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2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

306 reports with mileage · 43 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 138 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

35 crash reports5 fire reports21 injury reports

Engine complaints

55 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

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 incid…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11427363

65,000 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #11290245

135,000 miles · Apr 8, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

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 GO…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11194652

72,100 miles · Mar 16, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

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 A…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11187241

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSeats

ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. IDLE SPEEDS INCONSISTENT. WINDSHIELD CRACKED STRAIGHT ACROSS

NHTSA ODI #11162883

65,329 miles · Jul 6, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, THE MOTOR SHUT OFF AND THEN STARTED AGAIN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN TURNING A CORNER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11109832

144,385 miles · Mar 1, 2018
EngineFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL, WATER PUMP, AND FUEL PUMP LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL, WATER PUMP, AND FUEL PUMP LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,385. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11075611

100,000 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Engine

VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM D (DRIVE ) TO 3RD GEAR, BUT STILL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED…

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VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TRIED SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM D (DRIVE ) TO 3RD GEAR, BUT STILL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH A FULL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING UPWARDS.. I COULD SMELL BURNING BRAKES. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN WHERE THE ROAD WAS LEVEL, STILL WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. I SHIFTED THE GEARS FROM 3RD TO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK TO STOP THE REVVING,BUT IT CONTINUED AND I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I STARTED THE VEHICLE A FEW MOMENTS LATER AND THE REVVING NOW LONGER OCCURRED. I WAS ON AN ISOLATED HIGHWAY IN THE BACK COUNTRY. HAD I BEEN IN THE CITY THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THIS SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION (TOYOTA VEHICLE) HAPPENED TO A FAMILY LOCALLY AND THEY CRASHED AND ALL PERISHED IN THE RESULTING FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11034174

130,000 miles · Jul 20, 2017
EngineExterior Lighting

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY INOPERATIVE. NO HIGH BEAM, LOW BEAM, OR TURN SIGNAL / FLASHER FUNCTION. REPLACED BULBS SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL TEST GOOD IN OTHER FIXTURES SUCH AS DRIVER SIDE LAMP ASSEMBLY. ENGINE IS THROWING "CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE DETECTED". PLUGS, WIRES REPLACED WITH NO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11006511

60,091 miles · Feb 9, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING CAPABILITY OCCASIONALLY SEIZES AND VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN AT A TURN IN THE ROAD. ALSO, AT STOP LIGHTS THE CAR TRIES TO JOLT FORWARD. AGAIN THIS IS OCCURS AT INCONSISTENT TIMES. ADDITIONALLY THE CAR DIES IN IDLE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE …

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WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING CAPABILITY OCCASIONALLY SEIZES AND VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN AT A TURN IN THE ROAD. ALSO, AT STOP LIGHTS THE CAR TRIES TO JOLT FORWARD. AGAIN THIS IS OCCURS AT INCONSISTENT TIMES. ADDITIONALLY THE CAR DIES IN IDLE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE RISES ABOVE 60 DEGREES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN CODE WAS READ IT STATED THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE WE FOUND THE FAN WORKED BUT WAS NOT BEING SWITCHED ON. SO WE REPLACED THE FAN SWITCH. IMMEDIATELY IT BLEW THE SWITCH. THE MECHANICS CANNOT IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. WHILE ADDITIONAL CODES JUST GET THROWN INTO THE PILE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I CHECK OFTEN TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAS BEEN RECALLED OR IF ANYONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION THAT PROVIDES LASTING CHANGE BUT I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY ADVICE OR SOLUTION THAT ACTUALLY FIXES THE ISSUE. THESE ISSUES ARE REOCCURRING SO I AM STATING THE LAST OCCURRENCE WHICH WAS JUST THIS MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #10950468

Official recalls

1

07V149000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

Apr 4, 2007

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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

2

EA07004 · Rear Quarter Panel Glass Separation

Opened Feb 16, 2007 · Closed Apr 5, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 PT CRUISER VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 5/17/05 THROUGH 9/1/05 TO CORRECT A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS THAT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.DCC WILL INSPECT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY.DCC WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS IN MAY 2007. VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE ABOVE BUILD DATES ARE NOT AFFECTED.A CHANGE MADE BY THE ASSEMBLY PLANT IN MAY 2005 THAT MODIFIED THE GLASS ATTACHMENT LED TO THE POTENTIAL FOR GLASS SEPARATION.IN SEPTEMBER 2005, SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE PROCESS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THIS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.SEE RECALL 07V149 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

PE06046 · Rear Quarter Panel Glass Separation

Opened Oct 20, 2006 · Closed Feb 16, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

ODI HAS RECEIVED REPORTS THAT THE EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS FALLS OFF THE VEHICLE.SOME REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE GLASS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION AND STRUCK A FOLLOWING VEHICLE.IN SOME CASES DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE WAS REPORTED.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA ARE CONCENTRATED WITHIN A PARTICULAR BUILD DATE RANGE FROM MAY TO JUN OF 2005 FOR MY 2005 VEHICLES AND JULY TO SEP OF 2005 FOR MY 2006 VEHICLES.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) IS UPGRADED TO EA07-004.