Front Suspension Lower Control Arm Problems of Chrysler Pt Cruiser

The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that the lower control arm bushings and front suspension make noise while driving various speeds. It feels as if he is driving over bumps and a stone pavement. The dealer stated that he must pay for the repair so the contact took it to a mechanic shop for repair. The failure mileage was 27,998. Updated 03/12/09. Updated 03/16/09.

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Experienced front driver side wheel bearing and hub failure - replaced at cost of $350. Inspection during this repair revealed that the front lower control arm bushings had deteriorated and were in need of replacement as well - put off $600 repair until later date. 56,000 miles 2004 Pt Cruiser limited.

My cruiser was in the shop for regular maintenance, when the mechanic found that the lower control arm bushings were worn. In reading this site, I see that this has become a real problem fleet wide. I had to pay for the front end alignment, plus the $100 deductible on the extended warrant. Based on what I read, I think that the cars should be recalled and repaired at no cost to me.

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2002 Pt Cruiser. The lower control arm bushings are separating from the rubber. This can cause loss of vehicle control, rattles, severe tire vibration or front end vibration. Currently mine has 46. 000 miles and the problem is occurring on mine. I had them replaced one year ago at 38,000 miles. There is no way that these type of bushings should be having this separation problem at such a low mileage. A recall is in order, before a owner has a vehicle accident due to the vehicle loosing steering control.

2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. Consumer states defect involving the lower control arm bushings in the front suspension in August 2007 the bushings had deteriorated after only 30,620 miles. The dealer replaced them at a cost of $414. 84 which the consumer had to pay since the vehicle was beyond the 36 month warranty. In June 2009, the dealer informed the consumer they needed to be replaced even though it had only been 12,292 miles since they were initially replaced. The consumer went to an independent mechanic and had them replaced again.

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Front control arm bushings are worn out at less then 40000 miles.

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Pt cruiser lower control arm bushings shot with only 32000 miles. This is a common problem. A defect in the bushing material is suspect and failure can lead to loss of control.

At 62,000 miles, there was a clunking noise in my 2001 Pt Cruiser. When taken to the dealer was told the lower control arms/bushings were bad. Of course, my car was over warranty. Quote $750. 00 + tax. Had replaced, now at 75,000 miles 1 year later, took my pt in for annual inspection. . . . . Yep, lower control arms/bushings bad & needing replaced again. Quote this time $582. 00 + tax. Should this be a yearly thing? I have normal driving on paved roads. . . Avoid pot holes. This needs to be addressed! I love my cruiser by a trade in might be happening!.

: at 45,000 miles the front lower control arm bushings and link failed and had to be replaced. Updated 03/17/06.

Rear bushing on front-right and left lower control arm of suspension failed at approximately 65,000 miles, causing slop in control arm, wheel camber to vary during operation and auto to tend to wander on road (along with the sound of metal-to-metal contact in the suspension). Dc dealer refused to cover replacements as a defective bushing (out of warranty) and advised me on 1/20/06 that the part is currently unavailable - on back order - 7,500 units on order from supplier. I am very concerned that this is a potentially wide-spread failure of this bushing with the resultant loss of steering control due to camber changes during operation. - I have also been informed that this failure can lead to damage to the watts linkage in the drive train, and excessive wear of tires.

Rear bushing on front-right lower control arm of suspension failed at approximately 35,000 miles, causing slop in control arm, wheel camber to vary during operation and auto to tend to wander on road (along with the sound of metal-to-metal contact in the suspension). The bushing was replaced by dealer under warranty at that time. At 64,000 miles 1/10/06) the rear bushing on front-left lower control arm of suspension failed causing similar problems. I then inspected the rear bushing on the right side that was replaced at 35,000 miles and determined that it is showing indications of beginnings of another failure. Dc dealer refused to cover left side as a defective bushing (out of warranty) and advised me on 1/16/06 that the part is currently unavailable - on back order - 7,500 units on order from supplier. I am very concerned that this is a potentially wide-spread failure of this bushing with the resultant loss of steering control due to camber changes during operation.

