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2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, most often about the electrical (28% of complaints, typically around 50,500 miles). It is the most complained-about PT Cruiser Convertible model year since 2000.

Complaints69
Recalls0
Crashes reported4
Fires reported1
Injuries reported6

Most common 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible problems

  1. Electrical

    19 complaints · 28%

    Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, 12v/24v/48v battery, horn.

    Chrysler 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible. Defective multifunction control switch. (turn signal, headlight, fog light lever). Causes fog lights to stay on even when the ignition is off, draining battery on a consistent basis. For now only way to remedy problem is to pull the fuse for the fog lamps. Cannot find a…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 51,000 miles
    Left work to find the battery was dead. Got it jumped and went home. When I turned the car off and removed the key, I noticed that the fog light indicator light remained on. I checked the lights and found that they were still on. I turned the lights on, signaled left and right, jiggled it around and the indicator…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 50,000 miles

  2. Suspension

    14 complaints · 20%

    Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.

    Left side front wheel bearing failure. I regret not having saved the broken bearing. The failure occurred at slow speed while making a left turn and was signaled by a vary loud crunching sound. It was sudden and severe enough that we determined it need immediate repair. We consider ourselves lucky this occurred as we…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 35,591 miles
    While driving felt like car was going over mini-speed bumps. Took it to tire store and found out it wasn't the tires and they recommended the dealership. At the dealership they informed me it was the left-front bearing and I shouldn't be driving on it at all because the wheel could fall off. Had it repaired there.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 42,000 miles

  3. Wheels and tires

    12 complaints · 17%

    Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: sidewall, rim.

    First occurrence the right front wheel bearing failed, 38,00 miles. Second occurrence the left front wheel bearing failed at 50,706. Both times we had it replaced. Neither wheel came off but the mechanic's said the right front was close. No noise coming on the right front but the left front did and we took it in.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 50,706 miles
    Front passenger wheel bearings wore out at 21,919 miles 4/12/2008, replaced them, and then they wore out again at 32,100 miles (same wheel). Causes steering wobbles & could lead to a crash.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 32,100 miles

  4. Engine

    10 complaints · 14%

    Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.

    Approximately 3 -4 months ago I took my car to the mechanic because the airbag light was intermittently coming on. A complete diagnostic was completed and the mechanic determined that "nothing is wrong with it." a week later the problem continued and the battery light became coming on. About a week after that, I was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 90,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible. The contact stated the vehicle was idle. However, there were times when she approached a stop sign when the vehicle began to surge and stall without warning. The vehicle was restarted and resumed normal operation. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 98,000 miles

  5. Lights

    8 complaints · 12%

    Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: fog lights.

    I own a 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible. I have had problems for the past year with the multifunction switch located on the steering column. The fog lights will not turn on as the switch is broken and sometimes there is visible smoke coming out of the column followed by the stench of burning rubber. I researched and found…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 82,000 miles
    We own a 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible and have had problems for the past year with the multifunction switch located on the steering column. The fog lights come on by themselves and will drain the battery dead. There must be a short in the steering column which is causing this problem. We turn our left blinker on before…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 60,000 miles

  6. Steering

    6 complaints · 9%

    Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles.

    A hole was made in the power steering line. All the fluid dumped out. I was driving forward and suddenly it was very difficult to steer. The line should not be run like that. I attempted to put in more fluid and it all just poured right out!
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 120,000 miles
    Took 2005 pt convertible for oil change, mechanic informed me I was very low on power steering fluid, he refilled it. Gradually began noticing whining/groaning sound when turning, the tighter the turn the worse the sound. Sound increasingly became more frequent. Returned to mechanic (a different one) and he said I was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 38,000 miles

  7. Air bags

    5 complaints · 7%

    Parts named most often: frontal.

    My daughter was driving a 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible and was involved in a frontal crash at freeway speed. She was restrained by her seatbelt, yet her airbag did not deploy. I am the owner of the car and I am very concerned since she was injured and the car totaled and yet no airbag. I am concerned as to why the bag…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 57,600 miles
    Vehicle air bag light flashes on and off when a person around 75-150lbs sits in the passenger seat. This happens at any speed. Occasionally the airbag light will work normally; issue seems to be related to whether the seat is occupied when the engine is started, or occupied after the engine is started. Many others on…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 130,000 miles

  8. Transmission

    3 complaints · 4%

    Parts named most often: clutch assembly, automatic transmission.

    With only 21,000 miles my 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible base model experienced a failure of the manual clutch assembly. I had driven about 100 miles of open highway and was entering a more urban setting with frequent stops and starts due to traffic lights. After about the 5th or 6th light my gear shift lever would move…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2006, at 21,643 miles
    Approximately 3 -4 months ago I took my car to the mechanic because the airbag light was intermittently coming on. A complete diagnostic was completed and the mechanic determined that "nothing is wrong with it." a week later the problem continued and the battery light became coming on. About a week after that, I was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 90,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible?
By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (19 complaints, typically around 50,500 miles); suspension (14 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); wheels and tires (12 complaints, typically around 50,500 miles).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
Is the 2005 a bad year for the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible?
It is the most complained-about PT Cruiser Convertible model year since 2000, with 69 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible years

Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible problems by year