2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Exterior lighting Problems

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 ID

10992806

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

WAS DRIVING DAUGHTER TO WORK AND BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. HOWEVER, I ASSUMED IT WAS A PASSING VEHICLE (STREETS WERE VERY WELL LIT, AND I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED MY LIGHTS WERE OUT). THE NEXT MORNING MY WIFE WAS HEADING OUT TO PICK-UP OUR DAUGHTER FROM WORK, AND WAS FLASHED BY THE LOCAL POLICE FOR NOT HAVING LIGHTS ON. THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. WHEN I RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL IT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED. UPON INVESTIGATING THE INTERNET FOR A HARNESS I CAME UPON SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE SAME PROBLEM. (IF EVERYONE WERE TO UNITE AND POST THEIR COMPLAINTS HERE THERE WOULD BE MANY) THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO A SHORTING OUT OF THE WIRING CAUSED BY THE OEM FOG LIGHTS. THIS HOWEVER, DID NOT CAUSE EITHER THE DASH FUSE OR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE TO BLOW, WHICH IS A REAL CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536996

Incident

Aug 15, 2013

Mileage

128,200 mi

VEHICLE MULTI SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING STOCK FOG LIGHTS TO SHORT, IN TURN, DRAINING THE BATTERY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AND TURNED OFF. *TR UPDATED 08/20/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10521145

Incident

Jun 19, 2013

Mileage

121,700 mi

FOG LIGHTS MALFUNCTION VERY FREQUENTLY. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, VEHICLE'S BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED BECAUSE THE FOG LIGHTS ARE ON (WHICH ARE NEVER TURNED ON OR EVEN USED) AND WILL NOT GO OFF. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO GO OFF, THE LIGHTS CONTROL HAS TO BE JIGGLED JUST RIGHT TO GET THEM TO GO OFF SO WE KNOW THE BATTERY WON'T BE DRAINED AFTER A FEW HOURS. LATELY, IT HAS GOTTEN HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF AND FINALLY HAD TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514526

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

79,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2001 PT CRUISER AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH BUT DID NOT HELP. HAD TO RE-WIRE THE LIGHTS TO MAKE THEM WORK. ALSO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAS SOMETHING LOOSE. POSSIBLY BUSHINGS?? I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LIGHTS. WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO GET A RECALL IN PLACE? WE GOT A TICKET FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10485037

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

Mileage

230,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS USED TO DRIVE TO LOCAL STORE AT NIGHT. FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON AT ANY TIME. I PARKED IN DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT AND CAME OUT AFTER SHOPPING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM PT CRUISER. OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ODOR BECAME MORE APPARENT. NOTICED SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. ALSO NOTICED FOG LAMP INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD WAS ON. HOWEVER, ALL LIGHTS AND SWITCHES WERE OFF. I HAD TO PULL OUT SEVERAL FUSES UNTIL I FOUND THE ONE RELATED TO THE FOG LAMPS. THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO QUICKLY POWER OFF THE FOG LAMPS AND STOP THE SMOLDERING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10474214

Incident

Sep 5, 2012

Mileage

143,000 mi

WEB SITE TOPIX WILL CONFIRM THE INCREDIBLE # OF FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD FOG LAMPS TURN ON AFTER CAR IS SHUT DOWN CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN. 100'S HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT PART MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS CONTROLS FOG, HEAD, ACCESSORY, & DASH LIGHTING. TO PREVENT THE FOG LAMPS FROM COMING ON BY THEMSELVES, MOST HAVE REMOVED FUSE # 8 TO REMOVE THE FOG LAMPS FROM THE CIRCUIT. PEOPLE REPORT SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL LEVER, & THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING IS QUITE COMMON. I PERSONALLY HAVE REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH 3 TIMES ON MY WIFE'S 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 50,000 TOTAL MILES & SHE BEING ORIGINAL OWNER. BY PARKING HER CAR MINUS FUSE # 8, NOT USING DOME LIGHTING, & ALWAYS PARKING WITH THE SIGNAL LEVER IN THE DOWN OR LEFT TURN POSITION HAS PREVENTED THE MYSTERY FOG LAMP ISSUE, & KEPT HER BATTERY FUNCTIONING. THIS "TEMP" SOLUTION HAS ALLOWED HER ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS OF DRIVING W/O THE PROBLEMS OTHER PT OWNERS STRUGGLE WITH. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL LOSE LIGHTING OR A FIRE WILL OCCUR INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, LOSS OF VEHICLE & POSSIBLY DEATH. CHRYSLER DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE, BUT WANTS MORE THAN $1,000.000 TO ANALYZE & REPAIR. THROUGH THE TOPIX P.T FORUM I WAS ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO DO THE WORK MYSELF FOR FAR LESS THAN $100. MANY ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF FOR HUNDREDS WHILE CHRYSLER KNOWS FULL WELL OF THE ISSUE. NO LESS THAN AN INVESTIGATION, PERHAPS STARTED WITH THE TOPIX FORUM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF FAILURES THAT STILL PLAGUE THE P.T. ON LATER MODELS SUCH AS 2001 THRU 06 OR 08. ALSO NEED 3RD. BRAKE JOB, & THE RIMS DO NOT SEAL CAUSING LOW TIRES THAT HURT MPG. DRIVING COMFORT, & SAFETY. DEALER & I HAVE TRIED MICHELIN TIRES HOPING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED GOODYEARS. I STILL HEAR EVERY 100 MILES OR SO THAT MY WIFE'S P.T NEEDS ADDITIONAL AIR PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457944

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ALSO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10448157

Incident

Oct 19, 2006

Mileage

62,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A 2-LANE ROAD, LIGHT SNOW COMING DOWN GOING AROUND 45 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. TOTAL DARKNESS! I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE ANOTHER 7 TO 10 MILES AND THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. AGAIN, I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME I KEPT THE DIMS ON. I HAD BEEN USING THE WIPERS TO CLEAR SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND ALSO MY BRIGHTS AND DIMS FOR ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I DROVE BACK HOME WITH ONLY MY DIMS ON.....LIGHTS WENT OUT 2 MORE TIMES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10444305

Incident

Jan 11, 2012

Mileage

148,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS PT CRUISER, PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2000. MY MULTI-SWITCH WILL NOT TURN ON MY FOG LIGHTS AND THE INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE ARTICLES FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY WON'T CHRYSLER FIX THIS ON GOING PROBLEM? *TT

NHTSA ID

10427927

Incident

Aug 30, 2011

Mileage

69,896 mi

MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH IN PT CRUISER IS POORLY DESIGNED, RESULTING IN UNRELIABLE EXTERIOR LIGHT OPERATION. EITHER CAN TURN ON FOG LIGHTS, OR LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN CAR IS OFF AND SWITCH IS OFF AND DRAINS BATTERY. MINE HAS OCCURRED 5X. INTERNET SEARCH FINDS THIS TO BE COMMON TO PT'S, WITH OTHERS REPORTING ELECTRICAL SHORT, SMOKE, AND TOTAL MELTDOWN OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404353

Incident

May 26, 2011

Mileage

78,640 mi

HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS OCCURRED LAST OCT. 2009. I REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THEN LAST WEEK OCT.3, 2010 SAME THING OCCURRED. ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE STOPPING WITHOUT HEADLAMPS. I CANNOT SEE WHY CHRYSLER WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY SWITCH. I WILL NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT UNTIL CHRYSLER COMES UP WITH A FIX FOR ITS POOR SWITCH DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360343

Incident

Oct 3, 2010

Mileage

112,005 mi

2001 PT CRUISER FLOODLIGHTS STAY ON AFTER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WILL ONLY GO OFF IF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. THIS SITE HAS OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 AFTER READING THIS SITE, I REALIZED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING(LOOKS LIKE IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES FOR IT TO START) I ORDERED MY CAR IN 2000 AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN OUR TOWN TO GET ONE. IT HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. I CERTAINLY CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT BY MYSELF AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I WILL BE SAFE IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347966

Incident

Aug 7, 2010

FAULTS WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THE 2001 PT CRUISER CAUSES THE FOGLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. I REPLACED THE SWITCH, AND ALTHOUGH THE FOGLIGHTS NOW WORK PROPERLY, THERE IS NOW A FAULT IN THE DOME LIGHT FUNCTION, WHICH CAUSES THE DOME LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. I RESEARCHED THE COMPONENT ON-LINE AND RETRIEVED REPORTS OF HEADLIGHTS TURNING THEMSELVES OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. HEADLIGHTS, FOGLIGHTS, DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION, DOME LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS ARE ALL IN THE SAME COMPONENT. FOR FOGLIGHT DEFECT, MECHANIC REMOVED THE APPROPRIATE FUSE FROM THE FUSE PANEL AS A TEMPORARY FIX.

