2006 Chrysler PT CRUISER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
349 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 305 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 122 of 349 complaints (35.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 49 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 35 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 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 | 122 |
| Engine | 55 |
| Air Bags | 29 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 |
| Steering | 15 |
Electrical System: 122; Engine: 55; Air Bags: 29; Power Train: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling: 20; Exterior Lighting: 16; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 15; Steering: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 57 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 83 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 62 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 42 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 57; 25,000 to 49,999: 83; 50,000 to 74,999: 62; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (83). 44 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 | 1 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 18; 2007: 34; 2008: 21; 2009: 21; 2010: 27; 2011: 27; 2012: 24; 2013: 31; 2014: 41; 2015: 25; 2016: 35; 2017: 14; 2018: 8; 2019: 12; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 49 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 35 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 10164885 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)
POOR FUEL ECONOMY, COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, POOR REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC ABILITIES OF DEALER SERVICE TEAM. 12 MPG OFF THE LOT AND NO BETTER THAN 16 SO FAR INCLUDING A TRIP TO THE KEYS. THE H3 GETS 20 !! CONTINUOUS COMPUTER RELATED ISSUES WITH DASH DISPLAYING ERRONEOUS READOUTS. "REPAIRED" 1X, IN FOR 2ND ATTEMPT NOW. MY BIG LEMON STAMP IS READY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224827 · 2008-04-17 (April 17, 2008)
THE PANEL THAT CONTROLS THE DRIVERS SEAT KEEPS BREAKING AND WIRES ARE EXPOSED FROM THE PANEL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED MY BATTERY WENT DEAD. IT AND THE PANEL WERE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER IT BROKE AGAIN AND WIRES ARE EXPOSED. I CALLED CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEIR COMPLAINT LINE. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL FROM A SERVICE MANAGER THAT IS NEVER AVAILABLE. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME SINCE I WAS A GOOD CUSTOMER. I CALLED WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ORDER THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145039 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM INVOLVED THE STARTER ASSEMBLY SOLENOID VALVE. REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166259 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER CHANGED AN ELECTRONIC MODULE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE GAS WAS CONTAMINATED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152070 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS ONLY A SMALL AREA ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 3/22/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154193 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT ACTIVATES THE HORN IS HARD TO FIND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.
Owner-reported narrative. 376 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191173 · 2007-05-18 (May 18, 2007)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED CLICKING LIKE THEY DO WHEN HITTING THE WIRELESS REMOTE. AT THE SAME TIME THE FLASHERS WOULD GO ON. THIS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY ALL THE WAY TO WORK ON CITY STREETS AS WELL. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER AT THIS TIME. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON, SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC IN JANUARY FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. I HAD LESS THAN 10000 WHEN THE CAR WOULD SHIMMY VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TOOK IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202456 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE BACKING PLATES ON FRONT SPINDLES. BALL JOINTS ARE ONLY .375" FROM THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS. IF THE BALL JOINT BOOT DISCHARGES EXCESS GREASE UN-NOTICED ONTO THE DISC, THE INNER BRAKE PAD BECOMES USELESS. THE ONLY WORKABLE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE DISC PADS. *TR UPDATED 12/04/07
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10202456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199389 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM FOURTH TO THIRD GEAR. THE STICK WENT FORWARD, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,523 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245078 · 2008-10-10 (October 10, 2008)
ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, WENT TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE REVVED BY DID NOT MOVE. PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE. COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. LOW REV SHAFT FOUND BROKEN. CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A 2006 VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485187 · 2012-11-19 (November 19, 2012)
I WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 NORTH IN THE VICINITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND; I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON, BUT BECAUSE MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND, I HAD TO COAST APPROXIMATELY A MILE BEFORE MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY STOPPED. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I ALSO HAD MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. AFTER STOPPING, I TRIED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE AND GOT NOTHING. THE RADIO AND LI…
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496165 · 2013-02-02 (February 2, 2013)
THERE IS A SHORT JUMPER FUEL LINE (PLASTIC) THAT CONNECTS THE MAIN FUEL LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE TANK UP TO THE FIRE WALL WITH THE FUEL RAIL. THIS LINE LEAKS FUEL WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE MAIN LINE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO LEAK. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS LINE IS ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE TURBO OR EXHAUST AND ON A RIGHT HAND TURN COULD DRIP ON TO THE TURBO OR EXHAUST AND IGNITE. ALSO IF SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH THE A/C OR HEATER ON IT MUST BE KEPT IN RECIRCULATE OR THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERS …
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496165 at NHTSA ↗