Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle accelerated on its own, up to 4,000rpm with my foot off the gas pedal. When I stomped on the brakes car would not slow down, engine continued to run at 4,000rpm. To save my life and others shifted car into neutral, pulled over and turned off ignition. After a minute or two restarted the car and same symptom were present, engine reviving to 4,000rpm, foot off the gas pedal, on the brake pedal as a precaution. Note that when this first happened the car was not in cruise control mode, simply driving around town running errands. This situation is scary because I do not know when, how, if it is going to happen again, totally unprovoked and non-sensical as to why it is happening, what triggers the problem. This has now occurred twice recently and because of this nightmare scenario I am hesitant, very very hesitant to drive the car. …
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. …
I have owned a manual shift 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser since jan 2004. In June of 2006 the vehicle started rolling back in our driveway. It does not matter what gear it is in. I reported this to the dealer who at first said it wouldn't happen. Then they saw it with their own eyes. They diagnosed the problem and said it was the clutch slipping. Two days later I had paid for a new clutch and was told the vehicle did not roll back anymore, even when they pushed on it. I was told to set the parking brake at least 3 clicks for the next 3 days until the clutch had settled in. Three weeks later I parked on my drive of normal slope and ran inside for 5 minutes. When I returned the vehicle was 3/4 down the driveway. I returned the vehicle to the dealer. The next day they called to tell me that their service manager and mechanic had been told by Chrysler that the roll back is normal for that car. …
Engine light came on, it acted like it was misfiring. Car shut off at around 60mph. Drifted off road and restarted and went a mile or so and it shut off again we kept doing that until we got home. The next day we took it to our mechanic it ran fine on the way there, around 15 miles. He put it on his computer, it read bad injectors so he replaced them. Then he took it for a ride and it acted like it was misfiring again he put it back on his computer and it read bad coil so he replaced the coil pack,plugs and plug wires. It ran fine for about 4 months . Until now 10/30/2012. . Took back to mechanic, he replaced o2 sensors. Ran for 2wks. Same thing again! Once again took back to mechanic . He put it on his computer once again and it read fine. He said we should take it to our Chrysler center. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While driving approximately 70 MPH the vehicle stalled and the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was pulled over and upon restart drove as normal but the check engine light continued to illuminate. The vehicle was taken directly to an authorized dealer. The failure recurred several times during this drive. He was unsure if the authorized dealer performed any repairs. The failure began to recur intermittently. The vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer where the crank sensor was replaced. The failure continued to recur and the vehicle was again taken to an authorized dealer where the cam shaft sensor was replaced. The failure continued to recur so the vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer where the pmc was replaced. The failure has not recurred. …
After my 30,000 mile major maintenance, I noticed a leak on the the driver side front of the car. I took it back to the dealer and they said it was a transmission oil leak. It was under the $100 deductible warranty so I paid the $100 and they "fixed" it. The leak continued after 3 other attempts to fix it over a 6 month period. It is currently in the dealer shop to be fixed and they say they can't find the leak. They now think it's coming from the "top". Since I don't monitor the transmission fluid level, my concern is that I will have a major failure the May cause an accident and/or injury if the transmission fails. Also, the car is kept in my garage during extended times when I'm out of town and there is a considerable puddle when I return. I'm assuming that the transmission oil is flammable so there is some concern there. …
While driving down the freeway, my 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser lost all the oil out of my engine. This caused my engine oil light immediately came on and I pulled off the freeway. After putting 2 pints of oil into the engine, I drove home only to find out that again my engine had no oil in it after roughly 50 miles of driving. I put 3 pints of oil in a day later and turned over the engine and found that my oil was leaking out of the engine gasket seal. I contacted Chrysler, and the informed me that engine gasket repairs are not covered for vehicles over 120,000 miles. Leaking oil in this manner is a major fire hazard, and I'm lucky that my vehicle did not catch fire while driving home. I noticed online, that many other PT owners have complained about these types of engine failures consistently. …
2004 PT Cruiser stalls when stopping without warning. Stalls when turning corners or stopping for signs and traffic lights. Accidents almost occurred a number of time. 2 separate dealers have had the car, they cannot make it do it? At least 10 trips and the last 9 without paperwork because they say they don't need it until they check it out. Something is fishy with these cars. Private party looked at the problem and said the transmission is not down shifting when coming to a stop or slowing to minimum speed. Dealers and Chrysler are denying a problem. I am getting rid of the auto as it is too unsafe to continue driving. I hope more owners of these complain as to get something done asap. Someone is going to get killed.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated the piece that goes from the gear shift to the transmission broke and the contact was unable to change gears. The contact did not remember the name of the part. The part was replaced on September 1, 2010 and it broke again 15 days later. The part that was repaired was made out of plastic. The dealer is replacing the part again for free, but the contact was concerned that this May happen again while driving and she May not be able to change gears. The failure mileage was 70000 and the current mileage was 70200.
My PT Cruiser has had to have all of the front end replaced, car started acting up at 50,000 miles and I now how almost 81,000 and I have replaced everything in the front end except the cv joints, which I hope does not need after I send this. I just had to have the rack and pinion done. When speaking with Chrysler directly they state that the PT Cruiser has had a lot of recalls due to front end, but I am told that my VIN number does not fall in the mix. I am the only owner of my PT Cruiser. I have replaced parts on my car starting back in 2010 early 2011.
Transmission complaints in other PT Cruiser years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 10% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, though it has 1 recall 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 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death to transmission & drivetrain 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.