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2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, most often about the electrical (40% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about PT Cruiser model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Electrical
138 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn, instrument cluster/panel, starter assembly, software.
The contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while traveling 35 MPH the lights in the instrument panel illuminated, the gauges dropped as if the vehicle shut down, then the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to press the accelerator pedal and the vehicle began to function normally. The…
The key is stuck in the ignition...I have to unattach the battery cable so the battery will not go dead. I am women who has a disease called cancer..I am truly in some need to have someone to investigate this matter as soon as possible.the dealer wants to charge at least $330.00 to figure out which I am on a fixed…
Engine
91 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
I purchased a 2006 PT Cruiser touring edition in september of 2010, less then one month later the car began pouring out oil. Took to a mechanic who stated it was either the crank shaft or cam shaft seals. Called the dealership where car was purchased and they said they would make the repairs. The car was returned…
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser constantly overheats even after replacing thermostat, radiator fan, and any parts necessary for the vehicle to work properly. This is a problem that is know by diamler Chrysler; however, a recall has not been issued.
Visibility and wipers
47 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, windshield, windshield wiper/washer, rear window wiper/washer.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that windshield wipers did not work properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who installed a switch and new motor but the remedy failed to fix the problem. The dealer stated that the totally integrated body module needed to be replaced. The…
1- vehicle = 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser touring. 2- weather conditions = raining 3- vehicle failure = windshield wipers became inoperable with out warning and would not work in any selected position. Vehicle had to be driven home in the rain without the use of windshield wipers. 4- customer initially replaced the wiper…
Air bags
35 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the front passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact lost visibility and pulled over. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware…
The contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH when the passenger air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for repairs. After the repairs were made the air bag light stopped illuminating but all the warning lights on the instrument…
Transmission
28 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 61,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
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
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
Lights
21 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, tail lights, hazard flashing warning lights, turn signal.
I had safelite come out to replace my windshield- when I turned on my vehicle to head to sj I turned on my headlights/fog lights and they would not go on tried my blinkers and windshield wipers nothing was working all functions associated with knobs on steering column would not work. Drove vehicle down the street…
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser touring edition. Right front headlight went out, replaced with new bulb, still no light. Mechanic states ticm (total intergrated control module) went bad. Research showed this is a common failure in this vehicle. Repair exceeds $900 and will cause car to fail nys inspection.
Steering
18 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist, linkages.
I own a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser w/automatic trans. The electrical system, inc. The 4 cyl engine in my vehicle completely failed 3 sepsraste times, twice last year, and 1 time so far this year while driving in a residential area. This condition causes the air bag to not deploy; exterior and interior lights as well as…
The contact owns a 2006 PT Cruiser. The contact stated that the steering wheel exhibited a squeaking noise when turned. The steering wheel also became hard to turn. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04v268000 (steering). The vehicle was not…
Body and structure
15 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Faulty firewall. The firewall around the clutch master cylinder is twisting and splitting. This is a safety issue. If this can happen around the clutch, it can happen around the brakes. This needs to be looked at and fixed.
Vehicle at 76,000 miles rides rough and during check up was found to have bad front bushings and three cracked engine mounts. Two licensed mechanics advised that this should not be happening to a single owner, never mistreated vehicle at that mileage. This was caught prior to a potential safety incident.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls
Visibility and wipers: glass, side/rear
Risk: If the glass separates while driving, it could strike another vehicle or injure a pedestrian.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear quarter glass. The recall began on april 30, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear quarter glass attaching fasteners may pull through their mounts and allow the glass to separate from the vehicle.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rear quarter panel glass separation
Summary
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.
Rear quarter panel glass separation
Summary
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.
Questions about the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (138 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); engine (91 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles); visibility and wipers (47 complaints, typically around 49,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 4, 2007 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about PT Cruiser model year since 2000, with 349 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.