Most common 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv complaints by model year
What 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv owners say
Electrical system
Just like many other complaints on here, my vehicle starts acting crazy with lights flashing, and feels like it won't shift and go above 40mph. I brought the car to dealer and they replaced the ignition switch, and PCM. This cost me $1200. It stopped for a bit, then started again a month or two later when they told me it needed motor mounts and a new PCM (which they said they changed, but I don't believe it). It is now back there with the same problem and I'm now on the 4th day it's there and I'm getting no answers, just a bunch of sales people calling. If there have been multiple issues with this same problem why hasn't this vehicle been recalled? The vehicle is in motion when this happens and I have children this can be very dangerous for us and others on the road.
Like the other complaints, the dash gauges go bonkers and to zero, , engine stops, sometimes will restart other I have to put it in neutral and restart manually. It happened last year only a couple of times and during the summer heat, no problems last winter. Started again this past month worse than before.
Engine & cooling
On sept. 20, 2010, I was returning home in my 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible when I noticed a "burning" odor inside the car and saw a lot of smoke coming from the passenger side of the engine. My husband and I had the car towed to a dealership to see what happened and get the necessary repair. I was totally shocked when I found out that the cooling fan motor had burnt internally. We had the repair done and paid for it. As per judy in Chrysler case management, I have been informed that Chrysler will reimburse me for all but $100 of the repair. Thankfully, no crash occurred and no deaths or injuries resulted. Had I been driving the vehicle in a bad area or in a desolate area, the consequences could have been worse, I am convinced. My vehicle is only four years old and has just over 36,000 miles on it and I don't think a problem like this should have happened.
Like the other complaints, the dash gauges go bonkers and to zero, , engine stops, sometimes will restart other I have to put it in neutral and restart manually. It happened last year only a couple of times and during the summer heat, no problems last winter. Started again this past month worse than before.
Steering
Very much the same as the other complaints listed on here. I kept having problems with the car shutting down and / or the steering locking on me. Started in September and had to "continually" go back to the dealer over & over & over again just to have them say they've check the diagnostics and nothing is showing up. Then next time they said it was probably needing a new computer switch....so more $$$. This was never resolved until after "multiple" incidents & "multiple" visits to the dealer. Then one day in late October...now 2 months of frustration....I'm in the parking lot of a mall & the car slows down & the gauges start going crazy. It shows zero 0 speed & zero 0 in my fuel tank.....I had just filled the gas tank 2 hours earlier.....and then it just stops. Then starts up again but with a weird sound. …
Been experiencing a vibration in my car, and upon several attempts on finding that problem I was told that my steering wheel was loose. Upon taking it to the dealer, I was informed that the whole steering column would have to be replaced. Seems to me to be too soon to have this done on 2006 model with 33,000 miles. Still haven't found the vibration problem yet.
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the PT Cruiser Conv to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv?
The electrical system — 13 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (11) and steering (3).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Conv problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.