2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other PT Cruiser years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser. That ranks 4th out of 10 PT Cruiser model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (45 complaints, 17%), typically at around 59,356 miles. Complaints mention 22 crashes, 15 fires, 20 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 258owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 22complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 45 | 17% | 59,356 | — | — |
| Power Train | 35 | 14% | 37,270 | — | — |
| Suspension | 35 | 14% | 47,897 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 34 | 13% | 70,617 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 11% | 46,890 | — | — |
| Steering | 29 | 11% | 46,449 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 20 | 8% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 5% | 32,614 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 5% | 32,208 | — | — |
| Tires | 11 | 4% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 4% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 4% | 101,050 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 40,390 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 3% | 43,523 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 3% | 74,750 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 3% | 41,792 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 2% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 42,348 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 133,050 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 85,145 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 138,528 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 30 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 4,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4l non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose may contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
Risk: Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end. The recall began on september 20, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train:clutch assembly
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc.
Risk: If this occurs, the clutch may not disengage when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Fix: Dealers will replace the flywheel and clutch assemblies with the updated design parts. Owner notification began on april 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fires (PE04028) — opened Mar 15, 2004, closed Jun 18, 2004, led to recall 04V268000.
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The front passenger seat heating system experienced a catastrophic electrical malfunction. While the vehicle was started and parked in our driveway, the front passenger seat suddenly developed an extreme hot spot and became engulfed in flames even though the heated seat switch was in the OFF…
Front seat belt doesn't engage after many attempts.
WHen the fog lights are engaged, smoke and burning smell appears to be coming inside the steering wheel on the left side.
The clutch will not disengage every time and never fully disengages. I noticed my car had a recall for this problem in the past, so before doing the work, I called a dealer for Chrysler and was informed that the recall had already been performed. So I took it upon myself at my own expense to have…
The contact owns a 2003 Chrysler equipped with Douglas, Tire line: Dug Xtra-Trac II, Tire size: 205/55R/16 91T and DOT number: N60FN11R. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the vehicle started to perform slowly when the front passenger side tire…
Other Chrysler PT Cruiser years
← 2002 PT Cruiser · 2004 PT Cruiser →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 PT Cruiser | 22 | 0 |
| 2009 PT Cruiser | 97 | 0 |
| 2008 PT Cruiser | 115 | 0 |
| 2007 PT Cruiser | 150 | 0 |
| 2006 PT Cruiser | 349 | 1 |
| 2005 PT Cruiser | 187 | 3 |
| 2004 PT Cruiser | 217 | 1 |
| 2003 | 258 | 2 |
| 2002 PT Cruiser | 511 | 3 |
| 2001 PT Cruiser | 618 | 5 |
See all Chrysler PT Cruiser problems by year, every Chrysler model, or the Chrysler VIN decoder.
Similar Chrysler models
Embed this 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, suspension problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 45 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other PT Cruiser model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.