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KLUNK

2002 Chrysler Pt cruiser

The Verdict

24 Check Engine

The 2002 Chrysler Pt cruiser has 522 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (218 complaints) and electrical (158 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 24/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Chrysler Pt cruiser, consider the 2010 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2010 has 95% fewer complaints

View the 2010 Chrysler Pt cruiser dashboard →

24

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

01V288000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLUSTER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF I...

Risk

DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE CLUSTER COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL RE-FLASH THE CLUSTER SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 8, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DAT...

Reported Oct 9, 2001

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20012983513712235
2002218341587834
20039512724633
20048811614116
20051129645813
2006821113110124
2007326455412
200826754226
200919143313
2010101560

By Category

Body
218
Electrical
158
Engine
78
Brakes
34
Transmission
34

By Severity

1
225
2
211
3
9
4
74
5
3

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that the rear quarter glass fasteners on both sides of the vehicle had started to separate from the vehicle. The contact stated that the windows were violently shaking while driving at various speeds. The contact was concerned that the windows might fall out while driving and cause injury to a pedestrian. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

25mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, she could smell fuel in the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who located a fuel leak on the fuel trail line. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V215000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

36mo ago
Body 1

Hello My name is [XXX]. I own a 2002 Chrysler Pt cruiser and for some reason the power steering went out while I was driving! I was able to make it home because I wasn’t far away! My power steering stopped out of no where and my fluid is full and my belt is attached I was also told my pump was in great condition! I’m really concerned because I had my 6 year old child in the car! I now can’t make appointments work or even take my child to school I’m in need for help! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

37mo ago
Body 1

Answers and explanations to all of the above questions: My power steering assembly is leaking pretty bad and is only getting worse. I have a bad shoulder that I had surgery on and if it goes completely out I am afraid i wont be able to turn the steering wheel & cause an accident. The rims on the vehicle are cracked/cracking & I believe one has a hole or 2 & another 1 is forming one. It's also scratching & ruining the rotors. Its not the pads they are fine but I need at least 1 new rotor & can't because the rims are defective causing it to happen again which can easily damage the calipers locking up the wheel causing a crash plus sometimes theres a loud crunching noise not grinding like the pads are bad cause they are not. I know the difference. The trac off & airbag lights are on then they go off then come back on again.The dashboard is cracked and it caused the vent to break where anything can get in it.The clear coat is peeling and yet the paint under it is in great shape.I also believe that the instrument cluster is causing the lights to come on the dashboard.The vehicle can be picked up when ever you have a spot open for it. I would like 48 hours notice due to work. This is a safety issue if the power steering goes while driving I cant steer it because I didn't know it was leaking it went out and I was stuck blocking traffic and couldn't turn it the passenger had to do it for me, If the rims get worse or hole bigger it can crack or break in half while I am driving. The defrost vent is open to particles that can get in there that shouldn't. The airbag light on could be a defect or the air bags defective. Nothing has been inspected on it since I just found out when looking up this make, year and model a price on power steering to find out there's a recall on it as well as other issues. There were no warnings and the only code that came up was the high fan relay switch. Since then the trac off light goes on and off as well as airbag light and now is currently on.

56mo ago
Engine 4

While driving the vehicle I could begin to smell a strong odor of gas them almost like the smell of plastic melting and the vehicle engine started running hot temperature so I immediately turned off the engine as I pulled over to the side of the road and as I stepped out of the car aflame began under the hood and ended up burning my entire engine. Fire department had to come and extinguish the car.

60mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

67mo ago
Engine 4

DROVE THE VEHICLE 12 MILES TO GET HOME. (THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) IMMEDIATELY TURNING OFF ENGINE AFTER MAKING IT HOME. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE (BIG LEAK) FROM HOSE AND SMOKE SMELL FROM UNDER HOOD. (ENGINE LOOKS CHARD)

81mo ago
Engine 1

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON. CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE READING AS THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE ODOMETER CODE SYSTEM.. MY CAR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME EVEN WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY BATTERY TERMINAL SEEMS TO BE WEAK POSSIBLY HAVING SHORTAGE MOMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME. MY VEHICHLE WILL PULL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. MY BREAKS FEEL LIKE THERE GOING TO GIVE OUT OR ARE BRAND KNEW . MY VEHICHLE MAKES A NOISE AS IF THE FRONT CV AXELS OR BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE GREASED. MY WIRING AND ENGINE IS MY MAIN CONCERN. MY AC DOESN'T WORK MY RADIATOR SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED MY CAR WILL MAKE A GUZZLING NOICE DUE TO THE COOLANT . THE LIST GOES ON. I BOUGHT MY VEHICHLE APPROX. 4MONTHS AGO. THE ISSUES HAVE PROGRESSED OVER THE PAST MONTH.

