2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser engine problems
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser — 6% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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”
filed May 17, 2026
“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…”
filed Mar 10, 2020
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Engine problems in other PT Cruiser years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 PT Cruiser | 5 | 23% |
| 2009 PT Cruiser | 26 | 27% |
| 2008 PT Cruiser | 15 | 13% |
| 2007 PT Cruiser | 23 | 15% |
| 2006 PT Cruiser | 55 | 16% |
| 2005 PT Cruiser | 11 | 6% |
| 2003 PT Cruiser | 10 | 4% |
| 2002 PT Cruiser | 22 | 4% |
| 2001 PT Cruiser | 12 | 2% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.