2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 6%of 217 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 111,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 6% of the 217 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 111,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When entering the freeway on the on-ramp, a van in front of me stopped. I crashed into the van. I hit my chest hard on the steering wheel. The airbags did not go off.”
NHTSA complaint #10604337, filed 2014-06, 190,000 miles“As I was driving there was suddenly a loud explosion and the smell of black powder (like a gunshot) and I was hit very hard in the upper right chest, driver's side, by a shock wave that felt as if I had been shot. The odor was coming from the area near the brake and gas pedals. The air bag light had been coming on and off randomly for months. It never stayed on more than a few seconds. I had the car in for its big va state inspection, to the tune of $2059.03, in april at the Chrysler dealership where I have taken it for one year. …”
NHTSA complaint #10664840, filed 2014-12, 160,600 miles“I have had the car tuned and inspected this past year and had mentioned that the air bag light came on sporadically. Like the check engine light, it apparently meant nothing, I was told, as it was the original, never used, airbag. Yesterday as I was driving on a four-land highway there was a large explosion and the smell of cordite, as if I had been shot. My chest felt crushed, as if it had been hit, compressed, whatever...and the seat belts tightened, but the air bag did not deploy. I did not know what had happened. I thought I had been shot. No blood, no bullet hole. Chest hurt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10660201, filed 2014-11, 160,000 miles“Head on collision, airbags came out, back seat behind driver came un-done, unlatched and hit driver in head, driver was knocked unconcious. River was wearing seat belt and airbags did come out.”
NHTSA complaint #10105703, filed 2005-01, 6,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer made an attempt to diagnose the failure, but the contact refused. The manufacturer was not contacted. A local mechanic made an attempt to repair the defect also but the failure recurred. The failure and the current mileage was 85,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10436370, filed 2011-11, 85,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10021599Feb 7, 2007Passenger air bag deactivation.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 14% |
| 2009 | 7 | 7% |
| 2008 | 24 | 21% |
| 2007 | 28 | 19% |
| 2006 | 35 | 10% |
| 2005 | 10 | 5% |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% |
| 2003 | 20 | 8% |
| 2002 | 44 | 9% |
| 2001 | 43 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
44 complaintsSuspension
36 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsEngine
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsWheels
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology