2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Body & structure Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure 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.
8
Latest Oct 31, 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.
3%
of 258 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed Oct 31, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE FRONT AMBER HEAD LAMPS FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONT END PASSENGER COLLISION. THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOVE BOX FRACTURED AND SEPARATED UPON DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS, WHICH CAUSED FACIAL INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE, A FRACTURED EYE SOCKET, AND A FRACTURED NASAL PASSAGE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E033000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,450. *JS *JS
NHTSA ID
10920257
Incident
Mar 27, 2016
Mileage
112,450 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE WAS MAKING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MALFUNCTION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,390 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,490. UPDATED 04/29/14 MA UPDATED 05/2/2014 *JS
NHTSA ID
10568355
Incident
Feb 22, 2014
Mileage
40,390 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
NHTSA ID
10567459
Incident
Feb 27, 2014
Mileage
77,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 4, 2008
Crash reported
I JUST FOUND A RECALL ON MY PT CRUISER ON THE WEB AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A NOTICE TO DATE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALLS. MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ARE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10250778
Incident
Mar 26, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 18, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE. SHE NOTICED A WHITE, HAZY TAPE MARK ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IN JULY OF 2007, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE TO A SERVICE REPAIRMAN AND WAS INFORMED OF THE DEFECT AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER PERFORMED THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEFECT IS STILL PRESENT. SHE WOULD LIKE THE BUMPER TO BE REPLACED FOR FREE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,977 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,977.
NHTSA ID
10203349
Incident
Jul 14, 2007
Mileage
57,977 mi
Body & structureInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FLICKERS AND THERE IS WIND NOISE NOTICED NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NHTSA ID
10152117
Incident
Mar 7, 2006
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2004
"CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON REGULARLY, PROMPTING VISITS TO THE DEALER. WAS TOLD I WASN'T "CLICKING" THE GAS CAP ENOUGH TIMES UPON CLOSING IT. NUMBER OF TIMES TO BE CLICKED STARTED OUT AT 3 AND EVENTUALLY MOVED UP TO 7, INCREASING WITH EACH RETURN VISIT UNTIL I SCREAMED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SERVICE AREA AND THEY ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE LEAK DETECTION PUMP AND THE NATURAL VACUUM DETECTOR. SUNROOF MOTOR WOULDN'T RUN CONTINUOUSLY, THE SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE PUSHED REPEATEDLY TO GET THE ROOF TO CLOSE, MOVING A FRACTION OF AN INCH AT A TIME. THIS HAPPENED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PARTS REPLACED INCLUDED THE SWITCH, THE MOTOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE SUNROOF MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THE BIG PROBLEM: CAR WOULDN'T START, EVEN AFTER BEING JUMPED. THIS HAPPENED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING THE FIRST 16 MONTHS I OWNED THE CAR. PARTS REPLACED INCLUDE THE BATTERY (REPLACED TWICE) THE STARTER, THE STARTER RELAY, AND FINALLY THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE CAR WAS DEEMED A LEMON UNDER THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW AND I WAS REFUNDED MY MONEY FROM CHRYSLER UNDER A "BYBACK" PROGRAM NOT ARBITRATED BY THE STATE.*K
NHTSA ID
10091251
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Mileage
30 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 1, 2004
THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 PT CRUISER IS SET TOO LOW. EVEN WITH CARE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER SNAGS ON PARKING BUMPERS. IT HAS NOW CAUSED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION (FROM THE HEADLIGHTS FORWARD) TO CRACK IN THE SIDE AREA AND IS NOW FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH. IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW OR, OR IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE AN AN ACCEPTABLE HEIGHT ON THIS FRONT END. *AK
NHTSA ID
10064347
Incident
Mar 26, 2003
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own