RoadVitals

2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 24, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 618 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineSuspensionVisibility
Filed Feb 24, 2016

"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 ID
10838021
Incident
Dec 20, 2015
Mileage
60,245 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 22, 2014

WHILE DRIVING THE DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE ENTIRE REAR QUARTER WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INCLUDING THE FRAME AND THE GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF MY VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE ROADWAY. THIS IS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE FOR THE 2005 AND 2006 MODELS OF THE PT CRUISER, BUT SINCE IT IS NOT AN EXISTING RECALL ISSUE WITH THE 2001 MODELS CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDOW THAT FELL OUT OR THE REMAINING REAR QUARTER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY DO THE SAME THING AT SOME POINT. FORTUNATELY, THE WINDOW THAT FELL OFF MY CAR DIDN'T INJURE ANYONE, BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627524
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
84,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 27, 2009

2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FIRST THE DASH TOP HEATER DEFOGGER GRILL BROKE UP AND COLLAPSED, NOW THERE IS A HUGE CRACK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE DASHBOARD TOP, AND OTHER CRACKS ARE DEVELOPING. I AM AFRAID THE DASHBOARD TOP WILL COLLAPSE IN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS AND COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10263291
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 16, 2008

AFTER PURCHASING MY 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 4 YEARS AGO WITHIN THE PAST 2 MONTHS MY DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO CRACK. IT BEGAN W/ THE AIR VENT @ THE WINDSHIELD AND NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS LATER IT HAS REACHED TO THE EDGE OF THE DASH CLOSER TO THE DRIVER. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF SAME ISSUES REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10248950
Incident
Sep 22, 2008
Visibility
Filed Aug 13, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW RATTLES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE WINDOW WAS NOT SEALED AND THE BOLTS WERE PULLED FROM THE FRAME. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V149000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10237956
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 31, 2008

WE HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, THE REAR LEFT WING WINDOW FELL OUT AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING US. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2005 MODEL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (07V149000). OUR LOCAL DEALER TOLD US TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF REPAIR WITH CHRYSLER, WHICH WE DID, AND THEY REPLIED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL FOR OUR MODEL YEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT THE OFFICIAL RECORD SHOWS THAT THE SAME PROBLEM DOES INDEED EXIST IN EARLIER MODELS.

NHTSA ID
10236551
Incident
Jun 15, 2008
Mileage
101,033 mi
Visibility
Filed May 19, 2008

QUARTER WINDOW ON 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. JUST LIKE A DESCRIPTION ON 2005 - 2006 CRUISER RECALL FOR THIS EXACT WINDOW MATCHED. THIS WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF BY CHRYSLER AND HAD TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228168
Incident
May 17, 2008
Mileage
62,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 4, 2006

HELLO, I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE FRONT WINDOWS OF THE 2001 PT CRUISER. I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE SAW A TRICKLE OF SMOKE ONCE COME OUT OF THE WINDOW CONTROLS. PLUS, THE WINDOW MAKES A "SCREECHING" SOUND WHEN IT GOES DOWN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161390
Incident
Jun 30, 2006
Mileage
118,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 15, 2004
3 injuries reported

