Reliability & cost of ownership
Chrysler PT Cruiser Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Chrysler PT Cruiser? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Chrysler PT Cruiser problems by model year
25 recall entries across 6 model years and 2,523 owner complaints across 10 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 4 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 PT Cruiser | Not confirmed | 22 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 PT Cruiser | Not confirmed | 97 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 PT Cruiser | Not confirmed | 115 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 PT Cruiser | Not confirmed | 150 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 PT Cruiser | 1 | 349 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 PT Cruiser | 5 | 187 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 PT Cruiser | 3 | 217 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 PT Cruiser | 4 | 258 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2002 PT Cruiser | 5 | 510 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 PT Cruiser | 7 | 618 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Chrysler PT Cruiser, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system559 complaints
- engine and engine cooling248 complaints
- air bags226 complaints
- suspension222 complaints
- exterior lighting220 complaints
- steering220 complaints
- power train213 complaints
- engine193 complaints