2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 658 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (15%) concerns electrical system. After that come body & structure (10%) and lighting (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 658 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 54 and 47
- Injuries and deaths
- 65 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 52,000 miles 448 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 65 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 95 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 79 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 54 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 53 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 31 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 31 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 8 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 7 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Among the 448 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 52,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 61,000 miles (77 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 54 complaints mention a crash; 47 complaints mention a fire; 65 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 85% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser with enough data (387 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Takata recall this vehicle was involved in a t-bone accident in which drivers side back seat to rear hatch was t-boned. Both front airbags deployed at impact. The passenger side airbag was pristine white without any fray when deflated. The drivers side airbag was full of gun shot residue and bag frayed. The drivers seat belt was burned (belt was charred) onto drivers chest and there was an apparent puncture wound left of center chest and my significant other was deceased. This happened jan 27, 2019.
Tl* - the contact has a 2002 pt cruiser. The contact's pt cruiser stalled while driving 45 miles an hour. There were no indicator or service lights. The contact checked the vehicle for leaks and the hoses for damage. She did not smell any fluids and no visible damage was apparent. The dealer informed the contact today that the fuel pump is in the transmission and it was damaged. The mileage at the time of the incident is 40,000. The contact is not the original owner of the vehicle.
I was driving the kids to school going about 20 MPH and none of the airbags deployed. We hit the vehicle in front of us hard enough to break the bar behind the grill and smash into the radiator and ruin it. The bags should have deployed on that kind of impact.
I own the 2002 chysler pt cruiser limited. Hold in the trip odometer reset button while turning the ignition key to run will start a self-test, with a readout on the odometer. It will also activate the instrument panels, one at a time. The test will run for approximately 60 seconds, then automatically shut down. If the test senses a fault, the odometer will show the p-code number for the corresponding (DTC) diagnostic trouble code. The self diagnostic that is on the odometer is giving false reading.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving 15 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle's dashboard was cracked. The mechanic at the local dealer was notified of the failure. The current mileage is 54,000 and failure mileage was 51,000.