2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other PT Cruiser years
- About as many complaints as other years 5th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 217 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. That ranks 5th out of 10 PT Cruiser model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (44 complaints, 20%), typically at around 75,206 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 15 fires, 18 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 217owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 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 | 44 | 20% | 75,206 | — | — |
| Suspension | 36 | 17% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 24 | 11% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 11% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 11% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 21 | 10% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 14 | 6% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 6% | 135,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 5% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 5% | 15,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 4% | 7,800 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 4% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 3% | 74,219 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 3% | 22,530 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 3% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 3% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1% | 68,500 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 108,773 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 78,407 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 61 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 600 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 132,910 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (1)
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.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
So I had been having issues with the car overheating well I'm almost home and my daughter says she smells smoke so pull over and rush to get my babies out of the car because under the hood it had caught on fire
I purchased the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser on 1/10/2024. I learned that the Chrysler Dealership does not make keys for the vehicle when locked out, nor does it Service the vehicle. They will "address" a Recall Notice and will do an oil change and will do an inspection only. Chrysler Dealership told…
Power steering hose leaking.
Ball joint are missing
It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) i can't see at night what speed i'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, i had the battery replaced i've had the battery changed twice, i've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats…
Other Chrysler PT Cruiser years
← 2003 PT Cruiser · 2005 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 | 217 | 1 |
| 2003 PT Cruiser | 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
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Owners most often report electrical system, suspension, steering problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 44 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 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 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.