NHTSA Complaint #10033217 — 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

VEHICLE IS A NEW 2003 PT-TURBO GT W/AUTO STICK, AIR, ETC. VEHICLE IS THE VERY FIRST NEW VEHICLE THAT MY WIFE HAS EVER OWNED. I BOUGHT IT FOR HER AS A XMAS GIFT IN DEC., 2002. SINCE FEBRUARY 2003, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED FROM THEROMSTAT/COOLING FAN AND ITS THEROMSTAT SWITCH, TRANS-COOLER (TURBO), WATER PUMP, ETC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 11 WEEKS. BOTH THE ZONE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY RESPONDED ON PREVIOUS TRIPS INTO THE SERVICE BAY. MY WIFE ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR ALMOST 5 1/2 WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM DEALERSHIP. THEN, ON SUNDAY, 20 JULY 2003, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN!! MY WIFE DROVE IT TO VICTORVILLE MOTORS (LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER, VICTORVILLE, CA) ON MONDAY, 21 JULY AND THERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AGAIN AND THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE ZONE AND/OR MFG TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE WHAT ELSE COULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS ANOMALOUS CONDITION. EITHER IN DESIGN AND JUST A BAD ENGINE. BLOCK IS IRON, WATER PUMP AND HEADS ARE ALUMINUM. ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED INTO THE RED LINE SO MANY TIMES, THE BLOCK AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SEVERLY HEAT STRESSED. MY WIFE RECENTLY (JAN 2003) DISCOVERED SHE HAD RENAL ESRD (TOTAL KIDNEY FAILURE) AND IS CURRENTLY DOING DIALYSIS. WE LIVE IN VICTORVILLE, CA AND SHE MUST DRIVE TO FONTANNA, CA KAISER HOSPITAL FOR HER TREATMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES EACH WAY CLIMBING THROUGH A DESERT MOUNTAIN PASS, ELEVATION 4340 FT. SHE REQUIRES A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SHE DOES NOT HAVE ONE. MY WIFE COULD BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT MOUNTAIN PASS WITH THIS PROBLEM VEHICLE. ALL WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS CHRYSLER REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE....MY WIFE HAS WANTED THIS DREAM CAR. FOR OVER 2-YEARS. IT..."..THANK YOU........RON & GWEN REPASS. *AK