2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that the rear quarter glass fasteners on both sides of the vehicle had started to separate from the vehicle. The contact stated that the windows were violently shaking while driving at various speeds. The contact was concerned that the windows might fall out while driving and cause injury to a pedestrian. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11595572

Incident

Jun 13, 2024

Mileage

70,000 mi

TAKARA RECALL. WHILE CHANGING UPPER AND LOWER MOTOR MOUNT I NOTICED SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS ROTTED AND AFTER I PUT MOUNTS IN THE CAR PULLS WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA ID

10995582

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

170,311 mi

ENGINE CRADLE, OR FRONT SUBFRAME, IS RUSTED TO THE POINT I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A REPLACEMENT BUT CHRYSLER NO LONGER MAKES THE PART! NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS POINT BECAUSE OF MY CAUTION BUT THE FRONT END WAS STARTING TO MAKE POPPING NOISES WHEN I STARTED OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. THE PROBLEM IS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING ARTICLES, MANY OTHER PTS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. FOR YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO PRIME AND SPRAY OIL ON THE PART TO EXTEND IT'S LIFE. TIME HAS COME.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10920082

Incident

Oct 30, 2016

Mileage

294,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRAME, THE CV AXLES AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT AND THE STABILIZER LINK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10808040

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AN ABRUPT STOP AND ACCELERATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,616.

NHTSA ID

10786444

Incident

Oct 26, 2015

Mileage

136,616 mi

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (AS FAR AS I KNOW) BUT I WANT IT TO GO ON RECORD FROM WHAT ALL PT CRUISER OWNERS HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH. DASHBOARD CRACKED AND VENT GRIDS CRUMBLED WHEN DOING A REGULAR CLEANING (DUSTING WITH CLOTH). I JUST WANT TO BE NOTED THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PT CRUISERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR TO CUSTOMERS TO HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM SUCH POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE MADE LIABLE FOR SUCH THINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680103

Incident

Dec 10, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10606984

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

84,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I SLOWED AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUBFRAME OF MY VEHICLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF MY VEHICLE, OTHER THEN THE SUBFRAME I NEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR LAST MORE THEN 10 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536825

Incident

Aug 2, 2013

Mileage

151,232 mi

LOUD CRACKING SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING THEN THE DASH STARTED OPENING UP IN TWO PLACES, ONE THROUGH THE VENT FAN ALL THE WAY TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER FROM THE VENT TOWARD THE GLOVE BOX. CHRYSLER AND MY DEALER CLAIM THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM ALTHOUGH MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND THIS SITE? ALSO MANY ON THIS SITE SAID THEY CONTACTED CHRYSLER. HAVE MADE APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE AT MY COST SINCE IT DOESN'T SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT'S SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY. MY CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, USED SUN SHADES AND ONLY HAS 35,585 MILES, LIVING ON THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST WHERE THE WEATHER IS MILD ALL YEAR AROUND. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464811

Incident

Jul 5, 2012

Mileage

35,585 mi

DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425208

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

2002 PT CRUISER MOTOR MOUNTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAD MY MOUNTS REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO. THEN WITHIN 2 MONTHS THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE MAKING NOISE AGAIN. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IF THESE MOUNTS ALL FAIL, THE ENGINE CAN FALL ON TO THE AXLE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN? *TR

NHTSA ID

10420776

Incident

Feb 15, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

2002 PT CRUISER 55,000 MILES DASH CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10407717

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD CRACK AND THE DASH ON THE CAR CRACKED ABOUT 16 INCHES, SO FAR HAVE ONLY PUT DUCT TAPE ON IT TO HOPEFULLY KEEP THE CRACK FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. IT HAS CRACKED FROM THE LEFT SIDE, JUST UNDER THE WINDOW TO ALMOST THE CENTER VENT ON THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379923

Incident

Jan 25, 2011

Mileage

128,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 PT DASH STARTED CRACKING AT CENTER VENT CRACKED 2 WAYS NOW IS A LARGE CRACK AN VERY SHARP EDGES ON PIECES NO WRECKS , HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF .THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT . THIS UPSETS ME ON THE PROBLEM WITH IT . I NEED IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375436

Incident

Nov 10, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi

CAR'S PLASTIC DASHBOARD SUDDENLY CRACKED IN THE CENTER AND PIECES FELL INTO THE CENTER VENT. DASHBOARD NOW HAS SHARP EDGES FROM THE CRACKS, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY IN THE EVENT OF COLLISION. DO TO THE NATURE OF THE DAMAGE I DON'T BELIEVE THE DASHBOARD COMPLIES WITH FOLLOWING: 571.201 STANDARD NO. 201; OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365582

