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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
74,208 miles · Sep 13, 2016
Tires

ARIZONIAN ALLSEASON SILVER ADDITION 215/50/R17 SEPERATING AT SEAMS 2 OF 4 TIRES COSTING ME OVER $200.00 TO REPLACE TIRES ARE LESS THAN 6000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 YRS OLD RATED FOR 60-75,000 MILES SOLD TO ME BY AMERICAS DISCOUNT TIRE IN REDDING CALIFORNIA. VEHICLE ALWAYS GARAGED (2 TIRES WITH SAME ISSUE REPLACED AND I DO NOT TRU…

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ARIZONIAN ALLSEASON SILVER ADDITION 215/50/R17 SEPERATING AT SEAMS 2 OF 4 TIRES COSTING ME OVER $200.00 TO REPLACE TIRES ARE LESS THAN 6000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 YRS OLD RATED FOR 60-75,000 MILES SOLD TO ME BY AMERICAS DISCOUNT TIRE IN REDDING CALIFORNIA. VEHICLE ALWAYS GARAGED (2 TIRES WITH SAME ISSUE REPLACED AND I DO NOT TRUST OTHER 2 TIRES)

NHTSA ODI #10905966

122,000 miles · Aug 29, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainUnknown Or Other

LOSES POWER THEN SURGES WHILE DRIVING. LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE THEN IT SUDDENLY SURGES AND DRIVES OK. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN, BUT IT IS SCARY WHEN IT DOES. ALSO, WHEN IT DOES THIS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON? SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE CLUTCH. HOW CAN THAT BE A CLUTCH ISSUE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME W…

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LOSES POWER THEN SURGES WHILE DRIVING. LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE THEN IT SUDDENLY SURGES AND DRIVES OK. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN, BUT IT IS SCARY WHEN IT DOES. ALSO, WHEN IT DOES THIS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON? SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE CLUTCH. HOW CAN THAT BE A CLUTCH ISSUE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE TO START LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM? IS BEING GOING FOR MONTH'S NOW...

NHTSA ODI #10899088

66,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE HATCHBACK DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF AND THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10894495

159,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884883

100,000 miles · Jul 2, 2016
Engine

AFTER 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STOPPING WHILE DRIVING AND FAILING TO START. I HAVE HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND RADIATOR REPLACED. DESPITE THESE PARTS BEING REPLACED, MY CA…

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AFTER 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER STOPPING WHILE DRIVING AND FAILING TO START. I HAVE HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND RADIATOR REPLACED. DESPITE THESE PARTS BEING REPLACED, MY CAR CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY STOP WHILE DRIVING AND THEN DOES NOT START. THESE ITEMS WERE REPLACED AS THEY WERE "THOUGHT" TO BE THE PROBLEM BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COSTLY AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. MOREOVER, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE LAST TIME MY CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS WAS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DANGEROUS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SO THE MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO PIN POINT THE EXACT PROBLEM OF WHY MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN FAILS TO START. ALSO, AT TIMES, MY LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND TURN ON ALONG WITH THE WIPERS RANDOMLY BUT NOT WHEN THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT PROBLEM HAPPENS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CAR SHUTTING OFF. IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT WILL SOMETIMES TURN ON AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BUT THEN THE CAR WILL SPUTTER A BIT AND THEN CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED MANY TIMES WHEN THE CAR DID NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.

NHTSA ODI #10882320

70,000 miles · Jun 24, 2016
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10876397

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2016
Power TrainCrash

THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, ISABEL HUERTA WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY HER OWN VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSIONS SUDDENLY SLIPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS THE SHIFTER TO BE PLACED IN A "FALSE PARK" POSITION. SHE WAS SWEPT UNDER THE VEHICLE BY THE OPEN DOOR, AND WAS CRUSHED TO DEATH BY HER OWN…

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THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, ISABEL HUERTA WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY HER OWN VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSIONS SUDDENLY SLIPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS THE SHIFTER TO BE PLACED IN A "FALSE PARK" POSITION. SHE WAS SWEPT UNDER THE VEHICLE BY THE OPEN DOOR, AND WAS CRUSHED TO DEATH BY HER OWN VEHICLE. HER BODY WAS FOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHEEL ON HER CHEST...UPDATED 11/08/17 *BF PLEASE NOTE ODI 10876328 IS 116 PAGE LONG. SEE DOCUMENT FOR FURTHER INFO. DOCUMENTS IN ARTEMIS RECORD IS BROKEN. UDATED 6/21/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10876328

