RoadVitals

2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
10
Latest Sep 16, 2010
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 10 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Sep 16, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIECE THAT GOES FROM THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 AND IT BROKE AGAIN 15 DAYS LATER. THE PART THAT WAS REPAIRED WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE PART AGAIN FOR FREE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70200.

NHTSA ID
10355990
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTART DROVE AS NORMAL BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS DRIVE. HE WAS UNSURE IF THE AUTHORIZED DEALER PERFORMED ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PMC WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/23/10

NHTSA ID
10352718
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
24,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 15, 2009

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LOST ALL THE OIL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER PUTTING 2 PINTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, I DROVE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT AFTER ROUGHLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. I PUT 3 PINTS OF OIL IN A DAY LATER AND TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET SEAL. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THE INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE GASKET REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED FOR VEHICLES OVER 120,000 MILES. LEAKING OIL IN THIS MANNER IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, AND I'M LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING HOME. I NOTICED ONLINE, THAT MANY OTHER PT OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE TYPES OF ENGINE FAILURES CONSISTENTLY. I CANNOT PAY THE 2800 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR, THE CAR WILL SIT UNTIL CHRYSLER LOSES THIS LAWSUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295864
Incident
Dec 7, 2009
Mileage
121,040 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 21, 2009

THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW WITH 236 MI. AT 36000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD UPON STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO AT A STOP IT LUNGES AND ACTS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO QUIT . IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OF A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? THIS IS CONSISTENTLY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE RUNS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289240
Incident
May 22, 2009
Mileage
36,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 18, 2009

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING. YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHEN STOPPING TO PREVENT THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOTION AND BE CAREFUL WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE STALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2008 WITH ONLY 17,900 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW MARCH 2009 AND THE CAR HAS AROUND 29,000 MILES ON IT, WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262360
Incident
Jul 20, 2008
Mileage
17,901 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 11, 2007

AFTER MY 30,000 MILE MAJOR MAINTENANCE, I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. IT WAS UNDER THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE WARRANTY SO I PAID THE $100 AND THEY "FIXED" IT. THE LEAK CONTINUED AFTER 3 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALER SHOP TO BE FIXED AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND THE LEAK. THEY NOW THINK IT'S COMING FROM THE "TOP". SINCE I DON'T MONITOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, MY CONCERN IS THAT I WILL HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE THE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. ALSO, THE CAR IS KEPT IN MY GARAGE DURING EXTENDED TIMES WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN AND THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE PUDDLE WHEN I RETURN. I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL IS FLAMMABLE SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN THERE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE BUT SEEMS TO LACK GUIDANCE AND HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10202558
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
30,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2006

I HAVE OWNED A MANUAL SHIFT 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER SINCE JAN 2004. IN JUNE OF 2006 THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHO AT FIRST SAID IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN. THEN THEY SAW IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH SLIPPING. TWO DAYS LATER I HAD PAID FOR A NEW CLUTCH AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL BACK ANYMORE, EVEN WHEN THEY PUSHED ON IT. I WAS TOLD TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE AT LEAST 3 CLICKS FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS UNTIL THE CLUTCH HAD SETTLED IN. THREE WEEKS LATER I PARKED ON MY DRIVE OF NORMAL SLOPE AND RAN INSIDE FOR 5 MINUTES. WHEN I RETURNED THE VEHICLE WAS 3/4 DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC HAD BEEN TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT THE ROLL BACK IS NORMAL FOR THAT CAR. WHEN ASKED WHY IT NEVER DID IT BEFORE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD GOTTEN OLDER AND MORE LOSE AND THAT ALL THE PT CRUISERS ROLL BACK. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER WHO HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CHRYSLER. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER BUT THEY ARE STILL STANDING THEIR GROUND SAYING THAT THE ROLL BACK IS NORMAL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING EVEN A 2006 MANUAL SHIFT PT CRUISER CAN BE SEEN ROLLING BACK WHEN THEY PUT IT ON A SLOPE IN THEIR SHOP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IT COULD ACTUALLY CAUSE A DEATH IF THERE WAS A CHILD PLAYING NEAR THE VEHICLE OR EVEN INJURY TO AN ADULT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167315
Incident
Jul 28, 2006
Mileage
24,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 17, 2005

2004 PT CRUISER STALLS WHEN STOPPING WITHOUT WARNING. STALLS WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR STOPPING FOR SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ACCIDENTS ALMOST OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIME. 2 SEPARATE DEALERS HAVE HAD THE CAR, THEY CANNOT MAKE IT DO IT? AT LEAST 10 TRIPS AND THE LAST 9 WITHOUT PAPERWORK BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DON'T NEED IT UNTIL THEY CHECK IT OUT. SOMETHING IS FISHY WITH THESE CARS. PRIVATE PARTY LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWN SHIFTING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING TO MINIMUM SPEED. DEALERS AND CHRYSLER ARE DENYING A PROBLEM. I AM GETTING RID OF THE AUTO AS IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I HOPE MORE OWNERS OF THESE COMPLAIN AS TO GET SOMETHING DONE ASAP. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142947
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Mileage
500 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 6, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TELLING HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING INTO FOURTH GEAR. 11/2004, 5/5/2005, 5/6/2005, 2/25/2005 SHE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON SO SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN, GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN LAST WEDNESDAY AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10124384
Incident
May 28, 2005
Mileage
5,493 mi
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Mar 30, 2005

WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER HAT THE CLUTCH AND BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PARTS WORE OUT WITH LESS THEN 17,500 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10117107
Incident
Mar 26, 2005
Mileage
17,000 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 .