10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,864 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #17

Oct 012008

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The multifunction turn signal switch started to smoke and we couldn't turn off the fog lights. We had to pull the fuse since there continued to come smoke out of that switch -- we had to open the windows to drive home in order to get rid of the smell/smoke. Our Chrysler dealer said that this part is in high demand. The part was $275 and a similar high amount for labor the first time. From that time on I ordered online and replaced the switch two more times. Today, 10/01/2014, the switch started to smoke again. This would be the fourth switch. This is a known problem and should be a recall since it can cause a fire and drain the battery.

- State College, PA, USA

problem #16

Feb 082013

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 51,150 miles
The fog lights in my 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER stay on, even after the ignition is turned off. I have to leave the left blinker on for the fog lights to turn off. And some times the fog lights turn on for no apparent reason with the ignition off. The fog lights stay on and drains the battery down, did not notice till it was parked on the street and roommate told me my lights were on.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #15

Mar 092011

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 41,365 miles
Fog lights will not turn off. I had to unplug the lights in order for them not to stay on. Now they are completely off. Will never buy a Chrysler product again. I have 46,000 miles and everything described in these reports went wrong with my vehicle.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #14

May 012012

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
The fog lights in my 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER remain on, even after the ignition is turned off. I have to remember to leave the left blinker on for the fog lights to turn off. Other times the fog lights come on for no apparent reason with the ignition off. The fog lights stay on and drains the battery.

- Altavista, VA, USA

problem #13

Apr 242012

PT Cruiser

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the multi-switch on the steering wheel malfunctioned and was causing the fog lights to remain illuminated after the vehicle was shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.

- Nappa, CA, USA

problem #12

Aug 102011

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 95,200 miles
The fog lamps will not turn off. About 6 months ago, the steering column had smoke coming from it and it seems that as a result, there is a short in the multifunction switch which caused the fog lamps to permanently stay on. It appears that other Chrysler PT CRUISER owners have had this same issue. I have included a link regarding other Chrysler customers who have had the same issue. www.topix.com/forum/autos/Chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2/P6.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 152010

PT Cruiser

  • 48,100 miles
Fog lights on my 2004 PT CRUISER stay on all the time, draining the battery. Multifunction switch does not turn off the fog lights. Pulled the fuse to disable the circuit and attempting to find a replacement part.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 142010

PT Cruiser

  • 56,000 miles
Smoke coming from steering column. Fog lights will not turn off. Battery will run down.

- West Milford, NJ, USA

problem #9

May 152009

PT Cruiser

  • 100,000 miles
In my 2004 PT CRUISER-first was unable to turn on light in rain, then all of the lights stopped working, while I was driving. Got it fixed for $600, then fog lamps will not turn off. All of a sudden there is smoke coming from the console, now the only way I can keep my fog lights from draining the battery is to remove the fuse each day. I have heard of both problems occurring in pts with other people.

- Alloway, NJ, USA

problem #8

Mar 232009

PT Cruiser

  • 82,151 miles
2004 Chrysler PT CRUISER, the multi-function switch failed and the fog lights on the car remain on even with the switch off and the key out. This drains the battery. This is a known issue, there are over 4000 parts on back-order so many other PT CRUISER are having the issue.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 012009

PT Cruiser

  • 55,000 miles
Lights will not shut off due to defective switch.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #6

Jun 202009

PT Cruiser

  • 62,400 miles
Multifunction switch failure - fog lights will not turn on - headlamps flicker - dealership reports there are currently over 3000 of these on backorder - part #05073049ab.

- Midway, KY, USA

problem #5

Feb 092009

PT Cruiser

  • 68,000 miles
Chrysler PT CRUISER multifunction switch malfunctions. Fog lights stay on even when key removed from ignition. Internet search reveals this is a very well known and widespread problem that can lead to burned wires, battery replacement, etc.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #4

Sep 222008

PT Cruiser

  • 96,000 miles
Defective multi-function switch on Chrysler pt (2004) causes fog lights to stay on, even when ignition is turned off and keys out, causing battery to drain and die.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 012008

PT Cruiser

  • 53,000 miles
In April 2008, our 2004 PT CRUISER turbo fog lights started to come on for no reason. Internet forums claim that this is a widespread problem caused by a defective switch. The cost is $70 for the part plus labor. Failure to fix the problem will cause the battery to fail.

- San Francisco , CA, USA

problem #2

Jul 112008

PT Cruiser

  • 55,000 miles
In July 2008, our 2004 PT CRUISER fog lights started to come on for no reason. Internet forums claim that this is a widespread problem caused by a defective switch. The cost is $70 for the part plus labor. Failure to fix the problem will cause the battery to fail.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 142008

PT Cruiser

  • 50,318 miles
I was informed by my neighbor that my fog lamps were on. Since I hadn't used them in over a month this came as a surprise. The switch was not on - nor would the lights turn off. A web search determined that the "fix" is to leave the turn indicator at a left turn and/or remove the fuse. The same search revealed that fires have resulted from this exact same fault www.topix.com/forum/autos/Chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2/P15.

- Corona, CA, USA