2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 349 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
55,000 milesMedian miles at failure

305 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System96
110
Air Bags26
15012
Engine25
000
Engine and Engine Cooling16
210
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear12
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)12
000
Electrical System › Horn12
000
Visibility11
000
Steering11
100
Power Train11
200

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear07V149000
Filed Apr 4, 200738,447 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY PULL THROUGH THEIR MOUNTS AND ALLOW THE GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Risk. IF THE GLASS SEPARATES WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR INJURE A PEDESTRIAN.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 2025OH

See attached document for complaint.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 5, 2022CA

Air bag warning light on

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Jun 3, 2022VA

I heard a strange noise, so I looked under the front end of the car. Saw all that missing. This has happened in the last two weeks. I do not drive in bad weather.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 1, 2021IL

All of the dash board instrument cluster lights turn on breifly,car speed starts to drop, lights on dash turn back off,[ all except seat belt lights] then car seems to restart itself and will reaccelerate.all this happens while we are driving in traffic at highway speeds, this is not good and could result in a very serious incident, not only for us but for othe

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 5, 202177,000 milesAZ

FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INVESTIGATED AND FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS FOUND. THE LEAK IS AT THE CONNECTION FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL RAIL CONNECTION. THE CONNECTION IS ON THE VEHICLE RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE AND AGAINST THE FIRE WALL. IF NO RECALL, AT LEAST ALL REGISTERED DRIVERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. LEAK WAS DISCOVERED ON 1ST LOOK DUE TO GOOGLE SEARCH OF ISSUE. ISSUE IS NOTICED AT START UP AND DISAPPEARS (LEAK CONTINUES) WITH VEHICLE SPEED OR WITH AIR FLOW DILUTION. CUSTOMERS NEED TO FIX OR FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF A UNDER HOOD FIRE. THANKS.

Power Train
Filed Oct 16, 202050,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 8, 2020100,000 milesMA

THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING AT IDLE. WHEN DRIVING, IT MAINTAINS THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND RETURNS TO IT EVEN IF IT HAS GONE UP. IDLING AT A DRIVE THRU IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FULL OVERHEAT WITH SMOKE. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, A LOUD BUBBLING CAN BE HEARD. THE ENTIRE FAN ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS WAS JUST REPLACED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING. ORIGINALLY, FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. EVEN WHEN CAR WAS OFF. SPENT MANY MONTHS HAVING TO REMOVE THE FUSE BECAUSE THE RAN WOULD RUN THE ENGINE DRY OF POWER. THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVEN AFTER SHORT DRIVES WHEN THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND OFF. *TR

Steering
Filed May 21, 2020197,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN INTO HER GARAGE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK FROM A HOLE ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OLYMPIA CHRYSLER JEEP LOCATED AT 2110 CARRIAGE DR SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 754-5500, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

Steering
Filed Mar 28, 2020CA

I HAVE A PROBLEM WHIT MY STEERING WHEEL PUMP ON MY 06 PT. CRUISER AND FOR WHAT I HAVE. READ ON THE INTERNET THERE'S IS OTHER YEARS LIKE 03 04 05 THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IS BEEN FIX BY DEALER BUT NOT ON THE 06 WHICH I KNOW ALOT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS ME AND HONESTLY THIS IS PRETTY UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS

Electrical System
Filed Jan 9, 202048,000 milesOR

ON 12/21/2018 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED SO I COULD GET MY NEW TAGS. I HAD PASSED EVERY TWO YEARS BUT NOT THIS TIME. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NEW LAW THAT REQUIRED THE VIN TO SHOW UP ON THE REPORT WHEN THEY HOOK UP THEIR EQUIPMENT TO MY ONBOARD COMPUTER/DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND MINE DID NOT. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED INTO MY SYSTEM BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. I SPENT THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS MISSING AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE BUT JUST GOT THE RUN AROUND OR OFFERS TO FIX IT FOR A LOT OF MONEY THAT THE DEQ INSPECTOR TOLD ME WAS UNNECESSARY WHEN I WENT THROUGH DEQ THE SECOND TIME IN MAY OF 2019. I EVEN WROTE TO CHRYSLER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED IF THIS INFORMATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW BUT MINE IS MISSING AND SHOWS UP ON THE DEQ REPORT. I'VE INCLUDED THE TWO REPORTS I HAVE FROM 12/21/2018 AND 5/15/2019. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME. THANK YOU.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 20, 201965,000 milesCA

ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. IDLE SPEEDS INCONSISTENT. WINDSHIELD CRACKED STRAIGHT ACROSS WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL WE READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT CHRYSLER’S DEFECTIVE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULES PROBLEMS TITLED “CHRYSLER TIPMS CAUSING POWER PROBLEMS

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 28, 2019114,000 milesMO

DRIVER REAR QUARTER WINDOW COMING LOOSE FROM CAR.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Aug 24, 201945,000 milesCA

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME FRONT END AND REAR END DAMAGE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 12, 2019135,000 milesFL

