Chrysler PT Cruiser
Owners filed 2,524 complaints across 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The 2001 drew the most (618).
Model years10
Complaints2,524
Recalls25
Fires109
Deaths7
Which Chrysler PT Cruiser years should you avoid?
Going by 2,524 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Chrysler PT Cruiser years to avoid are 2001 and 2002.
- 2001618 complaints, 2.8× a typical PT Cruiser year, most often about the body and frame.
- 2002511 complaints, 2.4× a typical PT Cruiser year, most often about the electrical system.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every Chrysler PT Cruiser model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2009 | 97 | 0 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2008 | 115 | 0 | 6 | 11 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2007 | 150 | 0 | 3 | 18 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 349 | 1 | 5 | 35 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2005 | 187 | 5 | 12 | 11 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2004 | 217 | 3 | 15 | 16 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2003 | 258 | 4 | 15 | 22 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2002Avoid | 511 | 5 | 34 | 40 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2001Avoid | 618 | 7 | 17 | 36 | Structure | Above average |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.