2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 290 complaints
290
Total Complaints
52,718mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
23
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

27,000 25th Percentile
52,718 Median Mileage
85,225 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38
STEERING
18
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
17
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
17
ENGINE
13
AIR BAGS
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
SUSPENSION
10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
SUSPENSION:FRONT
8

Severity Assessment

23
Crashes
20
Fires
22
Injuries
5
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"EXHAUST PIPES ARE LOCATED SOMEWHERE UNDER THE CARRIAGE. DRIVER IS CONCERNED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLING. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TAIL PIPE EXTENDED PAST THE BUMPER. *NM"
"PT CRUISER IDLES ROUGH AND SHAKES AND PULSATES. FEELS LIKE YOU'RE STANDING IN A BRISK WIND WHILE IT IDLES. DEALER TOLD ME " IT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST" THEN ON 2ND. SERVICE FOR SAME PROBLEM TOLD ME DAIMLERCHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT DEFECT AND DOESN'T HAVE A FIX TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PCM AND 02 SENSORS..."
"05/19/2004, WHILE TRAVELING FROM KNOXVILLE TN, ON I-40 IN A RENTED PT CRUISER, A CHEVY BLAZER CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF US AS TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. WE WERE ALREADY SLOWING FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WERE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 45 MPH. WE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY LOCKED UP AND STARTED TO SKID, ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28