FaultScore

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser acceleration problems

12 of the 354 complaints about the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 32,208 miles.

C

12

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 9 75.0%
Cruise Control 2 16.7%
Accelerator Pedal 1 8.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Chrysler PT Cruiser year

2001 13 21.0%
2002 13 21.0%
2003 12 19.4%
2005 10 16.1%
2009 14 22.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Warsaw, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The clutch will not disengage every time and never fully disengages. I noticed my car had a recall for this problem in the past, so before doing the work, I called a dealer for Chrysler and was informed that the recall had already been performed. So I took it upon myself at my own expense to have the clutch replaced. It worked fine for a few months, but it started doing the same thing again.

NHTSA complaint #11611825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 113 miles Merced, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I DON'T TRULY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPEN TO IT N IF IT'S BEEN FIXED BUT I DO KNOW THAT PRIOR IT WOULD HAVE UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED CONTROL N STEERING PROBLEMS N GPS N VIDEO N AUTO RECORDING N RADIO FREQUENCIES.

NHTSA complaint #11183323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mountlake Terrace, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE THROTTLE MECHANISM SEEMED TO HAVE BECOME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES AT A HIGH THROTTLE SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10928629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 156,263 miles Malinta, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON, LOST ALL POWER ON THE HIGHWAY.I HAD TO HIT THE SHOULDER QUICKLY. I THEN TESTED CODE WITH KEY (3 CLICKS OFF/ON) GOT CODE P0622 AND P2403..TOWED TO A SHOP, TO FIND OUT THE WIRES FROM ALTERNATOR TO THE COMPUTER SHORTED OUT, IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, WIRING HARNESS RUNS ALONG CV SHAFT AND RUBS AGAINST A BOLT NEAR THE FRAME, THUS SHORTING OUT THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND BURNING OUT THE COMPUTER. SO NOW THE BILL FOR REPAIRS ARE ALMOST $650.00 AND LUCKY WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY IN TIME, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI CAUSE WE LOST POWER SO QUICK. I AM GLAD WE DIDN'T GET KILLED. IF CHRYSLER AND THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL.....OR A SAFETY WARNING .

NHTSA complaint #10564717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,789 miles Mays Landing, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10553098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,208 miles Coopersville, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,583. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, IN WHICH SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE THROTTLE BODY, THE RADIATOR, AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE POWERTRAIN AND STEERING UNIT. THE REPAIRS COST $4,000. TYPICALLY, THE FAILURES IMMEDIATELY RECUR AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE HER A SMALL REIMBURSEMENT OF $878. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500.

NHTSA complaint #10246138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,425 miles West Richland, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE HAND CONTROL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FROZEN IN PLACE AND WILL NOT MOVE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF FORCE. AFTER DISENGAGING AND RE-ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10214859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,902 miles Mukwonago, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES SQUEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10168736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,870 miles Temple, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING UP HILL I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH INCREASING FORCE UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAUGED. I HAVE DONE THISTIME ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND IT REQUIRES MUCH MORE FORCE GOING UPHILL THEN ON LEVEL GROUND. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS ALMOST AN ACCIDENT BUT I HAD THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO STEP ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIME TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN-OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10108223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Goose Creek, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS MADE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERS, AND PROBLEM DID NOT DUPLICATE ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK....

NHTSA complaint #10109087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40 miles Jonesboro, GA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND TRIED TO SWERVE TO MISS AN ANIMAL, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING.

NHTSA complaint #10104365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dearborn Heights, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #10043931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems

← Full 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser report