2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Recalls & Reliability
658 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 72,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009–2010.
Avoid
Where 2002 sits among all PT Cruiser years
What owners report
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
“Front and rear bumpers have what looks to be masking tape marks on them where the paint has now faded. The faded area is approximately the width of masking tape and goes from the edge of the passenger side of both bumpers across to the driver's side of both bumpers.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
“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)”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
“While applying his brakes the vehicle brakes lock up and the abs light appear on the dashboard. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
“I was involved in a front end collision 1/8/03. My air bags did not deploy. I am now recovering from a fractured sternum injury. I have gotten no response as to why the bags didn't deploy...probably would not have been injured if they worked.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 PT Cruiser
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 440 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 31,000 and 95,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353.…
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY SEAL OVER THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE…
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 ITS GAUGES, ILLUMINATION, AND WARNING LAMPS, COULD BECOME…
Fix: 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 DATE…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V268000.
Technical service bulletins
68 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2002 PT Cruiser TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser reliable?
The 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser drew 658 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser are electrical (159 complaints), body & structure (69), and engine (61).
At what mileage do 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems around 55,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 31,000 and 95,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.