2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser engine problems

Filed May 17, 2026 · Engine · NC · fire

So I had been having issues with the car overheating well I'm almost home and my daughter says she smells smoke so pull over and rush to get my babies out of the car because under the hood it had caught on fire

Filed Mar 10, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · 141,000 miles · OH · fire

It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats not too long ago with both of my toddlers in the car on a 3 lane highway locked up on me couldn't use the steering wheel or brakes had to pull the emergency break it's just been repetitive I bought the car from my sister who's grandmother got tired of putting money into it it stutters sometimes like it's slow to shift into gear to accelerate it can happen anywhere. It was my first car it's never been wrecked, I never thought to check for any recalls, I bought it in july of 17. It's only had a total of 2 owners. It used to shake real bad I couldn't go over 55miles an hour but even 55 was iffy. The scariest thing for me was it locking up on a highway with an intersecting lane I had just had everything replaced for a second time before it started smoking and locked up and completely shut down my kids 3 & 1 were in the back all I could think to do was pull my emergency break I drifted and swerved until the car finally came to a stop luckily not wrecking or injuring anyone, just fear of driving I really trusted this car. I had to call the police to get ahold of a state trooper who gave me a couple days to move it given my circumstance and 45 min away from home, a stranger stopped to help and offered to give us a ride back to ironton from the west portsmouth highway he lived in portsmouth out of kindness moved my car to his house there after dropping us off that night to keep from getting it towed. Officer noted everything. I didn't think of anything until I just recently got another 2004 pt that started fire in the headlights and going through a lot of the same problems.

Filed Jul 1, 2019 · Engine · FL

I bought this car last year from a private owner I did not know that it had a over heating problem I really have tried everything so I then started looking it up and found out that so many people are having the same problem as me and from what I have read about it the dealership should fix my problem since the problem really comes from them from it was made

Filed Oct 24, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · GA

While driving the engine will sputter and die. When pulling up to a stop light the check engine light will come on and the engine will immediately die. While driving on the freeway at 65mph the engine will suddenly die.

Filed Aug 9, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 78,407 miles · CA

Just under 78,000 miles turbo goes out, took to dealership, replaced turbo (took 6 mos) finally returned the vehicle and within 1 month head gasket goes out (blowing white smoke), while driving at 35 MPH on a side road (dealer says known problem, wants another $2000 for head gasket, local dealer says "the head gaskets for that car are the weak point, when you return the comp ratio to new/normal with a new turbo. It will blow the head gasket out") replaced myself (cant afford dealer) new head gasket (multi layered pos), new bolts (required), new timing belt, now it wont start, tested all sensors, cam, crank, o/p, water, throttle pos, replaced coil, replaced PCM, chased and inspected all wiring, still nothing engine cranks over, but-it will not start. Mechanics and dealers alike say its normal for this car but they have no idea or reason for it not starting, I keep being told to check this sensor, replace that $300 part, look here, look there, replace that (another$300) again. Chrysler has a known problem with this piece of crap and has never done anything about it I have been fighting this for 4 years now chrysler needs to repair this and reimburse for all the crap I've had to replace and all the b/s I've gone through. They knew the head gasket would blow out after a new turbo was installed, and did nothing about it, they have known about this no start/no crank issue these cars have, but have never done anything to address or fix the poor condition of their vehicles. Now there's a line that says its possibly the ignition switch that's causing the problem. Sounds to me like they sold the public a lemon and got away with it. Chrysler should be made to fix these pieces of garbage or buy them all back at what they sold for originally I will never buy another chrysler as long as I live. Not worth even using as a boat anchor.

Filed Aug 2, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 106,000 miles · MD

While driving, sometimes when driving, the car will jerk to the left or the right without probacation. Vechile accelerates without foot being on the pedal. One time I was at a stop light. My foot was on the brake, but the car lurched forward and the engine starting reving. I had to use both feet with extreme force to slow the car down. Finally, I just threw the car into park; once in park, the car kept reving. The pedal was not pressed.this has happened on three occasions. This makes for unsafe driving, and only due to my good driving skills did I avoid an accident. This has been occuring for the past three months.

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 170,400 miles · CA

Vehicle accelerated on its own, up to 4,000rpm with my foot off the gas pedal. When I stomped on the brakes car would not slow down, engine continued to run at 4,000rpm. To save my life and others shifted car into neutral, pulled over and turned off ignition. After a minute or two restarted the car and same symptom were present, engine reviving to 4,000rpm, foot off the gas pedal, on the brake pedal as a precaution. Note that when this first happened the car was not in cruise control mode, simply driving around town running errands. This situation is scary because I do not know when, how, if it is going to happen again, totally unprovoked and non-sensical as to why it is happening, what triggers the problem. This has now occurred twice recently and because of this nightmare scenario I am hesitant, very very hesitant to drive the car. It is a danger to my, my wife's life and other people on the road we may accidentally plow into if the car decides to go into runaway mode of its own volition. Your consideration of a response would be greatly appreciated.

Filed May 26, 2014 · Engine · IL

Car making noises.

Filed Apr 30, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 145,000 miles · CA

Driving on freeway when all the engine lights on the dash light up, flicker, then go dead. Then the car loses power, including steering and brakes and cannot be controlled. It will start again later and will be ok for a few days or weeks when the problem re-occurs. Neither an independent mechanic nor chrysler can find the problem. It happens without warning at any speed and circumstance. I managed to get video during one such episode on surface streets. This is similar to the problem gm is having and should lead to a recall before anyone is killed. I can't in good conscience sell the car, and am afraid to drive it but have no choice. This has happened to many other pt cruiser owners and chrysler has turned a deaf ear to the problem.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Rough idle at stopped intersections, lunges and stalls. Stalls a approximately 15-25 MPH while making left or right turns making it very difficult to turn while placing the vehicle in neutral and starting the engine again. The fog lights turn on by itself after the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off draining the battery. Had to disconnect the fuse in order to prevent this from happening again. To this date non-functional fog lights. The vehicle has several electrical problems from instrument cluster not functioning while driving to radio and climate control not working until you stop the vehicle and turn it off. Then start the vehicle again then it works properly for another few days. This is a recurring problem. Wheel bearing has been an issue too and currently needs to be replaced.