FaultScore

Chrysler PT Cruiser airbag problems

230 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the airbag system — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

230

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

130

Crashes

5

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2001 PT Cruiser 45 19.6%

Median failure at 57,277 miles

2002 PT Cruiser 46 20.0%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

2003 PT Cruiser 20 8.7%

Median failure at 61,000 miles

2004 PT Cruiser 12 5.2%

Median failure at 135,500 miles

2005 PT Cruiser 10 4.3%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2006 PT Cruiser 35 15.2%

Median failure at 45,436 miles

2007 PT Cruiser 28 12.2%

Median failure at 77,652 miles

2008 PT Cruiser 24 10.4%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

Median failure at 60,000 miles

Median failure at 30,500 miles

What owners said

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Nekoosa, WI

AIR BAGS

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11642120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Arnold, MD

AIR BAGS

Problems reside in the total integrated power management module. TPIM whereas vehicle will shut off while driving. No indicator lights to give warning before the vehicle shuts off. Has on occasion shut off and recovered power multiple times within a minute This is a very dangerous scenario to conduct a road test or have someone confirm the issue on the road.

NHTSA complaint #11562365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cathedral City, CA

AIR BAGS

Air bag warning light on

NHTSA complaint #11492421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 102,000 miles Poughkeepsie, NY

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA complaint #11386397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Charlotte, NC

AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS LIGHT AND DING SOUND THAT DOESN'T GO OFF FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THERE'S NO PROTECTION FOR EITHER SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #11318612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 72,000 miles LA Mesa, CA

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG SIGN FOR PASSENGER 2 TURNS ON AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING, SPEEDING PROBLEM WHEN WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR TAKES FOREVER TO SPEED UP

NHTSA complaint #11281931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 54,000 miles Erie, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AND DID NOT COMPLETELY INFLATE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND INJURIES TO THE RIGHT HAND AND SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. GARY MILLER CHRYSLER (5746 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.*BF ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')

NHTSA complaint #11278917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 130,000 miles Sandston, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING..... STOPPED OR MOVING

NHTSA complaint #11271661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 78,000 miles Deltona, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

RECENTLY IN A ACCIDENT, TRAVELING AT SPEED THAT IMPACTED FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. THE AIRBAG S DID NOT GO OFF.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11270843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 46,000 miles Ponca City, OK

AIR BAGS

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT MAKES A DING NOISE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE DRIVERS AIRBAG IS BAD.

NHTSA complaint #11270281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 100,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

AIR BAGS

WHETHER IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL, TILT STEERING WHEEL CLAMPING MECHANISM HAS WORN THROUGH WIRES CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND ITS WARNING SYSTEM, CREATING INTERMITTENT (SHORT?) FAILURE OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, PRESENTING POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS OFF, HORN WILL NOT SOUND BUT VENTILATION FAN RUNS. WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON, HORN WILL SOUND, BUT IF ACTIVATED, VENTILATION FAN STOPS RUNNING. MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST STEERING WHEEEL TILT TO MAKE FAN RUN OR HONK HORN - CREATING A DISTRACTED DRIVING HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #11267038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 45,000 miles Antioch, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME FRONT END AND REAR END DAMAGE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY

NHTSA complaint #11246157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser Graham, WA

AIR BAGS

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER ALL OTHER LIGHT GO OUT. WHEN THE CAR GETS UP TO 20 MPH MAKES A DING RING SOUND BUT LIGHT STAYS ON. I WAS GOING TO TAKE TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT. THEN I SAW MORGAN FREEMAN ON TV ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL, BUT I DID NOT SEE MY CAR. PLEASE ADVISE IF I SHOULD TAKE TO SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #11244048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Modland, OR

AIR BAGS

UPON STARTING VEHICLE ALL WARNING TEST LIGHTS SUCH AS AIRBAG,OIL PRESSURE ETC. COME ON AS NORMAL,BUT OFTEN THE RED "AIRBAG" LIGHT STAYS ON INDEFINITELY OR GOES OFF THEN BELLS AND "AIRBAG" RED LIGHT REAPPEAR AND STAY ON 5 TO 10,SECONDS THEN GO OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM IN 1000 TO 1500, LOW ROOMS LIKE WHEN I'M SLOWING TO MAKE A STOP.YESTERDAY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTE TRIP. I TOOK CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON MY OWN $ BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT ALL,HIGHWAY AND STREET SPEEDS BUT MOSTLY WITH DECELERATION TURNING THE AIRBAG OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. WHY HAVEN'T YOU PUT THE PT CRUISER ON THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2002 AND AM,THE SOLE OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #11233840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 171,000 miles Hawk RUN, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, WAS TURNED AROUND 180 DEGREES AND THEN STRUCK AGAIN IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND SEVERAL BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS AND SORE RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOWING FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *AS

NHTSA complaint #11232217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 173,519 miles Spartanburg, SC Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. AN OBJECT WAS STRUCK IN THE ROAD AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *BF

NHTSA complaint #11228564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 150,000 miles Palmdale, CA Crash 2 injured 1 killed

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT IN WHICH DRIVERS SIDE BACK SEAT TO REAR HATCH WAS T-BONED. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT IMPACT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS PRISTINE WHITE WITHOUT ANY FRAY WHEN DEFLATED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WAS FULL OF GUN SHOT RESIDUE AND BAG FRAYED. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BURNED (BELT WAS CHARRED) ONTO DRIVERS CHEST AND THERE WAS AN APPARENT PUNCTURE WOUND LEFT OF CENTER CHEST AND MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER WAS DECEASED. THIS HAPPENED JAN 27, 2019. I'M WAITING ON CERTIFIED REPORTS FROM LA COUNTY CORONER AND CHP. DUE END MARCH, EARLY APRIL. *DSY

NHTSA complaint #11187144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 58,170 miles Metropolis, IL

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. HAVE HAD CAR WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES. NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED. AM TOLD IT IS THE TIPM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THROWING CAR INTO LIMPING MODE. WILL NOT GO ABOVE 45 MPH. ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. HAVENT HAD WRECK YET

NHTSA complaint #11172180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 77,000 miles Richmond, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TURNED ON AND OFF BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. ALSO, THE HORN DID NOT WORK DUE TO THE AIR BAG INDICATOR THAT WAS WIRED INTO THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED HILLTOP CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE HORN OR AIR BAG, THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11072708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 92,000 miles Pueblo, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE WAS HIT CROSSED INTO MY LANES AND I HIT THE VEHICLE HEAD ON, POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES TO KNEE, CHEST AND LAP FROM BELT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11066981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chrysler PT Cruiser problems