2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Powertrain (other) Problems

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH AND DASHBOARD FAULTS OUT WITH INCOHERENT READINGS AND TRANSAXLE SHIFTS SELF INTO NEUTRAL. I SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE. DASHBOARD READINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL AND TRANSAXLE GOES BACK INTO DRIVE. 15 SECONDS LATER BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. CONTINUE DRIVING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS ENGINE STALLS OUT. SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT IT WON'T START. COAST TO A STOP AND OPEN HOOD. NOTICE AN ODD SMELL. OPEN HOOD AND ALTERNATOR IS ON FIRE. CLOSE HOOD AND GRAB PERSONAL BELONGINGS (EXCEPT FOR PHONE CHARGER) OUT OF VEHICLE. CALL 911 AS VEHICLE BURNS UP. FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVE AND EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT VEHICLE BADLY DESTROYED BY BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ID

10722604

Incident

May 9, 2015

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL, OVER HEATING (WHICH WAS NEVER FIXED EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES), AND TRANSMISSION. IN 2013 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY 4 LANE HWY. I HEARD A SUDDEN AND LOUD BOOMING NOISE AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THINKING THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD I BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. THE CAR MADE THAT LOUD BOOMING NOISE A SECOND TIME AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY AGAIN. IT THEN LOST ALL POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY. AFTER REMOVING AND OPENING UP THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHEARED IN HALF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I BELIEVE THAT THE SLIGHTLY WORN ENGINE MOUNTS CAUSE A BINDING ACTION ON THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION THUS CAUSING THE SHAFT WHICH IS MADE OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL TO BASICALLY EXPLODE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOWN BY US CAR BUFFS THAT JASPER ENGINES INC. (A WELL KNOWN COMPANY THAT REMANUFACTURES ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS) REPLACES THIS STOCK SHAFT WITH A STRONGER MORE ROBUST ONE WHEN THEY REMANUFACTURE THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR THAT HAPPENED WHEN THIS TRANSMISSION SHAFT FAILED ALMOST CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON A VERY BUSY HWY. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL ALL TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPOSITE SHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618885

Incident

May 15, 2009

PULLED INTO WORK SHUT CAR OFF NOTED LEAKAGE PART ON GROUND WAS TOLD PRESSURE SWITCH. *TT

NHTSA ID

10583049

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

185,000 mi

UPON INSPECTION DURING A REPAIR FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER KNOWN AS THE K-FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND WILL LIKELY NOT PASS ANOTHER SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REST OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THIS CAR IS RELATIVELY RUST-FREE AND THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE FOR ITS AGE. IF THIS PART FAILS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ETC. WILL ALL DROP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548509

Incident

Oct 19, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 PT CRUISER. I NOTICED IN YOUR NHTSA ID #10010478 YOU STATE THAT THE FRONT HUB/HALF SHAFT CLICK/POP SOUND. MY CAR STARTING MAKING SUCH A SOUND IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ALL OF THE WHEEL STUDS WHERE SHEARED OFF AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE ALL FIVE STUDS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED THAT CAN BE INSPECTED. I ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE LUG NUTS WITH PART OF THE STUD. THE STUDS WHERE SHEARED OFF EVEN WITH THE FACE OF THE ROTOR. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368187

Incident

Nov 28, 2010

Mileage

91,500 mi

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE THREADS WELDED INTO THE OIL PAN HAD COME LOOSE. CAR NEEDED A NEW OIL PAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM" BECAUSE THE PAN IS ALUMINUM AND THE THREADED PIECE IS STEEL AND SINCE THE TWO METALS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION TEMPERATURES THAT OVER TIME THE WELD IS BROKEN AND THE THREAD "BREAKS LOOSE" FROM THE PAN. SEEMS TO ME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247412

Incident

Oct 30, 2008

Mileage

51,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES. IN APRIL OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS THAT APPLIED TO HER VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,551.

