general problems of the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats not too long ago with both of my toddlers in the car on a 3 lane highway locked up on me couldn't use the steering wheel or brakes had to pull the emergency break it's just been repetitive I bought the car from my sister who's grandmother got tired of putting money into it it stutters sometimes like it's slow to shift into gear to accelerate it can happen anywhere. It was my first car it's never been wrecked, I never thought to check for any recalls, I bought it in July of 17. It's only had a total of 2 owners. It used to shake real bad I couldn't go over 55miles an hour but even 55 was iffy. The scariest thing for me was it locking up on a highway with an intersecting lane I had just had everything replaced for a second time before it started smoking and locked up and completely shut down my kids 3 & 1 were in the back all I could think to do was pull my emergency break I drifted and swerved until the car finally came to a stop luckily not wrecking or injuring anyone, just fear of driving I really trusted this car. I had to call the police to get ahold of a state trooper who gave me a couple days to move it given my circumstance and 45 min away from home, a stranger stopped to help and offered to give us a ride back to ironton from the west portsmouth highway he lived in portsmouth out of kindness moved my car to his house there after dropping us off that night to keep from getting it towed. Officer noted everything. I didn't think of anything until I just recently got another 2004 pt that started fire in the headlights and going through a lot of the same problems.

While driving the engine will sputter and die. When pulling up to a stop light the check engine light will come on and the engine will immediately die. While driving on the freeway at 65mph the engine will suddenly die.

The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact replaced the multi-function electrical switch, which caused the fog lights to remain illuminated. The failure caused the battery to drain. The customer removed fuse #8 daily to reduce the possibility of an electrical fire. The contact had the multi-function switch replaced at henkel Chrysler Jeep Dodge (1275 w dickman rd, springfield, mi 49037, (800) 865-6185). The failure mileage was 108,773.

After shopping for 1/2 hour, I returned to my car in the parking lot. I opened the driver's side door and discovered gray colored smoke coming up from the steering column hazard button. It smelled odd. Not like wood smell. The auto club towed my car to my local mechanic and disconnected the battery connections as he said to prevent fire. My mechanic said the wires caught fire and melted the connectors. The parts: combination switch, combo switch connector & electrical connectors, shrink tubing = total $320 parts. Labor: remove & replace all applicable models (multi-function switch); replace multi-function switch harness (burned out connectors) = total $380 labor the day of the incident, I drove an estimated 15 miles total with two prior stops.

Instrument panel is inoperative all fuses and relays are okay.

My Pt Cruiser by chrylr 2004 got on fire in the control areas for the gear control areas, I was driving home on the 29th of February 2016, and I was about a mile from my home when my grand daughter said she smell smoke and seen it as well, but we didn't know where it was coming from. I got home from driving a regular city street, which was about 5 minutes from my home. I park the car and raise the hood to see if the fire was under my hood, no not there. So I park my car at my home and said I would investigate it in the morning since it was night time. I went to my car the next morning on the 1st of March 2016 and try to change gears, my gear wouldn't move. I had my car tow to my mechanic to fix the problem. He told me I had a fire in the gear areas, he was dumbfounded on how the fire started, but said the only thing he could come up with was the cigarette lighter could had started the fire.

Fuel gauge suddenly drops to empty. Even after a complete tank refill. It would seem to be an electrical malfunction in either the sensor or dash gauge itself. It can be "cleared" from being stuck on empty by shutting off the engine and then restarting it. Also, speedometer suddenly drops to zero for several seconds and then jumps back to the present speed.

Tl-the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the driver's side front heated seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the fire department was notified, and were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unavailable. Ah.

The vehicle failed to stop after applying brakes.

Driving on freeway when all the engine lights on the dash light up, flicker, then go dead. Then the car loses power, including steering and brakes and cannot be controlled. It will start again later and will be ok for a few days or weeks when the problem re-occurs. Neither an independent mechanic nor Chrysler can find the problem. It happens without warning at any speed and circumstance. I managed to get video during one such episode on surface streets. This is similar to the problem gm is having and should lead to a recall before anyone is killed. I can't in good conscience sell the car, and am afraid to drive it but have no choice. This has happened to many other Pt Cruiser owners and Chrysler has turned a deaf ear to the problem.

