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Before you buy a used Chrysler PT Cruiser.

2000–2010 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Chrysler PT Cruiser, real photo of this generation
IFCAR · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4

Petrol

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

2.2 CRD (Mercedes OM646)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Chrysler PT Cruiser
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions3
2.2 CRD (Mercedes OM646)Diesel21 with conditions2

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4 (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Chrysler dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Fixed rear quarter glass detachmentBodywork

Engines: 1.6 / 2.0 / 2.4 (Petrol)

How to check it: Confirm VIN; replace affected glass under the recall.

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Chrysler fuel-system recalls (2002–2021)Fuel system

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Chrysler electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2006–2010)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 2 checked

Injection / intake

  • Look out for: Puffing or “chuffing” at idle, a diesel smell under the engine cover and a hard black crust around the injectors; power loss from sooted intake flaps or turbo.

    Ask them to check: Remove the engine cover and look for black residue around the injectors, listen at idle and check the intake flaps.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: A fuel line chafing on the air-conditioning service port and leaking petrol (2001); a fuel-pump module flange that can leak in a rollover (2001–2002); a power-steering pressure hose rubbing on the differential cover on 2.4 automatics, with a fire risk (2001–2005); a dual-mass flywheel pin that comes loose and lodges between the flywheel and clutch disc on manuals (2003); rear quarter windows that can come off (2005–2006).

    Ask them to check: Check campaigns by VIN; look for fuel and steering-fluid leaks.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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