Chrysler PT Cruiser hesitation problems

Filed Sep 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the entire instrument panel illuminated and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2014 · Engine · 80,000 miles · PA

I purchased this vehicle used from fred beans, boyertown, pa on 8/1/13 with approx. 78k miles on it. I was driving in traffic, slowing down for a traffic, when my vehicle lost power and then began to hesitate when I attempted to pick up speed. There was no acceleration and it appeared the car would stall. It never stalled but I did pull over and shut the car off, started it again and after a few moments, was able to drive normally for a few miles. The check engine light went on and the car hesitated again. This was looked at and determined, since there was no other occurrence, to be a "glitch" and the check engine light was reset by the garage (no charge and no diagnostics). In january the same problem occurred and the garage replaced the cam sensor. Shortly after that the problem occurred again and the sensor was again replaced. It is now april and again the problem is occurring, all of these incidences while driving, causing an unnecessary slow down which could have resulted in a rear end collision. I've spoken with the dealership who referred me to the original shop that replaced the sensor (scooty's, pennsburg, pa) and to auto zone who sold me the next sensor. I still owe money on this vehicle and apparently it's not worth half of what I owe due to these problems and I am concerned about driving it more than a mile in case this problem occurs again.

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Engine · 70,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH when the engine exhibited hesitation with a slight loss of power. The failure was sporadic. On a separate occasion, the engine completely stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer six times for diagnosis pertaining to the failure. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. A mobile computer was installed in the vehicle to possibly detect future failure occurrences. When the engine failure recurred, the mobile computer was unable to project an accurate reading. The technician recommended the oxygen senor be replaced however he could not guarantee that the repair would correct the problem. The contact planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer to have the oxygen sensor replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 01/14/11 *bf the consumer stated both oxygen sensors were replaced and the vehicle is operating as designed. Updated 02/23/11

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 24, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 51,780 miles · MS

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact received a recall notice pertaining to the fuel system. After the recall repairs were performed, the instrument panel failed. The engine and all the electrical components shut off while idle as well as driving various speeds. While driving less than 70 MPH, the failure recurred and caused an 18-wheel vehicle to swerve over the median to avoid crashing into her vehicle. The dealer reprogrammed the transmission controller module. On july 10, 2007, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the same failures. The etax relay and the controller software was updated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on august 30, 2007. The flash controller was replaced and the air bag sensor was reprogrammed; however, the repairs did not remedy the failures. On december 28, 2007, the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to transmission hesitation. The modular engine controller was reprogrammed. The failure mileage was 51,780 and current mileage was less than 62,000. Updated 10/16/08. *lj updated 10/17/08.

Filed Sep 24, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 51,780 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact received a recall notice pertaining to the fuel system. After the recall repairs were performed, the instrument panel failed. The engine and all the electrical components shut off while idle as well as driving various speeds. While driving less than 70 MPH, the failure recurred and caused an 18-wheel vehicle to swerve over the median to avoid crashing into her vehicle. The dealer reprogrammed the transmission controller module. On july 10, 2007, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the same failures. The etax relay and the controller software was updated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on august 30, 2007. The flash controller was replaced and the air bag sensor was reprogrammed; however, the repairs did not remedy the failures. On december 28, 2007, the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to transmission hesitation. The modular engine controller was reprogrammed. The failure mileage was 51,780 and current mileage was less than 62,000. Updated 10/16/08

Filed Mar 11, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · OK

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and never switched from second gear. The engine just kept revving. The contact drove to a safe area and shut off the vehicle. The vehicle made a sound as if it failed completely. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they stated that they did not have enough time to get an accurate diagnosis. The vehicle still has not been repaired. The current mileage was 97,000 and failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 12,000 miles · FL · crash

Starting around nov of 2006 while driving at any speed, the instrument cluster indicator lights turn on; all the gauges go dead I.e. The speedometer, the tachometer, the gas gauge all go to zero. The warning sounds beep constantly. The 2006 pt cruiser will lose power and/or severely hesitates, power steering will fail, the brakes will fail, I have had to use the hand brake one to many times to slow the car down. I have had several near misses with other vehicles on the roads. I curb the car twice, damaging my tires once, so as to not hit other drivers. This has been happening for over a year now. I have taking it massey-yardley where I bought the pt, to have looked at over a dozen maybe even more I have lost count, I have tried to lemon the car, chrysler stated that there is nothing wrong with the car because the dealership has not reproduce the problem. I have taking the pt to other dealerships with the same result. Just recently I took the car in again to massey-yardley for poor gas mileage and the same power problem, this time with a check engine light active, in nov of 2007, the dealership said it was a bad instrument cluster and a bad oxygen sensor, which they replaced. I am still having the above stated problem, the dealership stated on nov 16 of 2007 they know something is wrong but since they cannot reproduce the error to trouble shoot it they will not fix it. The dealership also said since I'm not happy with the results I should go to another dealership to have it looked at! I'm going to do that but it's hard when you have to work! Plus massey-yardley will not give me a statement to that fact of unknown defect in writing.

Filed Dec 2, 2006 · Transmission · 35 miles · CA

I have a 2003 pt cruiser with 82000 miles on it. In march of 2005 with 47765 miles on it, I took the vehicle to a chrysler dealer to repair a vibration while braking. The chrysler dealer noted there was a grinding noise coming from the transmission and stated the compressor was rubbing against the front frame due to some kind of collision and stated there was a broken motor mount. We took the vehicle to the dealer where we purchased the vehicle to address this diagnosis since this was a new vehicle when we purchased it. The dealer claims they found no broken motor mounts, no signs of accident and did not even address the transmission noise. On 11/17/2006 I was traveling on a two lane highway with my 3 year old daughter at night, and without warning,noise, hesitation, or lack of power, my transmission went out. I was not able to move in any gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where I purchased it and they told me it has major transmission damage and the transmission needs to be replaced. The cost of the transmission replacement is $2715.00 and the dealer will not cover any of the cost.

Filed Jul 20, 2006 · Seat belts, Suspension · 77,500 miles · TN

I have a 2003 pt cruiser that just went out of power train warranty 7k miles ago-with no warning, no hesitation, lack of power, my transmission went out taking the converter, pump and torque converter-leaving me stranded in the middle of a busy intersection! I was not able to move in 1,2,3,d or r-now I am stuck with a $2643.50 bill. My right front tire constantly vibrates, been to shop numerous time to resolve but no body can find anything-tires are fine, cv joint, nothing can be found. I am absolutely terrified to drive this car anymore-my seat belt unbuckles by itself, possibly leaving me with no restraint in the possibility of a wreck. I am filing complaints with chrysler, bbb, district attorneys office, nhts, lemon law and anything else I can find-