9.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $680
- Average Mileage:
- 79,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 6 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (3 reports)
- clean radiator plugged with bugs (1 reports)
- repair leaking coolant hoses and adapter (1 reports)
- replace radiator fan (1 reports)
Car was overheating within one hour of driving. They'd said check engine light was a sensor knowing full well it wasn't. Found out later had leaking coolant hoses and adapter which made engine even worse.
- jax27332, Sanford, NC, US
Bought the 2004 PT Cruiser three years ago in November of 2012. It previously had only one owner, 55,000 miles on the odometer and came equipped with all the bells and whistles one could want. Leather interior, moon roof, chrome, mags, etc. Paid $6,000 for it used. Not bad, I thought, given its age. It had been in one minor accident prior to me buying it, but no major structural damage.
Repair problems had been relatively minor up until about a year ago: cam shaft sensor, air conditioning hoses, rear tail light assembly, windshield wiper sprayer problem, etc. Also, the rear window defrosted and radio mysteriously stopped working. Then, it started having problems with the temperature gauge. I travel less than two miles from home (hot or cold weather - it doesn't matter). The temperature starts to spike suddenly, putting the needle quickly up into the red zone on the temperature gauge and the engine starts to smell VERY hot. I have to watch the sonofabitch constantly, pull over to the side of the road, turn it on and off a few times before it finally calms down and behaves normally with the needle remaining in the mid zone. Other than this constant irritating headache, I really like the car and am debating on whether to keep it or trade it in when the loan is paid off in November 2016.
- mary janeca, Antioch, CA, US
I have changed the rad fan 3 times. Chysler let on they didn't know what was making it heat up or they really didn't know. Anyway only 4000K after bumper to bumper warranty was off they wouldn't fix it under the powertrain warranty.
- cson, London, ON, Canada
baught the car got on the high wAy to take it home it over heated pissed but after that loved the car..
- Cody P., Vincennes, IN, US
My husband, who was a mechanic for our ambulances in our city, has tirelessly worked on this. He has done everything possible to this crap car and nothing has worked. Only thing left is the head gaskets, but the compression is great and shows no other signs of that being the problem. upon checking other sites online, this seems to be a rather common problem and after talking to chrysler, I got the feeling they know it. I love this car, have taken excellent care of it, but I'm really tired of this and think maybe we should just get rid of it. Anybody have any suggesti0ns?
- Joni B., Manhattan, KS, US
I bought this car from a private owner last year. No one told me about the overheating problem, so I have been looking it up. It seems that all of these cars have the same problem. I don't the have the money to get it fixed or buy another car. I think the dealership should fix the problem for me. I am so making a complaint with the State Attorney's Office.
- Geary M., sanford, FL, US