NHTSA ID

10236394

Incident

Nov 27, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR BROKE DOWN I COULDN'T KEEP ON THE SHIFT COULDN'T MOVE TO PARK, DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK THE PART AN AXEL. I PAID A MECANIC. BUT THE BUSHINGS ARE ALSO MESSED UP THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE HERE IN PUERTO RICO IT COSTS ME MORE THATN 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THAT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD THAT THE IT DIDN'T HAVE GARANTEEN. KNOW ANOTHER PROBLEM THERE IS IN FEBREUARY I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECANIC BECAUSE THE CARGOT HOT THEY CHANGE THE WATER BOMB, AND IT CONTINUE TO RISE THE TEMPERATURE, THEN THE TEMOSTAT AND THEY EVEN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR,AND THEY PUT A COMPUTER IF IT CAN DITECT WHERE IS THE PROBLEM.THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST RADIATOR MECANICS IN BAYAMON PUERTO RICO. WHE N I DRIVE AROUND THERES NO PROBLEM AS LONG I I AM NOT IN A TRAFFIC JAM FOR MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR AND WHEN I GO VISIT MY PARENTS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE GOING UP THE HILLS THAT AFTER TEN MINUTES ON THE HILL THE TEMPERARURE STARTS TO RISE BOTH TIMES THAT I HAVE VISITED MY PARENTS FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS AGO I CAN'T GO. THE MECANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY SUGGETIONS E-MAIL ME BACK AND I CAN GIVE IT TO THE MECANICS . ABOUT THE BUSHINGS I'VE ASKED A PERSON ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER AND SHE SAID THAT THESE CARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10129937

Incident

Feb 6, 2005

THE TRANS AXLE BROKE IN OUR 2001 CHRYSLER PT ON SUN-1/25/04 AND WAS TOWED TO THE SARASOTA CHRYSLER DEALER WHO GOT TO IT TUESDAY TO SAY NOT UNDER WARRANTY(WE ARE 2ND OWNER-HAD 2 YRS) SO NEED A NEW ONE. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO PULL OUT AND REBUILD. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REBUILT. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY US OF RECALL NOR FIX THAT. WE JUST MOVED HERE FROMMD. IN AUGUST AND DID NOT GET FUEL RECALL SOMEHOW. SAFETY SEAT WE DID GET ,BUT DID NOT DO. DUE TO $2400 QUOTE, WE TOWED THE AUTO HME AND GAVE THEM A DEPOSIT TO ORDER A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM CHRYSLER SINCE A USED ONE COULD NOT BE FOUND. NOW WE STILL DO NOT HAVE NOR CAN BE TOLD WHEN IT WILL COME IN OFF "BACKORDER"? FOR A 2001 POPULAR AUTO? CALLED CHRYSLER TO VERIFY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE SINCE WE ARE RENTING A CAR NOW FOR 3 WEEKS WITH 4 YR OLD CAR NOT WORKING AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO UNAVAILABLE PARTS. IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS A FIERO OR ANTIQUE, OR UNUSUAL. WE CALLED CHRYSLER WHO CHECKED WITH DEALER ON "RECALL " COMPLAINT -SPOKE TO [XXX] AND SHE SAID SHE DID NOT ASK THEM THAT. ASKED HER ABOUT PARTS AND WAS TOLD SHE COULD "RUSH" AND HOPEFULLY GET A TRANSMISSION FOR US SOON, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY EXTRA! STILL NO TIME FRAME WAS QUOTED. WE ARE STUCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN . THE CAR HAS NOT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS AND ONLY HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES SO IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR OFFER MORE HELP FOR CONSUMER SATISFACTION ON A VERY POPULAR AUTO. IT IS A 5 SPEED. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO CAN HELP OR WHAT RIGHTS WE HAVE. VIN# [XXX]....PLEASE FORWARD THIS OR REPLY. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS AMERICAN PRODUCT, THAT I MAY TRADE FOR FOREIGN. MOST SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

NHTSA ID

10056966

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF MINUTES OF OPERATION, DURING CLOSED PHASED OF ENGINE OPERATION THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE DURING ACCELERATION. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AND DURING COOLER DAMP CONDITIONS. ALSO DURING THIS CLOSED PHASE, THERE IS POPPING NOISE IN EXHAUST SYSTEM UPON DECELERATION USING THE ENGINE. THE OTHER MAJOR CONCERN IS A VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE AND OR TRANSMISSION UPON FULL ACCELERATIONS IN 4TH GEAR. THIS EVEN OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT OR ABOVE 2500 RPM(RECOMMENDED SPEED FOR STARTING 4TH GEAR), AND DISSIPATES AS THE CAR SPEED INCREASES. IT IS PARTICULARLY A CONCERN WHEN ENTERING EXPRESS WAYS FROM ON RAMPS. *TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****761677

NHTSA ID

10008819

Incident

Apr 24, 2002

Mileage

8,023 mi

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED/ RADIO DID NOT WORK, AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER RACED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE EVEN BEING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006222