578 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the electrical system — 17% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
578
Complaints
17%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
41
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIPM. Faulty Module, causing ignition/run power loss while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11726467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHen the fog lights are engaged, smoke and burning smell appears to be coming inside the steering wheel on the left side.
NHTSA complaint #11614720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problems reside in the total integrated power management module. TPIM whereas vehicle will shut off while driving. No indicator lights to give warning before the vehicle shuts off. Has on occasion shut off and recovered power multiple times within a minute This is a very dangerous scenario to conduct a road test or have someone confirm the issue on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11562365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical system is malfunctioning the fans do not kick on at all,even after reaching temperature.Even when the "Air" condition is turned on full blast or the "Heater" it doesn't matter which one is used it still doesn't engage the "Fan".
NHTSA complaint #11473780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'm driving along, cruise set to 65. Ac on. Radio on. No sounds or weird feels from the car. Every light on the dash comes on. They went off after two seconds, with the seatbelt light being last to shut off. Then the car hits 113k miles about ten miles later and just... shuts off. All gauges drop to zero. Ac shuts off. Radio still playing. Full tank of gas. Headlights still on, brakes worked, power steering worked, and emergency flashers worked. I managed to get out of traffic and pull over without causing an accident. I turn the radio off and turn the key off for a few minutes. It cranked right back up and ran a little rough for a moment before smoothing out. I drove home without incident, but kept the radio and cruise off. And stayed under 65. Thankfully, traffic was light. The car has not been fixed as of this posting, nor has it been seen by anyone due to the weekend. Unsure of when I can get it fixed due to finances, but if this happens in heavy traffic or on one of many roads with no shoulder, lives will be at risk.
NHTSA complaint #11469857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
all of the dash board instrument cluster lights turn on breifly,car speed starts to drop, lights on dash turn back off,[ all except seat belt lights] then car seems to restart itself and will reaccelerate.all this happens while we are driving in traffic at highway speeds, this is not good and could result in a very serious incident, not only for us but for othe
NHTSA complaint #11427363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPORADIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER POWERS ON AND OFF ILLUMINATING ALL LIGHTS. WHEN CONDITION OCCURS IT IS VASTLY DISTRACTING UNABLE TO DETERMINE VEHICLE SPEED ACCURATELY. WHEN THE ISSUE IS PRESENT THE ENGINE WILL TYPICALLY SHUT OFF. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN INCREDIBLY BAD CONDITION TO ALLOW IN A VEHICLE AND CONTACTING CHRYSLER LED TO NO SOLUTION FOR RESOLVING. INTERNET SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF SITUATION AND EXISTS ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. CHRYSLER DOES HAVE A RECALL NOTICE "01V288000" FOR MODEL YEAR 2001 WHICH APPEARS TO BE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE. DUE TO THE HIGHLY DISTRACTING NATURE OF THIS CONDITION AND FREQUENCY OF SIMILAR OWNER REPORTS IT SEEMS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS THAT A RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT EXIST.
NHTSA complaint #11385200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT STARTED WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE MIDDLE STICK LIGHTS (P,D,R,N++) I CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT WHAT SPEED I'M GOING OR MY LEVELS OR ANYTHING BC THE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED I'VE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TWICE, I'VE HAD THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED TWICE BUT IT STILL OVER HEATS NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH BOTH OF MY TODDLERS IN THE CAR ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY LOCKED UP ON ME COULDN'T USE THE STEERING WHEEL OR BRAKES HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT'S JUST BEEN REPETITIVE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY SISTER WHO'S GRANDMOTHER GOT TIRED OF PUTTING MONEY INTO IT IT STUTTERS SOMETIMES LIKE IT'S SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO ACCELERATE IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. IT WAS MY FIRST CAR IT'S NEVER BEEN WRECKED, I NEVER THOUGHT TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS, I BOUGHT IT IN JULY OF 17. IT'S ONLY HAD A TOTAL OF 2 OWNERS. IT USED TO SHAKE REAL BAD I COULDN'T GO OVER 55MILES AN HOUR BUT EVEN 55 WAS IFFY. THE SCARIEST THING FOR ME WAS IT LOCKING UP ON A HIGHWAY WITH AN INTERSECTING LANE I HAD JUST HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME BEFORE IT STARTED SMOKING AND LOCKED UP AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN MY KIDS 3 & 1 WERE IN THE BACK ALL I COULD THINK TO DO WAS PULL MY EMERGENCY BREAK I DRIFTED AND SWERVED UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP LUCKILY NOT WRECKING OR INJURING ANYONE, JUST FEAR OF DRIVING I REALLY TRUSTED THIS CAR. