Fog Light Switch Problems of Chrysler Pt Cruiser - part 2

Multifunction switch for headlights and fog lights fails. Lights erratic, safety problem big time at night. Thousands of complaints of the problem since 2001 can be viewed on line under various posts and threads. Obviously a manufacturing defect that the company needs to address. Since the company is now run by the government, should I call the white house?.

See all problems of the 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 🔎.

The control switch for the headlights on my 2002 Pt Cruiser has gone bad causing the fog lights to be permanently on and draining the battery.

I own a 2005 Pt Cruiser convertible. I have had problems for the past year with the multifunction switch located on the steering column. The fog lights will not turn on as the switch is broken and sometimes there is visible smoke coming out of the column followed by the stench of burning rubber. I researched and found out this is a common problem with this make and model of car. The following link is a webpage devoted to the problem with the multifunction switch and will give you an idea of how many people this is effecting. Chrysler is aware of the problem as the part has been on back order. I have not gotten the part fixed as I see this as something that needs to be recalled and fixed at the cost of Chrysler. In the website you can see over 800 people with this same problem. There have been active posts since 2005. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 🔎.

I own a 2002 Pt Cruiser touring edition and recently I have been coming out to my car to find the battery dead, I have a newer battery so this baffled me until I realized today that there is a short of some kind in the multi switch for the headlights and fog lights that caused the fog lights to remain on eventhough everything else was turned off. The following link shows may others are having the same issue and like others until I find out why this is happening I have pulled the fuse for my foglights. . Read more...

Multifunction switch felt like it had additional friction when turning lights on. In the first instance the head lights and fog lights were not coming on when they should. First unit was replaced at the dealership. Second instance the switch did not have any precursor indication of failure, all lights from switch just stopped working one day. Second unit is being replaced at dealership. Part only lasts ~18 months.

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.

See all problems of the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 🔎.

2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser, the multi-function switch, which controls the fog-lights, headlights, and interior panel is faulty. It shorts out, causing smoke, or the fog lights come on when the car is parked, and drains the battery of all power. Driving down the road, the light comes on indicating the fog lights are on, when they have not been activated, then there is a burning smell coming from the steering column, you have to turn the lights on, turn on the blinkers or stop to get this problem to subside. Chrysler has had this problem with thousands of the multi-function switches that have the fog-light option. Please issue an immediate recall before a fire occurs which means the loss of someone's' life. This can be prevented by immediate action on the governments part. The multifunction switch is faulty, very weak.

Fog light switch is always on unless signal arm is placed in left turn. If I don't do this, the battery drains from the fog lights staying on. Internet search and complaint search on this site reveals this to be a common problem with the multifunction switch, costing approx $200 to fix. From internet research, appears to be happening not only with 2001 Pt Cruiser but also later years.

See all problems of the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 🔎.

Fog lights stay on when care is turned off.

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.

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.

Shortly after leaving the house, the fog light indicator came on even though the headlights themselves were off. Pressure on the end of the stalk turned the indicator off but it came back on when pressure was released. After parking and shutting off the engine, the indicator (and the fog lights themselves) remained on. Removing the keys from the ignition had no effect. The only thing that turned the fog lights off was setting the turn indicator in the 'left turn' (down) position. Further testing found that the only other way to turn off the fog lights was to remove the appropriate fuse from the interior fuse panel. Researching the problem online turned up several message boards with a large number of drivers reporting this exact problem going back at least three years, which turns out to be caused by a failing multifunction switch. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 🔎.

Multi-control turn signal lever issue. Fog lights stay on, even with car off. Drains battery. 'very touchy', short? had to pull fuse to temporarily remedy situation.

I have a 2003 Pt Cruiser bought it used and since then have kept up with the maintenance on the vehicle . While coming home from austin to san antonio at 9:30 pm the lights on the car headlights completely went out that included the fog lights. I had no blinkers no lights and had my wife and child with me. Proceeded to exit and had a relative meet me up in san marcos texas I followed him all the way to san antonio where I made it home using my relatives car lights as help. The next morning went out to buy the part that I need it 70. 25 at the local dealer ship here in san antonio since this happen I have no hazard lights and no turn signals. I have looked at the car and had trouble shoot the car with no avail I have replace the part and took the one from my Dodge intrepid and have had no luck to get blinker back on Chrysler sure one hell of a car one that can get you kill.

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.

Fog lights are turning on by themselves even when light switch is not on and when car is not running causing battery to drain and many headaches! this happens 3 or 4 times a day!.

The fog lamps stay on even when the switch is in the "off" position. I have read many other owner's complaints of the same problem. This has resulted in my battery being drained twice.

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.

2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. Bad multi function switch causes fog lights to stay on when vehicle is off and run the battery down completely.