NHTSA ID

10307455

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

64,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNAL/HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH ON MY 01 PT CRUISER HAS FAILED IN THAT MY RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL TO THE FRONT DOES NOT COME ON. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS AND BEEN TOLD BY CHRYSLER PERSONNEL THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE IS TURN SIGNAL/HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS PART IS IN BACKORDER TO THE TUNE OF APPROX 4600 PARTS AND AN AFTER MARKET COMPANY THAT I CONTACTED SAID THEY ARE ALSO IN APPROX 30DAYS BACKORDER STATUS TRYING TO FILL THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENTS. IN CHECKING WITH ON-LINE FORUMS I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR SWITCH INVOLVE HEADLIGHT FAILURE TO OPERATE AND LIGHTS (FOG LIGHTS) COMING ON WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT FAILURE AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO SOMEONE'S ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SWITCH FAILING "UN-ANNOUNCED" AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY NOT ONLY TO THE OPERATOR OF THE PT CRUISER BUT TO OTHER VEHICLE OPERATORS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282939

Incident

Aug 20, 2009

Mileage

59,106 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FOG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WITH NO WARNING. A NEEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS NEEDED. UPDATED 09/02/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10278198

Incident

Jul 4, 2009

Mileage

59,000 mi

2000 PT CRUISER WITH 50000 MILES. MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED IN PAST TWO WEEKS. WHEN VEHICLE TURNED OFF, FOG LAMPS STAY ON. ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF IS TO TURN ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WENT TO DEALER TO GET REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND WE ARE #1500 ON WAITING LIST FOR NEW SWITCH. CHRYSLER HAS NO OUTLOOK FOR WHEN NEW SWITCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE. PULLED FOG LIGHT FUSE TO KEEP FOG LIGHTS DE-ENERGIZED. GREAT RISK ACCORDING TO WIDELY DISTRIBUTED REPORTS THAT LIGHT WIRING HARNESS CAN FAIL, MELT AND START FIRE. THE ONLY SAFE THING TO DO IS PARK CAR AND REMOVE BATTERY UNTIL NEW SWITCH IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277223

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

SHORT IN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO COME ON RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A 15 AMP CIRCUIT AND IT MAY POSSIBLE CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ALSO. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON MALFUNCTION WITH THE PT CRUISER FOR ALL YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275144

Incident

Jun 28, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

FOG LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL THE HIGH BEAMS WHERE TURNED ON THEN THEY WOULD GO OUT. HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE LEFT ARM CONTROL SWITCH REPLACED AT A COST OF 189.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253868

Incident

Mar 23, 2008

Mileage

128,000 mi

FOG LIGHT SWITCH IS ALWAYS ON UNLESS SIGNAL ARM IS PLACED IN LEFT TURN. IF I DON'T DO THIS, THE BATTERY DRAINS FROM THE FOG LIGHTS STAYING ON. INTERNET SEARCH AND COMPLAINT SEARCH ON THIS SITE REVEALS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, COSTING APPROX $200 TO FIX. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING NOT ONLY WITH 2001 PT CRUISER BUT ALSO LATER YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253644

Incident

Dec 29, 2008

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FOR TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS IS DEFECTIVE. ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSES MELTING, SMOKE, BURNING AND MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248988

Incident

Feb 4, 2008

Mileage

105,000 mi

MULTIPURPOSE SWITCH TURN SIGNAL, FOG LAMP, DIMMER. MALFUNCTIONED AND LEAVES FOG LAMPS ON INTERMITTENTLY, WHETHER VEHICLE IS OCCUPIED OR NOT. DRAINED BATTERY MULTIPLE TIMES AND REQUIRED REMOVAL OF FOG LAMP FUSE. MY POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MELTED AND LOST ELECTRICAL FUNCTION OF ENTIRE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242199

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIMMED AND OCCASIONALLY THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF. CURRENTLY, THE FOG LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED AND CAUSE THE BATTERY TO FAIL. HE ALSO STATED THAT BY RETAPPING THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS WOULD MAKE THE OTHER LIGHTS BRIGHTER. HE HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY. HE WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10235330

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

79,000 mi

2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. BAD MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF AND RUN THE BATTERY DOWN COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226439

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WAS PREVIOUSLY DISCONNECTED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL AND RELATED TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM SWITCH WAS ALSO BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EXISTING RECALL. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. A MECHANIC WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,100.

NHTSA ID

10220571

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi