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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

Suspension complaints

9 reports
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40,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
SteeringSuspensionWheels

THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AND NOW THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD TWO MOUNTS REPAIRED-STILL SHAKES. TOOK IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE-THEY SAID THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. GETTING AN ESTIMATE TODAY. I AM MOVING APRIL 18 FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. IT HAS 40,000 MILES …

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THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AND NOW THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD TWO MOUNTS REPAIRED-STILL SHAKES. TOOK IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE-THEY SAID THE ROCKER ARMS ARE SHOT. GETTING AN ESTIMATE TODAY. I AM MOVING APRIL 18 FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. IT HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10853938

76,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
EngineStructureSuspension

VEHICLE AT 76,000 MILES RIDES ROUGH AND DURING CHECK UP WAS FOUND TO HAVE BAD FRONT BUSHINGS AND THREE CRACKED ENGINE MOUNTS. TWO LICENSED MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A SINGLE OWNER, NEVER MISTREATED VEHICLE AT THAT MILEAGE. THIS WAS CAUGHT PRIOR TO A POTENTIAL SAFETY INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604494

104,000 miles · Jan 13, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSuspension

I BOUGHT A PT CRUISER SEDAN AND THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IF FROM SAID IT NEEDED FRONT SHOCKS AND IT WOULD BE READY IN TWO DAY. I PICK UP THE PT CRUISER AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECK OUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. IT HAS OVER 100 MECHANICAL ISSUES, FROM SHOCKS WHICH WERE NEVER PUT ON. THERE IS OIL IN THE SPARK P…

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I BOUGHT A PT CRUISER SEDAN AND THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IF FROM SAID IT NEEDED FRONT SHOCKS AND IT WOULD BE READY IN TWO DAY. I PICK UP THE PT CRUISER AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECK OUT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. IT HAS OVER 100 MECHANICAL ISSUES, FROM SHOCKS WHICH WERE NEVER PUT ON. THERE IS OIL IN THE SPARK PLUGS AND LEAVES A SMELL WHEN THE HEATER IS ON WHICH MAKES US VERY ILL. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO, THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IT FROM WHICH IT WAS SOLD FOR AROUND $2,000 DOLLARS AND NEEDS OVER $3,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK. THEN I GOT SLAPPED WITH AN EXTRA 5,000 FROM THE LOAN COMPANY. THIS IS A LEMON. I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING AND HIM AND I HAVE WENT AROUND AND AROUND ABOUT THIS PIECE OF JUNK. THEY CAN REPO IT AND THEN I AM GETTING AN ATTORNEY FOR SELLING ME A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. TOO DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10559663

25,000 miles · Dec 9, 2012
Suspension

THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS PARTS BEGAN BOUNCING EXCESSIVELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487779

34,000 miles · Aug 26, 2012
EngineSuspension

OWNED THIS CAR APPROX. 3 MONTHS WITH PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. FIRST WEEK TOOK IN FOR 3 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, CAR ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, PROBLEM NEVER FIXED. AFTER ONE MONTH WHEN SUMMER ARRIVED NO COLD AIR, HAD TO HAVE EVAPORATOR REPLACED $1,000, CAR IN SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS, AIR STILL NOT BLOWING COLD. REPLACED LOW PRESSURE SWITC…

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OWNED THIS CAR APPROX. 3 MONTHS WITH PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. FIRST WEEK TOOK IN FOR 3 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, CAR ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, PROBLEM NEVER FIXED. AFTER ONE MONTH WHEN SUMMER ARRIVED NO COLD AIR, HAD TO HAVE EVAPORATOR REPLACED $1,000, CAR IN SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS, AIR STILL NOT BLOWING COLD. REPLACED LOW PRESSURE SWITCH, HIGH END SWITCH, PRESSURE LINE, STILL NO COLD AIR, PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. WOULD IDLE REAL HARD AT STOPS. TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, REPLACED $150. CAR OVERHEATED, REPLACED THERMOSTAT, STILL OVERHEATING, COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY...FINALLY THE TURBO ENGINE BLEW ON THE 3 MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF OWNING THIS CAR. HAD TO CALL BANK TO VOLUNTEER A SURRENDER DUE TO COST OF REPLACING ENGINE. CAR DEALER WAS NO HELP, JUST TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS DEALERS RESPONSIBILITY. WOW, I WILL NEVER OWN A CHRYSLER AGAIN, THIS WAS THE FIRST AND DEFINITELY THE LAST! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472527

25,422 miles · May 3, 2011
SuspensionCrash

IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING REPAIRS THAT BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE DEFECTIVE. HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER DAMAGE BY TIRE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398802

42,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS ALSO WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $792…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS ALSO WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $792.36. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. HE WAS LATER AWARDED $400 TOWARDS THE MONEY HE PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10277910

22,000 miles · May 25, 2007
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING HER VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE MORE SHE ACCELERATES, THE MORE THEY VIBRATE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING HER VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE MORE SHE ACCELERATES, THE MORE THEY VIBRATE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING COLUMN CONTINUED TO VIBRATE AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. ON HER NEXT VISIT TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND SHE SHOULD HAVE RETURNED SOONER. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,263 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10191707

40,400 miles · Sep 7, 2006
Suspension

HERE IS AN EXTRACT OF WHAT I SEND TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH THEY REJECTED- NO INJURY WAS INVOLVED: I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ONE REPAIR THAT WAS NEEDED, THOUGH. I HAD TAKEN THE CRUISER IN FOR SERVICE ON AUG 7, 2006 AT THE ADVICE OF OAKLAWN MOBILE IN CRANSTON, RI. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISER WAS TO DO WITH A…

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HERE IS AN EXTRACT OF WHAT I SEND TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH THEY REJECTED- NO INJURY WAS INVOLVED: I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ONE REPAIR THAT WAS NEEDED, THOUGH. I HAD TAKEN THE CRUISER IN FOR SERVICE ON AUG 7, 2006 AT THE ADVICE OF OAKLAWN MOBILE IN CRANSTON, RI. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISER WAS TO DO WITH A STEERING RACK THAT PURITAN REPLACED IN 2003 AND REPAIRED VIA A RECALL AGAIN IN 2005. HOWEVER, IT WAS DUE TO WORN FRONT-END PARTS. SPECIFICALLY BOTH FRONT TIE RODS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. GIVEN THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS 40,400 MILES AND HAD JUST COME OFF WARRANTY, I FOUND IT ODD THAT PARTS WOULD WEAR OUT THAT FAST. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE IS GENTLY DRIVEN. I DECIDED TO REVIEW THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS SORT OF REPAIR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WERE 20 ODD COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS SPECIFIC TO THE '02 CRUISERS. MOST OF THE INFORMATION WAS REDACTED, BUT I DID FIND (AND ENCLOSE) ONE COMPLAINT THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE. I WISH TO REQUEST FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER WHAT I THINK IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION IF THE FORM OF 90% OF THE REPAIR BILL OF $1320.64 TO BE REFUNDED. I TAKE THIS UP WITH THE COMPANY RATHER THAN THE DEALER. THE ENCLOSED COMPLAINT, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE REP AT PURITAN, STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY PT CRUISERS. I WOULD ACCEPT A 10% REDUCTION FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE, AS A REASONABLE CONSUMER WOULD EXPECT SOME SORT OF SUSPENSION WEAR AFTER 40,000 MILES, RATHER THAN 100% WEAR THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167596

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.