168 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the braking system — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
168
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
24
Crashes
8
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint #11655145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN HOWEVER THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SKIN RASH AND MOUTH DAMAGE DUE TO THE SUBSTANCE THAT CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAG UPON DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED BRUISES AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS THE SERVICE BRAKE TUBE FAILING AND THE BALL JOINT WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *DT
NHTSA complaint #11206871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STIFF. AFTER REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11075818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO TREE TRUNKS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
NHTSA complaint #10909694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ON A DIRT PATCH, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PADS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE TO RISE FROM BENEATH THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10893164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
IN DEC. 2013, AT 71K MILES, IN THE CAR USED BY MY COLLEGE-AGE DAUGHTER, WHEN STARTING THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING (20'S) I NOTED ROCK-HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND NO POWER ASSIST WHATSOEVER WHILE BACKING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY. BY THE STREET, IT HAD A NORMAL PEDAL FEEL AND ASSIST. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED IN COLD-MORNING STARTS. THE DEALER, KLABEN CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF KENT, OHIO, WAS HELPFUL AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER A FEW WEEKS LATER, FOR FREE. A YEAR LATER MY DAUGHTER MENTIONED THE CAR WAS DOING THIS AGAIN (COLD WEATHER HAD RETURNED). I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KLABEN AND SAID I WAS COMPELLED TO CONTACT NHTSA AS IF I OR MY DAUGHTER HIT A PERSON BECAUSE OF NO BRAKE ASSIST WHATSOEVER, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC. IN MARCH OF 2015, KLABEN AGAIN REPLACED THE BOOSTER AND PCV FILTER, FREE, INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE BOOSTER. WHILE THIS SERVICE WAS APPRECIATED, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE RECENTLY (JAN. 2016), I STARTED HER CAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ROCK-HARD WHEN PUSHING IT TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. IT IMMEDIATELY HAD POWER ASSIST AFTER THAT, BUT THIS TELLS ME THE PROBLEM IS RETURNING. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL LAST YEAR (AFTER OUR CAR'S LAST BOOSTER REPLACEMENT) ON 2013-14 DODGE DART MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR WAS IDENTICAL--REPLACE BOOSTER IF OIL IS FOUND IN THERE. I BELIEVE OTHER CHRYSLER MODELS BESIDES THE DART ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AS OUR CAR HAS. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND HOPEFULLY A PERMANENT FIX FOUND. I BELIEVE OUR CAR'S COLD-WEATHER BRAKING WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AND I DON'T WANT THIS PROBLEM TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE NEXT WINTER.
NHTSA complaint #10824698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY OCCURRED TWO MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MANUALLY NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED IN SOME INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10790710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10764229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH TOWN WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE RUBBER BURNING, SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM PASSENGER FRONT SIDE OF CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF OF ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF & LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS. NO LEAKS OF ANY KIND. MY MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING MY PT. THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE SEIZED & BURNED UP MY CALIPER, ROTOR & BRAKE PADS. IT WAS SO HOT, IT LITERALLY MELTED PARTS. I CAME CLOSE TO A MAJOR FIRE & IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. I HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS- BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10716415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
NEED TO PUT THIS VEHICLE IN SHOP TO HAVE THE RECALLS DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10705776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT, THE GAS GAUGE WENT TO ZERO AND THE CAR JUST DIED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING AND I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I COULD NOT RESTART. I CALLED 911 FOR HELP AS CARS WERE NOW ZOOMING UP BEHIND ME STALLED IN THE LANE. I WAS SO SCARED THAT SOMEONE WOULD HIT ME. I SAT WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON AGAIN AND THE GAS GAUGE WENT BACK TO FULL. I TRIED TO START IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT 2 BLOCKS HOME. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO THE CLEANERS AND WHILE TRYING TO PARK IT DIED IN THE PARKING LOT. I AGAIN WAITED AND IT FINALLY STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SUGGESTED I JUNK IT FOR ABOUT $100. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AND NOW THERE IS A CHRYSLER RECALL ON OTHER 2008 MODELS WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10692964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
OUR BRAKES NEEDED REPLACED FOR INSPECTION THE COMPANY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WE DIDN'T DRIVE MORE THE 15,000 MILES AND BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AND MAKING NOISE THEY NEEDED REPLACED AGAIN IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE PT.CRUISERS SINCE THEY WERE MADE. HAVING TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT AMONG THE OWNERS OF PT CRUISERS NO MATTER WHAT YEAR MADE WE STILL HAVE OURS AND IT HAS HAD IT'S BRAKES REPLACED MORE OFTEN THAN WHAT IT WAS DRIVEN WE CURRENTLY HAVE 88,000 ON OURS AND THE BRAKES START THIS NOISE THEN FAIL AFTER 20,00 MILES THIS APPEARS TO BE VERY UNSAFE IT ALSO APPEARS TO HAPPEN ON THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE FIRST THEN MOVES AROUND. THIS MAKES ANY PT CRUISER UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
NHTSA complaint #10659441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CAUSED THE SPEED TO INCREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,293.
