10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,896 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.

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problem #10

Jan 152018

PT Cruiser

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving 40 mph, the brakes failed and the brake pedal became stiff. After removing pressure from the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was not available.

- Kennewick, WA, USA

problem #9

Sep 142015

PT Cruiser

  • 94,000 miles
I lost control of the PT CRUISER accelerator pedal and could not control the speed of the vehicle. I had to ride the brake with both feet. The engine RPM went over 4000 RPM. When I came home, I needed all my strength to move shift into park while keeping both feet on the brake pedal. The vehicle was in motion. I was entering a rotary.

- Saugus, MA, USA

problem #8

Nov 082014

PT Cruiser

  • 160,293 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT CRUISER. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and caused the speed to increase to approximately 85 mph. Also, the contact indicated that the brakes malfunctioned and the vehicle would not stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,293.

- Worcester , MA, USA

problem #7

Jun 092013

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 111,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT CRUISER. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the accelerator failed with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

- Cypress, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 092011

PT Cruiser

  • 70,000 miles
I was driving my car and it began to chug and jerk. I thought it was bad gas and called a friend. The next morning out of the blue it began to self accelerate. I tried to hit the gas to see if it was stuck, hit the cruise on/off, applied the brakes - nothing. It was going 60 mph by itself. I flew thru stop signs, unable to stop the car, nothing worked. I could have been killed. I eventually put it in neutral and turned off the key and had it towed. The hard plastic cover that covers the accelerator had broken off and lodged itself on top of the accelerator, making the car accelerate even when no gas was applied.

- La Crescent, MN, USA

problem #5

Feb 092007

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,800 miles
- the contact stated that while driving on a secondary road the 05 Chrysler PT CRUISER accelerated from 30 mph to 90 mph. The contact believed that the turbo on the vehicle engaged. The contact pressed on the brakes and kicked the accelerator pedal at the same time, once the vehicle started to decrease in speed he turned the vehicle off. He had the vehicle towed to a dealership. The failure and current mileage were both 23800.

- Rutland, VT, USA

problem #4

Jul 242006

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 33,000 miles
: the contact stated while the vehicle was stopping after driving 10 mph through a parking lot with brake pressure applied, the vehicle lurched forward into a concrete pillar and the front airbags did not deploy. The contact was wearing a seat belt and sustained minor injuries. Moderate damage was sustained to the front of the vehicle. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who was unable to determine a failure or defect. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 09/15/06. Updated 9/20/2006 -

- Alexander City, AL, USA

problem #3

Nov 302005

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,345 miles
I am writing to ask has there have been any reports of the 2002 PT CRUISER having an acceleration problem? on 11/30/2005 as I was making a U-turn when my car accelerated at a high rate of speed that caused me to hit a curb and blew out my right front tire, it also left me in a disoriented state of mind. I had no control over that car until it hit the curb. Please at your earliest convenience can you let me know if there has been other reports of this.

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 122005

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,522 miles
My car has only about 1,500 miles on it, and it usually drives beautifully, but today I slowed down (from about 35 mph) to make a right turn at a light and the brakes seemed soft somehow, then I had to come to a complete stop at a four-way stop about two blocks further along and it was hard to stop and I could hear the engine racing. In fact the car jumped out into the intersection a little ways after it stopped. I looked this up and read about sudden unintended acceleration and I can say that I did not have my foot on the accelerator (if I had, the car obviously would not have stopped -- it jumped forward after I'd had to push the brake to the floor, and the engine was racing madly even after I looked to see if for some reason the gas pedal was stuck and shifted out of desperation into park). I believe that the throttle malfunctioned for some reason and I will take the car to a dealer the day after tomorrow.

- Emmaus, PA, USA

problem #1

Mar 072005

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
Vehicle experienced extreme vibration during acceleration. This caused the vehicle to pull to the right while on the road. Manufacturer will be contacted by consumer. Both the manufacturer and Goodyear dealer were contacted however was not able to help.

- Pontiac, IL, USA