2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Arm Problems

MY CRUISER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHEN THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE WORN. IN READING THIS SITE, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM FLEET WIDE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PLUS THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE ON THE EXTENDED WARRANT. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I THINK THAT THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

2002 PT CRUISER. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 46.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I HAD THEM REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO AT 38,000 MILES. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. *TR

DT*: AT 45,000 MILES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND LINK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING SEPERATION: LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE SUDDEN FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR TO DROP ON PASSENGER SIDE. TECH AT LOCAL WAL-MART STATED THAT IF IT HAD FAILED WHEN I WAS TURNING THE REDUCED CLEARNCE WOULD HAVE CAUSED MY FRONT RIGHT CORN TO DIG INTO THE GROUND. *JB

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE RUBBER. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RATTLES, SEVERE TIRE VIBRATION OR FRONT END VIBRATION. SOME OF MY MEMBERS HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. CURRENTLY MINE HAS 36.000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON MINE. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE TYPE OF BUSHINGS SHOULD BE HAVING THIS SEPARATION PROBLEM AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER, BEFORE A OWNER HAS A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. *AK

BASED ON CONCERNS BY OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS, I HAVE CHECKED THE CONDITION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON MY TWO YEAR OLD, 11,000 MILE CAR. THE RUBBER IS SEPARATING FROM THE METAL, DUE TO A POOR BOND BETWEEN THE TWO? IN ANY CASE THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR A NEW CAR WITH SO LITTLE USE. I BELIEVE DAMLERCHRYSLER SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIRING SAID BUSHINGS: PARTS, INSTALLATION, EXTEND WARRANTY, WORN TIRES DUE SAID LOOSE PARTS, AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. HAVING OWNED MANY CARS AND QUITE A FEW NEW CARS, NEVER A PROBLELM WITH THESE COMPONENTS STARTING TO DISINTEGRATE. PLEASE REVIEW OTHER COMPLAINTS AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE A FAIR SOLUTION TO THE MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL CAR, MANY OF WHICH HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT FROM THEIR OWN POCKET!!!!*AK

I READ SEVERAL PT RELATED FORUMS AND MANY MEMBERS HAVE COMMENTED ABOUT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURES, WEEL SO HAVE MINE. I AM EXPERENCING VIBERATION FROM THE FRONT END AND WILL MAKE ARANGMENTS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE FORUMS IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF THEY WILL FAIL......BUT WHEN THEY WILL FAIL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MATTER THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFTY ITEM, AS TOTAL LOSS OF THESE BUSHINGS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROLL OF THE CAR CAUSING A CRASH. THANK YOU 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DREAM SER 1.*AK

WHEN DOING THE 30,000 MILE OIL CHANGE/INSPECTION I NOTICED SPLITS IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. THIS IS ONLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE SUSPENSION IS UNSUPPORTED. THE CAR WAS DEALER SERVICED FOR THE RECALLS AND WAS ASKED FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE BUSHINGS WITH A WRITTEN RESPONSE A THIS TIME. DEALER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR BUT RESPONSE WAS SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE AND NOT FORTHCOMING. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC AND STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS APPEARED TO BE COMING APART. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WITH THIS CONCERN AND THEY THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NO PARTS RETAINED DUE TO DEALER POLICY THAT NO PARTS UNDER WARRANTY WORK WILL BE GIVEN TO THE OWNER. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FOR INFERIOR RUBBER AND DESIGN. IT APPEARS THAT IF THE BUSHINGS FAIL...