NHTSA complaint #10654970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. AT THAT TIME I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKING FOR THE VEHICLE. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE THEN, TWICE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10652279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MONTHS BACK. I WAS DRIVING FROM VEGAS BACK HOME TO LOS ANGELES ON THE I-15 FREEWAY. I WAS ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND JUST TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WAS ROCK HARD. IT JUST WOULDN'T PRESS DOWN. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO NOT GET INTO A COLLISION AT THAT SPEED AND MOVED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WAITED FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STARTED PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES SLOWLY. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND SINCE THE BRAKES WOULDN'T GET PRESSED I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVE MODE. I CALLED 911. THE STATE TROOPER THAT CAME CHECKED THE CAR, SAT ON THE DRIVER SEAT ND DROVE THE CAR A BIT. HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID "I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SURVIVED THIS. THERE ARE NO BRAKES IN THE CAR". HE CHECKED THE COOLANT, BRAKE FLUID, OIL AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. I CALLED AAA WHO TOWED MY CAR BACK TO VEGAS TO FIX IT. THAT COST ME $424. THE REPAIR GUY WHO FIXED THE CAR SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE MANIFOLD FROM WHERE THE PIPES ARE CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES HAS A METAL ELBOW THAT CONNECTS THE PIPES TO THE MANIFOLD. THAT METAL ELBOW FELL OFF AND HE TRIED SETTING IT BACK ON BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T STAY. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT SINCE THE METAL ELBOWS COMES WITH THE MANIFOLD AND THAT IS MADE AT THE CHRYSLER FACTORY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THE SAME THING. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME SINCE THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS!
NHTSA complaint #10628121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF LEAVING ME NO CONTROL TO STOP, TURN, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME..... @ 55MPH TO NOTHING IS ASKING TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND. OR IF TURNING ACROSS A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, TO BE LEFT STUCK WITH 2 LANES OF SEMI COMING FOR ME AND MY KIDS. NOW IT SOMETIMES WONT EVEN DO ANYTHING WHEN I CRANK OVER THE IGNITION (LIKE THERE IS NO BATTERY) OR IF IT CRANKS AND STARTS IT WILL SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY. IT WANTS TO IDLE DOWN AT STOPS AND STALL. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I LIKE N SPENT MORE MONEY TO HAVE TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. I READ OF SO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WHO END UP JUNKING THESE CUZ THEY JUST STOP STARTING....SAD, WE NEED OUR CARS TO RUN. CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY R RIDDLED WITH SERIOUS ISSUES INCLUDING THE LIGHTS AND TRANSMISSIONS.....THESE ARE A BAD COMBINATION ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK @ SOME STATS! THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10626759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING VEHICLE, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF, CARS STALLS, BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE ENGINE FAN WON'T SHUT OFF WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, AND IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THAT PART IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND VERY IRRITATING, BUT THE STALLING OUT AND COMPLETELY DYING, IS VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10621837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE FIRST TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2013 THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. I HAD GONE INTO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ON BUT SOME WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANICS SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE BATTERY AND REPLACED IT. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WILL FLASH ON AND OFF BUT NOT FOR LONG. LAST NIGHT 7/30/2014 I WAS DRIVING, EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND NOT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE AT FIRST THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. WE HAD TO PUSH IT TO SAFETY AND THEN I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME KIND OF CODE OR SOMETHING (NO BUS/5) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RPM SECTION OF THE PANEL. COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL ABOUT IT, CALLED AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THEIR DATABASE, SO I HAD A FRIEND GOOGLE IT. EVERYTHING POINTS TO THE ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM AND FUSES. SEVERAL PEOPLE POSTED THIS ISSUE WITH JEEPS AND PT CRUISERS.
NHTSA complaint #10617845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I STOPPED AT OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT MAIL CENTER. WHEN I BACKED OUT, THE BRAKING HAD LOST ITS POWER ASSIST AND I HAD TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL TO ACHIEVE A MINIMUM OR BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A NEARBY GARAGE AND THEY QUICKLY NOTED THAT THERE IS A 3 WAY CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM THAT GOES TO THE BRAKE CYLINDER AREA. FOR WHATEVER REASON, ONLY A 2 WAY VALVE IS NEEDED AND A RUBBER CAP IS PLACED OVER THE UNUSED PORT AND THIS CAP HAD SOMEHOW CAME OFF. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE MAIL CENTER, I FOUND THE MISSING CAP WHICH IS A SOFT RUBBER WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS INADEQUATE FOR THE PURPOSE. THE MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T SEE WHY CHRYSLER USES A 3 WAY WHEN A 2 WAY CHECK VALVE IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO SUCH VALVES, BOTH WITH THE SOFT RUBBER CAP ON THE UNUSED PORT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 2 MINUTES SOONER I MIGHT HAVE CRASHED INTO THE COMPOUND GATE AND IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS SINCE SUDDENLY, YOUR BRAKES HAVE APPARENTLY STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10585000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.