Your vehicle report
2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 511
- Received Sep 2001 to Jun 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag37 complaints · 7.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night36 complaints · 7.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes30 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #04V268000On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4L non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose may contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
- Recall #02V215000On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump module mounting flange could leak fuel if the vehicle is involved in a rollover crash.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 40 crashes, 34 fires, 50 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 511 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 37 | 7.2% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 36 | 7.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 30 | 5.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 29 | 5.7% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 20 | 3.9% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 18 | 3.5% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 16 | 3.1% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 13 | 2.5% | – | |
| Instrument cluster or speedometer fails | 12 | 2.4% | – | NHTSA recall #01V288000 |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 10 | 2.0% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 10 | 2.0% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 9 | 1.8% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Turn signals work intermittently or fail | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 7 | 1.4% | – | NHTSA recall #02V215000 |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 1.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #04V268000June 3, 2004438,391 vehicles affected
steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4L non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose may contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source Can result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end. The recall began on september 20, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #02V215000August 8, 2002345,436 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump module mounting flange could leak fuel if the vehicle is involved in a rollover crash.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a secondary seal over the fuel pump module. Owner notification began august 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #01V288000September 10, 200143,000 vehicles affected
electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash
Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles are being recalled for a software error in the instrument cluster microprocessor. Under certain conditions, the cluster, with the majority of its gauges, illumination, and warning lamps, could become inoperative.
Driving the vehicle with an inoperative cluster could cause a distraction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will re-flash the cluster software to correct the condition. Owner notification began october 8, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN