Chrysler PT Cruiser |
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Wikipedia: Chrysler PT Cruiser
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Chrysler PT Cruiser page on 25 September 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, small family car/compact MPV manufactured and marketed internationally by Chrysler in 5-door hatchback (2000–2010) and 2-door convertible (2005-2008) body styles.
The PT Cruiser is noted for its exterior design reminiscent of 1930s styling, executed by Bryan Nesbitt, and its interior design featuring a high-roof, high h-point seating, and flexible cargo and passenger configurations — a multi-level cargo shelf as well as fold, tumble and removable rear seating.
Originally conceived as a Plymouth model, the PT Cruiser was ultimately marketed as a Chrysler model, after retirement of the Plymouth brand. By the end of production in July 2010, worldwide production had reached 1.35 million.
Internally at Chrysler during development, "PT" stood for "Plymouth Truck", as it was intended to be a Plymouth model, and certified as a truck by NHTSA standards. The name stuck, but Chrysler never revealed what PT was supposed to mean.
The PT Cruiser is a front-wheel drive 5-passenger vehicle, classified as a truck in the US by the NHTSA for CAFE fuel economy calculations but as a car by most other metrics. Chrysler specifically designed the PT Cruiser to fit the NHTSA criteria for a light truck in order to bring the average fuel efficiency of the company's truck fleet into compliance with CAFE standards. A turbocharged GT model was introduced for the 2003 model year. A convertible was introduced for the 2005 model year.
The PT Cruiser was manufactured at Toluca Car Assembly in Toluca, Mexico. On March 8, 2006, DaimlerChrysler announced that it had built 1,000,000 PT Cruisers at the Toluca plant. The final PT Cruiser built rolled off the assembly line there on July 9, 2010. A Chrysler spokesperson said the last model was Stone White and was destined for a U.S. dealership. In all, a grand total of 1,050,281 PT Cruisers were sold in the United States.
The PT Cruiser was also assembled at the Eurostar Automobilwerk in Graz, Austria, for global markets (outside North America) in 2002, using the production code PG. European PT Cruisers built in 2001 or from 2003 onwards were built in Mexico under the PT production code. The US version came standard with a 2.4 L four-cylinder gasoline engine. In addition to this standard model, a 2.2 L four-cylinder diesel engine built by Mercedes Benz was also available in Europe, Asia, and South Africa. A 2.0 L engine (D4RE) was also available outside the US. It produced 140 hp (100 kW) SAE at 6500 rpm with 130 lb⋅ft (180 N⋅m) of torque at 4800 rpm. In July 2000, the PT Cruiser replaced the Neon in Japan as their small car offering. Chrysler sold over 10,000 PT Cruisers in Japan. Both the five door hatchback and the two door convertible, and the GT turbo engine package were sold in Japan in right hand drive configurations. Japanese versions were manufactured at the Austrian factory and were equipped very similar to European specifications.
From 2002 until 2007, the PT Cruiser was used in the city of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture by the Maihama Resort Cab company to serve as a taxi in the vicinity of Tokyo Disneyland because of its fun, retro appearance. The PT Cruiser taxis augmented the Maihama Resort Line service to Tokyo Disneyland. Unfortunately, the PT Cruiser wasn't built for the rigors of taxi service, and the fleet became expensive to maintain, with eventual retirement in 2007. The PT Cruiser was offered in Japan until April 2010, when it was replaced by the Dodge Caliber.
In 2001 Car and Driver acknowledged the PT Cruiser on its Ten Best list and the PT Cruiser also won the North American Car of the Year. In 2013, Top Gear named the PT Cruiser Convertible as the worst car of the last twenty years.
| Date | Document Name & Details | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| August 2000 | Veridian On-Site Redesigned Air Bag Deployment Investigation Vehicle - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |  PDF - 211KB - 11 pages |
| classified date 2002 | Special Crash Investigation Report Case Vehicle: 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 4-door SUV National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 11.8MB - 151 pages |
| August 2002 | Safety Recall No. B23: Fuel Pump Module Secondary Seal DaimlerChrysler NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 305KB - 7 pages |
| August 2002 | Safety Recall to Install a Secondary Seal Over Your Vehicle's Fuel Pump Module DaimlerChrysler NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 50KB - 1 page |
| 7 August 2002 | NHTSA Recall 02V215000 2001-2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Recall Page - 1 page |
| 7 August 2002 | To: Kenneth Weinstein, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration From: Stephan J. Speth, DaimlerChrysler Corporation NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 523KB - 12 pages |
| 12 August 2002 | Acknowledgement Fax Sheet of Receipt of Defect Information Report Submitted Under 49 CFR Part 573 DaimlerChrysler Corporation NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 42KB - 1 page |
| 13 September 2002 | Campaign B23 Chrysler PT Cruiser Fuel Pump Module To: Jon White, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration From: Stephan J. Speth, DaimlerChrysler Corporation NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 523KB - 13 pages |
| 3Q 2002 | Recall Quarterly Report -- Quarter Ending 9/30/02 DaimlerChrysler NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 198KB - 1 page |
| 12 February 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 201: Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, Upper Interior Head Impact Protection 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-Door National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 8.7MB - 211 pages |
| 20 February 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 214: Side Impact Protection 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser MPV National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 6.9MB - 276 pages |
| 3 March 2003 | Follow-up notifications To: Pat Wallace From: Steve Speth, DaimlerChrysler NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 24KB - 1 page |
| 1Q 2003 | Recall Quarterly Report -- Quarter Ending 3/31/03 NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 219KB - 1 page |
| May 2003 | General Dynamics On-Site Child Safety Seat Crash Investigation SCI Technical Summary Report Vehicle: 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 317KB - 20 pages |
| 2Q 2003 | Recall Quarterly Report -- Quarter Ending 6/30/03 NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 246KB - 1 page |
| 28 July 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 124: Accelerator Control Systems 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 1.8MB - 71 pages |
| 15 August 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 207: Seating Systems 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4 Door Hatchback National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 3.6MB - 188 pages |
| 25 August 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 301: Fuel System Integrity 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser MPV National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 4.6MB - 40 pages |
| 8 September 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 201: Occupant Protection in Interior Impact 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-Door MPV National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 2.6MB - 46 pages |
| 22 September 2003 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS No. 110(Indicant): Tire Selection and Rims 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser MPV National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 1.9MB - 25 pages |
| 3Q 2003 | Recall Quarterly Report -- Quarter Ending 9/30/03 NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 243KB - 1 page |
| 4Q 2003 | Recall Quarterly Report -- Quarter Ending 12/31/03 NHTSA Recall 02V215000 | PDF - 227KB - 1 page |
| March 2004 crash date | [Special Crash Investigation Case Number PN35302 Technical Report] Vehicle: 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 11.8MB - 151 pages |
| 8 April 2008 | Federal-Mogul Corporation: Part 573.6 Notitication From: Glen Parker, Federal Mogul Corporation To: Recall Management Division, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 323KB - 3 pages |
| 8 April 2008 | NHTSA Recall 08E033000 Carquest K7147, Carquest K7329, MasterPro K8683, Moog K7147, Moog K7329, One Source K8683, Parts Depot K8683, Parts Master K8683, Treadsaver K8683, TRW 104353, 1984 Chrysler E Class, 1984-1986 Chrysler Laser, 1984-1990 Chrysler LeBaron, 1984-1988 Chrysler New Yorker, 2001-2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 1989-1990 Chrysler TC, 1990 Chrysler Town and Country, 1984-1988 Dodge 600, 1984-1989 Dodge Aries, 1984-1990 Dodge Caravan, 1984-1987 Dodge Charger, 1984-1990 Dodge Daytona, 1988-1990 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1985-1989 Dodge Lancer, 1984-1988 Dodge Mini Ram Van, 2000-2005 Dodge Neon, 1984-1990 Dodge Omni, 1984 Dodge Rampage, 1987-1990 Dodge Shadow, 1989-1990 Dodge Spirit, 1995-2000 Ford Contour, 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, 1995-2000 Mercury Mystique, 1989-1990 Plymouth Acclaim, 1985-1988 Plymouth Caravelle, 1988-1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager, 1984-1990 Plymouth Horizon, 2000-2001 Plymouth Neon, 1984-1989 Plymouth Reliant, 1987-1990 Plymouth Sundance, 1985 Plymouth Turismo, 1984-1990 Plymouth Voyager SuspensionNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Recall Page - 1 page |
| 24 April 2008 | Ball Joint Recall Attachment A Ball Joint Affected Date Codes and Applications Federal Mogul NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 57KB - 1 page |
| 2 May 2008 | Campaign #08E-033 From: Joe Stephan, Federal-Mogul Corporation To: Distributors NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 70KB - 2 pages |
| 5 May 2008 | Aftermarket Ball Joint Assemblies From: George H. Person, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration To: Glen Parker, Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 121KB - 3 pages |
| 21 July 2008 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 51KB - 1 page |
| October 2008 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 14KB - 1 page |
| January 2009 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 28KB - 1 page |
| 4 February 2009 | From: George H. Person, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration To: Glen Parker, Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 43KB - 1 page |
| April 2009 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 25KB - 1 page |
| July 2009 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 36KB - 1 page |
| October 2009 | Equipment Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Federal Mogul Corporation NHTSA Recall 08E033000 | PDF - 43KB - 1 page |
| Date | Article | Author/Source |
|---|---|---|
| 19 October 2002 | ENGLEWOOD, CO. MAN WINS NATIONAL CAR GIVEAWAYCONTEST ON HIS BIRTHDAY LINQ Telecom presents PT Cruiser to Kaleb Mickley on Thursday, Oct. 17 | Linq Telecom Inc. |
| 14 May 2003 | Amid Slumping Popularity, Chrysler Adds New Features to PT Cruiser Car  | John Birchard, VOA News |
| 17 February 2004 | PT Woody - Wood Kits - Why take your PT Cruiser to the beach when you can take the beach everywhere your PT Cruiser Goes! | Reality Marketing and Design |
| 4 June 2008 | Retro Styled Cruiser, The | Anthony Fontanelle |
| 5 January 2014 | 2002 PT Cruiser Engine in Used Condition Now Sold as 2.4L Build at Used Engines Company Website | GotEngines.com |
| Type & Item # | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Die Cast x2 - Maisto 15080-1601 | 2000 Chevrolet Traverse/Chrysler GT Cruiser | Motor Works, small scale, dark blue Traverse, silver GT Cruiser |
| Die Cast - Maisto 31895 | Chrysler PT Cruiser | Special Edition, 1:18 scale, sliver |
| Die Cast - Motor Max 73200 | Chrysler PT Cruiser | 1:24 scale, silver |
