2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems and Repair Histories

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Wisconsin, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Oct	2009	163000		First odometer entry
Jan	2010	169000	400	Cooling fan replaced.
Feb	2010	171000	125	Raditor hose broke.
Jul	2010	181000	625	Driveshaft position sensor failed.
Oct	2010			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Washington, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2010	67000		First odometer entry
Mar	2010	69000	2500	Misfire on cyl 3. Turned out to be burnt exhaust valve. Had timing belt, water pump, etc, replaced as well
Jun	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Illinois, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Aug	2008	88000		First odometer entry
Jul	2009	100000	200	Took car in to do brakes. Found Shift cables worn (standard trans) Replaced shift cables.
Apr	2010	105000	200	Replace accessory belt tensioner
Aug	2010	106000	140	pwr strg idle speed sensor replaced
Aug	2011	109000	500	Lost power steering, It was the drive pulley side of crank damper working its way off. This caused the accessory belt to misalign and come off. Replaced damper, also replaced the belt tensioner. Found a lateral engine mount that was bad and replaced it.
Mar	2013	112000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Texas, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Dec	2009	69000		First odometer entry
Jan	2010	70000	0	Belt and/or Bearing noise. Diagnosed as timing belt. Timing belt, tensioner, idler, and water pump were ordered and repair will be accomplished within 2 weeks.
Feb	2010	70000	1	Ball joints had to be replaced. Also upgraded all of the front suspension bushings and replaced the struts.
Mar	2013	79000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Colorado, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2011	117000		First odometer entry
Sep	2011	120000	35	power steering sensor was faulty, threw check engine light. no noticeable difference in performance.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in California, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jun	2011	101000		First odometer entry
Aug	2011	102000	300	Engine would intermittently not rev past 2500rpm, regardless of still or on highway, load or coasting.
Sep	2011	103000	0	Over-heating intermittently. Mechanics at dealer say the vehicle is not really over-heating. Indicating it may be the temp sensor, or the temp module. Didn't know for sure. Thankfully, they did not charge me the $70 diagnostic fee.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Pennsylvania, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Aug	2011	115000		First odometer entry
Feb	2013	131000	0	Timing chain broke & bent the valves, took out the water pump too.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Texas, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Nov	2010	112000		First odometer entry
Jan	2011	113000	500	timing belt,water pump,first time been replace ,way pass recomented milage !

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in California, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Nov	2010	114000		First odometer entry
Dec	2010	114000	750	replace water pump
Feb	2011	118000	450	Car overheated, electric fan went out.
Mar	2011	118000	450	replaced motor mounts
Jun	2011	118000	1100	air conditioning compressor had to be replaced
Sep	2011	119000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Texas, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Nov	2008	87000		First odometer entry
Jan	2009	88000	325	replace starter.
Mar	2010			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Alabama, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Aug	2010		3000	Computer was getting too hot and before catching fire, it would shut down the whole vehicle until computer cooled off. Then you were able to drive it again. This happened a week after purchasing this car, my very first vehicle.
Jun	2012		1000	Timing belt snapped but did no other damage, thank God! Took forever to get fixed but runs better than ever! Happened on Apr 30th, my 20th bday, causing me to be late for my college finals. Sold my engagement ring to have PT repaired.
Aug	2012	130000	40	Motor Mount had to be replaced. Feels like its one thing after another. :(

