Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,524 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file for the Chrysler PT Cruiser, across 10 model years (2001–2010). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (618). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Chrysler PT Cruiser years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical PT Cruiser year: 2001, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 PT Cruiser: 618 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2002 PT Cruiser: 511 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2006 PT Cruiser: 349 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 PT Cruiser: 22 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2009 PT Cruiser: 97 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2008 PT Cruiser: 115 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chrysler PT Cruiser problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 560 | 10 | 8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 249 | 10 | 7 |
| Air Bags problems | 226 | 10 | 127 |
| Suspension problems | 222 | 10 | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 220 | 10 | 1 |
| Steering problems | 220 | 10 | 13 |
| Power Train problems | 213 | 9 | 14 |
| Engine problems | 193 | 10 | 3 |
| Structure problems | 175 | 8 | 12 |
| Wheels problems | 123 | 9 | 4 |
| Visibility problems | 102 | 9 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 99 | 9 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 95 | 8 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 86 | 10 | 6 |
| Tires | 82 | 10 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 56 | 9 | 18 |
| Seats | 49 | 10 | 3 |
| Equipment | 43 | 8 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 33 | 8 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 8 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 29 | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 24 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 19 | 8 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chrysler PT Cruiser problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2009: electrical system (60)
- 2006: electrical system (138) · engine (55)
- 2002: electrical system (97) · structure (67) · exterior lighting (55)
- 2001: electrical system (78) · structure (67) · suspension (66) · engine and engine cooling (62) · steering (61) · wheels (61)
All Chrysler PT Cruiser model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 PT Cruiser | 22 | 0 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 PT Cruiser | 97 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 PT Cruiser | 115 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 PT Cruiser | 150 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 PT Cruiser | 349 | 1 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 PT Cruiser | 187 | 3 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 PT Cruiser | 217 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 PT Cruiser | 258 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 PT Cruiser | 511 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 PT Cruiser | 618 | 5 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Chrysler: all Chrysler models · Chrysler VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chrysler PT Cruiser years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (618), 2002 (511) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical PT Cruiser year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Electrical System, with 560 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.