Model year record

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls & problems

The 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 3 safety recalls and 217 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (44 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints217filed by owners

Crashes · fires16 · 15reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths18 · 3reported in complaints

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

Exterior lighting

Recall 09E01200016,270 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

SuspensionApr 14, 2008

Suspension

Recall 08E0330006,903 vehicles

Problem: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

SteeringJun 3, 2004

Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections

Recall 04V268000438,391 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

PT Cruiser

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

PT Cruiser

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

PT Cruiser

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

PT Cruiser

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition	44	2	10	1	75,205 mi
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Front	42	1	0	0	40,000 mi
SteeringColumn; Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections	25	3	0	0	86,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	24	0	1	0	24,000 mi
Exterior lightingBrake lights › Switch; Fog lights	23	0	3	0	56,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly	22	1	0	0	27,000 mi
Engine	14	0	2	0	113,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	12	7	1	8	135,500 mi
WheelsRim	11	0	0	0	42,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	10	2	0	2	15,500 mi
VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Windshield	9	0	1	2	7,800 mi
Unknown or other	8	0	0	0	21,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

EngineFire
So I had been having issues with the car overheating well I'm almost home and my daughter says she smells smoke so pull over and rush to get my babies out of the car because under the hood it had caught on fire
Nov 27, 2020
Unknown or other
I purchased the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser on 1/10/2024. I learned that the Chrysler Dealership does not make keys for the vehicle when locked out, nor does it Service the vehicle. They will "address" a Recall Notice and will do an oil change and will do an inspection only. Chrysler Dealership told me to "Come back tomorrow" when a Recall Notice was issued and they said it was not Safety Related, however a Power Steering Pressure Hose was found to be leaking/exploding oil and this IS a safety related issue. I was rear ended 1/23/24 with 2 dogs in the car. I did not purchase Uninsured Motorists Insurance because I thought under CA State Law that I was legally compliant with insurance I had…
Mar 9, 2024
Steering
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKING.
Dec 14, 2020 · 160,000 miles
Suspension
BALL JOINT ARE MISSING
Aug 14, 2020
Electrical systemFire
IT STARTED WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE MIDDLE STICK LIGHTS (P,D,R,N++) I CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT WHAT SPEED I'M GOING OR MY LEVELS OR ANYTHING BC THE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED I'VE HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED TWICE, I'VE HAD THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED TWICE BUT IT STILL OVER HEATS NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH BOTH OF MY TODDLERS IN THE CAR ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY LOCKED UP ON ME COULDN'T USE THE STEERING WHEEL OR BRAKES HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK IT'S JUST BEEN REPETITIVE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY SISTER WHO'S GRANDMOTHER GOT TIRED OF PUTTING MONEY INTO IT IT STUTTERS SOMETIMES LIKE IT'S SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO ACCELERATE IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. IT WAS MY FIRST CAR IT'S NEVER…
Aug 27, 2019 · 141,000 miles
Engine
I BOUGHT THIS CAR LAST YEAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT HAD A OVER HEATING PROBLEM I REALLY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING SO I THEN STARTED LOOKING IT UP AND FOUND OUT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT IT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX MY PROBLEM SINCE THE PROBLEM REALLY COMES FROM THEM FROM IT WAS MADE
Sep 4, 2018
Electrical system
THIS VEHICLE HAS A P0037 AND A P0037 DTC'S THAT WON'T CANCEL. FINDLEY CHRYSLER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS. IT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THE COMPUTER IS BAD. I SENT THE COMPUTER 5033293AF TO BE REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS OK. I GOT THE CODES TO GO AWAY FOR A BRIEF TIME BY MESSING WITH THE COMPUTER WIRE LOOM. IHAVE HEARD THERE WAS ARECALL FOR THIS. IS IT STILL AVAILABLE?06/08/2018
Jun 8, 2018
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER AND DIE. WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE.
Oct 18, 2018 · 120,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosedLed to recall 04V268000
PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH…
PE04028 · opened Mar 15, 2004 · closed Jun 18, 2004