Most common 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Share of the 217 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 →
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 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,…
What 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners say
Electrical system all 44 →
My PT Cruiser by chrylr 2004 got on fire in the control areas for the gear control areas, I was driving home on the 29th of February 2016, and I was about a mile from my home when my grand daughter said she smell smoke and seen it as well, but we didn't know where it was coming from. I got home from driving a regular city street, which was about 5 minutes from my home. I park the car and raise the hood to see if the fire was under my hood, no not there. So I park my car at my home and said I would investigate it in the morning since it was night time. I went to my car the next morning on the 1st of March 2016 and try to change gears, my gear wouldn't move. I had my car tow to my mechanic to fix the problem. …
After shopping for 1/2 hour, I returned to my car in the parking lot. I opened the driver's side door and discovered gray colored smoke coming up from the steering column hazard button. It smelled odd. Not like wood smell. The auto club towed my car to my local mechanic and disconnected the battery connections as he said to prevent fire. My mechanic said the wires caught fire and melted the connectors. The parts: combination switch, combo switch connector & electrical connectors, shrink tubing = total $320 parts. Labor: remove & replace all applicable models (multi-function switch); replace multi-function switch harness (burned out connectors) = total $380 labor the day of the incident, I drove an estimated 15 miles total with two prior stops.
Engine & cooling all 37 →
So I had been having issues with the car overheating well I'm almost home and my daughter says she smells smoke so pull over and rush to get my babies out of the car because under the hood it had caught on fire
It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats not too long ago with both of my toddlers in the car on a 3 lane highway locked up on me couldn't use the steering wheel or brakes had to pull the emergency break it's just been repetitive I bought the car from my sister who's grandmother got tired of putting money into it it stutters sometimes like it's slow to shift into gear to accelerate it can happen anywhere. It was my first car it's never been wrecked, I never thought to check for any recalls, I bought it in July of 17. It's only had a total of 2 owners. It used to shake real bad I couldn't go over 55miles an hour but even 55 was iffy. …
Suspension all 36 →
Starting in the fall of 2006 when making a left turn it made a grinding, squealing noise. It was very loud. Thought it needed brakes, and had it checked . They were fine. Then, it felt like the tire was bad on the passenger's front. Took the car to dealer in mid March 2007 to have the tire checked and it was a loose axle instead. That stopped the squealing for the time being. Just recently we thought the rotors needed turned because the vibrations and noises had started again. On 5-06-07 my son was killed when he went off the right side of the road and supposedly overcorrected and rolled several times. After further investigation into the crash it was discovered that half of the front passenger rotor broke off with a bubble defect in the metal. There appeared to be an old crack across the rotor along with the brake that severed it. …
While driving, sometimes when driving, the car will jerk to the left or the right without probacation. Vechile accelerates without foot being on the pedal. One time I was at a stop light. My foot was on the brake, but the car lurched forward and the engine starting reving. I had to use both feet with extreme force to slow the car down. Finally, I just threw the car into park; once in park, the car kept reving. The pedal was not pressed.this has happened on three occasions. This makes for unsafe driving, and only due to my good driving skills did I avoid an accident. This has been occuring for the past three months.
2004 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 | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser a good car?
Based on 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 PT Cruiser rates average: about 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 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The electrical system — 44 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring › interior/under dash. Next are the engine & cooling (37) and suspension (36).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 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 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 47% 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.