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2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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What owners reported most

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

56 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
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64,846 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Electrical System

MY '05 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER (THAT I BOUGHT 3 MONTHS AGO!) HAS STARTED TO NOT START ON ME. I WILL COME OUT FROM WORK, AND IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD. BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED. I GET A JUMP, AND IT WILL RUN, BUT IS THEN SLUGGISH AT FIRST. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW AT LEAST 3 X A WEEK FOR A MONTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND WAS TOLD…

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MY '05 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER (THAT I BOUGHT 3 MONTHS AGO!) HAS STARTED TO NOT START ON ME. I WILL COME OUT FROM WORK, AND IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD. BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED. I GET A JUMP, AND IT WILL RUN, BUT IS THEN SLUGGISH AT FIRST. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW AT LEAST 3 X A WEEK FOR A MONTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT IT IS THE ALTERNATOR, BUT I WENT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS FOR CONFIRMATION AND BOTH TOLD ME IT IS NOT THE ALTERNATOR. THIS MEANS THE DEALERSHIP I WAS AT PRETTY MUCH HAD NO CLUE, OR DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THE ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE LOOKED AROUND, AND I SEE ON BLOGS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS. I JUST WANT MINE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353013

45,000 miles · Mar 21, 2010
Electrical System

2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PARKED IN PARKING LOT. CAME BACK 1 HOUR LATER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD NO PHONE AND HAD TO WALK 4 BLOCKS IN A DARK VACANT, "SCARY PART OF TOWN" BY MYSELF. CALLED BCAA AND THEY CAME OUT TO GIVE ME A BOOST. THE TECH TOLD ME THIS IS A RAMPANT…

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2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PARKED IN PARKING LOT. CAME BACK 1 HOUR LATER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD NO PHONE AND HAD TO WALK 4 BLOCKS IN A DARK VACANT, "SCARY PART OF TOWN" BY MYSELF. CALLED BCAA AND THEY CAME OUT TO GIVE ME A BOOST. THE TECH TOLD ME THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321246

82,400 miles · Jan 16, 2010
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior LightingCrashInjury

PCM CHIP IN 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AS BEING THE PROBLEM. PCM CAUSES MYRIAD OF ELECTRICAL & TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH CHRYSLER WON'T ADMIT TO. WHEN ANY ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER ALARM INDICATOR GOES ON IN VEHICLE AND I BRING IT TO CHRYSLER-THEY SIMPLY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. …

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PCM CHIP IN 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AS BEING THE PROBLEM. PCM CAUSES MYRIAD OF ELECTRICAL & TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH CHRYSLER WON'T ADMIT TO. WHEN ANY ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER ALARM INDICATOR GOES ON IN VEHICLE AND I BRING IT TO CHRYSLER-THEY SIMPLY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEN THE TROUBLES START. THE PCM CAUSES STALLING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT LOW SPEEDS--GOT REAR ENDED TWICE, VEHICLE NOT TURNING OVER/WON'T START, DRAINS BATTERIES (REPLACED IT 3 TIMES),(CAR WAS TOWED TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START) POWER STEERING MECHANISM LEAKS (REPLACED TWICE) CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON DASHBOARD, RADIO & CD PLAYER WONT WORK (CD IS STUCK IN PLAYER), CAUSES CAR LOCK/ALARM SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION (REPLACED TWICE) CAR LOCK/SYSTEM HAS LOCKED ME OUT OF MY CAR AND FOG LIGHTS/HEAD LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHICH THEN DRAINS BATTERY. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED THIS PCM CHIP 1.5 YRS AGO AND THE REPAIR TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF WHILE I WAITED WITHOUT A LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY ALLOWED ME TO HAVE ONE! WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHT/HEADLIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO TELL HIM IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND HE INDICATED THAT I NOT EVER RETURN TO HIS DEALERSHIP. NOW 1.5 YEARS LATER, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT'S THE PCM CHIP CAUSING THEM. I HAVE LOST MY JOB FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK WHILE THEY 'FIXED' MY CAR FOR A MONTH, LOST THOUSAND OF $$$ REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE, MY WARRANTY IS NOW EXPIRED, AM STILL FINANCING VEHICLE, BUT CAR WON'T START AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING, ETC. THE CAR ISN'T WORTH 3K AND THE REPAIRS ARE IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX ALL THE ISSUES. *TR CONSUMER WANTS AN UPDATE ON COMPLAINT. 1/27/10 *NJ UPDATED 02/01/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10300004

