2002 Chrysler PT CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
511 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
51,122 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 351 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 511 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 65 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 61 | 11.9% |
| Braking behavior | 52 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 56 |
| Structure | 47 |
| Exterior Lighting | 34 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 24 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Steering | 19 |
Electrical System: 56; Structure: 47; Exterior Lighting: 34; Air Bags: 28; Unknown Or Other: 27; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 24; Engine: 22; Steering: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 67 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 96 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 69 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 51 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 67; 25,000 to 49,999: 96; 50,000 to 74,999: 69; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 51; 150,000 and above: 23
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (96). 160 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2003 | 53 |
| 2004 | 55 |
| 2005 | 43 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 63 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 30 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2001: 6; 2002: 43; 2003: 53; 2004: 55; 2005: 43; 2006: 36; 2007: 63; 2008: 51; 2009: 31; 2010: 20; 2011: 30; 2012: 7; 2013: 8; 2014: 16; 2015: 22; 2016: 9; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 6; 2021: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000631 · 2002-12-29 (December 29, 2002)
SINCE DAY ONE HAVE HAD A "WOBBLE" IN FRONT END. STEERING WHEEL MOVES BACK AND FORTH. FEEL VIBRATION THROUGH FLOOR BOARD. THIS AT 35-40 MPH. NO "WOBBLE" OR VIBRATIONS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TIRES ROTATED AND FRONT END BALANCED THREE TIMES. NO HELP. DODGE DEALER NO HELP. THEY SAID IT WAS THE GOODYEAR TIRES AND TO REPLACE THEM WITH MICHELIN. WILL BE LOOKING INTO FRONT AXLE OR DRIVELINE PROBLEMS NEXT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025299 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
THE CAR HAD A FITTING IN THE POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM THAT WAS LOOSENING. IN A DRIVING CONDITION OF HIGH PRESSURE, THE SYSTEM DEVELOPED AN INSTANT, FAST LEAK, WHICH REACTED TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS REACTION ULTIMATELY STARTED THE FIRE, WHICH BURNED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK SAME INCIDENT AS VOQ#10039792 PER CONVERSATION WITH PAUL ABBEY ON 6/16/04. PE04029_CAT
Owner-reported narrative. 51,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029349 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE IGNITION WIRING. *AK CONSUMER CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND EVACUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071356 · 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE DASHBOARD, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO 0 AND THE RPMS DID LIKEWISE. EVERY LIGHT AND WARNING SIGNAL CAME ON AT ONCE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003791 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING HIS BRAKES THE VEHICLE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE ABS LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018593 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
AFTER 23,000 MILES THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON ONLY WHEN TAKING OFF QUICKLY FROM A STOP. BRAKES DID NOT SQUEAL AND THERE WAS NO OTHER SIGN THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT COMING ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AND HAD THEM CHECK THE LIGHT WHILE I WAS THERE. THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKE PADS WERE SLIGHTLY WORN, BUT THE ROTORS WERE DOWN TO 30% THICKNESS AND MUST BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS CAR IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT! PLUS IT'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I DOWN…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014174 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 38,007 MILES. IN SERVICE 14 MONTHS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 38,007 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009160 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
AFTER THE RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. RECALL #02V215000)*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055953 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL WAS IN THE OIL. DEALER INDICATED FUEL PUMP MODULE SECONDARY SEAL FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116285 · 2005-04-03 (April 3, 2005)
FOR THE PAST TW-THREE MONTHS, EITHER IT HAS STALLED IN THE GARAGE OR ON A BUSY THOROUGHFARE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION, I'VE HAD AN OIL CHANGE, WE'VE HAD RENTAL CARS, TOW TRUCKS, I'VE MISSED CHURCH, FLIGHT CONNECTIONS, VALUABLE TIME AWAY FROM WORK-FIFTH TIME REPORTING-DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING-THIS CAR IS GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME-IT HAS TOXIC FUMES-AND IS LITERALLY HAVINE ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND LEAVING IT ON THE PROPERTY. HOW DO WE CONTACT THE PRESIDENT, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED, IT HAS HAD AN OIL CHAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146202 · 2005-12-28 (December 28, 2005)
MY 2002 PT CRUISER HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. IN SPITE OF THIS, IT HAS DEVELOPED ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE FORMING OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THE CAR HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY A QUART PER 1000 MILES EVER SINCE THE 36000 MILE SERVICE. I FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM THAT HAS LED TO THE PREMATURE WEARING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE LOSS OF POWER IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. I THINK THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146202 at NHTSA ↗