234 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the suspension — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
234
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
SUSPENSION
BALL JOINT ARE MISSING
NHTSA complaint #11349156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
MY EXTERIOR FRONT LIGHTS ARE VERY DULL AND AREN'T BRIGHT WHEN TURN THEM ON.
NHTSA complaint #11183941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
I HAD PURCHESED A USED 2003 PT CRUISER AND ON THE HWY HOME SHORT TIME LATER I HEARD CLUNKING SOUND THREE TIMES FIRST WHEN MERGING ONTO HWY FROM CAR DEALERSHIP. FUTHERMORE, ABOUT 10 MIN INTO MY HWY DRIVE HOME I BECAME FRIGHTEND WHEN MY CAR ENDED UP HAVING A MIND IF ITS OWN AND STARED GOING TO THE LEFT SO I TRIED TO TURN STEARING WHEEL TOWARDS RIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT FOR FEW SECONDS AND ENDED ON THE OTHERIDE OF WHITE LINE JUST ABOUT OFF HWY AND INTO GRAVEL BUT AT THAT POINT I SEENED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR STEARING AND PROCEEDING BACK BETEEEN YELLOW AND WHITE LINE ON THE HWY, FOLLOWING WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WAS WHEN I CAME TO COMPLETE STOP FOLLOWING WITH LEFT TURN (STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND EVEN LOUDER).DURNING MY ROUTE I MADE A RIGHT TURN THE SOUND AGAIN. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO TAKE A LOOK AT . THE MECHANIC SAID HE KNEW AT ONE POINT THEY HAD A SAFTY RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION FOR PT CRUSIERS BECAUSE THEY COULD CAUSE INJURY WITH MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL AS A RESULT OF LOWER CONTOL ARM /SWAY BAR / AND BAD BALL JOINTS WHICH I PERSONALLY PROB EXPERICEND ON MY WAY HOME FOLLOWING MY PURCHESE OF THE CAR. THE MECHANIC I SPOKE TO CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER AND IT DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT HOWEVER THERE WAS RECALLS FOR A SET AMOUNT AND THAT MINE WASNT ONE OF THEM BUT SHOUKD HAVE BEEN AND THAT I SHOULD INFORM " NHTSA "ABOUT MY SITUATION BECAUSE THERE COULD BE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SAME SITUATION DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING PARTS BECAUSE A MALFUCTION CAN HAPPEN TO EVEN AFTER MARKET PARTS CAN LEAD TO DEADLY ACCIDENTS EVEN DEATH BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL. I STRONGLY AGREE WITH MECHANIC THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE UPDATED EVEN ON THE AFTER MARKET PARTS FOR THE SUSPENION SUCH AS CONTROL ARM AND CALLED FOR EVERY 2003 PT CRUSIER GT BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN ACCIDENT EVEN COULD OF BEEN FATAL. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11079804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL JERK TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT WITHOUT PROBACATION. VECHILE ACCELERATES WITHOUT FOOT BEING ON THE PEDAL. ONE TIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STARTING REVING. I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET WITH EXTREME FORCE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. FINALLY, I JUST THREW THE CAR INTO PARK; ONCE IN PARK, THE CAR KEPT REVING. THE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED.THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THIS MAKES FOR UNSAFE DRIVING, AND ONLY DUE TO MY GOOD DRIVING SKILLS DID I AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #11012275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
BALL JOINT BOLT FAILURE;CAUSING FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE;SAME AS NHTSA RECALL OF 2005 PT CRUSIER;NHTSA REFERENCE #O8EO33OOO.VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET COMING TO A STOP APPROX.15MPH, EARLIER 70MPH HIWAY. REPAIR INVOICE $493.00 REPAIR,$65.00 TOWING. 05 PT CRUSIER WAS RECALLED FOR THIS PROB. NHTSA REF # 08E033000
NHTSA complaint #10948962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
..ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER HAS ROTTED SO BAD THAT IT BROKE IN A FEW PLACES CAUSING THE LOWER A ARM TO MOVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL OUT OF YOUR HANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT,THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THEN 15 MPH,..AND THAT WAS WHILE HOLDING THE WHEEL TIGHTLY....IF THIS CROSS MEMBER WAS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THERE WOULD BE A VERY BAD CRASH,..I SUGGEST ANY ONE THAT HAS A PT CRUISE HAVE IT CHECKED FOR THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTING BEFORE A CRASH TAKES PLACE,,,I WAS ABLE TO BUY A NEW CROSS MEMBER AND THE CHEAPEST PRICE WAS $514 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING,..NOW COMES THE COSTS TO INSTALL IT...WHAT IS ODD THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY,...I HAVE SOME PICS OF IT WITH THE A ARM OFF THE CROSS MEMBER..