The fog lights would not shut off. Technician at the dealership removed the fuse until we could schedule them to work on it. When we took it in to be fixed, they replaced the multifunction switch.

Fog lights stayed on until the high beams where turned on then they would go out. Had to have entire left arm control switch replaced at a cost of 189. 00.

Multifunction switch for turn signal, headlights and fog lights is defective. Electrical failure causes melting, smoke, burning and malfunction.

Fog lights stay on draining battery. Internet research indicates problem with the multi-function switch. Also indicates that hundreds of people have had this same problem - some multiple times - replacing switch at dealer for apx $200 - and manufacturer has yet to issue recall or assistance.

In December 2007, while on an extended trip, the fog light on my 2005 Pt Cruiser activated themselves and could not be turned off. The entire control lever on the steering column had to be replaced when we returned home.

The fog light switch on my vehicle has malfunctioned and now the fog lights will not turn off, even though they are not even supposed to be able to turn on without the headlights being on. This causes the battery to die if not corrected promptly.

The problem I am having started about 2 months ago, when my battery was suddenly drained and I had no idea why. I had to buy a new battery, and found it draining as well. I finally discovered that my fog lights were coming on by themselves while the car was parked. It appears that there is a short or some wiring problem in the turn signal switch lever, which has the fog light switch on the end, and the problem has only got worse. For now, the only solution I have found is to flip the lever down to the left turn signal when the car is parked, which somehow keeps the fog light switch from engaging. I have also found that heat, related to the time of the day, seems to also play a part in it. When it is cool, like in the morning, the fog lights do not turn on. As soon as it warms up for the day, they come on and will not turn off. I decided to do a google search today, and found hundreds of complaints in a post regarding the problem, and that Chrysler has never addressed it. The complaints all demonstrate that the left-turn-signal solution I found on my own is the only way to handle the problem. I also noted others have suggested the temperature relationship, where heat from the time of day makes the problem worse. . Read more...

Fog light switch failure, fog lights stay on whether the switch is turned on or off. Smell of burning wires after vehicle sits for a couple of hours with the lights on.

The fog lights in the Chrysler Pt Cruiser suddenly came on and will not shut off. I believe the multi function switches were defective in Pt Cruisers and need to be recalled. The battery could have died if I did not pull the fuse.

The fog lamps on the 2001 Pt Cruiser come on and stayed on their own accord. This caused a dead battery 3 times. When I opened the door the alarm went off. Sometimes the instrument panel worked correctly, sometimes it did not. Sometimes the keyless entry worked and sometimes it did not. When it did work, I could not get the door to unlock with the key, it relocked by itself, leaving me locked out of my own car and stranded on several occasions. I could not lock the door on driver's side with electronic door lock. Must individually lock all doors. Smoke came from the top of the steering column , through hazard light switch on two occasions. Dealer suggested $200. Replacement of multi function switch - but research showed thiswas not a remedy to the problem. I live in a remote, rural area, and do not feel safe or secure with this vehicle.

The 2001 Pt Cruiser fog lights came on by themselsves when the switch were in the off position, draining the battery when the car was parked. If the left turn signal was turned on the fog lights went off. I had to pull the fog light fuse to remedy this problem.

2005 Pt Cruiser gt convertible with 50,000 miles. I looked out the window and noticed fog lights on. The fog lights cannot be turned on without the headlights being on. But here was the fog lights on and it drained my battery completely. The only way I could turn the fog lights off was to tape the universal switch, so that the fog light switch was forced to close. After see how many people have had the same problem for several years, I am wondering why the NHTSA doesn't do something about this.

My 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser's fog lights will not go off even when the car is not running unless the left turn signal is turned on. If the turn signal switch is not turned on the fog lights drain the battery leaving me stranded and requires recharging or replacement of the battery. Multiple forums I've read lead me to believe this is a massive problem with the Pt Cruiser. It requires replacement of a multifunction switch at a cost of over $200.

Control switch for 2001 Pt Cruiser headlights and fogl ights had intermittent short, causing repeated battery drain. . Read more...

Cannot turn off fog lights/driving lights when headlights are on or off.

Over the past 6 months I have had 50 plus times where I have found my battery dead and the fog lamps on. Over the last 3 years I have had fewer , but , regular times when this has also happened. I check to see that they are off as I exit the vehicle , and return to find them on and the battery dead. The switch on the end of the light control stick is not a good arrangement. It wears out the stop and then ( as mine is now ) you can not turn the fog lamps off. Any little bump while I am driving and they come on. I have had to unplug these lamps ( rather than pay the ridiculous dealer replacement fee ) to keep my current ( 3rd this last 2 years ) battery from dying. I got the first retail pt delivery in WI on April 12 2000 and am sure in time all owners will find this problem.