8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$620
Average Mileage:
114,200 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Owner Comments

problem #3

Oct 022015

PT Cruiser

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,341 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Runs rough and SHUTS OFF while driving. Throws code. Had cam sensor replaced, air intake replaced, plugs, STILL shuts off while driving. Has happened at least 8 times since we bought the car in Sept 2015. No wonder miles were so low...

- Steve B., Margate, FL, US

problem #2

Feb 182015

PT Cruiser LTD 2.5L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,200 miles

Drove car less than 200 miles (purchased from private seller) when engine light came on, flashing intermittently, before car completely lost power and shut down. It happened multiple times on freeway and surface roads, it was terrifying...."we limped" home before car quit entirely, I reset computer multiple times but it just kept happening with greater frequency.) I had owned it for less than a WEEK. 106,000 mi on it.. I got scr@wed. I am a 47 year old woman and I know quite a bit about cars. My dad bought this car (for me).

Doing web research, I know now, its a TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) issue. Symptoms match exactly. I am Contacting the lawyer (Graham) who apparently handled/is handling the class action suit against Chrysler, re: TIPM that was started in 2014. PT cruiser was not among the multitude of models originally listed in that suit, but I bet by now it is, or has its own separate action.

Funny, this model was OBVIOUSLY styled to attract an older crowd, who often purchased it as a cute runabout, with intent to give it to their son/daughter/grandchild eventually. I say this not only because of the quasi-classic appearance but also because of the car's notorious gutlessness. In my opinion, older (women especially) are least likely to complain about an under-powered vehicle...and most people would consider it to be a perfect car to "hand down" to a young driver because of this feature. But what this leaves us with: many older/younger, less-capable people contending with a major freeway emergency when the car dies. The freeway shutdowns challenged my driving skills to the UTMOST in order to get myself and the car to safety, and could have easily resulted in horrible accidents.

- Michelle S., ramona, Ca, US

problem #1

Feb 012014

PT Cruiser LX 3.2L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 176,000 miles

My son's 03 Cruiser has started to stall when running or turning left. sometimes he says he has to wait 8-10 minutes before he can try to start it again. It will usually turn back on after the wait. Had it diagnosed with OBD II but cannot find the issue. He can be entering a left turn and it will turn off or he can be driving it on the road and it will start to stall and turn off causing him to immediately pull off the road to safety. I have not been able to find any answer to this problem. HELP

- Carlos P., Forreston, TX, US

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