no report yet
Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Risk. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
2004 Chrysler PT CruiserProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 217 owner complaints about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Aboutdamnavantime.wiki, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser has problems
217 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
44Electrical system12 crash/fire/injury
36Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
24Steering3 crash/fire/injury
23Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
23Exterior lighting3 crash/fire/injury
21Power train1 crash/fire/injury
14Engine
12Air bags
11Wheels
6516 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 44 | 12 |
| Suspension | 36 | 1 |
| Steering | 24 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 23 | 3 |
| Power train | 21 | 1 |
| Engine | 14 | 2 |
| Air bags | 12 | 10 |
| Wheels | 11 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 65 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chrysler.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
75kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 36 electrical system complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.
6under 30k miles24under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other PT Cruiser year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the PT Cruiser median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser safety ratings
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the recalls they led to.
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 04V-268
In owners' words
What PT Cruiser owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
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…
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.
Own a 2004 PT Cruiser?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.