FACTORY INSTALLED SUN ROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE (POSSIBLY FAULTY SAFETY GLASS) AND CAUSED SCRATCHES TO 3 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING A 20 MONTH OLD BOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103046
Incident
Dec 11, 2004
Visibility
Filed Feb 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING CAR, THE SUNROOF GLASS SUDDENLY CRACKED UPWARD AND THEN SHATTERED. IT HAD NEVER BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING EITHER FROM ABOVE OR BELOW. THE SUNSHADE WAS OPEN AT THE TIME, BUT THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS NOT RETRACTED AT ALL. THE GLASS WAS NOT CRACKED, PITTED OR DAMAGED IN ANY OTHER WAY BEFORE CRACKING AND SHATTERING. ALTHOUGH THE GLASS WAS HELD TOGETHER FOR THE MOST PART BY THE OUTSIDE SUNFILM, THE SUNFILM WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, AND SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER CABIN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE CAR AT THE TIME AND WAS NOT INJURED, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AS THE SHATTERED GLASS COULD HAVE INJURED MY EYES. TO PREVENT MORE GLASS FROM COMING INTO THE CABIN, I CLOSED THE INTERIOR SUNSHADE AND EVENTUALLY PUT PLASTIC OVER THE SUNROOF TO PREVENT MOISTURE FROM COMING INTO THE CAR. I WENT TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY TO ARRANGE FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED THE LOCAL DAIMLERCHRYSLER REP TO SEE IF CHRYSLER WOULD REPLACE THE GLASS UNDER WARRANTY. THE LOCAL REP TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE GLASS AND REFERRED ME TO MY CAR INSURER. HE NEVER SAW THE CAR. I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT MYSELF. I CHECKED THE WARRANTY SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR AND FOUND NO EXCLUSION FOR GLASS OR FOR DEFECTS IN THE SUNROOF. I HAVE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME RESPONSE FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER. TO ME, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS TROUBLING AS IT IS THAT THE SUNROOF BROKE AND THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL DO NOTHING, IT IS EVEN SCARIER THAT THE SAFETY GLASS SHATTERED, SCATTERING INJURY-CAUSING SHARDS OF GLASS, NOT THE USUAL PEBBLES, THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER CABIN. SAFETY GLASS IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXACTLY THAT - SAFE. THIS SUNROOF AND THE GLASS IT IS MADE OF ARE NOT.

NHTSA ID
10005646
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Mileage
8,870 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH THE SUNROOF AND GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8008843
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2002

SUNROOF GLASS BUSTED WHILE GOING APPROX. 45 MPH.GLASS WAS BLOWN UPWARDS, AND SHATTERED COMPLETELY, THUS FALLING DOWN ON DRIVER.GLASS WAS PROTRUDING UPWARDS, PICTURES TAKEN IMMEDIATELY. DEALER CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. MANUFACTURERS DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ANY TYPE OF SERVICE WARRANTY VERBALLY WITHOUT LOOKING AT VEHICLE.HE CLAIMS SOMETHING FELL FROM THE SKY DUE TO A DENT ON TOP(OF WHICH DOCUMENTATION IS FILED WITH BBB), BUT NEVER ASKED ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM. HAD HE ASKED I COULD'VE ANSWERED, EVEN DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS OLD DENT. NEVER WOULD DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH ME. DEALER WAS INFORMED I WAS NOT HAPPY, AND UNDERSTOOD I WOULD GO FURTHER, AND SUPPORTED MY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE SUNROOF. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY BAD ON THE PRESSURE CONTAINED INSIDE.IF YOU OPEN A WINDOW YOUR EARS POP.NOTHING, NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW FROM OUTSIDE, IF IT DID GLASS WOULD'VE BEEN GOING DOWN, NOT UP. NOTHING HIT IT FROM THE INSIDE, NO CARS AROUND ME. GLASS WAS IN MY HAIR, SMALL CUTS ON MY HANDS, AND THANK GOD NO CHILD, OR SOMEONE ELSE WAS WITH ME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. MY REPORT WILL GO NOWHERE, AND DETERMINATION IS AS THE DISTRICT REP. HAS STATED. I HAVE PICTURES FROM A CAMERA I BOUGHT IMMEDIATELY WHICH SHOW THE PROTRUDING GLASS.THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID
759011
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed May 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WITH REAR WINDOW OPEN, IT WOULD MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE WHILE GOING 40MPH. ALSO, SUN ROOF WOULD MAKE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN OPENED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED OF POOR DESIGN. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
887375
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 23, 2001

LARGE AMOUNT OF SNOW SLIDING OFF ROOF ONTO FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNABLE TO REMOVE SNOW WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD LEAD INTO A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
883979
Incident
Mar 22, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .