RoadVitals

2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
11
Latest Feb 21, 2019
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.
5%
of 217 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2019

THIS VEHICLE HAS A P0037 AND A P0037 DTC'S THAT WON'T CANCEL. FINDLEY CHRYSLER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS. IT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THE COMPUTER IS BAD. I SENT THE COMPUTER 5033293AF TO BE REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS OK. I GOT THE CODES TO GO AWAY FOR A BRIEF TIME BY MESSING WITH THE COMPUTER WIRE LOOM. IHAVE HEARD THERE WAS ARECALL FOR THIS. IS IT STILL AVAILABLE?06/08/2018

NHTSA ID
11181490
Incident
Jun 8, 2018
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2016

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, UP TO 4,000RPM WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT 4,000RPM. TO SAVE MY LIFE AND OTHERS SHIFTED CAR INTO NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO RESTARTED THE CAR AND SAME SYMPTOM WERE PRESENT, ENGINE REVIVING TO 4,000RPM, FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS A PRECAUTION. NOTE THAT WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED THE CAR WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, SIMPLY DRIVING AROUND TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS. THIS SITUATION IS SCARY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN, HOW, IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, TOTALLY UNPROVOKED AND NON-SENSICAL AS TO WHY IT IS HAPPENING, WHAT TRIGGERS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE RECENTLY AND BECAUSE OF THIS NIGHTMARE SCENARIO I AM HESITANT, VERY VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS A DANGER TO MY, MY WIFE'S LIFE AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WE MAY ACCIDENTALLY PLOW INTO IF THE CAR DECIDES TO GO INTO RUNAWAY MODE OF ITS OWN VOLITION. YOUR CONSIDERATION OF A RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID
10909391
Incident
Sep 14, 2016
Mileage
170,400 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 1, 2012

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. CAR SHUT OFF AT AROUND 60MPH. DRIFTED OFF ROAD AND RESTARTED AND WENT A MILE OR SO AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WE KEPT DOING THAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC IT RAN FINE ON THE WAY THERE, AROUND 15 MILES. HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER, IT READ BAD INJECTORS SO HE REPLACED THEM. THEN HE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING AGAIN HE PUT IT BACK ON HIS COMPUTER AND IT READ BAD COIL SO HE REPLACED THE COIL PACK,PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES. IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS . UNTIL NOW 10/30/2012. . TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC, HE REPLACED O2 SENSORS. RAN FOR 2WKS. SAME THING AGAIN! ONCE AGAIN TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC . HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER ONCE AGAIN AND IT READ FINE. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO OUR CHRYSLER CENTER. ALTHOUGH WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER RUNNING CAR (WHEN IT IS RUNNING RIGHT) ,THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD SHUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT. PLEASE FINE ANSWER TO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482846
Incident
Jun 20, 2012
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 10, 2012

MY PT CRUISER HAS HAD TO HAVE ALL OF THE FRONT END REPLACED, CAR STARTED ACTING UP AT 50,000 MILES AND I NOW HOW ALMOST 81,000 AND I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END EXCEPT THE CV JOINTS, WHICH I HOPE DOES NOT NEED AFTER I SEND THIS. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION DONE. WHEN SPEAKING WITH CHRYSLER DIRECTLY THEY STATE THAT THE PT CRUISER HAS HAD A LOT OF RECALLS DUE TO FRONT END, BUT I AM TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL IN THE MIX. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF MY PT CRUISER. I HAVE REPLACED PARTS ON MY CAR STARTING BACK IN 2010 EARLY 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454659
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Mileage
50,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 11, 2011

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORN ,EXTREMELY CLEARANCE(WHEEL MOVES APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH TOP TO BOTTOM WHEN SHAKING IT). WILL REPLACE BEARINGS SOON. NOTICED WHILE REPLACING FRONT BRAKES AT 35,508 MILES. A SEALED WHEEL BEARING SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT AT THIS LOW MILEAGE UNLESS DEFECT IN BEARING OR MANUFACTURES DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375553
Incident
Jan 2, 2011
Mileage
35,508 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed May 13, 2007
Crash reported1 death reported

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

NHTSA ID
10190613
Incident
May 6, 2007
Mileage
52,437 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 21, 2006

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. PURCHASED NEW WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE ENTIRE HUB ASSEMBLY AND EVEN A WHOLE NEW AXLE. HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE AXLE IS TOO SHORT AND IS COMING LOOSE RESULTING ON THE EXPEDITED WEAR ON THE BEARINGS CAUSING A NEED FOR A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10168913
Incident
Jun 5, 2006
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 26, 2006

PT CRUISER. VIBRATION AT CERTAIN SPEEDS WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10163536
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
17,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 10, 2005

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH FRONT AXLE LITERALLY BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10111333
Incident
Feb 7, 2005
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 27, 2005

THE CONSUMER PT CRUISER TRIP METER CONSTANTLY RESET ITSELF, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY AND THE BELLS START BEEPING. *BF THE MECHANIC SPRAYED STATIC GUARD IN IT THAT TIME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOTH SEATS AND TO GET OUT AND GRAB THE METAL BAR. THE GEAR SHIFTER KNOB WOULD COME OFF, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO THE BRAKES, IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME BECAUSE THE LOCK AND TUMBLERS WERE STICKING, THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION AND WOULD ONLY GET 12.9 MILES TO THE GALLON AND WOULD RUN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT WORKING AT TIMES. *SC

NHTSA ID
10111054
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2004

HOSE CAME LOOSE FROM TRANSMISSION CAUSING VEHICLE TO CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID
10097718
Incident
Jul 21, 2004
Mileage
7,027 mi

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .