IllustrationFRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING,REPLACED MOTOR,FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND COMPUTER IS GOING OUT. ONLY HAS 81,000 ON CAR. ORDERED NEW COMPUTER FOUND OUT WE WERE 926 ON LIST,THAT WAS 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pt Cruiser years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
570–25K
8325–50K
6250–75K
5075–100K
42100–150K
12150K+
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
Power Train complaints
28 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR REMAINED STUCK IN PARK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS LIQUID IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THIS LIQUID ALLOWED THE SHIFTER CABLE TO SLIP OFF AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR REMAINED STUCK IN PARK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS LIQUID IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THIS LIQUID ALLOWED THE SHIFTER CABLE TO SLIP OFF AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SHIFTER CABLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,587.
ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK OIL. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY TRIED THREE TIMES TO FIX LEAK AND COULD NOT. CRANK IS PUSHING AGAINST SEAL. TOLD US THAT WE NEED A NEW ENGINE. TAKING TO DEALER TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNINTENTIONALLY SWITCH GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNINTENTIONALLY SWITCH GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX. THERE WAS MODERATE REAR END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE VEHICLE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 7/16/10 *CN UPDATED 07/22/10*JB
MY 2006 PT CRUISER WAS MAKING NOISES AND THEN IT STARTED JERKING IN JUST AS I GOT OFF ON THE EXIT MY TRANSMISSION WHEN OUT ON IT MEANING THAT IT STARTED LEAKING FLUIDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IT DIDN'T GIVE ME A WARNING OR NOTHING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CLOCKSPRING WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SHE BEGAN TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CLOCKSPRING WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SHE BEGAN TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DURING COLD STARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER SUPPORT, RADIATOR, AND TRANSMISSION WERE DAMAGED DUE TO SOME SORT OF CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,000.
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
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…
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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.
Official recalls
107V149000 · 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
2EA07004 · 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.