10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,121 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #12

Oct 262014

PT Cruiser

  • 163,000 miles
"takata recall" I was driving a 2003 PT CRUISER when my wife and I were hit head on by a truck that went left of center when a van turned left in front of him. We were hit again on the drivers side and the airbag deployed and the steering column fell on my left leg. My granddaughter stopped at the scene because she was driving past and saw us. She saw I was bleeding from my head and put pressure on it as soon as she could. Upon being taken to the hospital I had both of my ears nearly severed off. It was determined that the shrapnel from the air bags had cut both my ears and severed them. Also it has been two years and I am still getting material out of my head from them. I have big sore spots where the material has risen and came out of my head.I also got mersa in my leg and my wife got 4 broken back ribs. They also determined I received a concussion. The vehicle was in motion but going about 25 as I was slowing down as the van in front of us was turning.we do have photos and medical records as we had a lawyer who sued the driver who turned in front of us and we can get pictures and records if you would like.I do not have them on my computer.

- Ottawa Lake, MI, USA

problem #11

Nov 302016

PT Cruiser

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chrysler PT CRUISER. After the vehicle was started, the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic on multiple occasions where the catalytic converter, cpu, spark plugs, and fuel cap were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #10

Mar 272016

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,450 miles
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.

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #9

Mar 272016

PT Cruiser

  • 116,000 miles
Details of accident listed in police report.I was driving MY2003 Chrysler PT CRUISER when being chased by another vehicle in road rage which caused my car to get hit by another car which is listed in police report.my passeger and I received bodily damages sustaoned by these airbags my passenger was struck by an object that was intact with the airbag..laceration above left eye, broken eyesocket, broken nasal passage, fractured ribs passenger will need facial surgery due to airbag impacts seatbelts where worn at time of accident.I also have photos and hospital records of passengers injuries.please contact Mr. Arthur ingram or jacob patterson at number provided.

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #8

Jun 012015

PT Cruiser

  • 28,000 miles
Air bag lite comes on constantly and engine light is on concurrently

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 312011

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles
Vehicle air bag warning light indicates air bag is disabled - due to faulty clock spring. Updated 08/18/15

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 072003

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
Stop at a red light and was hit from behind by another car going over 30 miles per hour. It pushed us into another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. My husband and son got whip lash.

- Denison, TX, USA

problem #5

Nov 012010

PT Cruiser

  • 61,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving approximately 60-65 mph, he remembered changing lanes and there was shaking in the steering wheel. The vehicle accelerated off of the ground per a witness since the contact doesn't recall the details of what occurred. He does remember that the engine was smoking and that the air bags never deployed. One passenger sustained head and hip injures. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000. Updated 02/02/11

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #4

Apr 182008

PT Cruiser

  • 72,000 miles
We owned a 2003 PT CRUISER and I had a wreck on April 18, 2008 and the air bags didn't deploy and the shoulder strap did not catch to hold me from being thrown forward. I was stopped at a red light and a car rear ended me at approximately 50 mph. It threw me forward into the steering wheel and I injured my left shoulder where I had my had resting on the steering wheel. I had to have surgery and I feel that this would not have happened if the shoulder strap had caught when the collision happened. We bought another PT CRUISER, a 2007 and my husband and his friend who was driving had an accident on January 21, 2009. They swerved to keep from hitting a dog and hit a guard rail almost head on and again the air bags did not deploy and the shoulder straps did not catch. I feel that this could be a bad problem with the PT CRUISER. Have you had any other reports of this sort of problem?

- Lafollette, TN, USA

problem #3

Sep 012006

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
9/1/06 as I was parking my car my drivers side air bag deployed. After several phone calls and emails to Chrysler's customer service division, there was no reply. On 9/29/06, my passenger side airbag deployed, as well as my passenger side seat belt locked up while I was driving 50 miles an hour. That day I called Chrysler again and an investigation was created. After the investigation Chrysler found no responsibility on their part. I submitted a claim into my insurance company, and they found the defect to be a manufacturers defect, and will not cover the deployed air bags or locked seat belt. At this time there has been no reparation.

- Bricktown, NJ, USA

problem #2

Aug 292006

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles
: the contact stated while driving 50 mph on the highway, another vehicle pulled out unexpectedly causing a rear end collision. There was braking prior to the impact however, the air bags did not deploy. The occupants of both vehicles sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop and the dealer was notified. A police report was taken.

- Matawan, NJ, USA

problem #1

May 302006

PT Cruiser 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,500 miles
: the contact stated while traveling 30 mph, with prior braking, the front end of the vehicle made impact with an SUV. When this occurred the airbags did not deploy. There was a police report taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and has been deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic and the manufacturer was not alerted.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA