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 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WE WERE IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR, THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SEIZED UP AND STUCK ON. SMELLED BURNING BRAKE SMELL. GOT HOME AND LET SIT AND COOL FOR 5 HOURS, ALL WAS OK. WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS ? GARAGED KEPT, LOW MILEAGE, CAR BABIED. *TR
SET CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN SET AT SPEED. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE APPLICATION OF BRAKES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ONLY GOT IT DOWN TO 40 MPH. CAR HAD TO BE POPPED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING AND STOP THE CAR. *TR
MY PT CRUISER 2003 HAS BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION BECAUSE OF THE CONTAMINATION MY BRAKES BRAKE PADS CALIBER ARE MESSED UP HAVEN'T GOT FIXED YET. *TR
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE HAND CONTROL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FROZEN IN PLACE AND WILL NOT MOVE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF FORCE. AFTER DISENGAGING AND RE-ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE TWO TO THREE DAYS BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD STOP SQUEAKING. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE TIRES WERE REMOVED AND ORANGE DUST WAS FOUND ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER CLEANED THE BRAKES, BUT NEVER REPLACED THEM. THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD THE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BLOW COOL AIR. IN AUGUST 2006 THE VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING HOT AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN. IN SEPTEMBER 2006 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. ON APRIL 19, 2007, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BECAUSE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2006 FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT PROVIDE AN ACCURATE VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,400, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,326. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED AND THEY WERE RUDE AND REFUSED TO HELP HER. LATER, THE DEALERSHIP ASKED FOR INFORMATION TO RENT THE CONSUMER A CAR AND THE RENTAL PLACE REFUSED TO RENT HER A CAR IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FIXED BY SMITH CHRYSLER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SOLD HER A CAR THEN CHANGED THE NAME ON HER PAPERWORK, REFUSED TO GIVE HER THE TAGS TO THE CAR UNLESS PAYMENT WAS PROVIDED AND TOLD HER SHE HAD THE WRONG VIN NUMBER FOR THE CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS HER MONEY BACK FOR THE CAR AND THE DEALER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES SQUEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE BULBS INTERMITTENTLY BURNED OUT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE BULBS WERE CHANGED 4 TIMES. THE FIFTH TIME THE BULBS FAILED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT FIXTURE WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - *NM
MY 2003 PT CRUISER, STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAS HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS ONE YEAR AGO. NOW, WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I HAVE HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR OIL AND/OR BRAKE FLUID LEAKS THREE TIMES. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR A FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. I AM SIMPLY LOOKING FOR ANY AND ALL AVENUES WITH WHICH TO FORMALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF QUALITY IN THE VEHICLE AND THE LACK OF QUALITY SERVICE AT THE "FIVE STAR" DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE CAVALIER RESPONSE WAS EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING. IT IS QUITE CLEAR TO ME CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE ABOUT QUALITY OR ITS CUSTOMERS. *JB
BRAKE LIGHT MECHANISM FELL OUT FROM POSITION UNDER DASHBOARD WHICH MADE THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING CONSTANTLY ON. *JB
ON JULY 30, 2005, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A HORRIBLE SCREECHING/GRINDING NOISE. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO REAR BRAKE PADS LEFT AND THAT THERE WERE GROOVES IN THE ROTOR (METAL ON METAL). I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT BRAKES REPLACED IN MAY 2005 AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH 1/2 BRAKE PADS LEFT ON BOTH SIDES. I PRIMARILY DO HIGHWAY DRIVING SO MY BRAKES TEND TO LAST LONG. I WAS INFORMED THAT CHRYSLER USES METALLIC BRAKE PADS ON THE PT CRUISERS WHICH MOST MANUFACTURERS DO NOT USE AS IT CAUSES MUCH HEAT AND FRICTION WHEN STOPPING AND PREMATURELY WEARS OUT THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE LOW, THERE WERE NO NOISES, SQUEAKING, ETC. THE ONLY NOISES I HEARD WERE WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND THE CALIPER WAS DIGGING INTO THE ROTORS EVERY TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I LATER LEARNED THAT CHRYSLER USES WEAR INDICATORS ONLY ON THE TWO FRONT BRAKES, NOT THE REAR. THERE ARE NO WEAR INDICATORS ON THE REAR BRAKES SO CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER KNOW THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE GETTING LOW UNTIL THEY HAVE NO MORE BRAKE PADS LEFT AND THE CALIPER STARTS EATING UP THE ROTOR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I ROUTINELY HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED (EVERY MONTH). THE REAR BRAKE PADS SHOULD HAVE NEVER WORN SO PREMATURELY IN THE SPAN OF 3 MONTHS, CONSIDERING 95% OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING WEAR INDICATORS ON ALL 4 BRAKES. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO BE DRIVING AROUND WITH ONLY 2 FRONT BRAKES AND NO REAR ONES AND TO NOT EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE! *JB
DT: BRAKES FAILED. WAS STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR DID NOT STOP. THERE WAS A CRASH. VEHICLE HIT A SUV . THERE WERE INJURIES. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE BRAKES AND CRASH. NO INQUIRES ABOUT RECALLS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEARCH FOR RECALLS AFTER COMPLAINT.*AK
WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING UP HILL I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH INCREASING FORCE UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAUGED. I HAVE DONE THISTIME ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND IT REQUIRES MUCH MORE FORCE GOING UPHILL THEN ON LEVEL GROUND. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS ALMOST AN ACCIDENT BUT I HAD THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO STEP ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIME TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN-OFF.*AK
THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE HOSE BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. *BF RECALL# 04V268000. *SC *JB
WHEN DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END. EACH TIME I MENTION THE NOISE TO THE DEALERSHIP DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON 12/30/04 AND1/7/04, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES MADE NOISE ON THE PT CRUISERS. *AK ON 4/6/004 THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THE CHARGE WAS $527.47. AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACE THE NOIS CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED A SECOND TIME FOR SERVICE ON 6/15/04.
REPORTED ON 11/18/2003 TO SERVICE ADVISOR 15 TIMOTHY M COY SR OF NICK ABRAHAM CHRYSLER THAT PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THEY ADJUSTED BRAKE.IFE PARKED SUBJECT VEHICLE ON 4 GRADE PARKING LOT OR SLIGHT GRADE.*AK SHE SET PARKING BRAKE AND LEFT CAR PARKED, SHE RETURNED TO FIND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED 100 FT. DOWN THE HILL AND WAS SITTING AGAINST PARKING LOT GUARD RAIL. CAR WAS LOCKED AND PARKING BRAKE LEVER WAS IN SAME POSITION AS SHE HAD LEFT IT. AFTER LOOKING AT CAR'S DAMAGE I TRIED PARKING BRAKE AND I FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT HOLD AS WELL, IN SAME LEVER POSITION
WHILE DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT REAR BRAKE WAS LEAKING. MECHANIC REPLACED NEW CYLINDER AND CLEANED THE SURFACE OF THE BRAKE PADS. ONE MONTH LATER, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE GASKET ON THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT DOES NOT FIT UP TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THERE IS ABOUT A 1/4 INCH GAP. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED BUT IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW. *LA
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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