2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Exterior lighting Problems

I REPLACED MY VEHICLES BATTERY 2 DAYS AGO(NOV 12, 2019)(VERY OLD BATTERY AND WITH THE COLD IN MASSACHUSETTS IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED). NOW WITH A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING BATTERY THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IN PCM (NOT ALTERNATOR) IS SIGNALING ALTERNATOR TO RAISE CHARGING VOLTAGE INTERMITTENTLY TO AS HIGH AS 17.1VOLTS, BUT HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY BOUNCING BETWEEN 14.1V -16.7VOLTS. THIS INCREASE OF VOLTAGE TO A UNSAFE LEVEL CAUSES ALL ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE IN CONNECTED TO THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND ARE OPERATIONAL TO FLASH/ FLICKER. EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD FLASHING/ FLICKERING. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THE PCM NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED WITH THE PROPER UPDATED FIRMWARE IN ORDER TO FIX THE FACTORY WEAK PARAMETERS. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER TODAY(NOV 14,2019) AT MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP (CENTRAL JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM FIAT @ 56 BOSTON PROVIDENCE TPKE, NORWOOD, MA 02062) ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED TO HAVE MY PCM REPROGRAMMED SINCE ONLY THAT SPECIFIC MODEL CAR MANUFACTURES SERVICE SHOP WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY AND PCM FIRMWARE TO REPAIR IT. THE MANAGER REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON MY CAR SINCE HE SAID, "I WONT TOUCH CARS OLDER THAN 10YEARS AND CLOSE TO 100,000MILES". THEN ASKED IF I WAS EVEN A CUSTOMER AT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, SAYING NO AGAIN AFTER I SAID I WASN'T. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION THAN THE FACTORY DEALERSHIP TO FIX A FACTORY FLAWED PCM, WHICH MAKES THE RISK OF MY BATTERY EXPLODING DUE TO THE INCREASED REGULATED VOLTAGE VERY LIKELY. THIS PROBLEM ISN'T NEW TO CHRYSLER SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED SEVERAL TSB(S) IN MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND THIS EXACT PROBLEM: 18-112-16 18-026-03 REV.A 18-016-03 18-020-04

NHTSA ID

11279975

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY EXTERIOR FRONT LIGHTS ARE VERY DULL AND AREN'T BRIGHT WHEN TURN THEM ON.

NHTSA ID

11183941

Incident

Jan 18, 2019

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TURNED OFF. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED PREVIOULSY MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. FOG LIGHTS JUST CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE LUCKILY I TURNED AROUND AND NOTICED IT. WHEN I OPENED MY CAR DOOR I NOTICED THE SWITCH WAS SMOKING. AFTER SOME QUICK THINKING I PULLED THE FUSE. IF I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF THIS I BELIVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT MY CAR ON FIRE AND THE ONES PARKED NEXT TO IT. I HAVE HAD THE FUSE PULLED FOR A YEAR. FLASH FORWARD TO MY CURRENT STATE IN VA AND IT'S INSPECTION TIME. I FAILED FOR A FAULTY FUNCTION SWITCH. THE GUYS REPLACED THE SWITCH FIRST STOPLIGHT I COME TO NO SIGNAL. TOOK IT BACK TO GARAGE THEY SAID SWITCH WAS BAD OUT OF THE BOX. AFTER THIS EPIDEMIC THIS WILL BE THE 4TH MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THAT I KNOW OF INSTALLED ON THIS CAR. HOW IN THE WORLD HAS THIS PART NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

NHTSA ID

11097568

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED OR ELSE THE FOG LIGHTS REMAIN ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

11014596

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

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

THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH TO BURN OUT AND RUNNING TAIL LIGHTS TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND BURNING SMELL CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. PULLED NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND NOTICED MELTED CONNECTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681332

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS. HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND NOW THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER TERRIBLY AND EVEN MORE WHEN ON HIGH BEAMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618585

