I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A MAIN ROAD ONTO A SIDE STREET. WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNING, I HEARD A CLUNK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED FROM MY HANDS. THE CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE SERVICE TECH SHOWED ME THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE K FRAME WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THRU. IT'S TO RUSTED TO BE WELDED AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISER AND DODGE NEON, SINCE THEY USE THE SAME FRAME. THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T MOVING AT HIGH SPEED OR THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, THEY ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND THEY BASICALLY IGNORE ANY COMPLAINTS. *JB
2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON OCTOBER 4, 2006, I HAD NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE ON THE PT CRUISER WAS STILL READING FULL AND I KNEW AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WEEK IT SHOULD BE READING EMPTY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE GAUGE READ "FULL" BUT WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES IT WOULD READ "EMPTY"; IT EVEN READ 1/2 FULL A COUPLE OF TIMES. ON OCTOBER 5,2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DAVE DENNIS CHRYSLER JEEP AND DODGE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO THE WORKORDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". AT THAT TIME, I HAD ALSO ASKED FOR THEIR FREE 16 POINT CHECK WHICH INVOLVES CHECKING FLUID LEVELS AND TIRE AIR PRESSURE, ETC. THIS SERVICE WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING WE HAD TO STOP FROM OUR ROAD TRIP TO PUT AIR IN ALL 4 TIRES. THE FRONT PASSENGER ONLY HAD 10PSI IN IT. ON OCTOBER 27, 2006 I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN AFTER I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK TO CAPACITY. THE FUEL GUAGE WAS ONLY READING 3/4 FULL. ONCE AGAIN THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE "FUEL SENDING UNIT". I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HATCH DOOR ON THE PT. YOU HAVE TO USE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLOSED SECURELY. IF YOU USE REGULAR FORCE TO CLOSE THE HATCH, THE DOOR IS FLUSHED WITH THE REST OF THE CAR BUT THE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALONG THE STRESS POINTS ON THE HATCH DOOR THE PAINT HAD CRACKED. THE BODY SHOP SANDED AND REPAINTED THE DOOR BUT SAID THE FORCE USED TO SHUT THE DOOR IS A "FACTORY" ISSUE. *NM