NHTSA complaint #10913849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRSYLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V387000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10894111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AND NOW THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD TWO MOUNTS REPAIRED-STILL SHAKES. TOOK IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE-THEY SAID THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. GETTING AN ESTIMATE TODAY. I AM MOVING APRIL 18 FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. IT HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10853938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
"TAKATA RECALL " IN MY PT CRUISER THE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN IN THE CAR AND THE FRONT AXLE BAR AND FRAME WAS BROKEN AND THE WHEELS COULD NOT TURN OR CONTROL THE CAR I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TRYING TO TURN INTO A ICE CREAM SHOP THE CAR IS STILL DOING A SUDDEN JERKING WHEN DRIVEN AND AFTER PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT STARTED AND FIXED I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND NO MONEY TO GET ANOTHER.
NHTSA complaint #10838021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT. WE WERE DRIVING SLOW IN TOWN, HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED A WRECK WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE . GOT THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND TOOK A LOOK AT IT . FOUND THE FRONT SUB FRAME (TO WHICH THE STEERING GEAR, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SUCH ARE BOLTED TO) HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT IT CRACKED , ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THIS ALLOWED THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SHIFT BACKWARD CAUSING THE DEATH PULL TO THE RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10819858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
SUBFRAME CRADLE FAILURE WITH CRACK THROUGH MOUNTING. DEALER SAYS "SEEN BEFORE" NOT UNDER RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. REPAIR SHOP "HAS SEEN SEVERAL WITH SIMILAR FAILURE" SOME HAVE RESULTED IN SUSPENSION FAILURE AND ACCIDENTS. WHY IS THIS NOT THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL? NO ONE KILLED YET? REPAIR TO COST $1,400.00. UPDATED 11/09/15
NHTSA complaint #10734310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE LOWER CONTROL BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 46,197 MILES OVER 12 YEARS. THE LAST TIME CONTROL ARM AND BUSHING WERE REPLACED. FIRST TIME WAS 5-21-07 WITH 20,204 MILES ON THE CAR. SECOND TIME WAS 5-21-08, ONLY ONE YEAR LATER, 22,309 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, JUST OVER 2000 MILES FROM A YEAR AGO WHEN IT WAS DONE. THE DEALER COVERED IT BECAUSE IT WAS WARRANTY FROM A YEAR AGO. WONDER IF IT WAS EVER DONE THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME. WE JUST HAD THE CONTROL ARM AND BUSHINGS REPLACED 5-27-2015 AT 46,197 MILES. NOW THE DEALER ORIGINALLY TOLD MY WIFE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 80,000. WOW LOOKS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10725509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POP AND MY CAR STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND I ALMOST HIT A MEDIUM. MY CAR WAS STUCK ON THE EXIT RAMP.
NHTSA complaint #10682210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V268000 (STEERING) AND 08E033000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN UPDATED 7/8/2015
NHTSA complaint #10679543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED THE CAR AND RIGHT FROM THE START I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS , I HAVE HAD TO DO SO 3 TIMES ALREADY WITHIN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR , THERE HAS BEEN NO UNUSUAL STRESS ON THE BEARINGS TO MAKE THEM WEAR OUT , NOW IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING ON A CAR WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN 100K MI ON IT , LET ALONE 3 TIMES , I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, ALSO IM HAVING STALLING/ROUGH IDLE PROBLEMS THAT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT IT HAS STALLED 5 TIMES ALREADY AND REGULARLY IDLES ROUGH, THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT NORMAL AND CANNOT BE FIGURED OUR ,I'VE REPLACES SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING THE ERG VALVE PVC VALVE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES THE IAC CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE CARB AND IM STILL HAVING THESE ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10676314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I FILED A CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT THE RUSTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10667333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.