NHTSA Complaint #10425600 — 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

DEALER LOOKED AT THE OIL LEAK AND THE TECH INFORMED ME THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY WITH THE CRANK. SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2.4 LITER MOTOR THAT CHRYSLER HAS IGNORED TO REPORT A RECALL. THERE IS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN IT HAS AN ENGINE FLAW AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THEIR MISTAKE. I UNDERSTAND REPLACING THE SEAL WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE PLAY WITH THE CRANK SHAFT, THE SEAL WILL START LEAKING AGAIN. AN OWNER WITH A PT CRUISER UNDER WARRANTY REPORTED THAT CHRYSLER REPLACED THE SEAL SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. IF THE CRANK HAS TO MUCH PLAY, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE CRANK HAS EATEN INTO THE BLOCK. THE SHORT BLOCK MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. NOT CHEAP BY ANY MEANS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND LOOKS BRAND NEW. THE ENGINE SHOULD GO ANOTHER 100,000 MILES. THIS IS A LEMON ENGINE! *KB