Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION ON THE INLET NOZZLE FUEL TANK. *SMD THE DEALER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CRACKED TRIM AROUND A/C UNIT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN, FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING, AND REAR SHOCK NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND THE ROAD HAD A NATURAL "BUMP" IN IT, CAUSING A SLIGHT BIT OF LIFT WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN, AND COUNTER STEER IN ORDER TO KEEP IT IN MY LANE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TODAY, AND THE RIGHT LOWER MOTOR MOUNT IS BROKEN. I JUST REPLACED THAT SAME MOUNT LESS THEN 6 MONTHS AGO. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY KNOW OF A CRUISER THAT HAD 8 FRONT RIGHT MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. THERE IS AN ENTIRE SITE ON THE INTERNET DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH MOTOR MOUNTS GOING OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THEIR CRUISERS. *TR
AFTER COMING FROM THE STORE I NOTICE A BIG SPOT OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR,I WIPE IT UP WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON SOME ERRANDS CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND SOME MORE OIL, AT THIS POINT CALL MY LOCAL PARTS HOUSE HE CAME UP WITH A BAD FRONT OIL SEAL. SO I WANTED TO DID FURTHER INTO THIS, AND FOUND A LOT OF DODGE, CHRYSLER, OWNER HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.I PULL UP AND COPY THESE PROBLEM'S SOME P/T OWNERS SAID THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THEM TO CHANGE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE THRUST BEARING WAS TO FAR OUT OF SPECS.AND PUSHING THE FRONT SEAL OUT AND CAUSING LEAK. IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS,THIS WOULD HAVE A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE PROBLEM. I THINK CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ONE CHRYSLER TECH DID SAY HE KNOWS THE 2.4L HAS A CRANK SEAL ISSUE ON A HANDFUL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW OUR P/T ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE. MOST OWNER THAT I'VE READ ABOUT HAS MILEAGE NO MORE THAN 110.000.AND SOME HAVE HAD THE SEAL REPLACE TWO-THREE TIMES. I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO PLATE AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM NOW WE ARE STUCK WITHOUT A CAR. THIS COULD COST IN THE THOUSANDS,THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE ADDRESS LONG AGO.THE HOLE UNDER CARRIAGE IS SOAK WITH OIL. *TR
AT 23,021 MILES MY 2005 PT CRUISER HAD THE LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM REPLACED (8/28/2007). SEVEN MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR (CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS). I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE OTHER LOWER CONTROL ARM ON 3/25/08 AT 27834 MILES. I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT 38,033 MILES AND AT 60,349 MILES. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS IN ONLINE FORUMS FROM PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND BRAKE WEAR HAS BEEN REPORTED DUE TO FRONT WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. MY CAR IS NOW AT 62,570 AND I AM HAVING THE SAME CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN HITTING A BUMP ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE UPON BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE NOW. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND CHRYSLER NEES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS CAR, I OWNED A 2001 PT CRUISER AND HAD THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED IN THAT CAR BEFORE 40000 MILES. THERE HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE DRIVING IN THESE VEHICLES. A WHEEL BEARING BREAKING WHILE DRIVING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! SEE COMPLAINTS AT SITES BELOW. THANK YOU. HTTP://WWW.PTCRUISERLINKS.COM/FORUM/WHEELS-TIRES-SUSPENSION/23632-WHEEL-BEARING-ISSUE.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TIL09OD8D72ERULQA HTTP://WWW.TRUEDELTA.COM/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/SUSPENSION-PROBLEMS-69 HTTP://WWW.MOPARCHAT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=795043 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/CHRYSLER/PT_CRUISER_CONVERTIBLE/ *JS
I HAVE OWNED A 2005 PT CRUISER FOR ONLY TWO MONTHS AND IT HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT BOTH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST 565.00. FROM WHAT I AM READING,THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MAYBE SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL!! THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT FOUND AND CORRECTED. ONE OF MINE WASN'T EVEN MAKING ANY NOISE BUT THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF PLAY IN THE TIRE. VERY DANGEROUS!
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO HAVE THE BUSHINGS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE THREE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN UPDATED 07/19/10*JB
VEHICLE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED OR SLOWED POSITION. ONCE ACCELERATED BEYOND THAT SPEED, VIBRATIONS REMAIN, BUT LESS INTENSE. VEHICLE WILL PULL UPON APPLYING BRAKES, MAKING IT HARDER TO CONTROL. FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE FRONT END AND TIRES ARE "GRINDING INTO THE PAVEMENT", THIS AT STREET SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH. HAD TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED ON ALL FOUR TIRES AND PRESSURE WAS AS SUGGESTED BY MANUFACTURER. HAD BRAKES CHECKED AT DEALER AND THEY STATED THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, "THE BRAKES ARE FINE." THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. IF CHRYSLER/FIAT DEALERS CANNOT PINPOINT THE CAUSES OF THESE DEFECTS/PROBLEMS AND FIX THEM (AT NO COST THEIR CUSTOMER) ONCE AND FOR ALL, THEN WHO? THESE PROBLEMS POSE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, AND RECALLS SHOULD BE ISSUED. WITH THESE PROBLEMS UNRESOLVED, THERE IS LITTLE ENJOYMENT IN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
DEFECT FOUND DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK AT DEALERSHIP LEFT FRONT STRUT DEFECTIVE & BADLY LEAKING AT 14,050 MILES FLUID LEAKING ONTO BRAKES / OILY SUBSTANCE VISIBLE ON OUTSIDE WHEEL DEALER STATED UNKNOWN CAUSE W/SUCH LOW MILEAGE COULD NOT DETERMINE SUSPECT ORIGINAL PART DEFECT AT TIME OF PURCHASE DEALER EXPECTS CUSTOMER TO COVER COSTS IN EXCESS OF $300 TO REPAIR CUSTOMER CONTENDS ORIGINAL PART DEFECTIVE & COSTS SHOULD BE ABSORBED BY CHRYSLER/DEALER. *TR
MY 2005 PT CRUISER CHRYSLER AT 49,661 MILES WAS IN AN ACCIDENT RIGHT FRONT END THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED IT WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT TIRE WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROGRESSIVE THEY HAD IT LOOKED AT AND STATED THE FRONT BEARING AND HUB WAS GONE AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I CHECKED SOME SITES ON LINE IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND NEITHER THE INSURANCE NOR E CHRYSLER FEELS THIS DEFECT IS ANY OF THERE FAULTS. *TR
IN 2007 I WAS DRIVING WHEN I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY TIRES. I WAS HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS FOUND. OVER THE YEAR I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY TIRES 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WOULD WEAR AND I WOULD SLIDE AND THE TIRES WOULD SKID IN SIMPLE WEATHER. IN MARCH OF 2008 I HAD TO REPAIR MORE TIRES AND MY BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT WITH WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. ALSO IN 2007 I STARTED HEARING A SQUEALING SOUND IN THE ENGINE, I HAD IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. BUT DECREASED ONCE THE MECHANIC PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID. SINCE THEN EVEN NOW I STILL HEAR THE SQUEAKING AND EVERY MONTH I HAVE TO PUT IN STEERING FLUID. I CALLED CHRYSLER REGARDING RECALLS RELATING TO THESE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS WERE IN EFFECT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFO IN 2008 REGARDING THESE RECALLS THAT I NOW SEE ONLINE. ALSO MY AUTOMATIC STICK SHIFT STICKS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALMOST HIT SOMETHING HEAD ON TWICE SINCE DECEMBER 2008 BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SHIFT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. *TR
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON BTH SIDES FAILED AFTER 40K MILES, LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED AT 30K MILES. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT WAS STIFF AND SHE HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS. THE CONTACT PUT POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING BECAME EASIER. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AGAIN AND SHE REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,490. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE PRESSURE STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THE BUSHINGS WERE WORN
CAR ONLY HAS APPX 55,000 MILES - BROUGHT CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TO FIX SLOW LEAK IN TIRE, WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A PART THAT SUPPOSEDLY SHOULD GET AT LEAST 85K WORTH OF USE BEFORE REPLACEMENT AND IS PART OF A COMPLETELY SEALED SYSTEM IN THE PT, SO THIS IS A RATHER DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE ($400) REPAIR FOR SUCH A "YOUNG" CAR.*CN
MY 2005 PT CRUISER STARTED MAKING NOTICEABLE NOISES FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALER HAS NOW TOLD US THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL MILEAGE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT IS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. THERE IS A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR, FOR THE SAME FRONT BEARING ISSUE, BUT I DID NOT CHECK OTHER YEARS. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING LINK WHICH CONTAINS MANY INCIDENCES OF PT CRUISER FRONT BEARING FAILURES WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TIL09OD8D72ERULQA *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,150.
I OWN A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY IS UP AND I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT AXLE BEARING IS SHOT. MY MECHANIC WAS VERY SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THIS ON SUCH A NEW CAR AND SAID IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. I AM VERY UPSET WITH CHRYSLER SINCE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER AND HAPPENS ON EVERY MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE READ ABOUT MANY EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB
2005 PT CRUISER (TURBO) WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE. INSPECTION WAS NOT GRANTED. VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED "UNSAFE TO DRIVE" AS THE BEARINGS ON THE SPINDLE (ON AXLE) WERE DESTROYED AND BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE WOBBLING. MECHANIC SAID ONE OR BOTH WHEELS COULD COME OFF. IN THE NEXT BAY WAS ANOTHER PT CRUISER (TURBO) WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS DISCUSSED WHETHER THE DESIGN WAS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE POWER OF THE TURBO. UNTIL THE PARTS ARRIVE (WE HAVE TO PAY THE $600+ FOR THEM) WE HAVE A RENTAL AT THE DEALERS SUGGESTION AND OUR COST. *JB
VIBRATION IN REAR END OF VEHICLE; VEHICLE DRIFTS TO RIGHT; EXCESSIVE/UNEVEN TIRE WEAR SINCE NEW. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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