Problems · by component

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser electrical system problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser cite electrical system, 18% of all 256 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
46
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHETHER IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL, TILT STEERING WHEEL CLAMPING MECHANISM HAS WORN THROUGH WIRES CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND ITS WARNING SYSTEM, CREATING INTERMITTENT (SHORT?) FAILURE OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, PRESENTING POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS OFF, HORN WILL NOT SOUND BUT VENTILATION FAN RUNS. WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON, HORN WILL SOUND, BUT IF ACTIVATED, VENTILATION FAN STOPS RUNNING. MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST STEERING WHEEEL TILT TO MAKE FAN RUN OR HONK HORN - CREATING A DISTRACTED DRIVING HAZARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2019Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11267038
“TL-THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. FUEL ODOR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR AN ADDITIONAL HOUR VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ALONG THE FIREWALL MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED, FIRE REPORT FILED, FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT UPON START UP THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RESTARTED ALMOST AN HOUR LATER. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE FIRE SEEMED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN A WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED BEHIND THE FUEL LINES FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PIIR = Y. AH *DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2019Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11207986
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ROOT OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE FOG LAMP SWITCH, WHICH DIFFUSED THE SMOKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN UNKNOWN CHRYSLER DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11114205
“CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES THAT THE INSURANCE RATE WENT UP AND WE PAID FOR REPAIRS THAT WE DID NOT NEED BECAUSE IT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. REPAIRS INCLUDE (BATTERY, STARTER, IGNITION, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES) WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TIPM. THE OTHER PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTERED ARE WINDOW WON'T GO UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIPS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE US FOR UNNECCESARY REPAIRS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2015Electrical systemODI 10775388
“DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT AT WILL AND ENGINE LIGHTS SHOW CODES EVEN AFTER REPLACING SENSORS NOW 02 SENSORS NOT WORKING .LOOK LIKE THIS HAD BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW AND CHRYSLER FAILS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP MYSELF AND OTHER PT DRIVERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2015Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 10766519
“CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AT CAR WASH AT NIGHT LEAVING ME AND MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER STRANDED UNTIL WE COULD GET A JUMP. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE BATTERY NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS NOR ANY LIGHTS BEING LEFT ON IN INTERIOR. HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE OTHER DAY THE FOG LAMPS WERE ON BUT THE SWITCH WAS NOT TURNED ON. IT WAS DRAINING THE SYSTEM. HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO FOG LAMPS IN ORDER TO STOP THE DRAINAGE. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH SMALL CHILDREN FORCING RELIANCE UPON STRANGERS IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. NOW THE FOG LAMPS ARE INOPERATIVE UNTIL A FIX CAN BE FOUND, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL COLLISION IF DRIVING IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHICH COULD PROVE FATAL DUE TO IT BEING A CONVERTIBLE. THIS IS A GT TURBO EDITION...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 10746283

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.