Chrysler Pt Cruiser: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Chrysler Pt Cruiser fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 16.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,934 individual Chrysler Pt Cruiser tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 60.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 40 in every 100 Chrysler Pt Cruisers presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Chrysler Pt Cruiser tested had covered 88,213 miles and was built around 2005.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Chrysler Pt Cruiser sits 16.6 points below the national average, ranked 1,949 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Chrysler Pt Cruiser rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Chrysler Pt Cruisers at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Chrysler Pt Cruiser

1. A suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired, 4.6% of tests (55.07x the national rate for this defect)
2. Headlamp reflector or lens seriously defective or missing, 4% of tests (18.73x the national rate for this defect)
3. Warning device shows system malfunction, 5.4% of tests (13.01x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5.5% of tests (5.34x the national rate for this defect)
5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 11.5% of tests (4.91x the national rate for this defect)
6. 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, 4.2% of tests (4.5x the national rate for this defect)
7. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 5.5% of tests (4.25x the national rate for this defect)
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.9% of tests (4.09x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 16% of tests (3.18x the national rate for this defect)
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 4.8% of tests (2.53x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,931 DVSA-tracked Chrysler Pt Cruiser tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.92% of these flagged Chrysler Pt Cruiser defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Chrysler Pt Cruiser

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Chrysler Pt Cruiser before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 7.6% of tests (6.83x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 8.4% of tests (6.63x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 10.6% of tests (5.31x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 24.7% of tests (5.22x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.2% of tests (4.95x the national rate for this advisory)
6. 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, 6.6% of tests (4.37x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 52.4% of tests (3.92x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 22.9% of tests (3.7x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 19.4% of tests (3.49x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 9.1% of tests (3.2x the national rate for this advisory)

From 1,931 DVSA-tracked Chrysler Pt Cruiser tests, 2024.

Chrysler Pt Cruiser pass rate by model year

From its 2005 to its 2007 model year, the Chrysler Pt Cruiser's first-time pass rate has risen 1.3 points, from 58.4% to 59.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Chrysler Pt Cruiser year:

• 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 58.6% first-time pass, 215 tests
• 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 58.4% first-time pass, 320 tests
• 2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 58.5% first-time pass, 431 tests
• 2007 Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 59.7% first-time pass, 447 tests

Chrysler Pt Cruiser by fuel type

The Chrysler Pt Cruiser's two most-tested fuel types split by 3.7 points: petrol passes first time 61.7% of the time (1,375 tests) against 58% for diesel (536 tests).

• Petrol Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 61.7% first-time pass, 1,375 tests
• Diesel Chrysler Pt Cruiser - 58% first-time pass, 536 tests

Other Chrysler models

• Chrysler Ypsilon - 67.1%
• Chrysler Grand Voyager - 65.4%
• Chrysler Crossfire - 71.7%
• Chrysler 300 C - 72.8%
• Chrysler Voyager - 58.2%
• Chrysler Delta - 60.9%
• Chrysler 300 - 70.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Volvo V50 - 60.4%
• Ldv Maxus - 60.4%
• Alfa Romeo 159 - 60.1%
• Chrysler-Jeep Grand Voyager - 60.1%
• Volkswagen Fox - 60%
• Citroen C2 - 60%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate