Your vehicle report
2003 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
- 258
- Received Nov 2002 to Jun 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Headlights dim or fail at night23 complaints · 8.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes13 complaints · 5.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Tires blow out or tread separates13 complaints · 5.0% 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 #03V076000On certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc.
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: 22 crashes, 15 fires, 20 people injured, 1 death.
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
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 36 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 33 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 1 |
| Total | 258 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 23 | 8.9% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 5.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 13 | 5.0% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 12 | 4.7% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 10 | 3.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 9 | 3.5% | – | |
| Wheel bearings fail prematurely | 9 | 3.5% | – | |
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 9 | 3.5% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 7 | 2.7% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 2.7% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 6 | 2.3% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 6 | 2.3% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 6 | 2.3% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Turn signals work intermittently or fail | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Heated seat overheats and burns occupants | 4 | 1.6% | – |
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 #03V076000March 10, 2003816 vehicles affected
power train: clutch assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly Can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc.
If this occurs, the clutch may not disengage when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the flywheel and clutch assemblies with the updated design parts. Owner notification began on april 14, 2003. 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 2003 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