238 of the
3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser
are about the lighting —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
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.
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.
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN TESTED. IT IS THE LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM THAT IS FAULTY AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK AND THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE/RECALL WITH OTHER MODEL YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11166067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ROOT OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE FOG LAMP SWITCH, WHICH DIFFUSED THE SMOKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN UNKNOWN CHRYSLER DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #11114205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TURNED OFF. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED PREVIOULSY MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. FOG LIGHTS JUST CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE LUCKILY I TURNED AROUND AND NOTICED IT. WHEN I OPENED MY CAR DOOR I NOTICED THE SWITCH WAS SMOKING. AFTER SOME QUICK THINKING I PULLED THE FUSE. IF I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF THIS I BELIVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT MY CAR ON FIRE AND THE ONES PARKED NEXT TO IT. I HAVE HAD THE FUSE PULLED FOR A YEAR. FLASH FORWARD TO MY CURRENT STATE IN VA AND IT'S INSPECTION TIME. I FAILED FOR A FAULTY FUNCTION SWITCH. THE GUYS REPLACED THE SWITCH FIRST STOPLIGHT I COME TO NO SIGNAL. TOOK IT BACK TO GARAGE THEY SAID SWITCH WAS BAD OUT OF THE BOX. AFTER THIS EPIDEMIC THIS WILL BE THE 4TH MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT I KNOW OF INSTALLED ON THIS CAR. HOW IN THE WORLD HAS THIS PART NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
NHTSA complaint #11097568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS ON, USING MY TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF MY HEADLIGHT ON THAT SIDE UNTIL THE TURN SIGNAL SHUTS OFF. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS IN A CHRYSLER 300, AND A TOWN AND COUNTRY. AND, I HAVE SEEN THIS IN A CHEVY CAMARO AND A VW. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE!!! THE DATE IS ONLY BECAUSE YOU NEED A DATE. IT IS FREQUENT,.
NHTSA complaint #11064155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAILLIGHT SOCKET MELTED CAUSING LAMP TO BURN OUT, AND BURNT SOCKET. A NEW LAMP WAS PURCHASED A MONTH PREVIOUS, AND WAS CLEAR. LAMP NOW APPEARS LIKE MERCURY IN COLOR, AND CRACKED UPON REMOVAL.
NHTSA complaint #11057656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOT ONLY DID MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF BUT MY DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFT DID AS WELL. MY DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #11057044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GOOD MORNING, THIS MAY NOT BE AN EMERGENCY, OR A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD, BUT... I FOUND THAT MY 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAD AN ANNOYING FLAW. WHEN I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON WITH THE DRIVING LIGHTS, AND I PUT ON MY TURN SIGNAL, THE HEADLIGHT ON THAT SIDE WOULD GO OUT. SINCE NOTHING ELSE WAS AFFECTED, I CHOSE TO KEEP MY DRIVING LIGHTS OFF. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT OTHER CHRYSLERS (300, 200), A JEEP CHEROKEE, A CHEVY CAMARO, AND A VOLKSWAGEN DO THE SAME THING, BUT WITHOUT THE DRIVING LIGHT BEING ON. IT IS ALWAYS WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THIS RECENTLY...I AM NOT SURE WHY, BUT I AM BEGINNING TO SEE THIS A LOT. ON A DARK, RAINY NIGHT, THAT COULD ELIMINATE A WHOLE QUADRANT OF LIGHT IS A PERSON IS TURNING. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. I AM ALSO GOING TO CONTACT OTHER ENTITIES, BUT I THINK THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11054487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING WENT OUT AND BOUGHT NEW HEADLIGHTS AND THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, AND ALSO BLINKERS TO NOT FLASH FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR, ALSO WENT OUT AND BOUGHT BULBS THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THE INTERGRATED POWER MODULE 2006 CHRYSLER OR CRUISER CONTROLS HEADLIGHTS BLINKER IT CAN ONLY BE RESET BY DEALERSHIP OR REPLACE. I LOOKED UP F33 IT WAS A RECALL FOR DIRECTION SIGNAL BULB FICTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP I NEED TO DRIVE MY CAR. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11034415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE SEEN THIS WITH SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS - ALL CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. WHEN I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS AND "FOG" LIGHTS ON, TURNING ON MY TURN SIGNAL MAKES THE HEADLIGHT ON THAT SIDE GO OUT. WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL GOES OFF, THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN A JEEP COMPASS AND A CHRYSLER 300, ALSO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11013656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY INOPERATIVE. NO HIGH BEAM, LOW BEAM, OR TURN SIGNAL / FLASHER FUNCTION. REPLACED BULBS SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL TEST GOOD IN OTHER FIXTURES SUCH AS DRIVER SIDE LAMP ASSEMBLY. ENGINE IS THROWING "CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE DETECTED". PLUGS, WIRES REPLACED WITH NO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #11006511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING WIRES, BUT THERE WERE NO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE FOG LIGHTS ONLINE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10992806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON RETURNING HOME FROM AN EVENT IN THE EVENING I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TURNED OFF LIGHTS AND THEN THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN EXCEPT THE FOG LIGHTS STAYED ON (THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF). I NEVER HAD THE FOG LIGHTS ON THAT EVENING. I TRIED VARIOUS A TEMPS I.E. PUSHING THE BUTTEN IN, TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN, ETC., BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY SUCCESS. MY WIFE WENT ONLINE AND FOUND (FROM MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR PT CRUSIERS) TO PUT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THEN PUSH THE FOG LIGHT BUTTEN IN. THIS WORKED SO THAT I DIDN'T WAKE UP TO A DEAD BATTERY. IF YOU GO ONLINE YOU WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN PT CRUISERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM INCLUDING SOME HAVING SMOKE COMING FROM THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE SOON!!
NHTSA complaint #10968457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I PULLED OVER AND I DIDNT HAVE DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. ALL THE FUSES ARE GOOD. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND ALOT OF PT CRUISERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUE IT SEEMS THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE FUSE BLOCK GOES BAD I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. I THINK ITS REDUNDANT THAT YPU HAVE TO PAY 150-250 DOLLARS EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. WHEN NO ONE REALLY HAS THAT KINDA MONEY
NHTSA complaint #10919959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR WAS IDLING AND THAN I DROVE IT HOME ON A CITY STREET IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ABOUT 4 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. DLING IN PARK; SEATBELT LIGHT KEPT DINGING ON; SPEEDOMETER KEPT JUMPING BACK AND FORTH FROM 0-100; IDLING AT TRAFFIC STOP; CAR SHUTTERS LIKE IT WILL CUT OFF; SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND WHILE CAR IS NOT MOVING. PCM/TCM REPLACED MULTIPLE TIME; BATTERY LOSES CHARGE FOR NO KNOWN REASON; HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, PAY FOR SENSORS AND PARTS NEEDED ONLY FOR THE SAME ISSUE TO HAPPEN. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I AM A SINGLE MOM, MY SON AND I WERE IN THE CAR AND WE WERE SCARED. COULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10910042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.