FaultScore

Chrysler PT Cruiser body problems

178 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the body and structure — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

178

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

12

Crashes

2

Fires

Body & Structure complaints by model year

2001 PT Cruiser 67 37.6%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2002 PT Cruiser 69 38.8%

Median failure at 59,250 miles

Median failure at 40,390 miles

Median failure at 15,000 miles

Median failure at 75,710 miles

2006 PT Cruiser 15 8.4%

Median failure at 77,250 miles

Median failure at 92,000 miles

Median failure at 25,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 70,000 miles Shawnee, KS

STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that the rear quarter glass fasteners on both sides of the vehicle had started to separate from the vehicle. The contact stated that the windows were violently shaking while driving at various speeds. The contact was concerned that the windows might fall out while driving and cause injury to a pedestrian. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11595572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Roanoke, VA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

I heard a strange noise, so I looked under the front end of the car. Saw all that missing. This has happened in the last two weeks. I do not drive in bad weather.

NHTSA complaint #11467435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 150,000 miles Wilmington, NC Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

WAS HIT IN REAR AS I WAS SLOWING AT STOP LIGHT

NHTSA complaint #11271009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 45,000 miles Antioch, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME FRONT END AND REAR END DAMAGE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY

NHTSA complaint #11246157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 85,300 miles LAS Vegas, NV Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

WE ARE BEING TREATED IN A VERY UNCARING, RACIST, DISCRIMINATORY WAY BY THE GENERAL MANAGER DAN HAMRICK 702-432-2401, AT #LASVEGAS CHAPMAN DODGE #CHRYSLER' @VEGASDCJ 3175 EAST SAHARA LAS VEGAS NV 89104. HE HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO SEE US. HE HAS NEVER RETURNED OUR CALLS. I WAS EVEN THREATENED WITH GREAT BODILY HARM BY THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE NICOSIA. I MADE A POLICE REPORT. WE TOOK OUR BEAUTIFUL PT CRUISER INTO LAS VEGAS #CHAPMAN DODGE CHRYSLER ON 10-13-17 BECAUSE THE #ENGINE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. THEY INSTALLED AN EXPENSIVE 'DEFECTIVE' CHRYSLER #MOPAR TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM) AND AN EXPENSIVE 'DEFECTIVE' MOPAR CHRYSLER POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). BETWEEN 10-13-17 TO 11-21-17 (APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH) I HAD TO RETURN MY CHRYSLER FOR REPAIRS FIVE (5) TIMES & THEY INSTALLED THREE (3) PCMS & TWO (2) TIPMS WHICH WERE NO GOOD!!! MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 12-11-17 AND MY CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, AND WE CRASHED!!! THIS WAS ONLY NINETEEN (19) DAYS AFTER MY CAR'S VERY LAST VISIT TO LAS VEGAS CHAPMAN #DODGE CHRYSLER ON 11-21-17. OUR CAR SUSTAINED GREAT BODY DAMAGE. IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THANK FATHER GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED!!! WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL WE READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT CHRYSLER'S DEFECTIVE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULES PROBLEMS TITLED 'CHRYSLER TIPMS CAUSING POWER PROBLEMS - UPDATED OCTOBER 15, 2016' CHRYSLERPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TIPM/. AMAZING!!! THAT ARTICLE LED US TO SIMILAR ARTICLES. THESE ARE THE RECEIPT ORDERS (WORK ORDERS) IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER: #6463649-1, #6464576-1, #6465489-1, #6467298-1, #6467796-1. THE PROBLEMS WERE NEVER REPAIRED AND MY CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I AM CHARGED A TOTAL OF $5,836.75 FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! PEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11090868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 39,000 miles Fort Lauderdale, FL

