Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 19 model years and 16,894 tests, the Chrysler Pt Cruiser passes its MOT 69.4% of the time. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Pt Cruiser years
Ranked across Pt Cruiser years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 70.9% of 2002 examples pass against 67.5% of 2003 ones.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.6%) and suspension (16.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,823 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.2% versus 18.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.9% fail against 32.1% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 16,886 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Pt Cruiser model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 275 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 691 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 1,114 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,855 | 67.5% | 32.5% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 2,088 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 2,851 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 3,695 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 3,687 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 594 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 2,981 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.2% | 2,736 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 2,237 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.5% | 932 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 886 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 843 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.7% | 785 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 762 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,823 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,411 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,283 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 982 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 977 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 786 |
| 7 | Wipers | 755 |
| 8 | Anti-lock braking system | 692 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 44.3% | 7,477 |
| 2 | Brakes | 40.6% | 6,868 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 4,126 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 3,270 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 2,898 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 2,362 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 471 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,973 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,019 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,503 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,017 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 846 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,809 | 29.9% |
| Diesel | 5,077 | 32.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,044 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 4,017 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 3,296 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 2,528 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 2,009 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler Pt Cruiser
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
69.4% of the 16,894 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.6% fail rate, across model years 2000–2018.
What does the Chrysler Pt Cruiser most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, then suspension (16.2%).
Which Pt Cruiser years are best and worst for MOT results?
2002 has the best pass rate at 70.9% and 2003 the weakest at 67.5%, from 1,114 and 1,855 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Pt Cruiser MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.2% for 150k+, a 16.8-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Pt Cruiser more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 29.9% of the time against 32.1% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,894 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.