Chrysler Pt Cruiser
From 3,085 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Pt Cruisers fare better: 2008 models pass at 74% vs 65.4% for 2006.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 284 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 284 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 186 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 102 |
| a suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired | 94 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 94 |
| warning device shows system malfunction | 92 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 91 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 88 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 85 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 78 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 53.4% of failures are serious: 39.7% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 13.7% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £120.
Chrysler Pt Cruiser on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 647 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 647. At this rate, roughly 6.2 years until none remain. Now at 17.8% of its peak (22,469 in 2009 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,657 | 2,351 | +0 | -114 | -114 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,768 | 2,354 | +0 | -117 | -117 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,817 | 2,422 | +0 | -194 | -194 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,967 | 2,466 | +0 | -222 | -222 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,107 | 2,548 | +0 | -176 | -176 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,233 | 2,598 | +0 | -154 | -154 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,340 | 2,645 | +0 | -154 | -154 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,490 | 2,649 | +0 | -164 | -164 |
12 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pt Cruiser Limited Crd | Diesel | 194 | 15% |
| Pt Cruiser Limited | Diesel | 152 | 12% |
| Pt Cruiser Touring | Petrol | 147 | 11% |
| Pt Cruiser Touring Crd | Diesel | 138 | 10% |
| Pt Cruiser Limited A | Petrol | 131 | 10% |
| Pt Cruiser Limited Auto | Gas | 127 | 10% |
| Pt Cruiser Limited L Auto | Petrol | 103 | 8% |
| Pt Cruiser Classic Crd | Diesel | 79 | 6% |
| Pt Cruiser Classic | Petrol | 66 | 5% |
| Pt Cruiser Limited L | Petrol | 65 | 5% |
| Pt Cruiser Touring A | Petrol | 60 | 5% |
| Pt Cruiser Touring Auto | Gas | 55 | 4% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 74% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, warning device shows system malfunction |
| 2007 | 67.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 65.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 66.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
4 earlier years
| 2004 | 63.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 62% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 66.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 69.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Pt Cruisers tested had between 64,614 and 112,863 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 90,028 median miles, the Pt Cruiser has 0.037 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Chrysler models
Common questions
What is the Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT pass rate?
The Chrysler Pt Cruiser has a 66.3% MOT pass rate based on 3,085 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
The most common MOT failure on the Chrysler Pt Cruiser is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 284 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Chrysler Pt Cruisers are on UK roads?
There are 1,657 Chrysler Pt Cruisers currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,351 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Chrysler Pt Cruiser at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Chrysler Pt Cruiser is 90,028 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 64,614 and 112,863 miles.
Buying a used Pt Cruiser?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 66.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £120 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.