Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser vs 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
NHTSA complaints511217
Recall campaigns31
Service bulletins (TSBs)6866
Investigations21
Crash reports4016
Fire reports3415
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)20–2219–22
Median reported incident mileage51,869 mi55,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentChrysler PT CruiserChrysler PT Cruiser
Electrical System9744
Exterior Lighting5523
Suspension4036
Structure676
Steering4524
Engine and Engine Cooling3823
Air Bags4412
Power Train3521

Symptoms owners describe

Overheating250
Stalling2317
Vibration / shaking1910
Rust / corrosion186
Check engine light95
Hesitation / surging75
Won’t start60
Clunking / rattling60
2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Compare all Chrysler PT Cruiser vs Chrysler PT Cruiser years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.