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My PT Cruiser consumes oil at the rate of a quart or more every thousand miles. Read my story to see how it turns out that my car had the same problem with the prior owner. After several failed repair attempts Ferman reacquired it from him, replacing it with a new one from the lot.
I purchased my 2002 PT Cruiser Touring Limited on 5/20 with only 4,780 miles from:
Ferman Automotive
11025 North Florida Ave.
Tampa, FL United States 33612
(813) 371-9700
http://www.fermanauto.com
Salesman: Rick Martino Service Rep: Eric Flannigan; Service Mgr: Chris Weatley; Warranty Mgr: Tom Sawyer
My PT Cruiser excessive oil consumption problem was discovered about the time of the first oil change. It consumed about one quart of oil every 500 miles. The first actual attempt at repair Ferman made was to replace the valve cover gasket, this failed.
The second repair attempt was replacing the engine they told me. They only replaced the short block, and this also failed.
I sent a vehicle defect notification to the manufacture and one to the state to start the lemon law process. The Chrysler Corporate office sent the regional lead technician to oversee the last repair attempt. Ferman tore down the engine and informed me that they found nine bad valve seals. Ferman replaced the entire head. They also replaced the valve cover, there is a known issue with some 2001 model Pt Cruisers have a defective valve cover that causes the PCV valve to suck in oil. I drove about 370 miles and checked the oil to find it consumed a quart of oil!
I located and contacted the previous owner Mr. Bennett on 4/13. I found out that he had purchased the PT Cruiser at Ferman Automotive brand new. Mr. Bennett had the exact same oil consumption issues. After several failed repair attempts and continued contact with the Chrysler corporate office the dealer contacted him and replaced his vehicle with a brand new one from the lot. I would not have purchased the vehicle had I known it's history. Would you have bought it?
I contacted Ferman and the Chrysler corporate office informing of this matter. The Chrysler corporate office informed me that the lemon law does not apply to my vehicle even though it had such low miles on it at purchase time since it was sold as used. The Ferman Automotive Service Dept. Took note of the oil level it had consumed then filled it with oil.
I have done research online to find that I am not the only one with oil consumption issues with the PT Cruiser. There are many others struggling with their Chrysler dealers on this same issue. Some owners do not have as severe an oil consumption problem as my vehicle; however I am definitely not the only one. There is also a secondary issue with the A/C. The A/C has a persistent mildew odor that the Ferman Automotive Service Dept. Has not resolved. They have treated the A/C with an anti-mildew agent several times yet it still returns. I and many others suffer with trying to resolve the mildew odor problem also.
I am currently still performing another oil consumption test. The oil consumption has varied only slightly and still continues. I have contacted an attorney and I am working with him to hopefully resolve this soon. Chrysler stated they will replace or purchase my vehicle back from me, if the oil consumption continues. The problem is that the Ferman Automotive Service Dept. Has not stated my car is consuming too much oil stopping Chrysler from moving forward leaving me on a never ending oil consumption test. My service Rep Eric Flannigan actually stated that a car consuming one quart of oil every 1,000 miles was within spec and acceptable according to Chrysler. This of course is not logical and when I asked the overall service director Chris Teal if I could have it in writing that a quart per thousand miles was acceptable oil usage he stated that was Chrysler's opinion and to refer to my owners manual for oil usage.
I know there are a lot of happy PT Cruiser owners and enthusiast. I just want to be able to say I am one too but until this is resolved I can not. The previous owner is happy with his replacement PT Cruiser and has no problems like many other owners. However there are at least 1,500 other owners in the same boat I am in that need to have this problem resolved. Obviously in my opinion there was run of defective PT Cruisers from the assembly line. If your PT Cruiser suffers from the same oil consumption or A/C odor problems. Please contact me.
Thank you for you time.
Shawn
Tamp, Florida
U.S.A.
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