46,000 miles · Jun 24, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

IDLING IN PARK; SEATBELT LIGHT KEPT DINGING ON; SPEEDOMETER KEPT JUMPING BACK AND FORTH FROM 0-100; IDLING AT TRAFFIC STOP; CAR SHUTTERS LIKE IT WILL CUT OFF; SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND WHILE CAR IS NOT MOVING. PCM/TCM REPLACED MULTIPLE TIME; BATTERY LOSES CHARGE FOR NO KNOWN REASON; HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, PAY…

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IDLING IN PARK; SEATBELT LIGHT KEPT DINGING ON; SPEEDOMETER KEPT JUMPING BACK AND FORTH FROM 0-100; IDLING AT TRAFFIC STOP; CAR SHUTTERS LIKE IT WILL CUT OFF; SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND WHILE CAR IS NOT MOVING. PCM/TCM REPLACED MULTIPLE TIME; BATTERY LOSES CHARGE FOR NO KNOWN REASON; HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, PAY FOR SENSORS AND PARTS NEEDED ONLY FOR THE SAME ISSUE TO HAPPEN. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS. THERE NEED TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THESE CARS STALLING WITH NO ABILITY TO CONTROL CAR. CHRYSLER KNOWS FULL WELL OF THESE GARBAGE CARS. THAT IS THE REAL REASON THEY DISCONTINUED THEM! SOMEONE NEEDS TI STEP IN. YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WHERE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #10876312

38,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COMING FROM THE BACK. AFTER A RAINY DAY I OBSERVED PUDDLES OF WATER BEHIND THE REAR SEATS. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THE FIXED REAR QUARTER WINDOWS WERE NO LONGER PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY…

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WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COMING FROM THE BACK. AFTER A RAINY DAY I OBSERVED PUDDLES OF WATER BEHIND THE REAR SEATS. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THE FIXED REAR QUARTER WINDOWS WERE NO LONGER PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE BACK IN 2007 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V149000) I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2007. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE FIX IS NOT EFFECTIVE, AND FRANKLY I AM NOT SURPRISED. EXPECTING PLASTIC TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY LONG TERM UNDER TENSION IS FOOLISH. IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO USE A MORE PERMANENT, FLEXIBLE ADHESIVE (E.G. RTV) TO SEAL THE WINDOW TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WINDOW MOUNTING BOLT FAILURE CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10875730

70,000 miles · Jun 17, 2016
Engine

ON 6/15 IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER SINCE IT'S ISSUES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY WITH EACH DRIVE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL DRIVING WHICH NECESSITATES STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS IS CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST. BECOMING INCREASING …

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ON 6/15 IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER SINCE IT'S ISSUES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY WITH EACH DRIVE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL DRIVING WHICH NECESSITATES STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS IS CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST. BECOMING INCREASING DIFFICULT TO START; ENGINE BUCKS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND CONTINUES TO DO SO WHILE DRIVING. IT CONTINUES TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND MY MECHANIC CANNOT EVEN GET MY DASHBOARD TO FUNCTION; NONE OF MY GAUGES ARE OPERATIONAL AND OF COURSE I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTING AT ALL. I HAVE READ SO MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES BEYOND OFFERING A KIT FOR PURCHASE WHICH WILL NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTABLE RESULTS. I URGE EVERYONE FILING AND/OR READING THESE COMPLAINTS TO TAKE SOME ACTION. CONTACT THE DOT, SPEAK WITH A LAWYER, BE A VOICE AND CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE UNTIL SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE TAKES ACTION ON OUR BEHALF. I'M NOT ABLE TO TRADE THIS CAR; WHO WOULD WANT IT; STILL PAYING DOWN MY LOAN ON IT AND PRAY EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE HOUSE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY. WHAT A DISGRACE THIS IS.

NHTSA ODI #10874772

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.