10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
80,237 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #22

Jan 012018

PT Cruiser

  • 50,000 miles
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.

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #21

Jun 062020

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- Sagamore, MA, USA

problem #20

Mar 012015

PT Cruiser

  • 65,000 miles
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

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #19

Dec 012018

PT Cruiser

  • 157,000 miles
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.

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

problem #18

Apr 012019

PT Cruiser

  • 134,000 miles
Car over heating issues

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

problem #17

Jan 232019

PT Cruiser

  • 58,170 miles
Airbag on passenger side does not work. Have had car worked on several times. New computer installed. Am told it is the tipm. Engine light comes on throwing car into limping mode. Will not go above 45 mph. Only has 58,000 miles on it. Havent had wreck yet

- Metropolis, IL, USA

problem #16

Sep 012017

PT Cruiser

  • 130,000 miles
Takata recall- the car will at random times not change out of first gear. I can pull over sometimes and restart it multiple time and it would work. My windshield wipers also randomly come on now. And the thermometer sometimes will be blank and sometimes will say -12 when it is 90 degrees, and sometimes it is accurate. And sometimes it will light up saying I am in all gears, park, neutral, drive, reverse. It is very dangerous if I am on the interstate, or going up a hill and this happens I can't go over 35 miles per hour without taking a chance of blowing my engine.

- Springfield, TN, USA

problem #15

Jun 102016

PT Cruiser

  • 122,000 miles
Loses power then surges while driving. Like it is going to die then it suddenly surges and drives ok. It doesn't do it often, but it is scary when it does. Also, when it does this, my check engine light will come on" someone told me this could be related to the clutch. How can that be a clutch issue? can someone please tell me where to start looking for the problem" is being going for month's now...

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #14

May 252013

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • miles
The owner of the vehicle, isabel huerta was struck and killed by her own vehicle when the transmissions suddenly slipped from park to reverse. The transmission has a design flaw that allows the shifter to be placed in a "false park" position. She was swept under the vehicle by the open door, and was crushed to death by her own vehicle. Her body was found under the vehicle with the wheel on her chest...updated 11/08/17 please note ODI 10876328 is 116 page long. See document for further info. Documents in artemis record is broken. Udated 6/21/18

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #13

Jun 122016

PT Cruiser

  • 46,000 miles
Idling in park; seatbelt light kept dinging on; speedometer kept jumping back and forth from 0-100; idling at traffic stop; car shutters like it will cut off; speedometer jumps around while car is not moving. PCM/tcm replaced multiple time; battery loses charge for no known reason; have had problems w/engine light coming on, pay for sensors and parts needed only for the same issue to happen. These cars are dangerous. There need to be a class action lawsuit before someone dies from these cars stalling with no ability to control car. Chrysler knows full well of these garbage cars. That is the real reason they discontinued them! someone needs ti step in. You all have received enough complaints where something should be done immediately.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #12

Apr 192016

PT Cruiser

  • 107,000 miles
When driving on the dash board where it shows your mph below. All the lights will flash on engine, battery, oil, air bag, seatbelt, gas. All will flash on instant deceleration instant slow down. The dials will go up and down wild. Over 5 years ago this happened the dealer would only replace when the dash board stopped working completely. Finally it stopped working I had it replaced under extended warranty. 3 moths ago it started happening again. Flashing lights, all dials going up, down, and around. Yesterday I had severe deceleration on the freeway. Extremely scary and unsafe. I pulled all the way over and drove in the slow lane. Looking/reading on here there are 4 other people from all over the United States with the same complaints. I wrote a complaint on here over 4 years ago. There is something seriously wrong with this vehicle. It needs to be looked into from a outside party. There needs to be a recall before someone is driving on the freeway and the car completely stops. There needs to be a remedy at Chrysler expense.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 162016

PT Cruiser

  • 122,066 miles
It accelerates suddenly, most often when braking from a high speed (like in rush hour), but one time it accelerated and I hit the car in front of me. No damage (I guess because the speeds were low). Now I havbe to drive with my hand on the shifter so I can slip it into neutral if it accelerates suddenly. It almost always happens on the freeway, even if I'm parked in rush hour. It almost always happens when braking from a high speed (rush hour again).

- Eastpointe, MI, USA

problem #10

Oct 242015

PT Cruiser

  • 134,300 miles
Husband was getting off of an exit and hit a piece of equipment and the airbags did not come out front end of car was damaged including radiator hood fender transmission bumper skirting

- Dry Branch, WV, USA

problem #9

Jun 102015

PT Cruiser

  • 110,000 miles
Driving vehicle cuts off when I stop.on highways....engine revs up car go faster like throttle or gas petal stuck have to apply brakes automatic transmission sometimes won't change gears I have to restart car about three times runs good for couple days does same has been in shop 4 times had timing belt and motor mount replaced.new ignition switch, not key side battery check eng. And battery light back on dont communicate with shop diagnostic machine.. still having problems with gears afraid of this car and has not finish paying for it yet

- Lillington, NC, USA

problem #8

Oct 282014

PT Cruiser

  • 96,000 miles
If my ignition switch is too far forward my car will lose power and what to stop I figured out if when I turn the car on and move the switch back the car will not do that but if I forget and leave it forward it will do this again all my lights come on and I lose power. I believe it should be part of this recall.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #7

Aug 152014

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • miles
Same as NHTSA action # PE07027 & recall # 07V291000.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jul 232013

PT Cruiser

  • 84,514 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle does not accelerate unless the contact applied continual pressure to the accelerator pedal. Once the speed reached 60 mph, the vehicle would violently jerk. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,514.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #5

Jan 042013

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
Rear window wiper failed to operate. Owners manual does not identify fuse location. Power trace shows power to unit, suspect software problem when over 75 degrees F. clutch pedal goes to the floor and very hard to shift, when below 60 degrees F shifts like glass on glass (very smooth) hyd cyl. Throw varies with temperature.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #4

Jul 282009

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The transmission is a stick shift and when the air conditioner is turned on, the transmission becomes very hard to shift, almost impossible. This also occurs when driving and having to shift in very hot weather.

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #3

Mar 022012

PT Cruiser

  • 81,000 miles
Front windshield wiper stop working, replaced motor, further research found computer is going out. Only has 81,000 on car. Ordered new computer found out we were 926 on list, that was 3 months ago.

- Newnan, GA, USA

Read the next 2 complaints »