2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,687 MOT tests, the 2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser recorded a 70.4% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Pt Cruiser comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.9%) and suspension (15.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and service brake performance — pins and bushes alone was recorded 276 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.3% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.3% of the time against 30.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 587 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 554 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 516 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.8% | 215 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 181 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 169 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 276 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 262 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 246 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 241 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 220 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 213 |
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 | 40.4% | 1,489 |
| 2 | Brakes | 40.0% | 1,475 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 897 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 685 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 619 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 525 |
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 | 105 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 954 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,473 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 828 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 256 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 66 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,850 | 29.3% |
| Diesel | 837 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 986 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 856 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 746 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 600 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 499 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Pt Cruiser
On a 2007 Pt Cruiser, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (14.0% 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 2007 Chrysler Pt Cruisers pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 3,687 2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2007 Pt Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,687 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.