Most common 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Share of the 258 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints by model year
Best PT Cruiser years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →
2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (2)
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
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.
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Clutch assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, manual transmission models only, a welded pin internal to the dual-mass flywheel (dmf) assembly can unseat and become lodged between the flywheel and the clutch disc.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the flywheel and clutch assemblies with the updated design parts. Owner notification began on April 14, 2003.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser:
Engine compartment fires
Pe04-028 was opened to investigate seven complaints alleging that the engine compartment caught fire on my 2002 pt cruiser vehicles.on June 3, 2004, daimlerchrysler (dcc) notified NHTSA of a safety defect in my 2001-2005 pt cruiser vehicles equipped with naturally aspirated 2.4l engines and automatic transaxles (recall 04v-268).the notification identified variation of the high pressure power steering hose routing,…
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
What 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners say
Electrical system all 45 →
There was an electrical fire where the radio cup holders and the shifter. Car is undriveable due to the damage. My car was stationary at the time. The radio kept turn on and off. I heard cracking when I went into work. When I came out I say there was a whole lot of damage. I did get the car started and was able to get it home, but it's not drivable since the car died as I was pulling into my driveway. When I went to put it into park it was like park was not an option. Amd the car kept moving so I put the e break on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and then caught fire without warning. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. The details of who extinguished the fire were unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 201,561.
Engine & cooling all 39 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser. After starting the engine, smoke was present under the hood. After driving a short distance, the driver pulled over, looked under the hood, and discovered flames coming from the engine. The fire department extinguished the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Car stopped at red light. Engine died and smoke began to rise from engine compartment, then flames shot out. Driver could not get door open at first then after short time locks released and driver was able to escape. Fire department extinguished flames and said fire appeared to be started by fluid leakage. This model had been subject to recall due to fires. Car had recall fix on 9/23/04. It now appears the recall fixes were not permanent and the original problem can recur. It is potentially life threatening. Attempts to discuss the problem with Chrysler were unsuccessful. Chrysler stone walled and falsely rigged their response procedure so as to avoid any responsibility. Chrysler refused to allow me to speak with any person in a position of authority. The clerks I spoke with stated that someone would be in touch with me. …
Suspension all 35 →
I purchased the car and right from the start I've had to replace the wheel bearings , I have had to do so 3 times already within the short amount of time I have had the car , there has been no unusual stress on the bearings to make them wear out , now in my experience I have never had to replace a wheel bearing on a car with anything less than 100K mi on it , let alone 3 times , I don't know what to make of it, also im having stalling/rough idle problems that no one can seem to figure out it has stalled 5 times already and regularly idles rough, these problems are not normal and cannot be figured our ,I've replaces several parts including the erg valve pvc valve spark plugs and wires the iac cleaned the throttle body and the carb and im still having these issues.
I just found a recall on my PT Cruiser on the web and I haven't gotten a notice to date. I took my car back to the dealer many times to complain about the problem and I think they knew about the recalls. My problems with my car are problems related to the recall issues.
2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 20 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser a good car?
Based on 258 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 PT Cruiser rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the PT Cruiser at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The electrical system — 45 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the engine & cooling (39) and suspension (35).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the most recent from June 3, 2004 (hose, piping, and connections). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002 and 2006. See the full Chrysler PT Cruiser years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 51% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.