Problems · by component

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser suspension problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser cite suspension, 13% of all 256 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
32
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION ON THE INLET NOZZLE FUEL TANK. *SMD THE DEALER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CRACKED TRIM AROUND A/C UNIT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN, FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING, AND REAR SHOCK NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2018Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure, Service brakesODI 10919533
“I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, AND THE ROAD HAD A NATURAL "BUMP" IN IT, CAUSING A SLIGHT BIT OF LIFT WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN, AND COUNTER STEER IN ORDER TO KEEP IT IN MY LANE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TODAY, AND THE RIGHT LOWER MOTOR MOUNT IS BROKEN. I JUST REPLACED THAT SAME MOUNT LESS THEN 6 MONTHS AGO. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY KNOW OF A CRUISER THAT HAD 8 FRONT RIGHT MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. THERE IS AN ENTIRE SITE ON THE INTERNET DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH MOTOR MOUNTS GOING OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THEIR CRUISERS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2014Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10631275
“AFTER COMING FROM THE STORE I NOTICE A BIG SPOT OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR,I WIPE IT UP WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON SOME ERRANDS CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND SOME MORE OIL, AT THIS POINT CALL MY LOCAL PARTS HOUSE HE CAME UP WITH A BAD FRONT OIL SEAL. SO I WANTED TO DID FURTHER INTO THIS, AND FOUND A LOT OF DODGE, CHRYSLER, OWNER HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.I PULL UP AND COPY THESE PROBLEM'S SOME P/T OWNERS SAID THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THEM TO CHANGE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE THRUST BEARING WAS TO FAR OUT OF SPECS.AND PUSHING THE FRONT SEAL OUT AND CAUSING LEAK. IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS,THIS WOULD HAVE A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE PROBLEM. I THINK CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ONE CHRYSLER TECH DID SAY HE KNOWS THE 2.4L HAS A CRANK SEAL ISSUE ON A HANDFUL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW OUR P/T ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE. MOST OWNER THAT I'VE READ ABOUT HAS MILEAGE NO MORE THAN 110.000.AND SOME HAVE HAD THE SEAL REPLACE TWO-THREE TIMES. I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO PLATE AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM NOW WE ARE STUCK WITHOUT A CAR. THIS COULD COST IN THE THOUSANDS,THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE ADDRESS LONG AGO.THE HOLE UNDER…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2013Suspension, Power train, EngineODI 10548718
“AT 23,021 MILES MY 2005 PT CRUISER HAD THE LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM REPLACED (8/28/2007). SEVEN MONTHS LATER, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR (CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS). I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE OTHER LOWER CONTROL ARM ON 3/25/08 AT 27834 MILES. I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT 38,033 MILES AND AT 60,349 MILES. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS IN ONLINE FORUMS FROM PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND BRAKE WEAR HAS BEEN REPORTED DUE TO FRONT WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. MY CAR IS NOW AT 62,570 AND I AM HAVING THE SAME CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN HITTING A BUMP ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE UPON BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE NOW. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AND CHRYSLER NEES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS CAR, I OWNED A 2001 PT CRUISER AND HAD THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED IN THAT CAR BEFORE 40000 MILES. THERE HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE DRIVING IN THESE VEHICLES. A WHEEL BEARING BREAKING WHILE DRIVING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! SEE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2012SuspensionODI 10453521
“MY PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE STARTED MAKING A THUMPING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN. THE NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LIMPED IT TO LES SCHWAB AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE STRUTS AND SOME PLATE THING THAT GOES ON TOP. I WILL HAVE TO $750.00 OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2011SuspensionODI 10439847
“HEARD THUMPING NOISE ON RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND NEW TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. MECHANIC INVESTIGATED AND FOUND FRONT END SEALED BEARINGS WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. SINCE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT COST US $800 TO REPAIR. BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WE HAVE FOUND, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2011SuspensionODI 10424439

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Suspension

Free remedy

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

SuspensionReported Apr 14, 2008NHTSA 08E033000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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