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Minnesota, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jan	2009	50000		First odometer entry
Mar	2012	84000	0	We had to replace suspension bushings in the front to quiet rattles and will also need to do the same with the "A" arms and the rear, soon.
Oct	2012	88000	270	Replaced tie-rod bearing; four-wheel alignment.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Florida, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Mar	2012	140000		First odometer entry
Apr	2012	140700	65	hose from PCV valve to manifold cover has rotted/softened. Chrysler of course, has custom made hoses that are a different diameter on each end.
Jan	2013	148000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Alberta, Canada
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jul	2010	27280		First odometer entry
Sep	2010	27900	370	The chronically bad chrome plated wheels were taken to a wheel shop to have the chrome machined off the tire mating surfaces to cure the corroded surfaces. Dealer admits the had crappy wheels but too far from warranty. Cost 370.00 Can.
Oct	2012			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Florida, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	41000		First odometer entry
Jun	2011	72000	270	Steady grinding noise coming from drivers side front wheel. Wheel bearings needed to be replaced. Front rotors showed wear and pads were thin. As preventive measure besides the bearings, I replaced the front rotors and brake pads.
Oct	2011	74300	200	Replaced rear rotors and pads. Pads had worn out unevenly. Right rear pad was totally worn and had cut the rotor. Not really upset since these were original rotors and had been machined once before.
Jan	2012	75000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in New York, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Mar	2011			First odometer entry
Mar	2011		430	Replaced fan module
May	2011	45000	200	Engine misfiring; replaced coil and ignition wires
Aug	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Tennessee, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2012	160000		First odometer entry
Mar	2012	161000	600	My timing belt broke and had to be replaced. The water pump was also replaced at the same time. Upon inspection, all three of my motor mounts were cracked and had to be replaced. Power steering/Air con belt replaced.
May	2012			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Florida, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Dec	2009	92000		First odometer entry
Aug	2010	100000	1005	Car overheated, rendered undriveable. Let cool and drove two blocks to shop. Fan wasn't starting, motor assembly had to be replaced. Ignition coil failed, causing engine misfire at cylinder 1, also all 4 spark plugs were replaced, as well as broken transmission torque mount, motor mount, and power steering pressure switch.
Dec	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Ontario, Canada
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	40920		First odometer entry
Jul	2008	51460	60	Front electric windows intermittently not working; replaced with part from junkyard.
Jan	2009	57660	700	Clunk from front suspension; 1 lower ball joint plus front shocks replaced.
Jun	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Texas, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Dec	2008	146000		First odometer entry
Jan	2009	147000	0	Electric fan motor not working -- checked and is burned out. Also had to have plug reattached under car. Connector is broken -- original connector, 6 years old.
Aug	2009	167000	300	cooling fan had to be replaced. $150 labor plus parts
Sep	2009	173000	55	new cooling fan failed and had to be replaced. Fan was covered under the LLR warranty from Advance Auto Parts, but had to get replacement from NAPA in DFW area. Labor may have been covered, but too complicated to file for it.
Jul	2010			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Wisconsin, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	54000		First odometer entry
Nov	2008	62000	178	Lower right ball joint worn.
Dec	2008	63000	200	Right front sway bar bushings replaced and right front wheel bearing(s) replaced.
Feb	2009	66000	80	Spark plugs replaced / Throttle body cleaned
Jun	2009			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Alabama, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	86000		First odometer entry
Mar	2008	88000	1200	Timing belt broke while exiting the interstate. No other damage was reported. Timing belt, idler pully, tensioner, and tensioner arm were replaced. The idler pully, tensioner and tensioner arm were replaced as routine maintenance.
May	2010	120000	535	TCM was defective and replaced. Dealer had to do it since it had to be programmed for the vehicle.
Aug	2010	132000	100	Replaced radiator fan. Bought the housing and fan assembly. The high speed part of the fan quit working causing the car to overheat when sitting idle. Problem was resolved by replacing the radiator fan.
Jan	2011	139000	250	Upper torque strut was completely broken. The owner ordered a new one and replaced it. Believe that this also caused the exhaust manifold to crack. It was also replaced.
Aug	2011	146300	100	Power steering high pressure line o-ring failed. Owner also found a stabalizer bar bushing had failed and was also replaced. The work was done at a local shop.
Sep	2011	147000	100	Scrubbing sound coming from rear driver side wheel. The self adjuster for the drum brake broke and the spring was scraping the drum. New self adjuster kit was installed by a local shop.
Jan	2013	165300	200	Shift cable broke, the sleeve closest to the cable. Moisture might have gotten in and caused it to rust or gunk up. Increasingly hard to shift, then stuck. Also noticed that both upper and lower motor mounts were broken again.
Mar	2013	166000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Nova Scotia, Canada
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	89280		First odometer entry
Mar	2008	90520	1100	Dealer diagnosed catalytic converter failure. Would not cover under emmissions warranty (over milage) Dealer price was way too high, so I took it to an independent mechanic. Replaced the catalytic converter and had a performance cat-back exhaust system installed for the same price the Dealer wanted to replace just the catalytic converter.
Nov	2008	97340	5300	Transmission completely blown, got it rebuilt from scratch. Engine mount replaced and sepertine belt Front control arm bushings replaced.
Mar	2010			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Ontario, Canada
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jan	2009	41540		First odometer entry
Mar	2009	43400	250	Front wheel bearing
Oct	2010	67580	300	servo for cruise control
Oct	2011	79320	0	lower control arm bushing, reprogramed flash memory
Feb	2013	98420	300	replaced both front sway bar links
Mar	2013	99200		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Connecticut, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	83000		First odometer entry
