FaultScore

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx vs Chrysler PT Cruiser

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Chrysler PT Cruiser
Complaints on file 1,389 3,420
Model years covered 2004–2007 2001–2010
Worst model year 2004 2002
Best model year 2007 2009
Crashes reported 81 268
Fires reported 25 155
Injuries reported 48 199
Deaths reported 0 9
Most complained-about part Steering Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 11.1% 18.5%

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Steering 687 49.5%
Seats 142 10.2%
Lights 106 7.6%
Brakes 68 4.9%
Airbags 44 3.2%

Chrysler PT Cruiser by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 578 16.9%
Engine & Cooling 461 13.5%
Lights 238 7.0%
Suspension 234 6.8%
Airbags 230 6.7%
Steering 229 6.7%
Body & Structure 178 5.2%