10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,631 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #13

Oct 042006

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
: the contact stated while parked and not running, the vehicle was involved in a frontal impact from another vehicle who was traveling an unknown speed. None of the airbags deployed. The contact sustained minor injuries, and a police report was taken. The dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted.

- Portage, MI, USA

problem #12

Apr 232003

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact stated the driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed while driving down the highway. There was no prior warning. Also, the right front brake had a loud popping and squealing noise, this caused the steering wheel to vibrate. The right front brake overheated, it turned the rim red hot. He could smell the brake dust from the right front brake. He contacted the dealer, they have repeatedly replaced the brakes, brake pads, disc caliper, and rotors. He was still having the same problem with the vehicle.

- Cape Coral , FL, USA

problem #11

Aug 122004

PT Cruiser

  • Manual transmission
  • 70,000 miles
The consumer was driving on the freeway at 55 to 60 mph and hit a vehicle in front. The bumper came off but the airbags failed to deploy. Provide further details.

- West Rupert, VT, USA

problem #10

Jun 082004

PT Cruiser

  • miles
While driving 65 mph another vehicle merged in front of consumer's vehicle, resulting in a frontal collision. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained head and neck injuries, and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a body shop by the insurance company.

- Saint Peters, MO, USA

problem #9

Jun 182003

PT Cruiser

  • miles
I was driving ca. 20-25 mph out of a parking lot, and hit a yellow cement stop sign post while turning left. I did not see the obstacle before turning (blind spot?) and I crashed into it head-on. The airbags did not deploy. The damage didn't look too bad, but it turned out to be over $3,200 damage to the front end, including new radiator and new ac unit. My head hit the windshield very hard but the windshield didn't crack. I didn't go to the hospital but should have because I hit my head hard -- I self-treated with ice bags for 4-5 hours at a time for several days. I thought maybe I wasn't going fast enough for the airbags to deploy, but having seen all the other consumer complaints about this issue, I am convinced there is a problem with the airbags. Please investigate before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #8

Jun 012003

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 26,000 miles
While driving at 35-40 mph, the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, the driver and passenger side air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained shoulder and chest injuries.

- Alviso, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 102003

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,200 miles
On July 10, 2003, my wife was returning home after donating blood. She passed out and the 2002 PT CRUISER that she was driving hit a small pine tree with a glancing blow to the driver's side fender, and then hit a power pole head on. The vehicle struck the power pole hard enough to break the pole and bring the high voltage wires down across the top of the car. According to the police report, she was traveling approx. 30 to 35 mph when the impact occurred.the airbags did not deploy. Even though she was wearing her seat belt, her head snapped forward and hit something (I assume the rim of the steering wheel) which caused a bone-deep gash in ber forehead requiring 10 (ten) stitches to close.I contacted Chrysler, and they sent an investigator to look at the car before repairs were begun. Their response was that "....the impact, (which did not involve the frame) did not create the longitudinal (front to back) deceleration necessary to deploy air bags.".in fact, the frame was bent. According to the body shop manager, the right frame rail was moved between 7 and 10 mm. My contention is that an impact sufficiently hard enough to break a power pole should have caused the air bags to depoly. I said that in a letter back to Chrysler and have received no further communication from them. Total cost to repair the damage to the PT CRUISER was $9,147.92

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #6

Jul 082003

PT Cruiser

  • miles
While traveling about 5mph on a major street and without prior warning another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle from behind. Upon impact, driver side air bag didn't deploy.

- Stanton, CA, USA

problem #5

Jan 082003

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was involved in a front end collision 1/8/03. My air bags did not deploy. I am now recovering from a fractured sternum injury. I have gotten no response as to why the bags didn't deploy...probably would not have been injured if they worked.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #4

May 092002

PT Cruiser

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, driver's air bag did not deploy, causing injury to driver. Dealer has inspected vehicle. Consumer states that vehicle was totaled.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #3

Mar 282002

PT Cruiser

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a side impact on passenger's side, causing passenger's air bag to deploy and drop through grove box, dealer and the manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #2

Mar 182002

PT Cruiser

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a 30 mph collision hitting a treee in which driver and passenger's front and side air bags did not deploy, cause unknown.

- Burleston, TX, USA

problem #1

Feb 022002

PT Cruiser

  • miles
I'm not sure if my side airbag should have deployed or not. I was hit in an intersection on the front quarterpanel drivers side. The impact was over the front tire towards the front. I don't think the airbag would have helped any, but I just wanted to know if it should have deployed for safety reasons in the future. I would like to know under what conditions would my side airbag deploy. Thanks.

- Eagle, ID, USA