U.S. public vehicle records

Chrysler PT CRUISER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,523 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

53,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,875 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 443 of 2,523 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	328	13.0%
Electrical and battery issues	287	11.4%
Braking behavior	258	10.2%
Engine operation	185	7.3%
Transmission and shifting	149	5.9%
Fuel system concerns	52	2.1%

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.

Electrical System

443

Engine

193

Air Bags

167

Exterior Lighting

142

Steering

133

Structure

115

Unknown Or Other

115

Engine And Engine Cooling

110

Electrical System: 443; Engine: 193; Air Bags: 167; Exterior Lighting: 142; Steering: 133; Structure: 115; Unknown Or Other: 115; Engine And Engine Cooling: 110

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

357

25,000 to 49,999

489

50,000 to 74,999

419

75,000 to 99,999

268

100,000 to 149,999

256

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 357; 25,000 to 49,999: 489; 50,000 to 74,999: 419; 75,000 to 99,999: 268; 100,000 to 149,999: 256; 150,000 and above: 86

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (489). 648 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.

2000

2001

2002

120

2003

127

2004

183

2005

175

2006

159

2007

245

2008

211

2009

156

2010

147

2011

140

2012

111

2013

109

2014

181

2015

128

2016

100

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
2000	7
2001	28
2002	120
2003	127
2004	183
2005	175
2006	159
2007	245
2008	211
2009	156
2010	147
2011	140
2012	111
2013	109
2014	181
2015	128
2016	100
2017	70
2018	34
2019	44
2020	11
2021	8
2022	7
2023	4
2024	9
2025	5
2026	4

2000: 7; 2001: 28; 2002: 120; 2003: 127; 2004: 183; 2005: 175; 2006: 159; 2007: 245; 2008: 211; 2009: 156; 2010: 147; 2011: 140; 2012: 111; 2013: 109; 2014: 181; 2015: 128; 2016: 100; 2017: 70; 2018: 34; 2019: 44; 2020: 11; 2021: 8; 2022: 7; 2023: 4; 2024: 9; 2025: 5; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 328 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 287 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 258 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 10002632 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

CLOCK SPRING BROKE IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN

Owner-reported narrative. 44,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005417 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

OUTCOME OF MY COMPLAINT #769146 DATED MAY 1, 2001. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHROME WHEELS WAS FINALLY RESOLVED WHEN CHRYSLER REPLACED THE FRONT TWO CHROME WHEELS AT 24,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH OUT-OF-ROUND SINCE NEW, CREATING THE WOBBLE IN THE STEERING, UNEVEN STEERING, VIBRATION AND TIRE WEAR. I AM STILL AWAITING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TWO NEW PRO-RATED (BY GOODYEAR) EAGLE GT TIRES ON THE FRONT, AS WELL AS AWAITING WORD ABOUT A PROMISE TO REEPLACE THE TWO REAR EAGLE GT TIRES AS WELL. ANYONE WITH THE SAME WHEEL AND/OR TIRE PROBLEMS CAN WR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030898 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)

5 BATTERIES, RADIO, SPEAKERS, DOOR LOCKS, PAINT, SPEED SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION, FAN MOTOR ON ENGINE, OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, T14 CIRCUIT ALL WITHIN 27 MONTHS. CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF ALL THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS NO HELP! CUSTOMER CARE HUNG UP ON ME. LEMON LAW RAN OUT 1 MONTH AGO. UPSIDE DOWN CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN. HELP!!!!!

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040832 · 2003-09-27 (September 27, 2003)

BOUGHT AN EARLY 2001 PT CRUISER. ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, BATTERY FAILS, CAR WOULD NOT START, JUMP STARTING DID NOT WORK. TOWED IT IT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FAULTY. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THIS OCCURED, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER STILL SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY'S FAULT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 22, 2001 AND I PUT A SPARE BATTERY IN CAR AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002633 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BROKE

Owner-reported narrative. 50,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002633 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002733 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

REAR BRAKES ON 2001 PT CRUISER W/25000 MILES MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS IF THE PADS ARE WORN OUT. DEALER HAS CHECKED THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THEY'RE SHOWING NORMAL WEAR ON THE PADS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER CRUISERS AND DODGE NEON'S AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002733 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001878 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD CASKET. ON DECEMBER 23 VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH THIS TIME DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007504 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)

THE TIMING BELT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007504 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002930 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY CAR A 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 44243 MILES ON IT, THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002930 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006673 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

VEHICLE FUEL TANK WAS OVER FILLED, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE REAR RIGHT DOOR AND RUG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006673 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015025 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)

THE VEHICLES FUEL PUMP RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015025 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.