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE APPROX. 2 YEARS. AT AN EARLIER TIME I HAD USED THE FOG LIGHTS TWICE WITH NO INCIDENT. LATER AND PRIOR TO 12/17/13 THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WASN'T EVEN TURNED ON BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I JIGGLED THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR WENT OUT, AFTER THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL. ON 12/17/13 I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO FIND THE FOG LAMPS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, THE CAR NOT RUNNING, THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. THE LIGHTS JUST CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. I MANAGED TO TURN THEM OFF (FOR THE NIGHT) ONLY TO FIND WHEN I GOT TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING I COULDN'T SHUT THEM OFF. I DROVE THE CAR HOME, FINALLY PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS AND RETURNED TO WORK. I'VE ALSO HAD INCIDENCES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM SLIGHTLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE FULLY. ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE FORUMS I'VE READ, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT BURNING WIRES AND DEAD BATTERIES. I WISH THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556560

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

127,730 mi

ABOUT 3 THREE YEARS AGO THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE RADIO LIGHT WOULD TOTALLY GO OUT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC - HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532450

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

94,000 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN IN THE OFF POSITION. PLACING THE TURN SIGNAL IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE WOULD REMEDY SITUATION, FURTHER FIXED BY PULLING THE FOG LIGHT FUSE. LATTER ON AT 80,000 MILES THE LOW BEAMS FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. HIGH BEAMS WOULD WORK OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD WORK (AFTER PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN). THE DANGER WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY WHEN YOU WOULD USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE FOG LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF. THIS WAS FIXED BY REMOVING THE MULTI-STICK FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW COMPONENT. ALL ISSUE WERE RESOLVED BY THIS FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454493

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH HAS WORN OUT AND IS CAUSING MY CAR BATTERY TO BE DRAINED DUE TO THE FOG LIGHT STAYING ON. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE PART. HOWEVER I WAS CHECKING ONLINE FOR QUOTES WHEN I STUMBLED UPON A FORUM FULL OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE OVER 600 COMMENTS REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE PT CRUISER, MOST OF THEM WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING SOMEBODY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I AM HOPING FOR A RECALL OF THE PART, I WILL BUY A NEW PART I JUST DON'T WANT THE SAME PART AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED DUE TO MY CAR BEING DRAINED OF BATTERY LIFE MORE THAN 5 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396072

Incident

Mar 4, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON MY 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAVE BECOME SO CLOUDY THEY ARE PRACTICALLY USELESS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER PT CRUISERS AS WELL AS OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AS I AM FEARFUL OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH ALOT OF DEER AND THIS LOW VISIBILITY CONCERNS ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361396

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

1. I GENERALLY DRIVE OUR 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY, AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS MEANS I WAS TURNING THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL UNIT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. 2. BEGINNING EARLY IN 2009 I EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH WITHOUT A LOT OF CYCLING, OR THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD TURN THEMSELVES ON WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE MADE THAT HAPPEN. THEN, WHEN TRYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, THE SWITCH BEGAN TO SMOKE. TURNING OFF THE CAR CLEARED THAT, SO I STOPPED USING THE FOG LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHT PORTION OF THE SWITCH WORKED FINE. 3. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE OUT OF THE SWITCH. I THEN CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTO MAINTENANCE COMPANY I HAVE USED IN THE PAST AND TRUST. THEY QUOTED ME A BETTER SERVICE PRICE, AND THAT THE SWITCH WAS BACKORDERED. THERE WERE OVER 5000 SWITCHES ON BACKORDER AND IT WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED BEFORE WE RECEIVED THE SWITCH AND HAD IT INSTALLED. MY CONCERN IS TWO FOLD: 1. THE 5000 MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF FAILURES, AND 2. IF I HAD NOT BEEN SITTING THERE, WOULD THE LIGHTS, AFTER COMING ON BY THEMSELVES HAVE CAUSE THE SWITCH TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE? I THOUGHT THAT THE BRIEF TIME I WAS SMOKE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO BLOW THE FUSE, BUT IT DIDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293383

Incident

May 4, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

NHTSA 629139 EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS, MOISTURE INSIDE VENTED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. HEADLIGHTS HAVE HARD WATER DEPOSITS ON INSIDE OF LAMP,WITH SUN EXPOSURE HAVE BECOME SO CORRODED THEY ARE NOT USABLE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280581

