2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE NOTICED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR REASON FOR THE NOISE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (04V268000) FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THAT RECALL; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, SHE SMELLED SMOKE, DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO "BELLOW" FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE HOSE, CALIPER, BRAKE PAD, ROTOR AND THE WHEEL COVER. SHE WAS CHARGED $406.60 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SAME DEALER TOLD THAT THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING. THEY CALIPER WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. SHE ASKED THE DEALER WHY THEY HAD NOT REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME ACCORDING TO WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO INTENSE HEAT IN THE WHEELS. THE BRAKE CALIPER ALSO LOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK AND MELT THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CORRECTED THE FAILURE IN APRIL OF 2006. A DIFFERENT DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPAIRED WHICH IS WHY THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,800.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $539. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VIN PROVIDED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB”

“REAR BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2002 (PT CRUISER). REAR BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE A GRINDING NOISE FOR FIRST OR SECOND USE AND THEN THE GRINDING NOISE GOES AWAY. CAR HAS 69,600 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW. I RECENTLY PULLED THE REAR WHEELS AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN (FOR BOTH REAR WHEELS) AND THE DRUMS HAD RUST STREAKS ON THEM. ALSO, RUST DUST WAS COVERING EVERYTHING. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND I PLAN ON REPLACING THE CALIPERS. *JB”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND FELT AS IF IT WAS DRAGGING. THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE WAS STICKING. THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CALIPER WITH THE ORIGINAL AND SUGGESTED A VISIT TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND DURING A TEST DRIVE THE FRONT LEFT AND THE REAR RIGHT BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE ROTORS AND PADS AND ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND BRAKE DUST WAS OBSERVED ON THE HUBCAPS. THE BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED FREQUENTLY AT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE. THREE DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE ADMITTED THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKES THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ISSUE A RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT THIS FAILURE DOES AFFECT THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES.”