QUICK CONNECT FITTING ON THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE AT FIREWALL LEAKS FUEL, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE FROM THERE TO THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO, BUT NOW IT LEAKS AGAIN. FROM WHAT I HEAR, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. THE O-RINGS CAN'T HANDLE THE CONSTANT ROTATIONAL MOTION BECAUSE OF THE ROCKING OF THE ENGINE BACK AND FORTH. CHRYSLER SHOULD ENGINEER A PROPER FIX.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 2, 2019180,000 milesFL

JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 DAYS AGO. THE MAIN FUEL LINE STARTED TO LEAK TODAY NEAR THE REAR ENGINE FIREWALL, WHERE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO SOME KIND OF VALVE. VERY VISIBLE FUEL LEAK AT THE CONNECTOR. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE FUEL LINE LEAK BEING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST. CHRYSLER WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND AS I HAVE SEEN ON MANY FORUMS REGARDING THIS VEHICLE TYPE AND THIS SAME ISSUE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER SHOULD MAKE RIGHT WITH THESE VEHICLES HAVING A "POTENTIAL FIRE ISSUE " AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE FUEL ISSUE AND MOST IMPORTANT, IT'S POTENTIAL TO DESTROY THE VEHICLE AND CONTENTS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL CONNECTOR BEFORE SOMEONE BURNS UP IN THIS VEHICLE. I PLEAD WITH YOU TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE RECALLED DUE TO IT'S FUEL LEAKING ISSUE. THANK YOU. THGE FUEL LEAKS WHILE RESTING IN PLACE OR IN MOTION. THE AMOUNT THIS LEAK GIVES OUT IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO LEAK ONTO THE VEHICLES EXHAUST AND "BOOM", THERE GOES THE VEHICLE UP IN FLAMES.

Power Train
Filed May 16, 2019157,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR AND FAILED TO DISPLAY THE PROPER GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ABERNETHY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 1442 E MAIN ST, LINCOLNTON, NC 28092, (704) 732-1890) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (CODE: P0700). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN DECEMBER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. *DT

Electrical System
Filed Apr 20, 201950,000 milesNC

VEHICLE HAS SAME TIMP AND FAILED FUEL PUMP RELAY OF RECALL UNITS FROM MANUFACTURER AFFECTING 2007-2014, JEEP, DURANGO, AND TOWN AND COUNTRY. SEVERAL MECHANICS PREVIOUSLY COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE WITH STALLING AND POOR ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED AND WORSENED OVER 6 MONTHS, BEFORE THE FUEL PUMP FINALLY FAILING.

Power Train
Filed Apr 11, 2019134,000 milesMN

CAR OVER HEATING ISSUES

Electrical System
Filed Apr 8, 2019135,000 milesPA

NO HEADLIGHT, HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM OR TURN SIGNAL RIGHT SIDE. THIS BEGAN ABOUT 6/2017 WHEN REPLACING BULBS DID NOT WORK. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE HORN ALSO STOPPED WORKING. FUEL GAUGE STOPPED READING AND SOMETIMES READS FULL THEN DROPS TOWARD E THEN MAY SHOW HALF. NEVER A CONSTANT READING ANYMORE. ALL FUSES AND RELAYS TEST GOOD. TIPM APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR DEFECTS TO CIRCUIT BOARDS. NO GOOD VOLTAGE TO HEAD LAMPS OR TURN SIGNAL (METER SHOWS 11.5 VOLTS, BUT APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL AND NOT A GOOD VOLTAGE. CANNOT LIGHT A BULB BUT STILL SHOWS THE VOLTAGE ON THE METER), GROUNDS METER GOOD TO CHASSIS. WIRING HARNESS APPEARS GOOD WITH NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE. RUNS VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE LIGHT CODES A CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE. RUNS SMOOTH UNDER ACCELERATION BUT VERY ROUGH ON IDLE AND SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN STOPPING OR AT RED LIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ALREADY ON TIMING BELTS, ALTERNATORS, INJECTORS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. DEALERS WONT LOOK AT IT WITHOUT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS AGAIN AND AGAIN. I SUSPECT TIPM AND PCM TO BE DEFECTIVE UNITS THROUGHOUT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. YOU CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I CANT GET THE LIGHTS TO WORK. CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED BECAUSE IT IS UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Engine
Filed Mar 16, 201972,100 milesAR

MY CAR IS HANGING UP IN A LOWER GEAR MAY GEAR 2 AND THE ENGINE IS RAISING. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT HAS DONE THIS A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND IT RUNS LIKE A GREAT VEHICLE BUT THEN IT WILL HANG UP AND GET STUCK IN A LOWER GEAR! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING INNER CITY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY.

20 of 349 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201022010Routine
200997010Routine
2008115060Routine
2007149030Routine
2006 — this page349151Fatalities reported
20051875120Routine
20042173153Fatalities reported
20032584151Fatalities reported
20025115342Fatalities reported
20016187170Above average

Compare every PT Cruiser year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 4, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.