NHTSA Complaint #10039149 — 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

ON 1/22/ 03 WE TOOK OUR 2001 PT CRUISER (ODOMETER 12,000 MILES) INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE SQUEALING. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DISC BRAKE HAD LOCKED WHEN WE TRIED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER HITTING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, THE BRAKE FINALLY UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES WERE GROOVED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE THE METAL WAS SO THIN TO BEGIN WITH THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MACHINE EVEN ON A BRAND NEW ROTOR. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD US WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPLACE THE PADS YET, JUST THE ROTORS. WE OPTED TO REPLACE BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AT THE TIME DUE TO THE LABOR COSTS. IT IS NOW 8 MONTHS AND 5,671 MILES LATER AND THE BRAKES ARE AGAIN SQUEALING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEIR HANDS WERE TIED AND THEY COULD NOT HELP US OTHER THAN TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME PARTS. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHRYSLER IS VERY MUCH AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND PREMATURE WEAR, BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY REMEDIAL STEPS. WE HAVE THE SAME TIRES THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ON THE CAR AND THEY ARE BARELY WORN INDICATING WE ARE NOT THE KIND OF DRIVERS WHO ARE HARD ON A CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER APPEARS TO BE JUST A FRUSTRATED WITH CHRYSLER'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS WE ARE. OUR ONLY REASONABLE AND INTELLIGIBLE RECOURSE IS TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS. WE WILL NOT USE OEM ROTORS & PADS AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS FAULTY MANUFACTURING OR FAULTY DESIGN OR BOTH. IN CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE FOR 2001/2002 PT CRUISERS, WE SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DISC BRAKES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MONETARY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *JB