84mo ago
Electrical 2

UPON STARTING VEHICLE ALL WARNING TEST LIGHTS SUCH AS AIRBAG,OIL PRESSURE ETC. COME ON AS NORMAL,BUT OFTEN THE RED "AIRBAG" LIGHT STAYS ON INDEFINITELY OR GOES OFF THEN BELLS AND "AIRBAG" RED LIGHT REAPPEAR AND STAY ON 5 TO 10,SECONDS THEN GO OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM IN 1000 TO 1500, LOW ROOMS LIKE WHEN I'M SLOWING TO MAKE A STOP.YESTERDAY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTE TRIP. I TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON MY OWN $ BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT ALL,HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS BUT MOSTLY WITH DECELERATION TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. WHY HAVEN'T YOU PUT THE PT CRUISER ON THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2002 AND AM,THE SOLE OWNER.

85mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEAD LAMPS WOULD ILLUMINATE RANDOMLY DAY OR NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS WAS REPLACED BY HIM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC CLIP HOLDING THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE SWITCH HAD BURNED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

86mo ago
Body 2

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY WIFE AND I AND IT ALMOST TOOK OUR LIVES BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT ALIVE AND THE INSURANCE AND THE ATTORNEYS GAVE ME SOME MONEY SO I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT ME A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FOR $4, 700 FOR A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FROM LARRY H MILLER HONDA I STARTED HAVING OVERHEATING ISSUES RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED IT FROM THEM AND EVENTUALLY BLEW THE HEAD GASKET IN IT NOT KNOWING THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO GOING IN IT I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT I SPENT MY WHOLE $4, 700 FROM MY SETTLEMENT TO GET THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS ON IT'S GOT 60, 000 MILES ON IT AND IT'S IT'S IN MY BACKYARD MY WIFE AND I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS OVERHEATED AND CAUSED IT TO BLOW THE HEAD GASKET I CHANGE THE WATER PUMP TIMING BELT EVERYTHING AND THEN IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET PLEASE HELP ME MY WIFE AND I ARE STUCK BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WAY TO GETTING AROUND AND I'M NOT ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE WE STRUGGLED SINCE OUR AUTO ACCIDENT AND THIS IS JUST BEEN ONE HURDLE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET OVER IT PLEASE HELP ME

88mo ago
Electrical 5

TAKATA RECALL THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT IN WHICH DRIVERS SIDE BACK SEAT TO REAR HATCH WAS T-BONED. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT IMPACT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS PRISTINE WHITE WITHOUT ANY FRAY WHEN DEFLATED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WAS FULL OF GUN SHOT RESIDUE AND BAG FRAYED. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BURNED (BELT WAS CHARRED) ONTO DRIVERS CHEST AND THERE WAS AN APPARENT PUNCTURE WOUND LEFT OF CENTER CHEST AND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER WAS DECEASED. THIS HAPPENED JAN 27, 2019. I'M WAITING ON CERTIFIED REPORTS FROM LA COUNTY CORONER AND CHP. DUE END MARCH, EARLY APRIL. *DSY

89mo ago
Electrical 2

DOME LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS GO OUT WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED. SOMETIMES DOME LIGHTS COME ON WHEN SIGNALS ARE USED. COULD RUN BATTERY DONE IF NOT NOTICED

103mo ago
Electrical 1

MY LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOT ONLY DID MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF BUT MY DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS ON MY GEAR SHIFT DID AS WELL. MY DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AS WELL.

104mo ago
Body 1

VEHICLE RECALLED IN 2004 FOR POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAK POTENTIAL. RECALL WAS COMPLETED. POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE IS NOW LEAKING. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR A REPAIR.

105mo ago
Body 1

TAKARA RECALL. WHILE CHANGING UPPER AND LOWER MOTOR MOUNT I NOTICED SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS ROTTED AND AFTER I PUT MOUNTS IN THE CAR PULLS WHEN ACCELERATING

110mo ago
Electrical 1

ON RETURNING HOME FROM AN EVENT IN THE EVENING I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TURNED OFF LIGHTS AND THEN THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN EXCEPT THE FOG LIGHTS STAYED ON (THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF). I NEVER HAD THE FOG LIGHTS ON THAT EVENING. I TRIED VARIOUS A TEMPS I.E. PUSHING THE BUTTEN IN, TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN, ETC., BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY SUCCESS. MY WIFE WENT ONLINE AND FOUND (FROM MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR PT CRUSIERS) TO PUT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THEN PUSH THE FOG LIGHT BUTTEN IN. THIS WORKED SO THAT I DIDN'T WAKE UP TO A DEAD BATTERY. IF YOU GO ONLINE YOU WILL FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN PT CRUISERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM INCLUDING SOME HAVING SMOKE COMING FROM THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE SOON!!

113mo ago
Electrical 4

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS DRIVING NORTH, TURNING RIGHT ON A 20 MPH CURVE, WHEN SOMEONE HEADING SOUTH, TURNED LEFT ON THE CURVE, WENT OVER THE LINE AND HIT ME HEAD ON. WHEN I CAME TO, I HEARD MYSELF SCREAMING THAT I WAS ON FIRE! ( BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ON FIRE.) THEN I DIDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING UNTIL I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL. I WAS COVERED IN THIS HOT POWDERY SUBSTANCE AND I HAD BURNS WHERE EVER MY SKIN WAS SHOWING. I HAD CUTS EVERYWHERE AND DARK MARKS IN MY SKIN FOR YEARS. I HAD CORNEAL SCRATCHES AND IRRITATED EYES TOO, ALONG WITH DISLOCATED JAW, SEAT BELT INJURIES AND A FEW OTHER INJURIES. MY TMJ SPECIALIST REALIZED I HAD METAL IN MY FACE, LOOKING AT MY MRI. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MRI, MY FACE SWELLED UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MY RIGHT EYE WAS SWOLLEN SHUT AND MY FACE HAD A HUGE BUMP WHERE THE METAL FESTERED UP FROM THE MRI, THE ER LANCED IT OPEN, FOUND PARTICALS BUT DIDN'T DO A BIOPSY, JUST THREW IT AWAY. I NEVER HAD FACE SURGERY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND IT WAS TOO HIGH ON MY CHEEK TO BE FROM DENTAL WORK. I HAVE DOCUMENTS ON ACCIDENT REPORTS, DRS DOCUMENTS, X RAYS, MRI'S SHOWING THE BLOOM OF METAL HIDING MY BROKEN JAW. I HAVE PICTURES TOO OF ME AND DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE THEM HERE TO SCAN. HOPEFULLY I CAN COME BACK TO MY FORM AND UPDATE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS MISSING. THANK YOU. MY TMJ DR AND MY MAXIO FACIAL SPECIALIST SAID IT HAD TO BE SHRAPNEL AND THEY CANNOT MAKE ANY PROPER DIAGNOSIS OF MY TMJ OR BROKEN JAW. I STILL HAVE PAIN AND STILL HAVE SHRAPNEL THAT HAS BEEN COMING OUT OF MY EYE AREA AND FACE FOR SOME TIME. I KNEW OF ALL OF THIS PRIOR TO THE TAKATA ISSUES, I HAVEN'T BEEN WELL ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOU UNTIL NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

114mo ago
Engine 1

ENGINE CRADLE, OR FRONT SUBFRAME, IS RUSTED TO THE POINT I'VE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A REPLACEMENT BUT CHRYSLER NO LONGER MAKES THE PART! NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS POINT BECAUSE OF MY CAUTION BUT THE FRONT END WAS STARTING TO MAKE POPPING NOISES WHEN I STARTED OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. THE PROBLEM IS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING ARTICLES, MANY OTHER PTS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. FOR YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO PRIME AND SPRAY OIL ON THE PART TO EXTEND IT'S LIFE. TIME HAS COME.... *TR

118mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I PULLED OVER AND I DIDNT HAVE DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. ALL THE FUSES ARE GOOD. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND ALOT OF PT CRUISERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUE IT SEEMS THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE FUSE BLOCK GOES BAD I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. I THINK ITS REDUNDANT THAT YPU HAVE TO PAY 150-250 DOLLARS EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. WHEN NO ONE REALLY HAS THAT KINDA MONEY

118mo ago

522 total

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