Problems · by component

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser suspension problems

43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser cite suspension, 8% of all 523 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
43
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“..ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER HAS ROTTED SO BAD THAT IT BROKE IN A FEW PLACES CAUSING THE LOWER A ARM TO MOVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL OUT OF YOUR HANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT,THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THEN 15 MPH,..AND THAT WAS WHILE HOLDING THE WHEEL TIGHTLY....IF THIS CROSS MEMBER WAS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THERE WOULD BE A VERY BAD CRASH,..I SUGGEST ANY ONE THAT HAS A PT CRUISE HAVE IT CHECKED FOR THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTING BEFORE A CRASH TAKES PLACE,,,I WAS ABLE TO BUY A NEW CROSS MEMBER AND THE CHEAPEST PRICE WAS $514 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING,..NOW COMES THE COSTS TO INSTALL IT...WHAT IS ODD THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY,...I HAVE SOME PICS OF IT WITH THE A ARM OFF THE CROSS MEMBER..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2016Steering, SuspensionODI 10913849
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRAME, THE CV AXLES AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINT AND THE STABILIZER LINK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2015Suspension, StructureODI 10808040
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AN ABRUPT STOP AND ACCELERATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,616.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015Suspension, StructureODI 10786444
“SUBFRAME CRADLE FAILURE WITH CRACK THROUGH MOUNTING. DEALER SAYS "SEEN BEFORE" NOT UNDER RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. REPAIR SHOP "HAS SEEN SEVERAL WITH SIMILAR FAILURE" SOME HAVE RESULTED IN SUSPENSION FAILURE AND ACCIDENTS. WHY IS THIS NOT THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL? NO ONE KILLED YET? REPAIR TO COST $1,400.00. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2015Suspension, EngineODI 10734310
“THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE STATE'S HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY HOME. HE HEARD POP AND THEN SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE STARTED RATTLING, THE OWNER STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK. THE SHOP NOTIFIED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN, BOTH STEERING KNUCKLE BUSHINGS, BALL JOINTS, FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION PARTS WERE ALL BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR AS IT NOT JUST MINE AS I ASK THE SHOP AND THEY HAS SEVERAL VEHICLE OF THAT MAKE COME IN WITH SAME PROBLEM. WE AS TAX PAYERS BAILED THEM OUT, AND NOW IT TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL THEM THEY NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PT CRUISER ON THE ROAD TODAY, BUT I GUESS THEY GREEDY SON OF B***HES IN DETROIT TOOK THE MONEY AND LEFT THE CUSTOMER PAYING FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILIES. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DIE IN CAR IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2014Steering, SuspensionODI 10568362
“I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I SLOWED AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUBFRAME OF MY VEHICLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF MY VEHICLE, OTHER THEN THE SUBFRAME I NEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR LAST MORE THEN 10 YEARS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2013Suspension, StructureODI 10536825

Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension

Free remedy

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

SuspensionReported Apr 14, 2008NHTSA 08E033000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.