *smd the consumer stated his wife went to turn on the headlights, and discovered they did not work. The consumer's son checked the switch assembly and found a shortage in the assembly. The consumer son discovered some of the wiring coming from the assembly was bare.

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 Jul 22, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 185,000 miles · OR

I unlocked my car doors with remote, and drove to the store, it was dark out so I had my head lights on. When I came out of the store and tried to unlock my car, it would not work. So I manually unlocked the doors with my key. It was very cold weather at that time and my heater would not work as well then I turned on my car to go home, and my lights would not come on. And so I was towed home. The next day I took it in to a chrysler repair shop and they did a quick check on it and said that it might be the electrical and they would have to go through the entire electrical to find the problem. They checked everything out without tearing the entire car apart and said that they could not find a problem with it. There went $100.00 of my money to find out that they could not find the problem. I don't know what else to do to get the car repaired with out having to spend $1,000.00 plus.... Which is a quote by the chrysler repair. I have not been able to drive my car at night, due to no lights and now that we have hot 90 to 101 degree weather, I can not drive my car during this period of time due to not being able to use the air conditioner or to roll my windows down. I have spent over $3,000.00 in repairs for my car and I have only had it for just two years. There is one thing after another with my car, the problems are having to replace parts and sometimes having to replace those same parts a year later when they have just ran out of the warranties. I have service records for all of these problems and it is almost 2 inches thick. I am on disability and it took me over a year to save the enough money to buy this car and I have no more money to fix it again... And I have to take it through deq here in oregon and it will not pass their test due to exhaustion problems with the emissions leaking as well.

Filed Oct 18, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 90,000 miles · FL

10-18-2011 I just bought my car last month (09-26-2011) and my control arms and bushing have already went bad. Now 2 nights ago (10-16-2011) my headlights stopped working. I took it into the dealership to have everything checked and was told that the wiring under the dash is messed up. I see that there are a lot of recalls for that happening to the 2002 pt cruisers and now the dealer I bought the car from will not fix it (even though I'm still within my 30 day warranty) I do not understand why I should have to come out of pocket to fix this problem. Also, the dealer I bought it from would not give me a carfax on the vehicle. Also, sold me the car with a recall already on it that was issued way back in 2004. (power steering pressure hose) that I was told could cause a fire under the hood.

Filed Aug 4, 2011 · Lights · 145,000 miles · MO

Fog lights automatically turning on by themselves without the owners knowledge...later on in the day it would cause issues with the headlights not wanting to work or them going off when you need them which could potentially cause an issue. Please review the following website for other potential issues with other consumers: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2/p7.

Filed Jun 10, 2011 · Electrical, Locks · 153,349 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the instrument cluster does not eliminate like other cars cluster supposed to eluminate. It,when the contact turns on the headlights the instrument cluster lights turn on but really u can hardly see the speedometer or the gauges which is dangerous. On 6/09/11 while driving home the instrument cluster lights when out I could see anything,my headlights and backlights stop working and also my power door locks are not working either all this happen on my way home around 7:30pm and I had to slow down to make it safe home..when I got home my power locks were not working when I went to lock the vehicle.

Filed Jun 9, 2011 · Electrical · 153,349 miles · NY

Today 06/09/11. Driving home around 7:30 pm my cluster went out couldn't see the speed or RPM or any other gauges,and my headlights and backlights stop working together with my power doorlocks. I had to slow down or stop and take my time going home.

Filed Oct 25, 2009 · Lights · 25,000 miles · 00

The multifunctional light switch on pt cruisers is defective. Over 500 pt cruiser owners have reported that suddenly the front & back fog lights come on & do not shut off even when the motor & all other switches are turned off. Obviously there is a short in the switch which could result in head lights suddenly being turned off when driving at night. This failure has been constant forcing me & others to remove the fuse controlling the fog lights so that the battery does not drain down after the vehicle is shut down. I and others have encountered extreme difficulty in obtaining a replacement part.

Filed Jun 4, 2009 · Lights · 52,000 miles · MD

Multifunction switch for headlights and fog lights fails. Lights erratic, safety problem big time at night. Thousands of complaints of the problem since 2001 can be viewed on line under various posts and threads. Obviously a manufacturing defect that the company needs to address. Since the company is now run by the government, should I call the white house?