The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that after making a left turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle coasted downhill before it came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who ran a diagnostic test and determined that the automatic shut off fuse was blown. The mechanic replaced the fuse. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 86,000.

I had smoke and smelled burning coming from my multifuntion switch,.

When I turn the key switch my radio come on and then go off.

Fog lamps began flickering on and off then the interior dash lights went out as well as the rear tail lighting.

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.

Pt cruiser on cruise control. Exit freeway and tap brake. Car begins to coast. As we approached stopped traffic the brake was applied again. Cruise kicked in again and instead of slowing we speeded up. Approximately 2:30 pm - no alcohol involved and no skid marks. Hit 5 other vehicles. My husband was driving and I was the passenger. I was very badly injured internally and had fractures to ribs, vertebra. And ankle. Seat belt and air bag saved my life but seat belt ripped my intestines and caused severe internal bleeding. My husband was in shock but without injury. It took 3 weeks to get a police report and on the report it stated that he had stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake. Not true -- not true. He yelled to me before the impact that the car was not stopping and I saw that he had the brake to the floor.

Replaced the "leak detection pump" on March 20, 2010 and again on October 26, 2011.

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

Rough idle at stopped intersections, lunges and stalls. Stalls a approximately 15-25 mph while making left or right turns making it very difficult to turn while placing the vehicle in neutral and starting the engine again. The fog lights turn on by itself after the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off draining the battery. Had to disconnect the fuse in order to prevent this from happening again. To this date non-functional fog lights. The vehicle has several electrical problems from instrument cluster not functioning while driving to radio and climate control not working until you stop the vehicle and turn it off. Then start the vehicle again then it works properly for another few days. This is a reoccurring problem. Wheel bearing has been an issue too and currently needs to be replaced.

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.

Engine light keeps coming on after being reset. Checked by mechanic, computer says problem is in "cruise control", & has been reset 3 times. & is on again!.

My 2004 Pt Cruiser after I was driving for aprox 15 min. , and then parked, started smoking from under the hood. It then quickly caught fire and destroyed from the dash forward. I had the car serviced 11 days earlier at the dealership. I had no warning lights, no smoke or smell while driving. The car is a total loss.

My complaint is regarding the rough idle and surges. This first started when a/c or heat were on. At this time the car does this even when a/c or heat are not on. Car feels as though it is going to stall out when accelerating either from a parked position, accelerating to a freeway speed and when in idle position. On February 18th, 2005, head gasket, cylinder head and spark plugs replaced per my complaint of problem. At that time the car had 12,070 miles on it. June 17th, 2005, spark plugs replaced again and also replaced spark plug cables because problem still existed. I was told that the cables were not replaced on February 18th and that this would fix the problem. This did not fix the problem in which I made further complaints on November 15th 2006. Technician could not find problem. I was told monitor sensors were within range, tbs updates checked and none were available. Spark plugs and cables were all in good condition. July 11th 2006, technician confirmed complaint that engine will stall when running a/c. Flashed programmed controller and checked over engine system. Problem still exists and I am concerned that this problem is a hazard when driving this vehicle.

The consumer Pt Cruiser trip meter constantly reset itself, when this happens the dash lights flash on and off, gas gauge drops to empty and the bells start beeping. The mechanic sprayed static guard in it that time to resolve the issue, but this did not work. The consumer was told that the problem was with the cloth seats and to get out and grab the metal bar. The gear shifter knob would come off, there was a grinding noise in the rear due to the brakes, it was hard for the consumer to get out of the vehicle at time because the lock and tumblers were sticking, the engine would knock intermittently during acceleration and would only get 12. 9 miles to the gallon and would run rough intermittently, and the gauges would quit working at times.

The car randomly stalls or dies when approaching a stop. Also, did this when turning a sharp corner. The car is in the shop now for this problem. Mechanic does not know what is wrong, but has had the same problem. Chrysler knows about this problem, but they do not have a fix for this problem. Other cars of the same year and make are having the same problem also, some newer models are having the same problems according to the dealers that caller spoke too.