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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

What owners actually said

349 reports
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

34,500 miles · Aug 13, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CENTER CONTROL, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS INSERTED BACKWARDS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS LABELED INCORRECTLY, BUT WAS INSERTED PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOW…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CENTER CONTROL, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS INSERTED BACKWARDS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS LABELED INCORRECTLY, BUT WAS INSERTED PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE A POTENTIAL DEFECTIVE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO WRITE A CERTIFIED LETTER STATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. AS OF AUGUST 13, 2008, THE DEALER HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 34,500.

NHTSA ODI #10238008

45,000 miles · Jul 11, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

THROTTLE SOLENOID STUCK IN OPEN POSITION CAUSING 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TO IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234010

12,022 miles · Jul 7, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

VERY POOR MPG ON 2006 PT CRUISER TURBO WITH 18,000 MILES, PREMIUM CHEVRON/SHELL/UNION 76 FUEL ONLY. APPROX 12.9 CITY AND MAYBE 15.5 HIGHWAY. IN SHOP THREE TIMES WITH ISSUE, NEVER IMPROVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233447

26,400 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Electrical System

PURCHASED 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, TOURING EDITION OCT 2007 WITH 26100 MILES ON IT. ONLY RECALL WAS FOR SIDE GLASS THAT WAS CHANGED, NO ACCIDENTS ON CARFAX OR REPORTED OTHERWISE. CAR SAT FOR FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN WHEN WE BEGAN DRIVING IT, HAD DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THOUGHT TO BE LOW BATTERY, GOT BATTERY CHAR…

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PURCHASED 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, TOURING EDITION OCT 2007 WITH 26100 MILES ON IT. ONLY RECALL WAS FOR SIDE GLASS THAT WAS CHANGED, NO ACCIDENTS ON CARFAX OR REPORTED OTHERWISE. CAR SAT FOR FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN WHEN WE BEGAN DRIVING IT, HAD DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THOUGHT TO BE LOW BATTERY, GOT BATTERY CHARGED. NEXT AND MOST CRUCIAL THING, WE WERE OUT AT DUSK IN A BLINDING RAIN STORM AND THE HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WENT. I HAD 3 HEADS OUT WINDOWS TO GET TO SAFETY, TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, COULDN'T EVEN SIGNAL TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY - IT WAS A HAIR RAISING EVENT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SAW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER AND TOLD BASICALLY TO KISS OFF AS I HAD JUST IMPORTED THE CAR TO CANADA SO NO WARRANTY ALTHOUGH IT STILL HAS UNDER 28,000 MILES ON IT AND OF COURSE THERE IS NO RECALL REGARDING THE CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS WHAT WENT OUT. I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS - I COULD HAVE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WHEN I LOST MY LIGHTS AND WIPERS AND COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK IN THE REAR BY SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW I WAS TURNING OFF THE ROAD. IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR THINGS WITH THIS VEHICLE SO I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A WEAKNESS IN THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THESE VEHICLES ARE APPARENTLY MADE IN MEXICO!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230484

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2008
Visibility

2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED MOST OF IT WENT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS N…

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2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED MOST OF IT WENT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE MILEAGE ON HER VEHICLE WAS A FACTOR AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10229548

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

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

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.