Mar	2009	92000	0	Faulty Starter. I would have paid to have it replaced but the dealer (my father) fixed it for me and did not charge me anything.
Apr	2009	94000	325	Radiator Started to gush coolant after a slow leak was detected and not further identified.
Jun	2011	109000	0	EGR solenoid control circuit malfunction, Part ordered will report price once fixed
Jul	2011	109300	285	EGR solenoid control circuit malfunction, Part replaced.
Oct	2011	110000	1760	Timing belt broke while on the highway. Car was un-drivable. Timing belt kit was installed. Also sway bar links, front brake pads and rotors.
Sep	2012	130000	127	Exhaust Manifold disconnected from the muffler.
Mar	2013	143000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Massachusetts, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Mar	2010	124000		First odometer entry
Apr	2010	125000	500	New radiator.
May	2010	127000	500	Four trips to patch cooling system.
Jun	2010	127000	0	It was finally determined that the water pump was gone and the timing belt needed to be replaced at the same time, estimated cost $1100 at which point I got rid of the PT.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Michigan, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Sep	2006		509	Replaced all four chrome alloy wheels because corrosion around the valve stems caused them to lose 5-7 PSI per day. Chrysler picked up half of the tab.
Oct	2006		1690	Torque converter fails, taking the transmission pump with it.
Sep	2007		585	Front calipers (because pads very unevenly worn).  Front control arm bushings.
Mar	2008	68000	0	Front left wheel bearing replaced. Horn was not working. Replaced horn. Transmission solenoid pack was leaking fluid, had to be replaced. After returning from the previous repair trip, the suspension was making a loud popping noise around turns, which continued to get worse. Shop found loose bolt in suspenion, supposedly unrelated to wheel bearing repair.
May	2008	68000	290	Replaced radiator cap because seal not working, and coolant low. Right front wheel bearing replaced.
Jun	2008		88	Recharged A/C.
Oct	2008	75000	250	Warning light came on again, indicating coolant was sometimes low. Shop found small crack in thermostat housing, replaced housing and (as preventative maintenance) the thermostat. The thermostat is difficult to access; most of the cost was for labor.
Apr	2009	79700	89	Replaced both outer tie-rod ends. A/C not blowing cold. No freon. Shop charged with freon, with dye. Will take it back later to locate leak.
Sep	2009	84000	450	Pads and rotors, all four wheels.
Feb	2010	89000	125	One front stabilizer bar link broken, other one badly bent. Replaced links on both sides.
Jun	2010	92000	170	Horn replaced for the second time. Recharged AC. Included dye to identify leak. Wheels replaced three years ago have corroded like those before them. Shop cleaned up corrosion, which slowed but did not stop air leaks around the tire bead.
Aug	2010	93000	400	A/C hose assembly leaking, replaced. Part fairly expensive because only OEM available.
Nov	2010	93000	85	A/C not working again. Compressor not coming on. Found corroded limit switch and cleaned it. Also recharged freon.
Sep	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Texas, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jun	2010	74000		First odometer entry
Aug	2010	75000	675	Noticed considerable decline in gas mileage, but no change in engine performance. Dealer said that both oxygen sensors weren't working effectively. They replaced oxygen sensors and PVC valve and hose.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Maryland, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Aug	2008	47000		First odometer entry
Jul	2009	52000	996	Rack-n-Pinion Replaced Told Solenoid was leaking and needed replacement - skipped for the time being.
Mar	2013	73000		Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Alaska, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jul	2002		0	Faulty A/C fixed. Apparently an "O" ring was installed wrong which let the refrigerant escape.
Aug	2002		0	Unknown component of steering system replaced. Car was gradually pulling more and more to the right. Dealer claimed there was a defective part. Car was at dealership for approximately one week (mostly waiting for parts).
Nov	2002		0	Windshield replaced. Weather strip around glass would curl away from car when below freezing. This allowed gravel(!) to collect. Dealer asked if rear window was leaking at the time, which it was not.
Dec	2003		0	Approximate date and mileage. Instrument cluster replaced while trying to determine source of electrical drain that kills battery. The battery was replaced around the same time.
May	2004		100	Approximate date and mileage. Factory cruise control was added by the dealer. Required computer update. Install and performance are as if the car came with it from the factory.
Jul	2004		0	Approximate date and mileage. Rear left window regulator replaced due to squeeling sound while window is being lowered in warm weather. Other users reported that both rear windows do this, but the dealer wouldn't replace both because the right window was
May	2008	29000	0	Checking in. Six years of ownership. Need to take car in for multiple warranty repairs. A/C hasn't worked for years. Strange exterior rattle from right rear wheel. Some indications of rust under paint, not that this can be fixed. (Road salt is rare in thi
Apr	2009	36000	100	Bad "O" ring on high pressure inlet. Used dye in system to locate leak after two weeks of running A/C. Right rear window regulator replaced due to squeaking and creaking sounds. Still makes same noises. Rear shocks rattling like cans in a bag. Replaced and noise is mostly corrected.
Jun	2009	36000	130	What was thought to be rattling shocks during previous warranty repair turned out to be rattling rear brake pads. Replaced pads and cheap, warped rotors. Finally smooth stopping and no rattling. Did the repair myself...out of warranty.
Apr	2010	42000	65	Replaced MAP sensor. Original sensor had been failing, causing engine to surge when warm.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Great Britain
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Feb	2008	63000		First odometer entry
Feb	2009	74000	250	Track rod end on the steering rack badly worn Bushes on the front suspension wishbones badly worn and were "knocking" Have replaced all the bushes on the car with polyurethane upgrades
Jun	2009	78000	155	Both rear shock absorbers had failed, leaking fluid badly and offered no resistance to shocks at all. Replaced with new gas ones
Oct	2010	89000	50	Ball joint on the front suspension wishbone had failed, replaced with a new one
Jun	2011			Most recent odometer entry.

 

Chrysler PT Cruiser in Georgia, United States
Month	Year	Odometer (in miles)	Cost	Problem/Repair Description
Jan	2011	86000		First odometer entry
Feb	2011	88000	130	transmission fluid leaking. had system flushed and was told that x-mission solenoid connection was leaking. Can't afford replacement at this time.
Sep	2011	93000		Most recent odometer entry.