FaultScore

Chrysler PT Cruiser transmission problems

221 of the 3,420 complaints filed about the Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the transmission — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.

221

Complaints

6%

Share of all complaints

15

Crashes

3

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

2001 PT Cruiser 50 22.6%

Median failure at 43,371 miles

2002 PT Cruiser 36 16.3%

Median failure at 54,000 miles

2003 PT Cruiser 37 16.7%

Median failure at 32,208 miles

2004 PT Cruiser 22 10.0%

Median failure at 27,000 miles

2005 PT Cruiser 13 5.9%

Median failure at 70,639 miles

2006 PT Cruiser 28 12.7%

Median failure at 61,585 miles

2007 PT Cruiser 18 8.1%

Median failure at 18,000 miles

2008 PT Cruiser 10 4.5%

Median failure at 89,000 miles

Median failure at 66,725 miles

What owners said

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Colorado Springs, CO

POWER TRAIN

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11623671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Colorado Springs, CO

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11623671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Warsaw, MO

POWER TRAIN

The clutch will not disengage every time and never fully disengages. I noticed my car had a recall for this problem in the past, so before doing the work, I called a dealer for Chrysler and was informed that the recall had already been performed. So I took it upon myself at my own expense to have the clutch replaced. It worked fine for a few months, but it started doing the same thing again.

NHTSA complaint #11611825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 50,000 miles Perris, CA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11364677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Indio, CA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I-10 CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (79200 VARNER RD, INDIO, CA 92203) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLING FAN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY, MODULE, HIGH AND LOW SPEED RELAYS, THE THERMOSTAT, COOLING FAN, RADIATOR CAP AND COOLANT WERE ALL REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRYSTAL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (36444 AUTO PARK DR, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO MANUFACTURER AND LEFT A MESSAGE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11361520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 100,000 miles Sagamore, MA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11327694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 65,000 miles Antioch, CA

POWER TRAIN

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

NHTSA complaint #11290245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Inverness, FL

POWER TRAIN

IT STALLS AND WON'T GO OVER 40MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11265745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 157,000 miles Lincolnton, NC

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11208017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 134,000 miles Maple Grove, MN

POWER TRAIN

CAR OVER HEATING ISSUES

NHTSA complaint #11195532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Portland, OR

POWER TRAIN

THIS VEHICLE HAS A P0037 AND A P0037 DTC'S THAT WON'T CANCEL. FINDLEY CHRYSLER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS. IT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THE COMPUTER IS BAD. I SENT THE COMPUTER 5033293AF TO BE REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS OK. I GOT THE CODES TO GO AWAY FOR A BRIEF TIME BY MESSING WITH THE COMPUTER WIRE LOOM. IHAVE HEARD THERE WAS ARECALL FOR THIS. IS IT STILL AVAILABLE?06/08/2018

NHTSA complaint #11181490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 58,170 miles Metropolis, IL

POWER TRAIN

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

NHTSA complaint #11172180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 35,000 miles Fall River, MA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARX AUTO CENTER (132 ROCKDALE AVE, SOUTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02748, (508) 997-2377), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA complaint #11093247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 39,700 miles BAY Shore, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEARS WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER, HEADLIGHTS, AND POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTIC CHRYSLER (130 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, WEST ISLIP, NY 11795, (631) 422-0135) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,700.

NHTSA complaint #11047806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 130,000 miles Springfield, TN

POWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL- THE CAR WILL AT RANDOM TIMES NOT CHANGE OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I CAN PULL OVER SOMETIMES AND RESTART IT MULTIPLE TIME AND IT WOULD WORK. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO RANDOMLY COME ON NOW. AND THE THERMOMETER SOMETIMES WILL BE BLANK AND SOMETIMES WILL SAY -12 WHEN IT IS 90 DEGREES, AND SOMETIMES IT IS ACCURATE. AND SOMETIMES IT WILL LIGHT UP SAYING I AM IN ALL GEARS, PARK, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, REVERSE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I AM ON THE INTERSTATE, OR GOING UP A HILL AND THIS HAPPENS I CAN'T GO OVER 35 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT TAKING A CHANCE OF BLOWING MY ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #11021624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 85,000 miles Minneapolis, MN

POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH. VERY SCARY, DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CAR. FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY.

NHTSA complaint #11021241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 156,000 miles Tacoma, WA

POWER TRAIN

SHIFT LEVER GEAR CONTROL SNAPPED BACKING OUT STUCK IN STREET WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE VEHICLE IN MOTION

NHTSA complaint #10924665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 170,400 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, UP TO 4,000RPM WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT 4,000RPM. TO SAVE MY LIFE AND OTHERS SHIFTED CAR INTO NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO RESTARTED THE CAR AND SAME SYMPTOM WERE PRESENT, ENGINE REVIVING TO 4,000RPM, FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS A PRECAUTION. NOTE THAT WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED THE CAR WAS NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, SIMPLY DRIVING AROUND TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS. THIS SITUATION IS SCARY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN, HOW, IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, TOTALLY UNPROVOKED AND NON-SENSICAL AS TO WHY IT IS HAPPENING, WHAT TRIGGERS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED TWICE RECENTLY AND BECAUSE OF THIS NIGHTMARE SCENARIO I AM HESITANT, VERY VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS A DANGER TO MY, MY WIFE'S LIFE AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WE MAY ACCIDENTALLY PLOW INTO IF THE CAR DECIDES TO GO INTO RUNAWAY MODE OF ITS OWN VOLITION. YOUR CONSIDERATION OF A RESPONSE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #10909391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 122,000 miles Davie, FL

POWER TRAIN

LOSES POWER THEN SURGES WHILE DRIVING. LIKE IT IS GOING TO DIE THEN IT SUDDENLY SURGES AND DRIVES OK. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN, BUT IT IS SCARY WHEN IT DOES. ALSO, WHEN IT DOES THIS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON? SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE CLUTCH. HOW CAN THAT BE A CLUTCH ISSUE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE TO START LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM? IS BEING GOING FOR MONTH'S NOW...

NHTSA complaint #10899088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser at 46,000 miles Alpharetta, GA

POWER TRAIN

IDLING IN PARK; SEATBELT LIGHT KEPT DINGING ON; SPEEDOMETER KEPT JUMPING BACK AND FORTH FROM 0-100; IDLING AT TRAFFIC STOP; CAR SHUTTERS LIKE IT WILL CUT OFF; SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND WHILE CAR IS NOT MOVING. PCM/TCM REPLACED MULTIPLE TIME; BATTERY LOSES CHARGE FOR NO KNOWN REASON; HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, PAY FOR SENSORS AND PARTS NEEDED ONLY FOR THE SAME ISSUE TO HAPPEN. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS. THERE NEED TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THESE CARS STALLING WITH NO ABILITY TO CONTROL CAR. CHRYSLER KNOWS FULL WELL OF THESE GARBAGE CARS. THAT IS THE REAL REASON THEY DISCONTINUED THEM! SOMEONE NEEDS TI STEP IN. YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WHERE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #10876312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chrysler PT Cruiser problems