Problems · by component
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser power train problems
30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser cite power train, 8% of all 373 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
30
8% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.”
“THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING AT IDLE. WHEN DRIVING, IT MAINTAINS THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND RETURNS TO IT EVEN IF IT HAS GONE UP. IDLING AT A DRIVE THRU IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FULL OVERHEAT WITH SMOKE. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, A LOUD BUBBLING CAN BE HEARD. THE ENTIRE FAN ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS WAS JUST REPLACED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING. ORIGINALLY, FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. EVEN WHEN CAR WAS OFF. SPENT MANY MONTHS HAVING TO REMOVE THE FUSE BECAUSE THE RAN WOULD RUN THE ENGINE DRY OF POWER. THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVEN AFTER SHORT DRIVES WHEN THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND OFF. *TR”
“ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON RANDOMLY. IDLE SPEEDS INCONSISTENT. WINDSHIELD CRACKED STRAIGHT ACROSS WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL WE READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT CHRYSLER’S DEFECTIVE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULES PROBLEMS TITLED “CHRYSLER TIPMS CAUSING POWER PROBLEMS”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR AND FAILED TO DISPLAY THE PROPER GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ABERNETHY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 1442 E MAIN ST, LINCOLNTON, NC 28092, (704) 732-1890) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (CODE: P0700). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN DECEMBER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. *DT”
“AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. HAVE HAD CAR WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES. NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED. AM TOLD IT IS THE TIPM. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THROWING CAR INTO LIMPING MODE. WILL NOT GO ABOVE 45 MPH. ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. HAVENT HAD WRECK YET”
“PT CRUISER PCM FAILURE. I BOUGHT THIS USED 2/18. CAR LOSING ITS TURBO POWER, GAS CONSUMPTION AND MILAGE HORRIBLE. 5MILES/GALLON. O2 SENSORS REPLACED 6/18. REPLACED BATTERY 7/18. CAR HAD BEEN AND CONTINUED TO HAVE HARD STARTING SINCE 6/18. OFTEN IT WOULD TAKE 2 ATTEMPTS TO START IGNITION. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR FAILURE CODES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. 10/18 DRIVING 40MPH LARGE BUSY CITY STREET, GOING STRAIGHT, WITH NO WARNING THE CAR FAILED. 40MPH TO SUDDEN SLOW ROLL ENGINE FAILED. LOST POWER STEERING. RADIO STAYED ON. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD BUT NOT FULLY OUT OF TRAFFIC LANE. CITY BUS ALMOST STRUCK MY CAR. NORMALLY A MOVE LIKE THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHTS OR SIGNALING. THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME, SO SCARY. STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS. CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS CLOSE, BUT NEVER DID. 6 HOURS AT MECHANIC, PCM FAILED. NEEDS REPLACEMENT. $1300 FOR NEW PCM. CAN'T AFFORD IT.”
Showing 6 of 30 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.