On my 2001 Pt Cruiser both lower control arm bushings pulled loose from the arm which caused the car to shake violently while my wife was driving. When I took the car into the repair shop they brought me out to the car and showed me the damage to the control arms. Oddly enough there was another Pt Cruiser in the next bay that had the very same problem. The owner of the repair shop told me he had put control arms on at least 40 Pt Cruisers in the past year. I asked him if he had notified Chrysler about the problem and he said he had contacted them on behalf of his customers and Chrysler insisted that there was no problems with the lower control arms. My Pt Cruiser has 60,000 miles on it and the car that was next to mine had 34,000 miles on the odometer. As a result of this condition the front tires on my car were destroyed due to violent shaking of the front end. My wife thought the tires were falling off.

The consumer's wife was driving when the vehicle began to pull hard to the left. She then decided to take the vehicle to a garage for an inspection. This happened without any previous incidents. The mechanic discovered that both lower control arms failed. The mechanic suggested that she should not drive the vehicle until it was repaired. The mechanic noted that this was a common problem in these vehicles. The mechanic replaced both lower control arms. There have been no further problems since the replacement. (11/23/05).

Dealership found cause of noise in steering. Problem was caused by lower front control arm bushings being broken (not worn). Further failure could lead to loss of control of vehicle.

Lower control arm bushings need replacement already at 29000 miles, on 2001 Pt Cruiser. This premature failure is a safety risk and appears to be common on this vehicle (admitted by dealer), yet is out of warranty. Should warrant a recall notice and free repair.

Severe clunking noised under the front end of my 2001 Pt Cruiser at 60k miles. Dealer notified that both lower control arm (bushings) had failed and needed to be replaced. Luckily, I purchased an extended warranty so the out of pocket cost was $100 deductible and $70 front end alignment. Why should control arm bushings fail so early? I believe this is a safety issue and since I found many pt owners on the web experiencing similiar suspension failures, daimler Chrysler should cover all the cost.

The lower control arm bushings are separating from the rubber. This can cause loss of vehicle control, rattles, severe front end vibration. Some of the members of the national Pt Cruiser club have had this occur as low as 5000 miles. Currently my pt has 75. 000 miles and the problem is occurring. I am a 25 year employee of the auto industry. And there is no way that these type of bushings should be having this separation problem. A recall and manditory repair is in order, before a owner has a vehicle accident due to the vehicle loosing steering control.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- while changing my front rotors & pads (at 27k miles), and with the suspension hanging, I noticed that the rear bushing on each control arm had separation. I first noticed this at 23k000miles (2-18-04) when I was inspecting the front brakes, but thought it must be designed like that since there were so few miles on the car (I am a retired heavy equipment mechanic). Researching now the Pt Cruiser sites on the internet I find that this is, and has been, a common problem with owners.

The bushings where the lower control arms are fastened to the crossmember mine, metal on metal concerning steering/suspension. The consumers lower control arms were totally disintegrated.

Over the last year I have had to spend over $900 in corrosion related repairs to my 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. I spent $124 to replace wheel hub covers, $150 to replace a corroded bell housing, and $650 to replace bushings which are coming out of the lower control arms. All of these items are related to design defects in the Pt Cruiser.

Chrysler Pt Cruiser lower control arm bushings are defective and DC will not do anything about it. This is a potential safety issue.

Lower control arm bushings separating from the rubber. Only 13,000 miles on vehicle.

Lower control arm bushing seperation: lower control arm bushing failed while driving to work the sudden failure caused the car to drop on passenger side. Tech at local wal-mart stated that if it had failed when I was turning the reduced clearnce would have caused my front right corn to dig into the ground.