STRUCTURE

2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION ON THE INLET NOZZLE FUEL TANK. *SMD THE DEALER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CRACKED TRIM AROUND A/C UNIT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN, FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING, AND REAR SHOCK NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10919533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 39,000 miles Fort Lauderdale, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION ON THE INLET NOZZLE FUEL TANK. *SMD THE DEALER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CRACKED TRIM AROUND A/C UNIT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN, FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING, AND REAR SHOCK NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10919533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 92,000 miles Pueblo, CO Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE WAS HIT CROSSED INTO MY LANES AND I HIT THE VEHICLE HEAD ON, POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES TO KNEE, CHEST AND LAP FROM BELT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11066981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 120,000 miles Fuquay Varina, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVERS SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11022457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 170,311 miles Henrietta, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY

TAKARA RECALL. WHILE CHANGING UPPER AND LOWER MOTOR MOUNT I NOTICED SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS ROTTED AND AFTER I PUT MOUNTS IN THE CAR PULLS WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA complaint #10995582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 112,450 miles Lenoir, NC Crash 2 injured

STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE FRONT AMBER HEAD LAMPS FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END PASSENGER COLLISION. THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOVE BOX FRACTURED AND SEPARATED UPON DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS, WHICH CAUSED FACIAL INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE, A FRACTURED EYE SOCKET, AND A FRACTURED NASAL PASSAGE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E033000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,450. *JS

NHTSA complaint #10920257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 294,000 miles Beavercreek, OH

STRUCTURE

ENGINE CRADLE, OR FRONT SUBFRAME, IS RUSTED TO THE POINT I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A REPLACEMENT BUT CHRYSLER NO LONGER MAKES THE PART! NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS POINT BECAUSE OF MY CAUTION BUT THE FRONT END WAS STARTING TO MAKE POPPING NOISES WHEN I STARTED OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. THE PROBLEM IS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING ARTICLES, MANY OTHER PTS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. FOR YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO PRIME AND SPRAY OIL ON THE PART TO EXTEND IT'S LIFE. TIME HAS COME....

NHTSA complaint #10920082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 294,000 miles Beavercreek, OH

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

ENGINE CRADLE, OR FRONT SUBFRAME, IS RUSTED TO THE POINT I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A REPLACEMENT BUT CHRYSLER NO LONGER MAKES THE PART! NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS POINT BECAUSE OF MY CAUTION BUT THE FRONT END WAS STARTING TO MAKE POPPING NOISES WHEN I STARTED OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. THE PROBLEM IS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING ARTICLES, MANY OTHER PTS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. FOR YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO PRIME AND SPRAY OIL ON THE PART TO EXTEND IT'S LIFE. TIME HAS COME....

NHTSA complaint #10920082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 66,000 miles Magnolia, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE HATCHBACK DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF AND THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #10894495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 90,000 miles Pasadena, CA Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

CAR WAS REAR ENDED AND SHOVED INTO ANOTHER CAR WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. FRONT AND REAR END CRUSHED, BUMPER CAME OFF, RADIATOR AND FRONT END DAMAGE, WINDSHIELD BROKEN. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10863423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 134,300 miles DRY Branch, WV Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

HUSBAND WAS GETTING OFF OF AN EXIT AND HIT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT COME OUT FRONT END OF CAR WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING RADIATOR HOOD FENDER TRANSMISSION BUMPER SKIRTING

NHTSA complaint #10839500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 84,000 miles Westfield, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRAME, THE CV AXLES AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT AND THE STABILIZER LINK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA complaint #10808040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 136,616 miles Rosemount, MN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AN ABRUPT STOP AND ACCELERATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,616.

NHTSA complaint #10786444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 155,621 miles Baltimore, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED AND SUDDENLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERBODY PREMATURELY RUSTED AND COULD FRACTURE AT ANY MOMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CASING FOR THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE CONSTANTLY ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,621.

NHTSA complaint #10762585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 100,000 miles Mount Holly, NC Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

A CAR TURNED FROM LEFT TURN LANE IN FRONT OF ME, ABOUT TWO FT. I HIT IT AT SLIGHT ANGLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY CAR IS TOTALED . DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10704478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chrysler PT Cruiser problems