Chrysler PT Cruiser adaptive cruise problems

Filed Mar 4, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 146,000 miles · MI

Let me start by saying I just bought this 2001 limited edition pt cruiser three days ago from a private dealer. I was on the highway, heading home from work in the middle of the night, and wanted to try the cruise control. I turned it on and set it for 67mph to see if it worked first. Then I went to reset it to my actual desired speed by tapping my brakes, then I tried the switch on the arm of my steering wheel but the cruise control wouldn't shut off. I got off at the next exit and was able to slow down to 40mph before my brakes locked up and I was forced to run the stop sign at the end of the off ramp. (thank god it was at 3am and my baby wasn't with me!). I was able to pull over doing 20mph before the brakes locked up again. I quickly shut it off, put it in park, and waited a few minutes to turn it back on. But the engine just kept reving, as if I was holding my foot on the gas because the cruise control was still on! I tried resetting it by turning the key back and forth a few times. I tried to see if it would throw me a code but only "done" appeared on my dash. Every time I started the car, the LED for cruise control would come on and then shut off after a few seconds. I was able to coast home doing 40mph with access to my brakes again. Not very well, but enough to make it home, (when I'd let off the brake the car would take off again). I've been doing research since I got back and found a few other reports of this happening, except they were all able to stop. For example by shifting into neutral or shutting the car off. Every time I start the [xxx] thing, the cruise control is still on! How do I shut it off? Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 20, 2016 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 118,000 miles · GA

Can not go over 45-50 MPH without check engine light coming on. Unable to stay in cruise control on highway at 70 MPH more than 1/2 mile than it pops out of cruise completely and check engine comes on. Shakes when heat or air condition comes on. Steering wheel pushes to the right while driving.

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 Dec 2, 2015 · Acceleration, Airbags · 76,000 miles · AZ

Driving my vehicle on a highway, approaching the city, with cruise control on. Weather clear and sunny. Highway traffic was light. My speed was at around 70 MPH. The driver apparently decided to exit the ramp as it was lined with vehicles. The driver pulled out of ramp and steered to left lane on highway, in front of me. I had to brake suddenly to avoid collision. My car suddenly skidded and spun around once, with rubber burning from tires. My vehicle nearly crashed against the rail as my car skidded for 2nd time to stop. No injuries or property damages. Inspected my car later at gas station. Did not detect any visual problems. Could not figure out why my car skidded and spun around on highway. After the shopping trip, I drove home with no incidents. As I pulled in home, there was smoke coming out of under hood. My car was inspected by two mechanics, from separate time and location, and I was told my cooling fan broke. Possible that the incident leaded the fan to shut down due to mechanical error, the first mechanic said. Cost to replace the cooling fan and labor can run as high as $400. Also, the airbag light, on dashboard, stays on most of time.

Filed Nov 20, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 136,789 miles · NJ

Set cruise control and the car accelerated rather than set at speed. Car continued to accelerate despite application of brakes, including emergency brake which only got it down to 40 MPH. Car had to be popped into neutral in order to be able to keep from crashing and stop the car.

Filed Aug 20, 2013 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · TN

Just after I bought this car, I have had this intermittent problem...while driving, at some point, all the dash lights go on, seat belt etc. As well as all the needles, speedometer, gas etc will go down...this can happen several times in a row, at which point the car has stalled out. About april 2012 the ic panel was replaced. After several times at the dealer and they couldn't get the car to make the problem happen. Well, it doesn't end there...last fall the problem started happening all over again!!!! The dealer had it again several times, but this time they never diagnosed the problem. So, I figured I could drive the car with no heat, or air conditioning, no radio, no cruise control and the problem hasn't occurred, until just recently...this time it goes off continually, sometimes. This is so scary! The car can stall anywhere! I have been seeing this same issue on several blogs...still unresolved.

Filed Jun 23, 2011 · Acceleration · SC · crash

2009 chrysler pt cruiser. Consumer states unintended acceleration *tgw the consumer stated when the cruise control was activated, the vehicle would surpass the set speed, by 2-3 MPH. The consumer stated he had an accident when he went around a curve with the cruise control activated when suddenly the vehicle accelerated out of control and left the road way. The consumer attempted to regain control of the vehicle, but consequently the vehicle rolled over twice and landed upside down. The vehicle was totaled.

Filed Oct 20, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · 48,500 miles · NM · crash

Pt cruiser on cruise control. Exit freeway and tap brake. Car begins to coast. As we approached stopped traffic the brake was applied again. Cruise kicked in again and instead of slowing we speeded up. Approximately 2:30 pm - no alcohol involved and no skid marks. Hit 5 other vehicles. My husband was driving and I was the passenger. I was very badly injured internally and had fractures to ribs, vertebra. And ankle. Seat belt and air bag saved my life but seat belt ripped my intestines and caused severe internal bleeding. My husband was in shock but without injury. It took 3 weeks to get a police report and on the report it stated that he had stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake. Not true -- not true. He yelled to me before the impact that the car was not stopping and I saw that he had the brake to the floor.

Filed Aug 20, 2010 · Acceleration · 84,042 miles · ME

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact was driving 20 MPH when the cruise control light illuminated and independently activated. The vehicle began to increase in speed and there was an unusual increase in engine rpms. The contact was able to disengage the cruise control by depressing the brakes and manually deactivating the mechanism. The contact stated that he had also encountered unintended acceleration while in park. The dealer advised having a diagnostic performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 84,042. Updated 11/19/10. *lj the computer was replaced. Updated 12/02/10

Filed Jun 27, 2010 · Brakes, Electrical · 134,335 miles · TN

I own a 2005 pt cruiser; I have 134,000 miles on the car, and keep it serviced regularly. I have had numerous issues with safety factors concerning this vehicle since october 2009. December 2009 my timing belt went out on interstate. I lost control of the vehicle as the vehicle was traveling 70 MPH. I had it repaired by a certified mechanic, which included a new water pump. I continued to have overheating issues, and continued to have diagnostics and nothing could be identified as the problem. February 2010: I had to have valves seals repaired due to them leaking oil onto the engine which was a potential fire hazard. This was done by a certified mechanic. April 2010: I continued to have overheating issues. I was also now having electrical issues where my taillights were continuously blowing the bulbs completely out, to where the bulbs would be broken and I would have no lights at all on the back of my vehicle, there were times this would occur at night which was a serious safety issue. May 2010: I brought my vehicle back to chrysler dealer; again nothing could be resolved. June 2010: brought the car back for diagnostics. The dealer kept the vehicle all day. The dealer concluded that the cooler sensor and sensor plug needed replaced, and tail light receptors were changed out. June 2010: alternator went out and it was replaced, and also installed a new battery. When traveling I set my cruise control on 55. The cruise control took over my acceleration and in no my vehicle accelerated to 115+ MPH, I could not turn off the cruise control, the brakes failed to work, the key would not turn off. I finally pulled the e-brake to slow the car, and had to put the car into neutral, then into park. It was not until I managed to get the car into park that the vehicle stopped accelerating by itself. I turned off the vehicle. I feel these issues need to be addressed. These safety issues are of a serious nature. Your time in looking into this.