Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. 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. 38 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 38, in the owner's own words
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, FUEL AND OIL LEAKS, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES AT NIGHT. UPDATED 05/22/13
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO INTENSE HEAT IN THE WHEELS. THE BRAKE CALIPER ALSO LOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK AND MELT THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CORRECTED THE FAILURE IN APRIL OF 2006. A DIFFERENT DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPAIRED WHICH IS WHY THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE NOTICED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR REASON FOR THE NOISE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (04V268000) FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THAT RECALL; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, SHE SMELLED SMOKE, DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO "BELLOW" FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE HOSE, CALIPER, BRAKE PAD, ROTOR AND THE WHEEL COVER. SHE WAS CHARGED $406.60 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SAME DEALER TOLD THAT THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING. THEY CALIPER WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. SHE ASKED THE DEALER WHY THEY HAD NOT REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME ACCORDING TO WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A NEW ISSUE. SHE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND WAS BILLED $239 TO REPLACE THE CALIPER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RECENTLY, SHE SMELLED SMOKE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE CALIPER WAS WARPED BECAUSE OF INTENSE HEAT AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD SOOT IN IT AND THAT THE WARPED CALIPER WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL IN PLACE. SHE PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,181. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $539. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VIN PROVIDED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE PULLED THE BRAKE HANDLE UP, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY. HE PURCHASED A PARKING EQUALIZER AND CLIP BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS BURNED AND FRAYED. HE WAS INFORMED AT THAT TIME THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM ASSEMBLY (LEVER, GRIP, HANDLE) RATHER THAN JUST THE 8 TO 10 INCH EQUALIZER CABLE AND CLIP. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,085.
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORN OUT AT 79,000 MILES ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS WORN OUT 79,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL WINTER AND BEGAN MAKING THIS NOISE ONE MONTH AGO. THE SPEED AND THE WEATHER ARE NOT FACTORS. THE NOISE IS PRODUCED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
REAR BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2002 (PT CRUISER). REAR BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE FOR FIRST OR SECOND USE AND THEN THE GRINDING NOISE GOES AWAY. CAR HAS 69,600 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW. I RECENTLY PULLED THE REAR WHEELS AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN (FOR BOTH REAR WHEELS) AND THE DRUMS HAD RUST STREAKS ON THEM. ALSO, RUST DUST WAS COVERING EVERYTHING. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND I PLAN ON REPLACING THE CALIPERS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND FELT AS IF IT WAS DRAGGING. THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE WAS STICKING. THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CALIPER WITH THE ORIGINAL AND SUGGESTED A VISIT TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND DURING A TEST DRIVE THE FRONT LEFT AND THE REAR RIGHT BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE ROTORS AND PADS AND ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND BRAKE DUST WAS OBSERVED ON THE HUBCAPS. THE BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED FREQUENTLY AT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. THREE DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE ADMITTED THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKES THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ISSUE A RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT THIS FAILURE DOES AFFECT THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES.
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
SUBJECT: 2002 PT CRUISER BRAKES / TRANSMISSION I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE THE PROPER PERSON TO BRING UP SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE CHRYSLER PT CRUISER BUT IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT MAYBE YOU COULD DIRECT THIS TO SOMEONE WHO CAN. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, I HAD MY BRAKES SERVICES AT A LOCAL SHOP THAT I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR 10 YEARS. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I USED TO DO MUCH OF THE WORK TO CARS MYSELF, AND ONCE IN A WHILE I DO AN AUDIT OF THE WORK HE DOES. AS ALWAYS, HE DOES A GREAT JOB. