NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
21 reportsClear category filter110,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
NHTSA ODI #10585532
80,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TOURING EDITION. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, REPLACED WITH NEW BULB, STILL NO LIGHT. MECHANIC STATES TICM (TOTAL INTERGRATED CONTROL MODULE) WENT BAD. RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR EXCEEDS $900 AND WILL CAUSE CAR TO FAIL NYS INSPECTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505997
21,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
MY WIFE AND I OBTAINED A 2006 PT CRUISER FROM HER FATHER IN 2008 WITH 12,980 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN 4 YEARS WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 12,000 MILES. STARTING LAST WINTER, BOTH WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH) AND WHILE IDLING, THIS 2006 PT CRUISER HAS PERIODICALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUME…
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MY WIFE AND I OBTAINED A 2006 PT CRUISER FROM HER FATHER IN 2008 WITH 12,980 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN 4 YEARS WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 12,000 MILES. STARTING LAST WINTER, BOTH WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH) AND WHILE IDLING, THIS 2006 PT CRUISER HAS PERIODICALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE NEEDLES ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY SWITCH BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY, THEN GO TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PANEL LIGHTS TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME, THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, THE PANEL RETURNS TO NORMAL. PRIOR TO LAST FRIDAY, 10/12/2012, THESE INCIDENTS HAD NOT PRESENTED A DANGER OR INTERFERED WITH DRIVING. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THIS TIME THE PANEL WENT HAYWIRE AS DESCRIBED BEFORE, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND SHE WAS FORCED TO COAST TO A SLOW ROLL IN THE 40 MPH TRAFFIC! THEN, THE ENGINE REENGAGED SUDDENLY AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHEN SHE WASN'T EXPECTING IT. SHE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO BE COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM, AND A CALL TO CHRYSLER CORP LLC PROVED USELESS. A CURSORY INVESTIGATION ONLINE TURNS UP DOZENS OF THIS EXACT COMPLAINT OVER THE PAST 5 OR 6 YEARS, AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM INDICATE A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE VACUUM HOSES, THE WIRING HARNESS, THE FUSES, OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND NONE OF THESE APPARENTLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. IS THIS AS COMMON A COMPLAINT AS IT APPEARS TO BE? IF SO, HOW CAN IT BE RESOLVED? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10480144
109,000 miles · May 26, 2011
Exterior LightingInterior LightingVisibility
2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2006. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR WOULDN'T START WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE BATTERY. IT STARTED AFTER JUMPING AND WOULD BE FINE FOR 4 MONTHS OR MORE. SINCE THEN I HAVE PINPOINTED IT TO LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR JUST 2 MINUTES. THOUGHT…
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2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2006. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR WOULDN'T START WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE BATTERY. IT STARTED AFTER JUMPING AND WOULD BE FINE FOR 4 MONTHS OR MORE. SINCE THEN I HAVE PINPOINTED IT TO LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR JUST 2 MINUTES. THOUGHT THIS WAS WEIRD SINCE MY BATTERY WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS FIRST START. RECENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURNING SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK. I CHECKED ALL FUSES, THEY ARE GOOD. I READ ONLINE ABOUT THE TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE THAT REPLACED THE 2006 INTERIOR FUSE BOXES. I READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I FOUND OUT MY TURNING SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE FUSES AND HAD NO IDEA MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AS THEY WORKED WHEN I CHECKED THEM AFTER THE TURNING SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING. THAT NIGHT, I STARTED DRIVING HOME AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON A VERY DARK ROAD WITHOUT NOTICE. MY SON AND I WERE IN SERIOUS DANGER AND THE ONLY THING WE COULD DO WAS TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THINK GOD THEY WORKED. THE BASIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON A CAR SUCH AS THE ABOVE SHOULD NEVER GO BAD WITHOUT NOTICE AND WITHOUT AN EASY FIX. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT PUT OUT A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON INSIDE THE VEHICLE EXCEPT IF I OPENED THE DOOR. YOU COULD NOT TURN THEM ON IF THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. I AM SURE IT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AS IT COULD HAVE THE NIGHT OURS WENT BAD. I HOPE THAT THE NAPA CHRYSLER CAN FIX MINE AS THE SERVICE MANAGER DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WITH THE TIPM WAS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402798
84,288 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility
I HAD SAFELITE COME OUT TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD- WHEN I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE TO HEAD TO SJ I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS/FOG LIGHTS AND THEY WOULD NOT GO ON TRIED MY BLINKERS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOTHING WAS WORKING ALL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOBS ON STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT WORK. DROVE VEHICLE DOWN THE STREET ADJUSTED STEERI…
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I HAD SAFELITE COME OUT TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD- WHEN I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE TO HEAD TO SJ I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS/FOG LIGHTS AND THEY WOULD NOT GO ON TRIED MY BLINKERS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOTHING WAS WORKING ALL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOBS ON STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT WORK. DROVE VEHICLE DOWN THE STREET ADJUSTED STEERING WHEEL A COUPLE TIMES LIGHTS CAME ON....THEN THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE LIGHTS WILL EITHER NOT COME ON OR SHUT OFF IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE THEY HAVE REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOW THE NEW SERVICE GUY BELIEVES ITS THE MULTI-SWITCH...WE'LL SEE... I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE A PT CRUISER AGAIN MUCH LESS A CHRYSLER!!!! BTW THE PROBLEM DID SEEM CORRECTED AFTER THE 1ST REPAIR AND 2ND REPAIR HOWEVER AS SOON AS I DROVE IT 50 MILES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I THANK GOD I DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK FAR FROM HOME WITH NO LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS IN THE DARK! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348252