Incident

Aug 4, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

HIGH BEAMS COMING ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, AT FIRST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK THEN EVERYDAY IT WOULD HAPPEN THEN EVERYTIME USING THE VEHICLE, THE HIGH BEAMS CAME ON AFTER I TURNED THEM OFF WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR WOULD NOT CRANK, THE HIGH BEAMS WHERE STILL ON, HAD TO GET MY CAR JUMPED STARTED, REMOVED THE FUSE AND HAVEN'T HAD THE HIGH BEAMS TO COME ON AGAIN, BUT I NEED MY HIGH BEAMS ESP. FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, THERE'S A SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FUSE AND HIGH BEAMS LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276775

Incident

Jun 24, 2009

Mileage

122,000 mi

SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE, THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES WERE OFF. PRESSURE ON THE END OF THE STALK TURNED THE INDICATOR OFF BUT IT CAME BACK ON WHEN PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. AFTER PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE INDICATOR (AND THE FOG LIGHTS THEMSELVES) REMAINED ON. REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION HAD NO EFFECT. THE ONLY THING THAT TURNED THE FOG LIGHTS OFF WAS SETTING THE TURN INDICATOR IN THE 'LEFT TURN' (DOWN) POSITION. FURTHER TESTING FOUND THAT THE ONLY OTHER WAY TO TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS WAS TO REMOVE THE APPROPRIATE FUSE FROM THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE TURNED UP SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF DRIVERS REPORTING THIS EXACT PROBLEM GOING BACK AT LEAST THREE YEARS, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE CAUSED BY A FAILING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. (ONE SUCH FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2/ ). *TR

NHTSA ID

10244191

Incident

Sep 14, 2008

Mileage

91,900 mi

FOG LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT ON AND WHEN CAR IS NOT RUNNING CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN AND MANY HEADACHES! THIS HAPPENS 3 OR 4 TIMES A DAY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10236299

Incident

Jul 5, 2008

Mileage

71,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER BOUGHT IT USED AND SINCE THEN HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE . WHILE COMING HOME FROM AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO AT 9:30 PM THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT OUT THAT INCLUDED THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAD NO BLINKERS NO LIGHTS AND HAD MY WIFE AND CHILD WITH ME. PROCEEDED TO EXIT AND HAD A RELATIVE MEET ME UP IN SAN MARCOS TEXAS I FOLLOWED HIM ALL THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE I MADE IT HOME USING MY RELATIVES CAR LIGHTS AS HELP. THE NEXT MORNING WENT OUT TO BUY THE PART THAT I NEED IT 70.25 AT THE LOCAL DEALER SHIP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE THIS HAPPEN I HAVE NO HAZARD LIGHTS AND NO TURN SIGNALS. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND HAD TROUBLE SHOOT THE CAR WITH NO AVAIL I HAVE REPLACE THE PART AND TOOK THE ONE FROM MY DODGE INTREPID AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK TO GET BLINKER BACK ON CHRYSLER SURE ONE HELL OF A CAR ONE THAT CAN GET YOU KILL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235939

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

82,000 mi

THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN THE SPRING OF 2006. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, THE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE JUST SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OR AT HOME. NO WARNING, SO I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SINCE THIS WAS INTERMITTENT, NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH ADVISING ME THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON AND DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, I NEVER NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING. THIS CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. WHILE REPLACING THE BATTERY I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL CABLES HAD INFERIOR BATTERY CONNECTOR LEADS. THE CABLES CONNECTORS WERE MOSTLY EATEN THROUGH CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. (I NOTICED THAT WHEN I GOT THE NEW LEADS THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE OF A BETTER MATERIAL). DUE TO THIS NOT HAVING ANY RIME OR REASON AS TO WHY THE BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD AND NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING I SIMPLY HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I DISCOVERED THE CAUSE. IN DEC 2007 I WENT TO START THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HOWEVER THIS TIME WHEN I JUMPED THE BATTERY THE FOG LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYED ON AND THAT IS WHEN I FOUND THE PROBLEM. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THEM OFF SINCE THE SWITCH WAS ALREADY IN THE OFF POSITION. MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO REMOVE THE FOG LIGHT FUSE. SINCE REMOVING THE FOG LIGHT FUSE I HAVE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES TO DATE. I STILL DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OR THE CURE SO, I LOGGED ON TO THIS SITE TO LOOK FOR A SERVICE BULLETIN OR INFORMATION TO TELL ME THAT AND HERE I AM. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS WHOLE STUFF STARTED WAS APPROX 36,000 AND IT NOW HAS 42000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215431

