Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 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.
The 25 most recent of 44, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
UPON STARTING VEHICLE ALL WARNING TEST LIGHTS SUCH AS AIRBAG,OIL PRESSURE ETC. COME ON AS NORMAL,BUT OFTEN THE RED "AIRBAG" LIGHT STAYS ON INDEFINITELY OR GOES OFF THEN BELLS AND "AIRBAG" RED LIGHT REAPPEAR AND STAY ON 5 TO 10,SECONDS THEN GO OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM IN 1000 TO 1500, LOW ROOMS LIKE WHEN I'M SLOWING TO MAKE A STOP.YESTERDAY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTE TRIP. I TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON MY OWN $ BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT ALL,HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS BUT MOSTLY WITH DECELERATION TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. WHY HAVEN'T YOU PUT THE PT CRUISER ON THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2002 AND AM,THE SOLE OWNER.
TAKATA RECALL THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT IN WHICH DRIVERS SIDE BACK SEAT TO REAR HATCH WAS T-BONED. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT IMPACT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS PRISTINE WHITE WITHOUT ANY FRAY WHEN DEFLATED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WAS FULL OF GUN SHOT RESIDUE AND BAG FRAYED. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BURNED (BELT WAS CHARRED) ONTO DRIVERS CHEST AND THERE WAS AN APPARENT PUNCTURE WOUND LEFT OF CENTER CHEST AND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER WAS DECEASED. THIS HAPPENED JAN 27, 2019. I'M WAITING ON CERTIFIED REPORTS FROM LA COUNTY CORONER AND CHP. DUE END MARCH, EARLY APRIL. *DSY
TAKATA RECALL: I WAS DRIVING NORTH, TURNING RIGHT ON A 20 MPH CURVE, WHEN SOMEONE HEADING SOUTH, TURNED LEFT ON THE CURVE, WENT OVER THE LINE AND HIT ME HEAD ON. WHEN I CAME TO, I HEARD MYSELF SCREAMING THAT I WAS ON FIRE! ( BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ON FIRE.) THEN I DIDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING UNTIL I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL. I WAS COVERED IN THIS HOT POWDERY SUBSTANCE AND I HAD BURNS WHERE EVER MY SKIN WAS SHOWING. I HAD CUTS EVERYWHERE AND DARK MARKS IN MY SKIN FOR YEARS. I HAD CORNEAL SCRATCHES AND IRRITATED EYES TOO, ALONG WITH DISLOCATED JAW, SEAT BELT INJURIES AND A FEW OTHER INJURIES. MY TMJ SPECIALIST REALIZED I HAD METAL IN MY FACE, LOOKING AT MY MRI. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MRI, MY FACE SWELLED UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MY RIGHT EYE WAS SWOLLEN SHUT AND MY FACE HAD A HUGE BUMP WHERE THE METAL FESTERED UP FROM THE MRI, THE ER LANCED IT OPEN, FOUND PARTICALS BUT DIDN'T DO A BIOPSY, JUST THREW IT AWAY. I NEVER HAD FACE SURGERY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND IT WAS TOO HIGH ON MY CHEEK TO BE FROM DENTAL WORK. I HAVE DOCUMENTS ON ACCIDENT REPORTS, DRS DOCUMENTS, X RAYS, MRI'S SHOWING THE BLOOM OF METAL HIDING MY BROKEN JAW. I HAVE PICTURES TOO OF ME AND DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE THEM HERE TO SCAN. HOPEFULLY I CAN COME BACK TO MY FORM AND UPDATE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS MISSING. THANK YOU. MY TMJ DR AND MY MAXIO FACIAL SPECIALIST SAID IT HAD TO BE SHRAPNEL AND THEY CANNOT MAKE ANY PROPER DIAGNOSIS OF MY TMJ OR BROKEN JAW. I STILL HAVE PAIN AND STILL HAVE SHRAPNEL THAT HAS BEEN COMING OUT OF MY EYE AREA AND FACE FOR SOME TIME. I KNEW OF ALL OF THIS PRIOR TO THE TAKATA ISSUES, I HAVEN'T BEEN WELL ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOU UNTIL NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND METAL FRAGMENTS STRUCK THE CONTACT'S FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
WIFE WAS SITTING IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC WAITING AT A LIGHT. VEHICLE CAME FROM BEHIND AND HIT HER AT APPROXIMATELY 40. M.P.H. CAR WAS THROWN INTO CAR IN FRONT OF HER WHICH WAS THEN THROWN INTO CAR IN FRONT OF THEM. BREAKING HOOD LATCH SYSTEM, RADIATOR, A/C COOLER/, AND BENDING HOOD UP. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WIFE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND CERVICAL SPRAIN, AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM SCENE BY AMBULANCE DUE TO ACCIDENT. OUR CAR HAD IN EXCESS OF 2500 DOLLARS DAMAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDICATING AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF BUSINESS COMPLEX TURN IN LEFT ABOUT A CAR LENGTHS AWAY FROM ME WHEN HE PULLED OUT..ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT VEHICLE WAS TOO CLOSE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT STAY IN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE CAR IN OCTOBER SAID HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL IGNITION SWITCHES IN THIS MODEL CAR. COULD IT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE GM RECALL? THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE BAR BEHIND THE GRILL AND SMASH INTO THE RADIATOR AND RUIN IT. THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED ON THAT KIND OF IMPACT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,200. UPDATED 10/27/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AN ATTACHMENT THAT WAS MAILED TO HER THAT INCLUDED INFO ABOUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HER.
HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING...I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING...AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A RADIO AND SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAUSES MY RADIO DISPLAY TO "POP" IN AND OUT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT I HAVE NO HORN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 03. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2002 PT CRUISER WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON ODOMETER IN JANUARY OF 2006. WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I PAID $1,000.00 TO HAVE THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND ONCE AGAIN WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT IT WAS THE AIRBAG SENSORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON DURING TIGHT RIGHT TURNS AT SPEED. *TR
POSSIBLE AIRBAG OR ELECTRICAL DEFECT ON 2002 PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION. I WAS DRIVING UP THE ROAD IN MY 2002 CRUISER WITH APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY $800.00, MY LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND AIRBAG MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS TRAVELING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *KB BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MULTIPLE STRAINS AND BRUISES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 7/5/2006 - *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. ALSO , THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD A LOUD POPPING AND SQUEALING NOISE, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATED, IT TURNED THE RIM RED HOT. HE COULD SMELL THE BRAKE DUST FROM THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, DISC CALIPER, AND ROTORS. HE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 14972 MILES. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. ALSO , THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD A LOUD POPPING AND SQUEALING NOISE, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE OVERHEATED, IT TURNED THE RIM RED HOT. HE COULD SMELL THE BRAKE DUST FROM THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, DISC CALIPER, AND ROTORS. HE WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
DT: 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER'S WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30,2005. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE OF BUMPER. THE VEHICLE HAD SIDE, FRONT AND SEAT AIR BAGS. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT IF SHE WAS TRAPPED BY THE DOORS THEN SHE WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WENT TO WEBSITE AND PRINTED A FORM THAT ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, MAILED THE FORM BACK TO CHRYSLER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE BACK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DAMAGE OF MORE THAN $5000. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN WHICH SHOWED THAT ACCIDENT WAS NOT THE CONSUMER'S FAULT. THE CONSUMER WANTED ATTENTION TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER ENOUGH. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT TO THE RIGHT OF THE SENSOR AND NOT IN THE CENTER. *JB *SC
FOR THE PAST TW-THREE MONTHS, EITHER IT HAS STALLED IN THE GARAGE OR ON A BUSY THOROUGHFARE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION, I'VE HAD AN OIL CHANGE, WE'VE HAD RENTAL CARS, TOW TRUCKS, I'VE MISSED CHURCH, FLIGHT CONNECTIONS, VALUABLE TIME AWAY FROM WORK-FIFTH TIME REPORTING-DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING-THIS CAR IS GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME-IT HAS TOXIC FUMES-AND IS LITERALLY HAVINE ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND LEAVING IT ON THE PROPERTY. HOW DO WE CONTACT THE PRESIDENT, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED, IT HAS HAD AN OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERS CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT-AND I'M READY TO TURN IT IN-IT HAS COST ME LOST WAGES, TIME AWAY FROM EVENTS IN WHICH I WAS TO SPEAK, AND MOST OF ALL, MY SANITY. HOW DOES ONE CONTACT DR. DR. DIETER ZETSCHE, THE PRESIDENT? THERE IS NO E-MAIL ADDRESS. WAS THERE A FIRE? NOT YET, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A LOSS OF LIFE IF IT CONTINUES TO STALL ON THESE BUSY THOROUGHFARES-IT MAKES NO SENSE.*AK
WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DELAWARE CAB (CROWN VICTORIA); WHICH CONTINUED TO DRIVE ME INTO THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND BOTH OF US INTO THE PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. IT WAS A FOUR CAR COLLISION, WITH THREE OF US BEING TOTALLY STOPPED WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND INQUIRED AS TO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND WAS TOLD "WE NEED TO OFFER YOU A SETTLEMENT". CHRYSLER HAD AN "INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR" DO AN EVALUATION AND HAS INFORMED ME THAT "WE CAN NOT GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS REPORT AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF YOU WANT A COPY YOU WILL HAVE TO SUE US". MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING WHEN THE CAB DROVE ME INTO THE CHEVROLET LUMINA IN FRONT OF ME. THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT ASKED IF I HAD A SWITCH TO TURN OFF THE AIR BAG, WHICH THE CAR DID NOT. WHEN THE OFFICER REQUESTED US TO MOVE THE CARS OUT OF THE ROADWAY, HE TOLD ME TO STAY OUT OF MY CAR, WHILE THE OTHER CARS WERE MOVED BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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