Chrysler PT Cruiser Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 560 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chrysler PT Cruiser across 10 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (138). The words owners use most often: “instrument panel” (9% of reports).
- 560electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 40%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Instrument panel: mentioned in 49 of 560 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Chrysler PT Cruiser at $1,050, and half of them between $390 and $1,350.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 450 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 560 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 39 a fire, 7 an injury.
Chrysler PT Cruiser electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 PT Cruiser | 3 | 14% | 44,000 |
| 2009 PT Cruiser | 60 | 62% | 51,000 |
| 2008 PT Cruiser | 45 | 39% | 57,123 |
| 2007 PT Cruiser | 23 | 15% | 69,000 |
| 2006 PT Cruiser | 138 | 40% | 60,000 |
| 2005 PT Cruiser | 27 | 14% | 53,700 |
| 2004 PT Cruiser | 44 | 20% | 75,206 |
| 2003 PT Cruiser | 45 | 17% | 59,356 |
| 2002 PT Cruiser | 97 | 19% | 63,565 |
| 2001 PT Cruiser | 78 | 13% | 66,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles are being recalled for a software error in the instrument cluster microprocessor. Under certain conditions, the cluster, with the majority of its gauges, illumination, and warning lamps, could become inoperative.
Risk: Driving the vehicle with an inoperative cluster could cause a distraction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-flash the cluster software to correct the condition. Owner notification began october 8, 2001. 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 31,056, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 28,400. The vehicle…
TIPM. Faulty Module, causing ignition/run power loss while driving.
WHen the fog lights are engaged, smoke and burning smell appears to be coming inside the steering wheel on the left side.
Problems reside in the total integrated power management module. TPIM whereas vehicle will shut off while driving. No indicator lights to give warning before the vehicle shuts off. Has on occasion shut off and recovered power multiple times within a minute This is a very dangerous scenario to…
The electrical system is malfunctioning the fans do not kick on at all,even after reaching temperature.Even when the "Air" condition is turned on full blast or the "Heater" it doesn't matter which one is used it still doesn't engage the "Fan".
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chrysler PT Cruisers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 560 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chrysler PT Cruiser electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $390 and $1,350), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The most frequent phrase is “instrument panel”, in 49 of 560 complaints.
Other Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (249)
- Air Bags problems (226)
- Suspension problems (222)
- Exterior Lighting problems (220)
- Steering problems (220)
- Power Train problems (213)
- Engine problems (193)
- Structure problems (175)
See all Chrysler PT Cruiser problems.