51,943 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Electrical System

2005 PT CRUISER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED . FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER I REMOVED THE KEY. SMOKE CAME OUT OF SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290391

51,000 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Electrical System

CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH. (TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, FOG LIGHT LEVER). CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF, DRAINING BATTERY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. FOR NOW ONLY WAY TO REMEDY PROBLEM IS TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS. CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. DE…

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CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH. (TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, FOG LIGHT LEVER). CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF, DRAINING BATTERY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. FOR NOW ONLY WAY TO REMEDY PROBLEM IS TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS. CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. DEALER SAYS THEY ORDERED 50 REPLACEMENT PARTS OVER 4 MONTHS AGO, NATIONWIDE OVER 3000 ARE BACK-ORDERED, SO CHRYSLER OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274677

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2008
Electrical System

MY 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS HORN IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH . THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS THE WAY THE HORN IS . CHRYSLER FAILED TO ADD THE SECOND TONE HORN ON THIS VEHICLE . THEY ONLY PUT THE LOW TONE HORN IN THESE CARS . MANY TIMES I HAVE USED MY HORN TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT , ONLY TO HAVE THEM IGNORE MY WEAK H…

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MY 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISERS HORN IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH . THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS THE WAY THE HORN IS . CHRYSLER FAILED TO ADD THE SECOND TONE HORN ON THIS VEHICLE . THEY ONLY PUT THE LOW TONE HORN IN THESE CARS . MANY TIMES I HAVE USED MY HORN TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT , ONLY TO HAVE THEM IGNORE MY WEAK HORN . I HAVE HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THESE ACCIDENTS . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223854

43,000 miles · Feb 16, 2008
Electrical SystemSuspension

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER NEW VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. I HAD AC COMPRESSOR PROBLEMS STILL UNDER WARRANTY... I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT 36700 MILES. NOW, BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES ARE SHOT, AND WILL BE REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, AND IT IS MY 3RD AND L…

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER NEW VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. I HAD AC COMPRESSOR PROBLEMS STILL UNDER WARRANTY... I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT 36700 MILES. NOW, BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES ARE SHOT, AND WILL BE REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, AND IT IS MY 3RD AND LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I HAD AN 2002 PT, THIS 2005 CRUISER, AND I'VE GOT AN 2006 CRUISER THAT IS STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218220

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2006
Electrical System

MY CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER, BOUGHT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, SUDDENLY LOSES ITS POWER WHILE I AM DRIVING (TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY). THIS LOSS OF POWER RESULTED IN MY NEARLY BEING IN A REAR END COLLISION FROM A TRUCK COMING UP BEHIND ME! IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO 2 CHRYSLER DEALERS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY OR FIX THE PR…

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MY CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER, BOUGHT IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, SUDDENLY LOSES ITS POWER WHILE I AM DRIVING (TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY). THIS LOSS OF POWER RESULTED IN MY NEARLY BEING IN A REAR END COLLISION FROM A TRUCK COMING UP BEHIND ME! IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO 2 CHRYSLER DEALERS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY OR FIX THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAD TWO ADDITIONAL FAILURES DOCUMENTED BY THEM. THIS LAST TIME THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. IT HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY ISSUE. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING THE ENTIRE ONBOARD COMPUTER PRIOR TO THIS MOST RECENT BREAKDOWN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE TOOK THE INFORMATION OVER A WEEK AGO HAS NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171555

27,000 miles · Sep 21, 2005
Electrical System

AT FIRST THE ENGINE SURGES AFTER CAR STOPS AT INTERSECTION. SLIGHTLY AT FIRST AND THEN OCCURRENCE INCREASES AT SUBSEQUENT STOPS WITH GREATER SURGE. THEN ENGINE SURGES AND DIES AT STOPS UNTIL ENGINE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE DIED AT 45 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK CAR TO A …

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AT FIRST THE ENGINE SURGES AFTER CAR STOPS AT INTERSECTION. SLIGHTLY AT FIRST AND THEN OCCURRENCE INCREASES AT SUBSEQUENT STOPS WITH GREATER SURGE. THEN ENGINE SURGES AND DIES AT STOPS UNTIL ENGINE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE DIED AT 45 MPH AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK CAR TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, AS YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHERE OR WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO QUIT RUNNING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10137225

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.