Chrysler PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 69 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 23.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 14.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 8.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Wheels | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Electrical System: 17; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Steering: 6; Wheels: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 10; 2009: 5; 2010: 10; 2011: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10186136 · 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)
2005 PT CRUISER GT CONVERTIBLE WITH 50,000 MILES.I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND NOTICED FOG LIGHTS ON. THE FOG LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED ON WITHOUT THE HEADLIGHTS BEING ON. BUT HERE WAS THE FOG LIGHTS ON AND IT DRAINED MY BATTERY COMPLETELY. THE ONLY WAY I COULD TURN THE FOG LIGHTS OFF WAS TO TAPE THE UNIVERSAL SWITCH, SO THAT THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WAS FORCED TO CLOSE. AFTER SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I AM WONDERING WHY THE NHTSA DOESN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,295 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218220 · 2008-02-16 (February 16, 2008)
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER NEW VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. I HAD AC COMPRESSOR PROBLEMS STILL UNDER WARRANTY... I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT 36700 MILES. NOW, BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES ARE SHOT, AND WILL BE REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, AND IT IS MY 3RD AND LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I HAD AN 2002 PT, THIS 2005 CRUISER, AND I'VE GOT AN 2006 CRUISER THAT IS STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219806 · 2008-03-02 (March 2, 2008)
WHEEL VIBRATION AND LOOSE STEERING THEN GRINDING NOISE; FOUND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING BAD ON 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER - MILEAGE IS 15, 600; WAITING FOR REPAIR AT DEALER - ESTIMATE OF $500 - $600 TO REPAIR PLUS ALIGNMENT COSTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231617 · 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING FELT LIKE CAR WAS GOING OVER MINI-SPEED BUMPS. TOOK IT TO TIRE STORE AND FOUND OUT IT WASN'T THE TIRES AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE LEFT-FRONT BEARING AND I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING ON IT AT ALL BECAUSE THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. HAD IT REPAIRED THERE. PICKED UP VEHICLE A WEEK LATER AND STEERING STILL DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLE NEEDED REPAIRED. ALSO HAD IT DONE THERE BECAUSE I WAS VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDED WORK C…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145038 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TURBO AND IT WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS FLOODED BY HURRICANE WILMA AND WAS TOTALED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148617 · 2006-01-10 (January 10, 2006)
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SEVERAL REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187207 · 2007-04-06 (April 6, 2007)
MY 2005 PT CRUISER IS EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. DURING A RECENT SNOW STORM THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR BOTH OF THESE SYSTMES ILLUMINATED. I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER, WHO HAS INFORMED THAT THE LIGHTS CAME ON BECAUSE THESE SYSTEMS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE REASON FOR THIS, THEY BELIEVE, IS THAT SNOW HAD COLLECTED IN THE WHEELS. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEIR POSISTION IS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS PROVIDED ON THIS CAR WILL FUNCTION EXCEPT DURING A SNOW STORM WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372615 · 2010-12-27 (December 27, 2010)
THUMPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF BRAKES IN A SHORT DISTANCE (30 MILES) WHEEL BEARING FAILURE WHICH DAMAGED AXEL AND DESTROYED BRAKES' BRAKES AND AXEL AND BEARING REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE - NOW PASSENGER SIDE IS DEFECTIVE TOO AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT - CAR HAS ONLY 30K MILES- BEARINGS ARE SEALED TYPE,CANNOT BE RELUBED, CAR IS 2005 CHRYSLER P T CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10300004 · 2010-01-16 (January 16, 2010)
PCM CHIP IN 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AS BEING THE PROBLEM. PCM CAUSES MYRIAD OF ELECTRICAL & TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH CHRYSLER WON'T ADMIT TO. WHEN ANY ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER ALARM INDICATOR GOES ON IN VEHICLE AND I BRING IT TO CHRYSLER-THEY SIMPLY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEN THE TROUBLES START. THE PCM CAUSES STALLING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT LOW SPEEDS--GOT REAR ENDED TWICE, VEHICLE NOT TURNING OVER/WON'T START, DRAINS BATTERIES (REPLACED IT 3 TIMES),(CAR WAS TOWED TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 82,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554670 · 2013-12-03 (December 3, 2013)
APPROXIMATELY 3 -4 MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC WAS COMPLETED AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT." A WEEK LATER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT BECAME COMING ON. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS (BATTERY, TRACTION OFF, ABS, BRAKE, AIRBAG, OIL, ETC) CAME ON AND BEGAN FLASHING AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. MY HEADLIGHTS AND DASHLIGHTS ALSO BEGAN TO FLICKER BEFORE THE CAR DIED AND WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554670 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 |
2005: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 69 | 0 | Not available |