CarComplaints.com Notes: Chrysler has taken the boring small car frame of the Neon, grafted a 1930s-era roadster body on top and named it the PT Cruiser. While the new look may appeal to some, the vehicle has unfortunately also inherited many of the same problems as the Neon.
8.8
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$320
Average Mileage:
100,700 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace shifter cable (4 reports)
found the perfect solution booger bushings! (2 reports)
replace twin shifter cables and bushing (2 reports)
I am just thankful that I was not driving a long way. I happened to pull in my mothers driveway, car running and stop to say to her and when I tried to back up, car gear just went up and down no movement. I freaked out. God blessed me not to be on highway and trying to stop, otherwise I would not be here to tell you how thankful I am. My brother was able to look under the hood and there it was broken and he put it in gear I was able to drive to local shop and get fixed.
Shifter bushings went out with no warning. normally it would have been nothing but we were 500 miles from home stranded. We were lucky and had family nearby that was able to tow the car back to get fixed.
The gear shift cable froze up because water got down console getting in the cable casing...this made the interlock pin pop off the shifter....only place to get new one was dealer @ $89 a pop. Easy to take out and put in but annoying...and unsafe if out on road if shifting...as you can not get in gear to pull off on shoulder, be able to push off road, park or shut off car. Luckly I was in driveway just getting ready to go somewhere and it happened.
After four calls and more than an hour on the phone the last time with Chrysler's finest representatives in India, Chrysler agreed to pay for the part ($185) and the dealer would give me a 15% discount on the labor. Original quote of $515 plus tax lowered to $280 plus tax. Still not nice, but doable.
There is no reason the same car should have this weird failure FOUR times. I'm amazed there is not more about this problem on AutoBeef. What is wrong???
The rubber bushing in the connector on the shifter cable disintegrated totally disabling the car. In order to replace the bushing, it is necessary to replace the twin shifter cables. The part is $153.00 and the labor is considerable because you need to dismantle the undercarriage and interior console to reach the other end of the cable. The bushing appears to be replaceable, but it cannot be bought.
We are checking new car junk yards for a replacement bushing and may use a fender washer and some type of clip to repair the connector.
Update from Jul 12, 2010: Found the perfect solution right after logging this complaint. Search the web for BOOGER BUSHINGS. They're like $5 each and replace the rubber bushing in the cables (there are two sizes, so buy the set for $20). They snap right in without any tools. Used them for 3 years without any problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I am just thankful that I was not driving a long way. I happened to pull in my mothers driveway, car running and stop to say to her and when I tried to back up, car gear just went up and down no movement. I freaked out. God blessed me not to be on highway and trying to stop, otherwise I would not be here to tell you how thankful I am. My brother was able to look under the hood and there it was broken and he put it in gear I was able to drive to local shop and get fixed.
- Trina T., North Chicago, illinois, US