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Chrysler PT CruiserModel year report

2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,229miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The part named most often is engine, with 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by seats (4) and air bags (3). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,229 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Seats complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “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 symptoms by quickly turning the key to off then back to run , and by doing this quickly many times, the problem would not re-occur for a few weeks. Several trips to the dealer did nothing except cost me money. …”

NHTSA complaint #11096437, filed 2018-05, 25,000 miles

Seats: “The contact owns a 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side seat inadvertently moved forward toward the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was able to adjust the front driver's seatback to its original position; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11445348, filed 2021-12, 69,000 miles

Air bags: “The driver side air bag light come on and stay on after all other light go out. When the car gets up to 20 MPH makes a ding ring sound but light stays on. I was going to take to the Chrysler dealership to have them look at. Then I saw morgan freeman on tv about the airbag recall, but I did not see my car. Please advise if I should take to shop to have it looked at thanks.”

NHTSA complaint #11244048, filed 2019-08

Electrical system: “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 of alternator grabbed snow throwing it on flames called 911 got fire extinguisher sprayed got fire out fire dept.showd looked they said smelt like wiring& antifreeze burnt smell .then looked in side of car keys in my hand dash lights all lite up an flashing .fireman said electrical melted the…”

NHTSA complaint #10562539, filed 2014-02, 180,798 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 46,000 miles.

20%0–1015%10–2540%25–5010%50–750%75–10010%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,229 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2011201352015201720192025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
PT Cruiser · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
PT Cruiser FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192421$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20102225,2290—21—Stable
20099745,1270—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
200811555,6990—22Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
200715051,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200634955,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200518758,4123—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200421752,4371—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200325849,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200251151,0003—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200161857,5305—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Chrysler PT Cruiser model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by seats with 4.

Has the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser (PT Cruiser, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser reported?

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,229 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 46,000 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.