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LAKE TAHOE ON I80. THIS IS MOSTLY FULL OF MOUNTAINS WITH VERY STEEP GRADES AND A LOT OF SHEER CLIFFS. I HAD A FULL CAR LOAD OF HUMAN AND PERSONAL PROPERTY SO I WOULD CONCEDER IT TO BE CLOSE TO THE MAX WEIGHT OF THE CAR. I PLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM OVER-DRIVE TO THE NEXT LOWEST GEAR DURING THE STEEP GRADES. WE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL! I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT THE NEXT LOWEST TRANSMISSION SPEED WAS THIRD. SO I DROPPED IT DOWN AGAIN TO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR AND IT WAS FIRST GEAR. SINCE OUR SPEED WAS 55 MILES PER HOUR, IT DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. THANK GOODNESS IT DID NOT. SO I APPLIED THE ABS FRONT DISCS AND REAR DRUMS. BY THE TIME WE GOT DOWN FROM THIS AREA, I TOTALLY BURNED OUT THE BRAKES. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS TO FLORIDA WITH SIMILAR LOADS, BUT NEVER WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH NO SECOND GEAR. I HAVE NEVER BURNED NEW BRAKES UP IN A SIMILAR FISSION AND REQUIRED ONE NEW DISC. I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY ??CHRYSLER?? DID ENOUGH ENGINEERING IN STOPPING THIS CAR WITH STEEP HIGHWAY GRADES WITH A FULL LOAD, AND THE POPULATION IS AT RISK FOR RUN-AWAY CARS IN THOSE AREAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VALUABLE TIME. *NM
FAIKURE OF ABS
I WAS DRIVING TO MY NEXT CLIENT ON ICY PAVEMENT AT 35 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT HAD A HARD PEDAL, NO ABS BRAKING, NOTHING. CRASHED INTO PICK-UP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WHO WAS ABLE TO STOP AT LIGHT. HIS TRUCK WAS 1996 AND DID NOT HAVE ABS. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FLUID AT THIS EXTREME TEMPERATURE? *NM
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A 36000 MILES CHECK UP. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL METAL TO METAL. MECHANIC STATED THEY HAD ONLY EXAMINED THE BRAKES, AND WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN TURNED TOO MUCH.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS AFTER BEING TOLD THE ROTORS WHERE TURNED TO MUCH BY THE MECHANIC. *TC
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AND PERFORMED POORLY WHEN APPLIED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTS THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WORK ON THE BRAKES AT ALL. *AK THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE AND THE BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES GO ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT ALWAYS LOCK, THE BRAKES WOULD RUB AND HESITATE TO STOP, THE A/C DID NOT GET COLD ON HIGH SETTINGS, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS OFF, THE FUEL, MPH AND THE RPM LIGHTS HAD COME ON, AT THE INSIDE TOP OF ALL FOUR DOORS, THE LINING WAS BULDGING IN AND OUT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE LOCKING, THE RIGHT SIGNAL HAD TO BE MANUALLY STOPPED, AND THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT HOLD. THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE ODOMETER READING. (THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IT DID NOT DISPLAY THE PROPER MILEAGE) *SC
I HAVE EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE NOISE. IT SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE THERE IS GRINDING METAL TO METAL. THIS NOISE HAPPENS MORE IN THE COLD WEATHER BUT STILL HAPPENS ALL YEAR AROUND. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE SHOP NUMBERS OF TIMES AND EVERY TIME I'M TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS AND THAT "SOME" NOISE IS NORMAL. *NM
GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, CRACKING NOISE WHEN ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT APPROX. 22,000 MILES AND THE PADS WHERE WORNED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE METAL. THERE WAS NO PRE- WARNING OF THE CONDITION. I PURCHASED A PTCRUISER WHEN FIRST MANUFACTORED THE BRAKES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A SCRATCH/GRINDING SOUND EVERY TIME I WOULD COME TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKING, JUST THE NOISE. SO, I VISUALLY INSPECTED THEM AND NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT ROTOR WAS WORN ON THE OUTER EDGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL, REPUTABLE, TIRE STORE AND THEY FOUND THE DAMAGE TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A CLIP THAT CAME LOOSE, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE BRAKE PAD. I HAVE KEPT THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE CAR HAD 26,000 MILES, MUCH OF THOSE MILES WERE HIGHWAY DRIVING. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING AS I COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 14,500 MILES. *NLM
BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AT 27,000 MILES, OF WHICH 20,000 OF THOSE MILES ARE FREEWAY MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE BOTH WORN OUT. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS AND SAW THAT THE INSIDE PADS WERE NEARLY GONE. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY 1.) THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING FROM THE BRAKE PAD CHIRPERS AND 2.) THE BRAKES WERE WORN OUT SO SOON, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER IS USING LESSER QUALITY MATERIALS IN THE ROTORS AND PADS. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THAT ONLY THE OUTSIDE PAD HAS A CHIRPER (A WORN PAD WARNING DEVICE) AND THAT THE INSIDE PAD WILL GRIND THE ROTOR BEFORE THE OUTSIDE PAD IS WORN ENOUGH TO WARN THE DRIVER. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL RUIN YOUR BRAKE ROTORS BEFORE YOU ARE WARNED.*AK
WHILE BRAKING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED AT 24000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *PH THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THE TOTAL COST. *SCC *JB
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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