2005 Chrysler PT CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
187 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,412 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 158 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 187 complaints (13.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 11.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 7.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.7% |
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 | 25 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Suspension | 9 |
Electrical System: 25; Steering: 15; Exterior Lighting: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Engine: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Power Train: 9; Suspension: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 42 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 3; 2005: 13; 2006: 16; 2007: 16; 2008: 16; 2009: 16; 2010: 17; 2011: 13; 2012: 14; 2013: 8; 2014: 19; 2015: 9; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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 10125062 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
MY CAR HAS ONLY ABOUT 1,500 MILES ON IT, AND IT USUALLY DRIVES BEAUTIFULLY, BUT TODAY I SLOWED DOWN (FROM ABOUT 35 MPH) TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT A LIGHT AND THE BRAKES SEEMED SOFT SOMEHOW, THEN I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A FOUR-WAY STOP ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FURTHER ALONG AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE RACING. IN FACT THE CAR JUMPED OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION A LITTLE WAYS AFTER IT STOPPED. I LOOKED THIS UP AND READ ABOUT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND I CAN SAY THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR (IF I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,522 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144160 · 2005-12-01 (December 1, 2005)
I HAVE A CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER. IT HAS BEEN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME THING. ON NOV. 5, 2005 THE BRAKES FAILED, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. IT WENT TO THE SHOP BY WRECKER. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON NOV 9, 2005 NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE CAR, WAS TOLD IT RUNS BEAUTIFUL. ON NOV. 30, 2005 GOING HOME STOPPING IN TRAFFIC THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, ALMOST HIT A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. IT IS RIGHT NOT SETTING AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND SAID THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,136 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131724 · 2005-08-05 (August 5, 2005)
THE 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS METALLIC-SILVER DASH INSERTS AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND COVERING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE SUN IS HIGH IN THE SKY THE GLARE FROM THE METALLIC-SILVER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLINDING. THE GLARE IS SO BRIGHT IT LEAVES SPOTS IN YOUR EYES. THE MOLDED CURVES ABOVE THE INSTRUMENTS SEEM TO CONCENTRATE THE SUN??S ENERGY. MY WIFE IS SHORTER AND IS ABLE TO ADJUST THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION. I AM UNABLE TO DO THIS AND STILL HANDLE THE STEERING WHEEL COMFORTABLY. I PLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163164 · 2006-07-22 (July 22, 2006)
CAR HAD SHAKE IN FRONT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AND RT. FLOORBOARD. CHANGE TIRES AND WHEELS. CHANGES TIRES TWICE. REPLACED LEFT FRONT AXLE WITH SINGLE AXLE. REPLACED SAME AXLE WITH TWO PIECE AXLE. STILL HAS SHAKE IN IT. FACTORY TECH SAID LIVE WITH IT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147830 · 2006-01-16 (January 16, 2006)
THE DEFECTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING RESULTING IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. ALL OF THE POWER GOES OUT; THE ENGINE DIES AND COMES BACK ON AFTER EITHER A FEW MOMENTS OR A FEW MINUTES. DURING THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. TO DATE (1/16/2006) THIS HAS OCCURRED 18 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT CONFIDENT ON WHAT IS CAU…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166711 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PCM MODULE TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED FOUR SPARK PLUGS AND VARIOUS WIRING TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188830 · 2007-04-25 (April 25, 2007)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 CHRYSLER, PT CRUISER. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLING AT TIMES. LATELY, I AM EXPERIENCING STALLING WHILE DRIVING. I LOOSE ALL POWER I CAN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT DOES NOTHING THEN IN A FEW SECONDS IT WILL GO. AT STOPS IT WILL ALMOST GO DEAD. I LOOKED ON THE WEB SITE AND SAW A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FILED WITH MY PROBLEMS. I FEEL A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS BADLY INJURED BECAUSE THEIR PT CRUISER STALLS WHILE DRIVING! BELOW ARE THE ODI ID NUMBERS: 10102249, 10126616, 10138986, AND 10163025. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10188830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168324 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)
FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS COME LOOSE CAUSING INJECTORS TO TAP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224157 · 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, BUT THE FINAL STRAW IS WHEN, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK AND STARTING IT - THE CAR BACKFIRED AND BLEW THE PLUGS. COST TO REPLACE $2,900.00. THIS HAPPENING RIGHT AFTER I SPENT $1,400.00 TO REPLACE BUSHINGS AND TIE RODS. CHRYSLER CORPORATE ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO ONE OF THEIR DEALERS IN WHICH I DID. CHRYSLER CORPORATE NOR THE DEALER WILL DISCUSS THE FACTORY DEFECT STATING NO KNOW REASON FOR A VEHICLE TO BLOW TWO PLUGS WHEN IT ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 81,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269432 · 2009-05-19 (May 19, 2009)
TRANSMISSION PARKING PALL BROKE. AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK AND EXITING VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. HAD TO GET CAR OPEN QUICKLY AGAIN AND APPLY BRAKE TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM STRIKING A PERSON OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269432 at NHTSA ↗