NHTSA Safety Recalls
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Recalls
The 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on file, the newest reported on June 3, 2004.
A recall covers a range of VINs, not every 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Whether a recall on your own car is still open shows only on a VIN check; recall repairs are free.
- Recalls
- 3
- Owner complaints
- 217
- Crashes reported
- 16
- NHTSA crash test
- ★★★★☆
NHTSA campaigns
filed with NHTSA
15 fires
frontal crash, no overall star before 2011
On a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the 17-character VIN is on the driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
3 recalls on the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
- Campaign
- 04V268000
- Reported
- June 3, 2004
- Vehicles affected
- up to 438,391
- Risk NHTSA names
- fire
- Same campaign
- also 2001–2003, 2005 PT Cruiser
Suspension
- Campaign
- 08E033000
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2001–2003, 2005 PT Cruiser, 4 other models
Exterior lighting
- Campaign
- 09E012000
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2001–2003, 2005 PT Cruiser, 57 other models
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints by year
NHTSA has received 217 owner complaints about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the newest on May 17, 2026. Of these, 16 describe a crash (7%) and 15 a fire; owners reported 18 injuries and 3 deaths.
In complaints about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the component group named most often is the electrical system (20%), followed by the suspension (17%) and the steering (11%).
1 of the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser's 3 recalls also concerns the suspension.
Where 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners gave the mileage (164 complaints), the median was 52,437 miles.
Component groups named in complaints
- Electrical System44
- Suspension36
- Steering24
- Engine And Engine Cooling23
- Exterior Lighting23
- Power Train21
Complaints received, by year
| 2004 | 19 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 22 | |
| 2006 | 15 | |
| 2007 | 26 | |
| 2008 | 30 | |
| 2009 | 18 | |
| 2010 | 14 | |
| 2011 | 10 | |
| 2012 | 15 | |
| 2013 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 17 | |
| 2015 | 5 | |
| 2016 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 6 | |
| 2018 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 1 |
Complaints about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser peaked in 2008, when NHTSA received 30. 38% arrived between 2003 and 2007, the model year's first years on the road.
Adjusted for how many complaints NHTSA received about all 2004 vehicles, the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser drew 1.0× the complaints of the median Chrysler PT Cruiser year in the same window: 5th highest of the 10 ranked years.
NHTSA crash-test stars
- Overall: none before 2011
- Frontal: 4/5
The 217 complaints about the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser are unverified owner reports, and a model sold in large numbers collects more of them.
2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser crash tests and safety technology
For the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, NHTSA lists no electronic stability control, forward collision warning or lane departure warning.
Photos: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program, NHTSA test vehicle 1082, shown from static.nhtsa.gov. Ratings, rollover risk and technology of the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API, retrieved October 28, 2026; NHTSA terms of use. How the tests work
Chrysler PT Cruiser by model year
Other 2004 Chrysler models
Newest record on this page: May 17, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted