2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER: complaints, problems and recalls

DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS, VEHICLE BURNS OIL AT THE RATE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART EVERY ~600 TO ~1000 MILES. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MOSTLY ON EXPRESSWAYS, THE OIL CONSUMPTION IS GREATER THAN IF DRIVEN PRIMARILY ON SURFACE STREETS. I FIRST BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DC) DEALERSHIP AT 9,770 MILES, THOUGH I HAD NOTICED IT EARLIER. AT 9770 MILES, I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE CAR HAD CONSUMED 1 QUART OF OIL IN 1,000 MILES. ON A SUBSEQUENT TRIP TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE CONSUMED 1 QUART IN JUST 616…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000138 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD CASKET. ON DECEMBER 23 VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH THIS TIME DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001878 at NHTSA ↗

GAS LEVEL SENSOR GAUGE BROKE

Owner-reported narrative. 42,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002631 at NHTSA ↗

CLOCK SPRING BROKE IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN

Owner-reported narrative. 44,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002632 at NHTSA ↗

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BROKE

Owner-reported narrative. 50,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002633 at NHTSA ↗

CHROME IS FLAKING OFF WHEEL CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LOSE AIR

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002635 at NHTSA ↗

REAR BRAKES ON 2001 PT CRUISER W/25000 MILES MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS IF THE PADS ARE WORN OUT. DEALER HAS CHECKED THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THEY'RE SHOWING NORMAL WEAR ON THE PADS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER CRUISERS AND DODGE NEON'S AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002733 at NHTSA ↗

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY CAR A 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 44243 MILES ON IT, THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002930 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-11-09 (November 9, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.

Reported: 2002-06-14 (June 14, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE RIGHT REAR "65%" SEAT CENTER LOWER ANCHOR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A WIRE DIAMETER THAT IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE DIMENSION AS SPECIFIED IN THE STANDARD.

Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT REAR SEAT CENTER ANCHOR AND, IF NECESSARY, RESIZE THE ANCHOR TO MEET THE DIAMETER SPECIFIED WITHIN THE STANDARD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2002-08-08 (August 8, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE COULD CONTACT THE AIR-CONDITIONING TUBE SERVICE PORT. THIS CAN CAUSE CHAFING OF THE LINE RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL LINE FOR ABRASION AND INSTALL A CLIP TO ENSURE ISOLATION. IN CASES WITH EVIDENCE OF FUEL LINE ABRASION, THE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2002-08-08 (August 8, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY SEAL OVER THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.