Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hello. I tried copying and pasting my letter into this box however, my letter is too long. Therefore, I am completing this online form and then will mail in my entire letter, documentation and the like to your mailing address along with a copy of this online form. The complaint is regarding my 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, VIN# [redacted] and it is relating to the fact Chrysler refuses to repair my vehicle under the current and active NHTSA recall # 01V288000 (instrument cluster problem). Today, 8/5/05 I will mail my letter detailing the entire problem but I am submitting this portion online to get the process started. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, [redacted] . The vehicle was in motion when a pop noise was heard caused by a spark within the dash above the speedometer. White smoke had come billowing out of the instrument cluster. …
..on my 2002 PT Cruiser the front suspension cross member has rotted so bad that it broke in a few places causing the lower a arm to move in such a way as to cause the steering wheel to pull out of your hands all the way to the left and or right,the car could not be driven more then 15 MPH,..and that was while holding the wheel tightly....if this cross member was to break while driving 65 MPH there would be a very bad crash,..I suggest any one that has a PT cruise have it checked for the cross member rotting before a crash takes place,,,I was able to buy a new cross member and the cheapest price was $514 plus tax and shipping,..now comes the costs to install it...what is odd the cross member rotted out on the passenger side only,...I have some pics of it with the a arm off the cross member..
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. The contact exit the vehicle and discovered that the front passenger side sub frame had excessive rust and fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the front passenger frame, the cv axles and the lower control arms with ball joint and the stabilizer link had fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. When the vehicle approached an abrupt stop and accelerated, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle veered to the right independently without warning while driving 40 MPH. The contact discovered that the front passenger side cross member was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,616.
Subframe cradle failure with crack through mounting. Dealer says "seen before" not under recall or investigation. Repair shop "has seen several with similar failure" some have resulted in suspension failure and accidents. Why is this not the subject of a recall? No one killed yet? Repair to cost $1,400.00. Updated 11/09/15
I was informed by service advisor james quinn at brunswick auto mall in brunswick, ohio [phone]) that the rear control arm(rubber bushings on my 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser were worn out and need to be replaced at 44,971 miles. I did a web search and found numerous PT Cruiser user forums and found references to Chrysler changing the supplier of the bushings sometime after my vehicle was built. Chrysler changed the bushings supplier due to very early failure and also upgraded the quality of the bushings. My bushings failed due to having the older style bushings. 45K miles is very early for control arm bushings to wear out. I contacted chrylser warranty at [phone] to complain and was assigned reference number 14736996. …
2002 PT Cruiser sport model. Car would not start, when sitting far a few days, had been driving car all day and turned car off to do an errand and car would not start. Car has left me stranded where I had to have it towed several times. Bought car new and have had this problem for 7 years. Kept bringing back to the dealer and couldn't find any problems every time. Finally found a dealer service manager that knew the problem. Insufficient quality parts were being used when Chrysler was about to go bankrupt. The battery wires from the battery to the alternator were not supplying enough voltage to maintain enough to recharge the battery. Upgraded the wires to a higher voltage and have not had the problem for about 10 months. It took 7 years to find the problem which caused problems of me using the car. …
The owner of the vehicle state's he was traveling down the entering the highway on the way home. He heard pop and then something under the vehicle started rattling, the owner stated when he took the vehicle to a shop they put it on the rack. The shop notified the owner that the vehicle shouldn't be driven, both steering knuckle bushings, ball joints, front right suspension parts were all bad and needed to be replaced. Chrysler should recall this vehicle for as it not just mine as I ask the shop and they has several vehicle of that make come in with same problem. We as tax payers bailed them out, and now it time for the government to tell them they need to fix this issue and any other issues with the vehicle. There are still a lot of PT Cruiser on the road today, but I guess they greedy son of b** in detroit took the money and left the customer paying for the safety of their families. …
When doing the 30,000 mile oil change/inspection I noticed splits in the lower control arm bushings. This is only noticeable when the suspension is unsupported. The car was dealer serviced for the recalls and was asked for an inspection of the bushings with a written response a this time. Dealer mechanic said it was normal wear but response was suspicious in nature and not forthcoming. The car was then taken to an independent auto mechanic and stated that the bushings appeared to be coming apart. The car was then taken to a different dealer with this concern and they then decided to replace the bushings under the original warranty. No parts retained due to dealer policy that no parts under warranty work will be given to the owner. I request an investigation of the lower control arm bushings for inferior rubber and design. …
Based on concerns by other PT Cruiser owners, I have checked the condition of the lower control arm bushings on my two year old, 11,000 mile car. The rubber is separating from the metal, due to a poor bond between the two? In any case this is inappropriate for a new car with so little use. I believe damlerchrysler should be directed to be responsible for any costs associated with repairing said bushings: parts, installation, extend warranty, worn tires due said loose parts, and other suspension components. Having owned many cars and quite a few new cars, never a problelm with these components starting to disintegrate. Please review other complaints and trust that you will provide a fair solution to the many owners of this model car, many of which have had to pay for a repair/replacement from their own pocket!!!!
Suspension complaints in other PT Cruiser years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the suspension of the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 8% of the model year's 511 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm › lower arm (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.