105,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting
I HAVE 2006 PT CRUISER AND I AM HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SOMETIMES THE STEREO WILL NOT WORK.BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. IF YOU HAVE THE DOME LIGHT ONE AND PUT YOUR BLINKER ON TO THE RIGHT THE LIGHT GOES OUT DOESN'T DO IT ON THE LEFT, THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES HANGS UP AND WILL NOT TURN STUCK FOR…
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I HAVE 2006 PT CRUISER AND I AM HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SOMETIMES THE STEREO WILL NOT WORK.BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. IF YOU HAVE THE DOME LIGHT ONE AND PUT YOUR BLINKER ON TO THE RIGHT THE LIGHT GOES OUT DOESN'T DO IT ON THE LEFT, THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES HANGS UP AND WILL NOT TURN STUCK FOR A LITTLE BEFORE I CAN GET IT TO TURN OVER AND START, THEN THE AC SPOUSE HAD TO REWIRE IT BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR WASN'T KICKING ON AND OFF, I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A CHRYSLER AND AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE IF CHRYSLER IS NOT WILL TO HELP REPAIR THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT OWN ANOTHER, MY HUSBAND IS OUT OF WORK AND I CANT AFFORD TO REPAIR ALL THE ISSUES THIS CAR HAS..... THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341892
24,250 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
HAD LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT GO OUT. BOUGHT A NEW BULB TO REPLACE IT. STILL DID NOT WORK. SWAPPED BULBS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSURE NEW BULB WAS GOOD. IT WAS. BOUGHT A NEW PIGTAIL AND REPLACED IT. STILL NO LIGHT ON LEFT SIDE. PUT A VOLT METER ON PIGTAIL , MEASURED 11.9 VOLTS, BUT SOON AS THE BULB TRIED TO LIGHT THE VOLTS WENT TO 0.…
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HAD LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT GO OUT. BOUGHT A NEW BULB TO REPLACE IT. STILL DID NOT WORK. SWAPPED BULBS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO INSURE NEW BULB WAS GOOD. IT WAS. BOUGHT A NEW PIGTAIL AND REPLACED IT. STILL NO LIGHT ON LEFT SIDE. PUT A VOLT METER ON PIGTAIL , MEASURED 11.9 VOLTS, BUT SOON AS THE BULB TRIED TO LIGHT THE VOLTS WENT TO 0. SO UNDER A LOAD THE VOLTS DROP. IT WONT EVEN LIGHT A FLASHLIGHT BULB. SOON AS YOU TAKE THE LOAD OFF THE PIGTAIL IT RETURNS TO 12 VOLTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287237
57,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Exterior Lighting
2006 PT CRUISER UNDER 60,000 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS TWICE. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR AC REPAIRS (THEY FOUND A BAD LOW PRESSURE SWITCH AND FAN) AND NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT IS APPARENTLY CORRODE TERMINALS AND BOTH LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. …
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2006 PT CRUISER UNDER 60,000 MILES AND I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS TWICE. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR AC REPAIRS (THEY FOUND A BAD LOW PRESSURE SWITCH AND FAN) AND NOW I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT IS APPARENTLY CORRODE TERMINALS AND BOTH LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IS THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES? APPARENTLY THESE ARE DEALER ITEMS AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280627
36,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting
MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE THE TIME OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH AND HEADLIGHTS DIMMING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS BEING USED IT IS AS IF T…
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MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE THE TIME OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH AND HEADLIGHTS DIMMING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS BEING USED IT IS AS IF THERE IS SHORT IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE AC TO GO FROM COLD TO HOT REPEATEDLY. THIS OCCURS WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHILE SITTING STILL AT INTERSECTIONS OR PARKING LOTS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND IT IS HOT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IN A VEHICLE WITH 36,000 MILES. THE RADIO WHICH IS MANUFACTURER INSTALLED ALSO TURNS ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES WILL ONLY CLICK LOUDLY. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SHIFT RATHER HARD AT TIMES EVEN THOUGH MY FLUID LEVELS ARE OKAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED A RED LIGHT AND THE AC STARTED BLOWING COLD AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE HAD STALLED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. THIS DOES NOT SEEM SAFE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I AM NOW HAVING TO BRING THE CAR TO THE SHOP SINCE AT FIRST I WAS NOT SURE IF THE AC WAS JUST GOING OUT AT RED LIGHTS SINCE I WAS SITTING STILL AND I THOUGHT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN HOW THE CAR WAS MADE. BUT SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS STARTED HAVING AC TROUBLE WHILE TRAVELING AND THERE HAVE BEEN THE OTHER STALLING AND SMOKING ENGINE PROBLEMS THIS WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225509
24,150 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Exterior LightingVisibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER SENSOR SWITCH, THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT THE FAILURES REMAIN. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE V…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER SENSOR SWITCH, THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT THE FAILURES REMAIN. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,080 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,150. UPDATED 4/16/08 *CN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED
NHTSA ODI #10213296
NHTSA investigations
2EA07004 · 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.