Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 510 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E033000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V268000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V215000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V288000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 97 complaints
- Structure 67 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 55 complaints
- Steering 45 complaints
- Air Bags 44 complaints
- Suspension 40 complaints
Of the 510 complaints on file, 40 report a crash and 34 a fire; across all 510 complaints, owners report 50 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser exhibits significant issues, with 510 complaints and 5 recalls. High complaint counts for electrical systems, structure, and lighting indicate reliability problems. Recalls for power steering hoses and fuel systems further suggest potential safety concerns. However, the data is somewhat limited in detail, making it hard to predict specific failure points beyond the most common issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$800 | common |
| Exterior lighting | Unknown | $100–$300 | common |
| Steering system | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
| Fuel system | Unknown | $200–$600 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission servicing
- Tire rotations and alignment
- Drive belt inspections
- Spark plug replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard warning lights
- Steering wheel vibration
- Unusual fuel odor
- Intermittent electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.