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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.

About this comparison →

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports
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78,500 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

FAULTY FIREWALL. THE FIREWALL AROUND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS TWISTING AND SPLITTING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AROUND THE CLUTCH, IT CAN HAPPEN AROUND THE BRAKES. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420732

79,100 miles · Jan 5, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVING ALONG WHEN POWER BRAKES FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, DRAMATICALLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE AND EFFORT TO APPLY BRAKES. CAP FOR BRAKE VACUUM POWER BOOST MISSING - CAP REPLACED. CAP MUST HAVE DISLODGED OR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, SINCE POWER BRAKES WORKED ON SAME TRIP PRIOR TO INCIDENT AT INTERSECTION. FORTUNATEL…

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DRIVING ALONG WHEN POWER BRAKES FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, DRAMATICALLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE AND EFFORT TO APPLY BRAKES. CAP FOR BRAKE VACUUM POWER BOOST MISSING - CAP REPLACED. CAP MUST HAVE DISLODGED OR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, SINCE POWER BRAKES WORKED ON SAME TRIP PRIOR TO INCIDENT AT INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES WAITING AT INTERSECTION OR ELSE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374723

84,000 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD CASKET NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHAS…

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TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD CASKET NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHE STATED THE REPAIR COST WAS FROM $1,500 TO $2,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 84,000. VWB

NHTSA ODI #10334318

17,175 miles · Aug 30, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK MY BRAKES WENT FROM SOUNDING AND WORKING FINE TO MAKING A HIDEOUS GRINDING SOUND. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A BRAKE SPECIALTY SHOP THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ALL MY BRAKES (WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM) JUST THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL …

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WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK MY BRAKES WENT FROM SOUNDING AND WORKING FINE TO MAKING A HIDEOUS GRINDING SOUND. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A BRAKE SPECIALTY SHOP THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ALL MY BRAKES (WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM) JUST THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240348

44,052 miles · May 21, 2008
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD THIS 2006 PT CRUISER FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WITHIN THAT YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BRAKES. THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. I CAN'T BLOW THE HORN WITHOUT POUNDING IT. THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES HOLD MOISTURE, THE THING DRINKS GAS AND RIGHT NOW WITH GAS PRICES THIS…

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I HAVE HAD THIS 2006 PT CRUISER FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WITHIN THAT YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BRAKES. THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. I CAN'T BLOW THE HORN WITHOUT POUNDING IT. THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES HOLD MOISTURE, THE THING DRINKS GAS AND RIGHT NOW WITH GAS PRICES THIS IS A PROBLEM. YET, NOBODY WANTS ME TO TRADE IT BECAUSE IT ISN'T WORTH A PENNY BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE FACT THEY LIED ON THE STICKERS ABOUT GAS MILEAGE. I MAY GET 17 MILES PER GALLON. HORRIBLE CAR. I HOPE PEOPLE STOP BUYING THEM UNTIL THEY FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY ALREADY HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228559

19,030 miles · May 15, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I TOOK OUR 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND INSPECTION ON FEB 21, 2008. THE SERVICE ADVISER BRUCE WARREN, CAME TO THE WAITING ROOM TO INFORM ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WERE DOWN TO 5%. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THEM, AND SAID I DID NOT HEAR ANY NOSE FROM THE WARNI…

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I TOOK OUR 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND INSPECTION ON FEB 21, 2008. THE SERVICE ADVISER BRUCE WARREN, CAME TO THE WAITING ROOM TO INFORM ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WERE DOWN TO 5%. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THEM, AND SAID I DID NOT HEAR ANY NOSE FROM THE WARNING SCRAPERS. HE SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT GO METAL TO METAL. I THOUGHT THEY MUST BE USING CHEAPER PADS TO GO OUT IN 19,000 MILES. BRUCE CAME BACK TO INFORM ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE BELOW MIN. THICKNESS TO RESURFACE. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED THE CAR, AND I WOULD TALK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER KIRK IRVINE AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY BRAKES, AND AM I GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 19000 MILES. HE SAID WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ALL THE BRAKES LASTING. I TOLD HIM I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CHRYSLER CO., AND ASKED FOR THEIR 800 NUMBER. HE GAVE IT TO ME AND I CALLED CHRYSLER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE LADY TAKING MY CALL SAID I MAY NOT BE CONTACTED. I TOLD THE DEALER AND THE CORP. OFFICE, THAT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU FEEL SAFE WITH A CAR, THAT IT'S BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT IN ABOUT HAVE THE TIME OF NORMAL AND WITHOUT GOING METAL TO METAL WEARS OUT THE ROTORS. IF THE ROTORS GO FIRST, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY THIN. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER, OR CHRYSLER. I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT, BECAUSE IF I'M RIGHT AND ACTION IS TAKEN IT COULD SAVE LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227939

34,000 miles · May 6, 2008
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ON MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE BRAKES AND WHEELS LOCKED UP WHEN I HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING A TRUCK WHO HAD SLOWED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER, EVEN THOUGH I HIT THE TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226778

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2006 PT CRUISER. I HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS WHEN THE FRONT CALIPER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY BRAKES TO GO OUT. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING, RUNNING OUT OF OIL AND NOT HAVING HEAT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP T…

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I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2006 PT CRUISER. I HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS WHEN THE FRONT CALIPER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY BRAKES TO GO OUT. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING, RUNNING OUT OF OIL AND NOT HAVING HEAT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED, THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER MY REPAIRS AND IT WOULD COST OVER 1000.00 TO FIX. THE PROBLEMS WERE: I HAD A HOLE IN MY RADIATOR, I WAS MISSING THE CONNECTORS TO HOLD THE RADIATOR IN PLACE, I HAD NO HEAT, I NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON. THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO OIL OR COOLANT IN MY CAR AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET THE CAR IN RUNNING CONDITION TO FIND OUT WHERE THE OIL LEAK WAS. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY CAR, SO I TOOK IT TO A FAMILY FRIENDS AUTO SHOP. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPAIRED, THE CONNECTORS AND HAD COOLANT PUT IN. I THEN PICKED IT BACK UP TO TAKE IT BACK TO CHRYSLER TO HAVE THE OIL LEAK FIXED. AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR FIXED WITH THEM, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH A CAR THAT THEY DIDN'T FIX. I DID FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THROUGH THE FAMILY SHOP. I HAVE A CRACKED HEAD GASKET, AND THE OIL LEAK. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 MONTHS, AND I HAVE ONLY PUT ON 12000 MILES. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 27,000 MILES TODAY. THESE SORT OF THINGS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210836

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.