2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER Exterior Lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK, THE HORN SOUNDED WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,417.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PT CRUISER HOME, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONE TIME AND STAYED ON FOR THE TEN MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO GET HOME. THEY CAME ON AGAIN BRIEFLY TWO MORE TIMES FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, WROTE THEM DOWN AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REPAIR MADE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME. AGAIN IN MAY, 2012, THE CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE AND BRIEFLY WHILE DRIVING HOME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ISSUE FOR CONSUMERS TO DEAL WITH AND I ALSO URGE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS ON THE 2008 PT CRUISERS. *TR

DASHBOARD, INSIDE, OUTSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING; WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEED TO BE REPLACED; IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2011, AND NOW AGAIN IN 2012. PER DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT., CA LAW REQUIRES IT BE REPLACED - FOR SAFETY SAKE. *TR

SAFETY NOTICE PT CRUISER 2008 CAR WASH WATER CAN READILY INFILTRATE THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS THROUGH THE ANTERIOR VENT, AND CAUSE BOTH REAR STOP LAMPS TO IMMEDIATELY HEAT FRACTURE IN THE 2008 PT CRUISER WHILE WASHED BY AN AUTOMATIC SYSTEM. THE HIGH PRESSURE WATER ENTERS THROUGH THE TOP AND GLIDES BACK OFF THE CAVITY BOSS, AND RUNS DOWN INTO THE OPEN VENT. THE VENT SHIELD IS INEFFECTIVE TO THIS LEVEL OF WATER FLOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE VENT IS PACED AT THE TOP OF THE LIGHT ALLOWING FOR WATER TO DRIP DIRECTLY ON A HOT BULB. PREFERABLY, THE VENT SHOULD BE A BOTTOM DRAIN; BUT THIS WOULD REQUIRE REDESIGN. (DELTA SONIC , TOUCH CAR WASH ROUTE 277 ORCHARD PARK, NY) MY NAME IS RC MECHANICAL ENGINEERING B.S. PREVIOUS AUTOMOTIVE FUEL SYSTEM SAFETY PRODUCT VALIDATION ENGINEER, AND NOW A HVAC CONTROLS ENGINEER. THE LIKELY FAILURE MODE OF HAVING A CAR WASH IS PROBABLY...

THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS ALL STOPPED WORKING AT AN UNKNOWN TIME THIS YEAR ANOTHER DRIVER TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T WORKING AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE FUSE BOX OR PART OF IT AND WANTED OVER $800.00 TO FIX IT. MY PT CRUISER IS A 2008 WITH APX 48,000 MILES ON IT. THE A/C SYSTEM ALSO FAILED WHEN SOME SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A CONNECTION BUT THE LIGHTS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE TURN SIGNALS COME ON INSIDE BUT NOT OUTSIDE SO I WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS SOME ONE TOLD ME. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND THE SERVICE ADVISER AND PARTS DEPARTMENT INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

WINDOWS GO DOWN ON OWN OR WON'T GO DOWN AT ALL. HEAD LIGHTS COME ON WHEN NO ONE IN CAR. WIPERS COME ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON OWN AND GO OFF ON OWN. *TR