I have a 2001 Pt Cruiser with 46,000 miles on it, I have to replace lower control arms on both sides because the bushings have seperated from the bubber. I have had cars with over 200,000 miles on them and never had this problem. I feel that a recall is in order before some one gets hurt due to loss of steering control.

I read several pt related forums and many members have commented about lower control arm bushing failures, weel so have mine. I am experencing viberation from the front end and will make arangments at the dealership where I bought the car. From what I have read on the forums it is not a matter of if they will fail. . . . . . But when they will fail. I believe this is a matter that should be a recall. This is an obvious safty item, as total loss of these bushings would result in loss of controll of the car causing a crash. Thank you 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser dream ser 1.

Upper & lower control arm bushings failure.

Based on concerns by other Pt Cruiser owners, I have checked the condition of the lower control arm bushings on my two year old, 11,000 mile car. The rubber is separating from the metal, due to a poor bond between the two? in any case this is inappropriate for a new car with so little use. I believe damlerchrysler should be directed to be responsible for any costs associated with repairing said bushings: parts, installation, extend warranty, worn tires due said loose parts, and other suspension components. Having owned many cars and quite a few new cars, never a problelm with these components starting to disintegrate. Please review other complaints and trust that you will provide a fair solution to the many owners of this model car, many of which have had to pay for a repair/replacement from their own pocket!!!!.

The lower control arm bushings are separating from the rubber. This can cause loss of vehicle control, rattles, severe tire vibration or front end vibration. Some of my members have had this occur as low as 5000 miles. Currently mine has 36. 000 miles and the problem is occurring on mine. I am a ase certified technician. And there is no way that these type of bushings should be having this separation problem at such a low mileage. A recall is in order, before a owner has a vehicle accident due to the vehicle loosing steering control.

The lower control arm bushings are failing on the Pt Cruisers. This is causing a loss of control of the vehicle if they get bad enough. The lower control arm bushing is separating and allowing the control arm to drop down and hit the frame. The occurrence is happening to many of my car club members and members of the pt forum I frequent. And a lot of them still have low mileage on the vehicles. This is a control problem and poorly designed (bad rubber) design that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We have managed to catch the fuel line rub thru problem and DC has taken care of that. But now this problem needs to be addressed also. . This isn't just concening the USA models but also the models in other countries. Ak.

The lower control arm bushings are separating from the rubber. This can cause loss of vehicle control, rattles, severe tire vibration or front end vibration. Some of my members have had this occur as low as 5000 miles. Currently mine has 36. 000 miles and the problem is occurring on mine. I am a ase certified technician. And there is no way that these type of bushings should be having this separation problem at such a low mileage. A recall is in order, before a owner has a vehicle accident due to the vehicle loosing steering control.

I had my 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser in the shop for the mandatory pennsylvania state safety inspection. The mechanics informed the that both of the lower control arms were bad in the vehicle. This vehicle has only 47,000 original miles on the car. I asked if this was a common occurance and was told that they have replaced these control arms on 9 vehicles so far. They stated they called the local Chrysler dealership and the service department told them that they replace about 30 of these per month. I was told there have been no recalls issued for this item.

Premature failure of front wheel bearings and lower control arm bushings. Dealer states he has seen this in other Pt Cruisers.

When doing the 30,000 mile oil change/inspection I noticed splits in the lower control arm bushings. This is only noticeable when the suspension is unsupported. The car was dealer serviced for the recalls and was asked for an inspection of the bushings with a written response a this time. Dealer mechanic said it was normal wear but response was suspicious in nature and not forthcoming. The car was then taken to an independent auto mechanic and stated that the bushings appeared to be coming apart. The car was then taken to a different dealer with this concern and they then decided to replace the bushings under the original warranty. No parts retained due to dealer policy that no parts under warranty work will be given to the owner. I request an investigation of the lower control arm bushings for inferior rubber and design. It appears that if the bushings fail the control arm will fall off and may result in severe injury.