2010 Chrysler PT CRUISER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Chrysler PT CRUISER has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: on saturday morning, at about 11:40 am, the temperature was 31 degrees f, and i'd noticed the dew point was at 33 degrees, according to accu-weather. it was somewhat sunny, and there was very little frozen precipitation floating through the air. we had just left home and drove two miles through sto. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
30
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
6 complaints- • ON SATURDAY MORNING, AT ABOUT 11:40 AM, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 31 DEGREES F, AND I'D NOTICED THE DEW POINT WAS AT 33 DEGREES, ACCORDING TO ACCU-WEATHER. IT WAS SOMEWHAT SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE FROZEN PRECIPITATION FLOATING THROUGH THE AIR. WE HAD JUST LEFT HOME AND DROVE TWO MILES THROUGH STO
- • CAR USING ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES OF OPERATION. HEAD GASKET LEAKING. HEAD GASKET REPLACED BY DEALER. NOW USES 1 QUART OF OIL PER 880 MILES OF OPERATION. *TR
- • I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE IN FRONT
“ON SATURDAY MORNING, AT ABOUT 11:40 AM, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 31 DEGREES F, AND I'D NOTICED THE DEW POINT WAS AT 33 DEGREES, ACCORDING TO ACCU-WEATHER. IT WAS SOMEWHAT SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE FROZEN PRECIPITATION FLOATING THROUGH THE AIR. WE HAD JUST LEFT HOME AND DROVE TWO MILES THROUGH STO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEAT CONTROL BROKE AND AS A RESULT SHE COULD NOT ADJUST THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED FOUR TIMES THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING OF THE ELECTRONIC DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTER DETACHED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROL MOTOR, WIRES, AND CLIP TO BE EXPOSED AND LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT CONTROL BECAME FRACTURED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE AROUND INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO ORDERED AND REPLACED THE CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEAT CONTROL BROKE AND AS A RESULT SHE COULD NOT ADJUST THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED FOUR TIMES THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
3 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TURNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD EMIT A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANUEVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT TH
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
3 complaints- • FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED, MAKING LOUD GROWLING NOISE, ESPECIALLY WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON INTERSTATE CLOVER LEAF EXIT/ENTRANCE RAMPS. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. *TR
- • FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR. REPORTED BY DEALER REPAIR TECH WHILE REPLACING FAILED HEAD GASKET. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. DEALER REPORTS ENTIRE CONTROL ARM MUST BE REPLACED WHEN BUSHINGS FAIL. *TR
- • I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE IN FRONT
“FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED, MAKING LOUD GROWLING NOISE, ESPECIALLY WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON INTERSTATE CLOVER LEAF EXIT/ENTRANCE RAMPS. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE IN FRONT
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT TH
- • THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE GAUGES WOULD MOMENTARILY GO TO ZERO, AND ENGINE WOULD ALMOST QUIT, ONLY TO RETURN TO NORMAL WITHIN A SECOND OR 2, IN MOST CASES. ON RARE OCCASION, ENGINE WOULD QUIT, AND NOT RESTART FOR A WHILE, THEN EVERYTHING OK AGAIN. I FOUND THAT I COULD DUPLICATE THE SYMP
“I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE IN FRONT ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 30 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: ON SATURDAY MORNING, AT ABOUT 11:40 AM, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 31 DEGREES F, AND I'D NOTICED THE DEW POINT WAS AT 33 DEGREES, ACCORDING TO ACCU-WEATHER. IT WAS SOMEWHAT SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE FROZEN PRECIPITATION FLOATING THROUGH THE AIR. WE HAD JUST LEFT HOME AND DROVE TWO MILES THROUGH STO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEAT CONTROL BROKE AND AS A RESULT SHE COULD NOT ADJUST THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED FOUR TIMES THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED, MAKING LOUD GROWLING NOISE, ESPECIALLY WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON INTERSTATE CLOVER LEAF EXIT/ENTRANCE RAMPS. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chrysler PT CRUISER — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 30
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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