2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser passed 70.9% of its 1,114 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and suspension (16.1%) 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 136 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.8% versus 22.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.6% in 2021 to 27.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 200 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 179 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 119 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 74 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 57 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 54 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 108 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 76 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 59 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 56 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 53 |
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 | 42.6% | 475 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.6% | 419 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.3% | 226 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 191 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 175 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.0% | 167 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 123 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 292 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 162 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 136 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 705 | 27.1% |
| Diesel | 409 | 32.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 361 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 282 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 206 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 151 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 114 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Pt Cruiser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (10.7% 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
How many 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 1,114 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by suspension (16.1%).
Does the 2002 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,114 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.