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO GET AHOLD OF A STATE TROOPER WHO GAVE ME A COUPLE DAYS TO MOVE IT GIVEN MY CIRCUMSTANCE AND 45 MIN AWAY FROM HOME, A STRANGER STOPPED TO HELP AND OFFERED TO GIVE US A RIDE BACK TO IRONTON FROM THE WEST PORTSMOUTH HIGHWAY HE LIVED IN PORTSMOUTH OUT OF KINDNESS MOVED MY CAR TO HIS HOUSE THERE AFTER DROPPING US OFF THAT NIGHT TO KEEP FROM GETTING IT TOWED. OFFICER NOTED EVERYTHING. I DIDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING UNTIL I JUST RECENTLY GOT ANOTHER 2004 PT THAT STARTED FIRE IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #11317422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 12/21/2018 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED SO I COULD GET MY NEW TAGS. I HAD PASSED EVERY TWO YEARS BUT NOT THIS TIME. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NEW LAW THAT REQUIRED THE VIN TO SHOW UP ON THE REPORT WHEN THEY HOOK UP THEIR EQUIPMENT TO MY ONBOARD COMPUTER/DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND MINE DID NOT. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED INTO MY SYSTEM BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. I SPENT THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS MISSING AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT JUST GOT THE RUN AROUND OR OFFERS TO FIX IT FOR A LOT OF MONEY THAT THE DEQ INSPECTOR TOLD ME WAS UNNECESSARY WHEN I WENT THROUGH DEQ THE SECOND TIME IN MAY OF 2019. I EVEN WROTE TO CHRYSLER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED IF THIS INFORMATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW BUT MINE IS MISSING AND SHOWS UP ON THE DEQ REPORT. I'VE INCLUDED THE TWO REPORTS I HAVE FROM 12/21/2018 AND 5/15/2019. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11298193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. IDLE SPEEDS INCONSISTENT. WINDSHIELD CRACKED STRAIGHT ACROSS 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
NHTSA complaint #11290245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I REPLACED MY VEHICLES BATTERY 2 DAYS AGO(NOV 12, 2019)(VERY OLD BATTERY AND WITH THE COLD IN MASSACHUSETTS IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED). NOW WITH A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING BATTERY THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN PCM (NOT ALTERNATOR) IS SIGNALING ALTERNATOR TO RAISE CHARGING VOLTAGE INTERMITTENTLY TO AS HIGH AS 17.1VOLTS, BUT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY BOUNCING BETWEEN 14.1V -16.7VOLTS. THIS INCREASE OF VOLTAGE TO A UNSAFE LEVEL CAUSES ALL ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE IN CONNECTED TO THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND ARE OPERATIONAL TO FLASH/ FLICKER. EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD FLASHING/ FLICKERING. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THE PCM NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED WITH THE PROPER UPDATED FIRMWARE IN ORDER TO FIX THE FACTORY WEAK PARAMETERS. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER TODAY(NOV 14,2019) AT MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP (CENTRAL JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM FIAT @ 56 BOSTON PROVIDENCE TPKE, NORWOOD, MA 02062) ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED TO HAVE MY PCM REPROGRAMMED SINCE ONLY THAT SPECIFIC MODEL CAR MANUFACTURES SERVICE SHOP WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY AND PCM FIRMWARE TO REPAIR IT. THE MANAGER REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON MY CAR SINCE HE SAID, "I WONT TOUCH CARS OLDER THAN 10YEARS AND CLOSE TO 100,000MILES". THEN ASKED IF I WAS EVEN A CUSTOMER AT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, SAYING NO AGAIN AFTER I SAID I WASN'T. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION THAN THE FACTORY DEALERSHIP TO FIX A FACTORY FLAWED PCM, WHICH MAKES THE RISK OF MY BATTERY EXPLODING DUE TO THE INCREASED REGULATED VOLTAGE VERY LIKELY. THIS PROBLEM ISN'T NEW TO CHRYSLER SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED SEVERAL TSB(S) IN MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND THIS EXACT PROBLEM: 18-112-16 18-026-03 REV.A 18-016-03 18-020-04
NHTSA complaint #11279975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHETHER IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL, TILT STEERING WHEEL CLAMPING MECHANISM HAS WORN THROUGH WIRES CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND ITS WARNING SYSTEM, CREATING INTERMITTENT (SHORT?) FAILURE OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, PRESENTING POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS OFF, HORN WILL NOT SOUND BUT VENTILATION FAN RUNS. WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON, HORN WILL SOUND, BUT IF ACTIVATED, VENTILATION FAN STOPS RUNNING. MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST STEERING WHEEEL TILT TO MAKE FAN RUN OR HONK HORN - CREATING A DISTRACTED DRIVING HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #11267038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE RUNNING AT 45 MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO, AND THE MOTOR STARTED STUMBLING. TRYING TO NURSE IT HOME, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHERE THE PREVIOUS THINGS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT ALSO THE MOTOR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS LEFT ME STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY 4 LANE HIGHWAY. ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED WHERE I DROVE IT HOME. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I SEE WHERE ONLINE THIS HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT OVER AND OVER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO THROW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT IT AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T CARE.
NHTSA complaint #11243684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE READING AS THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE ODOMETER CODE SYSTEM.. MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME EVEN WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY BATTERY TERMINAL SEEMS TO BE WEAK POSSIBLY HAVING SHORTAGE MOMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME. MY VEHICHLE WILL PULL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. MY BREAKS FEEL LIKE THERE GOING TO GIVE OUT OR ARE BRAND KNEW . MY VEHICHLE MAKES A NOISE AS IF THE FRONT CV AXELS OR BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE GREASED. MY WIRING AND ENGINE IS MY MAIN CONCERN. MY AC DOESN'T WORK MY RADIATOR SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED MY CAR WILL MAKE A GUZZLING NOICE DUE TO THE COOLANT . THE LIST GOES ON. I BOUGHT MY VEHICHLE APPROX. 4MONTHS AGO. THE ISSUES HAVE PROGRESSED OVER THE PAST MONTH.
NHTSA complaint #11242425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ALL THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON ENGINE STALLS EVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. CAR HAS TO STOPPED, KEY TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ERRORS CLEAR. IT HAS DONE SINCE IT WAS NEW.. IT HAS BEEN RESEARCHED BY DEALER WHILE IN FOR SERVICE. NEVER FIXED IT IS STILL DOING IT..
NHTSA complaint #11221818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEAD LAMPS WOULD ILLUMINATE RANDOMLY DAY OR NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS WAS REPLACED BY HIM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC CLIP HOLDING THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE SWITCH HAD BURNED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
NHTSA complaint #11219448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (6) TIMES, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARY MILLER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 5746 PEACH ST, MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP, PA 16509, (814) 868-3635) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF INVALID VIN
NHTSA complaint #11218856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL-THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. FUEL ODOR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR AN ADDITIONAL HOUR VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ALONG THE FIREWALL MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED, FIRE REPORT FILED, FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT UPON START UP THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RESTARTED ALMOST AN HOUR LATER. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE FIRE SEEMED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN A WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED BEHIND THE FUEL LINES FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PIIR = Y. AH *DT
NHTSA complaint #11207986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS SAME TIMP AND FAILED FUEL PUMP RELAY OF RECALL UNITS FROM MANUFACTURER AFFECTING 2007-2014, JEEP, DURANGO, AND TOWN AND COUNTRY. SEVERAL MECHANICS PREVIOUSLY COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE WITH STALLING AND POOR ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED AND WORSENED OVER 6 MONTHS, BEFORE THE FUEL PUMP FINALLY FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #11202663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO HEADLIGHT, HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM OR TURN SIGNAL RIGHT SIDE. THIS BEGAN ABOUT 6/2017 WHEN REPLACING BULBS DID NOT WORK. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE HORN ALSO STOPPED WORKING. FUEL GAUGE STOPPED READING AND SOMETIMES READS FULL THEN DROPS TOWARD E THEN MAY SHOW HALF. NEVER A CONSTANT READING ANYMORE. ALL FUSES AND RELAYS TEST GOOD. TIPM APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR DEFECTS TO CIRCUIT BOARDS. NO GOOD VOLTAGE TO HEAD LAMPS OR TURN SIGNAL (METER SHOWS 11.5 VOLTS, BUT APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL AND NOT A GOOD VOLTAGE. CANNOT LIGHT A BULB BUT STILL SHOWS THE VOLTAGE ON THE METER), GROUNDS METER GOOD TO CHASSIS. WIRING HARNESS APPEARS GOOD WITH NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE. RUNS VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE LIGHT CODES A CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE. RUNS SMOOTH UNDER ACCELERATION BUT VERY ROUGH ON IDLE AND SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN STOPPING OR AT RED LIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ALREADY ON TIMING BELTS, ALTERNATORS, INJECTORS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. DEALERS WONT LOOK AT IT WITHOUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I SUSPECT TIPM AND PCM TO BE DEFECTIVE UNITS THROUGHOUT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. YOU CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I CANT GET THE LIGHTS TO WORK. CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED BECAUSE IT IS UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11194652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.