Incident

May 1, 2006

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES AND CAUSE HER TO JUMP START HER BATTERY OFTEN. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS THE SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET GONE TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, SHE CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE POWERTRAIN AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10200393

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE COVERS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME TOTALLY YELLOW AND HAZY OR FOGGY MAKING THEM VERY, VERY DULL AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO THE COST OF THESE COVERS, I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF SAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198147

Incident

Jun 7, 2007

WE OWN A 2003 PT CRUISER. IT HAS MANIFESTED THREE SEPARATE PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND FROM OTHERS ON THE INTERNET: FIRST, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO CLICK THE GAS CAP. WE DID THAT, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SECOND, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH FAILED SUCH SO THAT THE LIGHTS TURNED ON WITHOUT THE SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED, STRANDING MY WIFE AT WORK. I "FIXED" THIS PROBLEM BY PULLING THE FUSE ON THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS IN WHICH THIS FAULTY SWITCH HAS ACTUALLY STARTED FIRES. THIRD, WE HAVE THE INFAMOUS INTERMITTENT STARTING"PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY. I CHECKED ALTERNATOR FUNCTION AND INTEGRITY OF ALL CABLE CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER. THEN I READ OTHERS' COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND THERE IS NO AVAILABLE SOLUTION. THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT, AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY. OUR VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT, AND WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD EXPECT MANY MORE MILES FROM IT. WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FRUITLESS DIAGNOSTICS DONE ON IT. WE STILL OWE $1,800 TO CHRYSLER FINANCIAL FOR THE CAR. IT PAINS US TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS A LUMP IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE, ASSUMING THE MANUFACTURER HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, BUT WE COULD NOT GET IT TO REPEAT FOR THE DEALER. IS THERE A "SECRET WARRANTY" FOR THIS ISSUE? WE CANNOT FIND A FULL-TEXT TSB TO FIND OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195556

Incident

Jul 7, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE SCRATCHED AND DISCOLORED, WHICH DIMINISHED THE VISIBILITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10194882

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

THE FOG LIGHTS IN THE CHRYSLER PT CRUISER SUDDENLY CAME ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I BELIEVE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCHES WERE DEFECTIVE IN PT CRUISERS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. THE BATTERY COULD HAVE DIED IF I DID NOT PULL THE FUSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190098

Incident

May 6, 2007

PT CRUISER 2003 FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, BATTERY RAN DEAD, COST OVER $200 TO REPLACES THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. CHRYSLER MECHANICS WERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND CLEARLY WERE ENJOYING THE PROFITS. THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY. I SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION TO CHRYSLER, WHICH THEY REJECTED BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. REFERENCE NUMBER: 16043282, EMAIL CASE NUMBER: 1688956. OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TURN SIGNAL STALK WEARING OUT! THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A POORLY-DESIGNED PART, JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE I APPRECIATED THAT MY WARRANTY WAS UP, PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE SHOULD RECEIVE ACTIVE CONSIDERATION FOR COMPENSATION. THIS WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK CHRYSLER, ALTHOUGH IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ME. I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME TELL PEOPLE HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH YOUR SUPPORT FOR SUCH A SITUATION, RATHER THAN TELL THEM THEY SHOULD AVOID CHRYSLER PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY COULD EASILY FIND THEMSELVES IN MY SITUATION. I PLAN TO MAKE GOOD ON MY STATEMENT TO PURSUE OTHER AVENUES OF SATISFACTION. WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP? *AK

NHTSA ID

10187331

Incident

Mar 13, 2007

Mileage

70,234 mi