2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser: check engine light

Filed Feb 6, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 151,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. After the vehicle was started, the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic on multiple occasions where the catalytic converter, cpu, spark plugs, and fuel cap were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

Filed Jul 14, 2015 · Airbags · 28,000 miles · CA

Air bag lite comes on constantly and engine light is on concurrently

Filed Mar 17, 2015 · Engine · 106,100 miles · CA

Engine light came on, car shut down multiple times on freeway, terrifying...."we limped" home before car quit entirely. I had owned it for one night. Drove it 100 miles total. (bought it used, 106,000 mi on it.).

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Electrical · 84,000 miles · DE

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated the airbag and the check light engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the battery was replaced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical system needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Dec 18, 2009 · Engine · 112,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. Thirty seconds after starting the ignition, the engine stalled without warning. The "check engine" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. He was able to restart the engine and resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on three separate occasions. The technician was unable to locate cause of the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer on six separate occasions for the identical failures. The engine control module (ECM), four fuel injecters , spark plugs, and both oxygen sensors. Were replaced. None of the repairs have remedied the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. The current mileage was 113,000.

Filed Apr 10, 2009 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · TX · fire

I purchased a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser in july 2008 in oct we noticed lights flickering headlight switch started burning fog lights came on didn't work before took it dodge new switch and 22 pin connector . New PCM reprogrammed it still same problem lights flicker and check engine light stays on.

Filed Jan 12, 2009 · Engine, Fuel system · 55,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving less than 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and was taken to the dealer. The failure could not be duplicated; however, an independent mechanic performed a fuel injector flush, cleaned the battery, installed fuel system cleaner in the tank, and also cleaned the throttle body. The repairs did not correct the failure and the vehicle continued to stall repeatedly. The contact heard a thumping noise and the vehicle went from 55 to 15 MPH before stalling. In addition, the check engine warning indicator has remained illuminated on the instrument panel since the vehicle was purchased. The failure mileage was 55,000 and current mileage was 150,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · VA · 1 injury

Approached vehicle after visit and noticed strong fuel smell from 20 ft. Away. Opened car door, fumes even stronger. Felt dizzy & disoriented. Called service to have it towed (did not want to start car with strong fumes). Was told there was a problem with fuel line (recall) and that it was repaired. Nearly 1 year later, same problem, check engine light on. 1/2 tank of gas leaked in one day. No obvious source of leak from exterior. Lingering gas smell in interior. Was told nvld pump was replaced. Very concerned about safety, possible adverse health consequences, likelihood of fire. Car has had many other issues as well, including smell from AC system (originally non-functional) which smells like an electrical fire/burning plastic. Dealership is dismissive. Possible lemon.

Filed Jul 7, 2007 · Electrical, Lights · 20,000 miles · VA

We own a 2003 pt cruiser. It has manifested three separate problems, all of which are similar to complaints I have found from others on the internet: first, the "check engine" light comes on. The dealer said we needed to click the gas cap. We did that, but the light came back on. Second, the fog light switch failed such so that the lights turned on without the switch being touched. We discovered the problem only after the battery had been drained, stranding my wife at work. I "fixed" this problem by pulling the fuse on the fog lights. I have read complaints in which this faulty switch has actually started fires. Third, we have the infamous intermittent starting"problem. I have replaced the starter and the battery. I checked alternator function and integrity of all cable connections to the starter. Then I read others' complaints and have found there is no available solution. The problem became more and more frequent, and now the vehicle is dead in the driveway. Our vehicle has only 54,000 miles on it, and we believe we should expect many more miles from it. We are afraid to take it to a dealer and have hundreds of dollars worth of fruitless diagnostics done on it. We still owe $1,800 to chrysler financial for the car. It pains us to make payments on a vehicle that is a lump in our driveway. We would like to have the vehicle repaired at no charge, assuming the manufacturer has found a solution. Although the vehicle is currently out of warranty, the problem began to occur long before the warranty expiration, but we could not get it to repeat for the dealer. Is there a "secret warranty" for this issue? We cannot find a full-text tsb to find out.

Filed Apr 23, 2007 · Electrical · 25 miles · CA

Not long after I first purchased my 2003 pt cruiser on new year's eve, 2002, the engine light started coming on. Each time, I took it to the dealer, and each time, it was determined nothing was wrong. After the fourth time, I was ready to see about having it classified as a lemon if it happened one more time, but it didn't, until recently. In january 2007, I believe, I took it in for the same problem. Dealer said nothing wrong. In march, I took it in and dealer determined the source of the problem was powertrain control module, which was replaced at no charge. By then, another symptom was that all of the instrument panel lights would come on intermittently. Also intermittently, it would start, run for 5 seconds and die. If I disconnected the battery to reset the computer, it would start. One week, I had it towed in because it wouldn't start. I didn't reset the computer, because I wanted them to see the problem, but it started for the dealer, and they determined nothing was wrong. After protesting that the problem was not resolved, dealer agreed to take it in today, and now they tell me the problem is a defective instrument cluster, but they can't guarantee, after it's installed, that it will fix the problem. My complaint is that engine light started coming on years ago, and developed into the issue today, without being repaired. Also, a message appeared on the odometer that said "no bus."

Filed Sep 25, 2006 · Transmission · 56,414 miles · MA

2003 chrysler pt cruiser vehicle with an automatic transmission with 56,414 miles on it began lurching when accelerating or slowing down on interstate. Problem started with no prior warning of transmission problems. Vehicle later died in the middle of a side street. Could not get vehicle to move in any gear, and check engine light came on and stayed on. Finally got vehicle to limp around the corner in drive, then vehicle died. No transmission fluid found in reservoir. Fluid noted on ground under vehicle. Had to tow vehicle 30 miles to dealership, who could not repair it after three days of waiting, due to lack of transmission service technician. Vehicle was ultimately repaired at aamco transmission, requiring another 20 mile tow. Vehicle had to have transmission replaced. Total cost of repairs was $2222.73 between chrysler dealership and aamco transmission - not covered under warranty which ran out at 36000 miles.

Filed Nov 10, 2005 · Airbags, Electrical · 59,712 miles · OK

My 2003 chrysler pt cruiser, gt model, has had problems since I have had it. First, the engine light came on and they replaced a hose, then it came on again, and they said they didn't know what was wrong with, and they would have to wait until it went completely out. It did, at 28,000 miles, it was the turbo charger. Secondly, the airbag malfunctioned, they had to replace the seat, took three times to get the right seat. Third, now, I would put the car in drive or reverse, and it just sit there, then jerks into gear. Sometimes if you give it gas it would just rev up. They said it was the pump in the transmission, they took 4 plus days to replace it. When I picked it up I heard a noise and smell something burning. When I took it out there they didn't hear or smell anything so I was sent on my way. Then it started doing the same thing it did when you put it in reverse or drive. I took it in, he said it needed a battery. I put a diehard battery in it, but sears said that was not the problem. Then the check the engine light came on, they said it was the evac pump. They fixed that. They claimed that was not covered under the warranty I had when I brought it in two weeks before. Now, I hear a grinding when I start the car up, someone said it sounds like the flywheel and they didn't assemble the transmission correctly, and that was probably where the burning smell was coming from. I am taking it in to the shop today for this.