2006 Chrysler PT CRUISER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10148694 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
2006 PT CRUISER HORN SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE HORN MUST BE APPLIED A CERTAIN WAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148694 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 10155872 · 2006-05-02 (May 2, 2006)
THE HORN ON THIS 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY WHEN YOU HIT A PLACE ON THE WHEEL EXTREMELY HARD. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD TO FEEL AROUND ON THE WHEEL PUSHING AND PUSHING TO MAKE IT WORK. IN A SITUATION WHERE THE HORN IS NECESSARY IT IS TOO LATE. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER WHEN I HAD IT IN TO BE FIXED TWO TIMES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW PT CRUISER AND THAT IT WAS THE MAJOR COMPLAINT FROM CONSUMERS. I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 MODEL. I DO NOT USE THE HORN OFTEN BUT AS A WARNING TO AVO…
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157091 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
1) DRIVING ON INTERSTATE APPROX 600 MILES ON VEHICLE 2) WINDSHIELD CRACKED APPROX 6 IN LEFT OF CENTER, BEGINNING AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD, UP FOUR TO FIVE INCHES VERTICAL, THEN BRANCHED LEFT AND RIGHT HORIZONTAL APPROX 3 INCHES. CRACK CONTINUES TO LENGTHEN HORIZONTALLY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. 3) DEALER STATED NOT RESPONSIBLE, CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD, HOWEVER I DISAGREE WITH THIS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158439 · 2006-05-27 (May 27, 2006)
STRESS CRACKS FROM TOP AND BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160882 · 2006-06-27 (June 27, 2006)
CURRENTLY FYI. HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP WHEN A PART COMES IN ON AN UNRELATED REASON. WILL ALERT DEALER OF MY PROBLEM THEN, SO IT HAS NOT YET BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. ON FATHER'S DAY I HAD A WOMAN MAKE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME, AND STOPPED. I TRIED TO BLOW MY HORN TO GET HER OUT OF MY WAY WHILE TRYING TO MOVER OUR OF HER PATH. HORN FAILED. TRIED TO BLOW THE HORN WHEN I GOT HOME, AND CAN HEAR THE SWITCH CLICK, BUT NO HORN. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT JUST FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS SITE, DO NOT KNOW HOW COMMON OF A …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10160882 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V149000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
Reported: 2007-04-04 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