Three problems related to turn signal switch have been reported for the 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser based on all problems reported for the 2002 Pt Cruiser.
The electronic door locks on my 2002 Pt Cruiser limited started operating by themselves two years ago. I have had this car since it was new and had the multifunction turn signal switch replaced about 3 years ago. The door lock problem sometimes occurs when you are driving the car at low speed but it will also occur when the car is setting in the garage with the key out of the ignition. The doors will lock and unlock several times on their own while driving or without anyone being in the car or touching the remote keyless entry system. This can present problems if the car is locked and in a public parking lot. The care sometimes will unlock on its own. You can also be locked out of the car if you don't take your keys with you when exiting the car. This seems to happen more during hot summer weather than during cooler winter months. I have also noted that the external temperature gauge and compass mounted above the front window will also go out during hot weather. When the car cools down with the air conditioner on, the external temperature gauge will start operating again. I have taken the car to the dealer three times to be fixed. The first time they charged to diagnose the problem and said nothing was wrong, the second time they said the battery cable was corroded and need replaced at $300 and it needed a new battery. After this work, I drove it around the block and the door locks started going wild again. So I went back to the service manager and he said they would have to have the car for several days and they would get the district service manager on the phone to see if he might be able to help them. At that point we went into winter and it was ok. It is doing it again this spring so I will try again.
Multi-function switch connector housing degrades due to heat exposure over time which can cause shorting, light or turn signal failure or a smoke/fire hazard. The first indication of a problem was that the fog lamps would turn on by themselves. Other owners have reported the main lights turning on and a few instances of the steering column billowing smoke while driving. Chrysler has 2000+ multi-function switches on back order and refuses to acknowledge the issue after many owners have called to complain about the problem.
The multifunction turn signal switch allows stops working and fog lights stay on making the battery run down and the only immediate remedy is to disconnect the fog lights, I pulled the fuse. There is an excessive amount of complaints about this issue on the internet. Chrysler should man up to this problem. Someone could get seriously hurt if there is a fire because of this problem. Death or extreme burns could come as a result of Chrysler not taking care of this problem. Why does it have to go to such extreme measures for Chrysler to take care of this electrical hazard. There are so many instances of this problem out on the web, so I know Chrysler can't say that they've never heard about it before. I will sue if me or any of my family are harmed by this electrical short. This is just a bad accident waiting to happen.