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2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
291
1 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
23 reported crashes · 22 injuries · 5 deaths · 21 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#1,830

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Chrysler median

-3

median 294 across 129 Chrysler records

Vs 2002-2006

+22

median 269 complaints in 819 records

Top component share

13%

Electrical System: 38 complaints

What owners report fails — 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38
  • STEERING 18
  • SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING 17
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17
  • ENGINE 14

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser reliable?

NHTSA has 291 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (38 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?

Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (38), steering (18), suspension:front:wheel bearing (17), exterior lighting (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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