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH THE SUB FRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BROKE. HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE OR DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MAIN CROSS MEMBER/SUB FRAME DETERIORATED AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE FRONT END TO COME APART. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED BUT IT WAS DENIED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,100. THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT. WHEN HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THE FRONT WHEEL WAS LEANING TOWARD THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CHRYSLER DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, CHRYSLER DENIED THE CONSUMER CLAIM STATING THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/10/10

NHTSA ID

10363851

Incident

Oct 30, 2010

Mileage

48,100 mi

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED FROM CENTER WINDSHIELD REGION TO THE AIR VENT. THE GRILL ON THE AIR VENT HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332187

Incident

May 16, 2009

DASHBOARD ON MY PT CRUISER -2002 JUST STARTED CRACKING FIRST A THE WINDSHIELD LIKE A HAIR LINE CRACK - THEN DEFROST VENT INVOLVED - NOW IT HAS A HOLE IN THE VENT - AND NOW JUST THIS WEEKEND ANOTHER HAIRLINE CRACK STARTING AT THE AIR VENT AND GOING NOW TO THE CONSOLE. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY DASH? THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE AIR BAG JUST DOWN BELOW. NO WRECK INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325238

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

73,000 mi

DASHBOARD IN 2002 PT CRUISER HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE AND HAS BEGAN TO SEPARATE INTO PIECES. THIS INCLUDES THE CENTER DEFROST VENT. PER THE JUNE 18, 2007 MIAMI HERALD YOU HAD 9 COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS AND 12 FROM 2001 OWNERS. THIS WAS OVER 2 YEARS AGO. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS MANY MORE COMPLAINTS THAT PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. CHRYSLER DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS ( E.G. COVERKING) HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING DASH COVERS FOR THE PT CRUISER SPECIFICALLY TO COVER CRACKED DASHES; BUT I CANNOT USE ONE AS THESE COVERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE CENTER DEFROST VENT WHICH HAS BROKEN INTO PIECES AND FALLEN INTO THE VENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH COVER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ENOUGH CARS SURELY TO INITIATE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DASHES! *TR

NHTSA ID

10288821

Incident

Sep 30, 2009

Mileage

43,450 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HOUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10275475

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I HAVE SENT CHRYSLER MANY LETTERS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK. MIND YOU I KEEP MY CAR GARAGED AND IT IS WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY BY A SHOP THAT I HAVE USED FOR YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WERE GONE. SO I CONTACTED MY NEXT CLOSEST DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT MY CPU WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY LASTED MORE THAN A DAY. THEN MY DASH COMPLETELY CRUMBLED. IT CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT IN THE CENTER AND ON BOTH SIDES. I WROTE A LETTER AND EMAIL WITH NO ANSWER. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY PHONE AND THE LADY TOLD ME TO F%*K OFF AND HUNG UP ON ME. SO I GAVE UP. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO IS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE SCANNED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS MY CPU AGAIN! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SO I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER BECAUSE THIS REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $1400.00 DOLLARS. NO RESPONSE. BUT THE SCARIEST WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 13 MONTH OLD NIECE IN THE CAR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I ALMOST HAD GOT IN A WRECK TRYING TO GET US TO SAFETY. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I FIGURED WHATEVER IT WAS DONE FOR NOW. WE WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A NOT SO DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT SO I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE CAR. WE HEADED OFF ON OUR WAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING MY FAIRLY NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. MY FLOOD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND HAD BEEN ON ALL NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272819

Incident

May 25, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

DASHBOARD BEGAN CRUMBLING ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW) AND IS NOW IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND MAY BE NEAR COLLAPSING. I HAVE NOT CHECKED INTO REPLACEMENT YET. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS AND OTHER CHRYSLER-MADE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264776

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

THE DASH PAD "COVER" ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN INTO NUMEROUS SHARP PIECES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. WE HAVE OTHER CARS, OLDER AND NEWER THAT HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH CRACKING DASHBOARDS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. WE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS DEFECT/SAFETY HAZARD OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250048

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

32,000 mi

2002 P T CRUISER BY CHRYSLER THE DASH BOARD IN MY CAR STARTED CRACKING. I AM HOLDING IT TOGETHER WITH TAPE. I AM FEARFUL OF THE PLASTIC CAVING IN AND CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER CORP., USING THEIR 800 NUMBER THEY WERE RUDE AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS DEFECT TO BE CORRECTED? BONITA SMITH *TR

NHTSA ID

10248440

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

2002 PT CRUISER: DASHBOARD CRACKED IN CENTER FROM FRONT WINDOW TO INSIDE EDGE, RUNNING ACROSS VENT,REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF DASHBOARD.*TR

NHTSA ID

10247492

Incident

Sep 15, 2008