What years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser should I avoid?

The 2006 and 2007 model years are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 80, the two highest of any PT Cruiser year.

What is the best year for the Chrysler PT Cruiser?

The 2010 model year is rated Best, with a complaint index of 0 and only 22 total complaints, the lowest of any year covered.

Are the 2008 and 2009 PT Cruiser good years?

Both are rated Good, with complaint indexes of 40 and 20. The 2009 verdict is capped at Good rather than Best because NHTSA complaint records for model years 2005-2009 are considered less complete.

What is the most common problem with the PT Cruiser?

Across all model years, Electrical System issues account for 36% of the 919 total complaints, followed by Engine problems at 29% and Airbags at 12%.

Does the 2006 PT Cruiser have a recall?

Yes. NHTSA recall 07V149000 covers rear quarter glass fasteners that could pull through their mounts and let the glass separate from the vehicle.

Chrysler PT Cruiser Best and Worst Years (2005–2010)

Avoid the 2006 and 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, which rank worst with complaint indexes of 100 and 80. The 2010 model is best (index 0), while 2008 and 2009 are rated Good.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2006 Avoid 2007 Best 2010

Model years: 6; 2005–2010
NHTSA complaints: 919
Recall campaigns: 3
Crashes reported: 80
Fires reported: 28
Top problem area: Electrical System

PT Cruiser Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Chrysler PT Cruiser problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	Caution	60	187	11	12	3	Engine	21	—
2006	Avoid	100	349	35	5	1	Electrical System	21	—
2007	Avoid	80	149	18	3	0	Engine	21	—
2008	Good	40	115	11	6	0	Electrical System	21.5	—
2009	Good	20	97	4	1	0	Electrical System	21	—
2010	Best	0	22	1	1	0	Engine	21	—

PT Cruiser years to avoid: what went wrong

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Index 100 · 349 complaints · 1 recalls

The 2006 PT Cruiser has the highest complaint index of any year at 100, with 349 total complaints. Electrical System issues make up 42% of its complaints, with a median failure mileage of 60,000. Engine problems follow at 28% (median mileage 61,045.5), and Airbags account for 10% of complaints at a median mileage of 45,436. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes and a transmission that would not shift out of fourth gear at 40 mph, leading to a collision. NHTSA also lists one recall (07V149000) for rear quarter glass fasteners pulling loose and allowing the glass to separate from the vehicle.

2006 electrical system problems →2006 engine problems →2006 visibility & wipers problems →

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Index 80 · 149 complaints · 0 recalls

The 2007 PT Cruiser has a complaint index of 80 with 149 total complaints. Engine problems are the top issue at 36% (median mileage 49,000), followed by Airbags at 19% (median mileage 79,304) and Electrical System at 17% (median mileage 69,344.5). Owners reported airbags that failed to deploy during rear-end and frontal collisions, a steering wheel that caused the vehicle to roll over after a slight turn at 45 mph, and a rear tire that repeatedly lost air. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year.

2007 engine problems →2007 airbags problems →2007 electrical system problems →

Most common Chrysler PT Cruiser problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Electrical System328 (36%)
Engine267 (29%)
Airbags107 (12%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires88 (10%)
Visibility & Wipers83 (9%)
Transmission & Powertrain75 (8%)
Brakes67 (7%)
Steering61 (7%)
Other55 (6%)
Structure & Body55 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser should I avoid?: The 2006 and 2007 model years are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 80, the two highest of any PT Cruiser year.
What is the best year for the Chrysler PT Cruiser?: The 2010 model year is rated Best, with a complaint index of 0 and only 22 total complaints, the lowest of any year covered.
Are the 2008 and 2009 PT Cruiser good years?: Both are rated Good, with complaint indexes of 40 and 20. The 2009 verdict is capped at Good rather than Best because NHTSA complaint records for model years 2005-2009 are considered less complete.
What is the most common problem with the PT Cruiser?: Across all model years, Electrical System issues account for 36% of the 919 total complaints, followed by Engine problems at 29% and Airbags at 12%.
Does the 2006 PT Cruiser have a recall?: Yes. NHTSA recall 07V149000 covers rear quarter glass fasteners that could pull through their mounts and let the glass separate from the vehicle.