2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
The 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 354 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (14%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (10%) and lighting (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 354 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 30 and 21
- Injuries and deaths
- 30 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 265 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 | 69 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 43 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 44 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 37 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 20 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 265 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 49,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 45,000 miles (37 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 30 complaints mention a crash; 21 complaints mention a fire; 30 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser with enough data (229 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 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.
Dt: the contact owns a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact's wife was involved in an accident where the break away design of the steering wheel caused a fatal injury. The police ruled that the fatality occurred as overcorrecting. The contact stated he knew of another case within a ten mile radius where the same type of fatality happened.
Tl*the contact owned a 2003 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 60-65 MPH, he remembered changing lanes and there was shaking in the steering wheel. The vehicle accelerated off of the ground per a witness since the contact doesn't recall the details of what occurred. He does remember that the engine was smoking and that the air bags never deployed. One passenger sustained head and hip injures. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 MPH on the highway, another vehicle pulled out unexpectedly causing a rear end collision. There was braking prior to the impact however, the air bags did not deploy. The occupants of both vehicles sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop and the dealer was notified. A police report was taken.
NHTSA 629139 exterior lighting headlights, moisture inside vented headlamp assembly. Headlights have hard water deposits on inside of lamp,with sun exposure have become so corroded they are not usable have to drive with high beams on.
I replaced my vehicles battery 2 days ago(nov 12, 2019)(very old battery and with the cold in massachusetts it needed to be changed). Now with a properly functioning battery the voltage regulator in PCM (not alternator) is signaling alternator to raise charging voltage intermittently to as high as 17.1volts, but has been frequently bouncing between 14.1v -16.7volts.