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2007 chrysler PT Cruiser vs 2007 kia Sorento

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-05-03 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser and 2007 Kia Sorento are nearly tied on reliability data

2007 chrysler PT Cruiser

3.8/5
Reliability score
149 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$10,200 repair exposure
vs

2007 kia Sorento

3.8/5
Reliability score
154 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$11,950 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Look, these two are running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.8 for the 2007 chrysler PT Cruiser, 3.8 for the 2007 kia Sorento), and they've each got their own laundry list of weak spots. There's no clean winner here on the data alone.

If you're leaning 2007 chrysler PT Cruiser, know what you're getting into on engine and steering. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2007 kia Sorento sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2007 kia Sorento? Watch the airbags and powertrain. The 2007 chrysler PT Cruiser has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 1.2x higher on the 2007 kia Sorento. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2007 chrysler PT Cruiser
2007 kia Sorento
airbags
25 reports
severe · ~$1,100
55 reports
severe · ~$1,100
engine
41 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
6 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
electrical
21 reports
moderate · ~$850
18 reports
severe · ~$850
powertrain
13 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
17 reports
severe · ~$2,500
lighting
4 reports
moderate · ~$250
9 reports
moderate · ~$250
steering
11 reports
severe · ~$700
No reports
brakes
No reports
11 reports
severe · ~$450
suspension
7 reports
severe · ~$900
No reports
body
No reports
6 reports
severe · ~$1,500
cruise control
No reports
6 reports
severe · ~$600

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser or the 2007 Kia Sorento?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.8 vs 3.8). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

Compared to the 2007 Kia Sorento, the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser sees more reported issues in engine and steering. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Kia Sorento?

Compared to the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the 2007 Kia Sorento has more complaints in airbags and powertrain. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,950 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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