Most common 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Share of the 349 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints by model year
Best PT Cruiser years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (1)
Visibility › Glass, side/rear
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear quarter glass attaching fasteners May pull through their mounts and allow the glass to separate from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear quarter glass. The recall began on April 30, 2007. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser:
Rear quarter panel glass separation
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…
Rear quarter panel glass separation
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.
What 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners say
Electrical system all 138 →
all of the dash board instrument cluster lights turn on breifly,car speed starts to drop, lights on dash turn back off,[ all except seat belt lights] then car seems to restart itself and will reaccelerate.all this happens while we are driving in traffic at highway speeds, this is not good and could result in a very serious incident, not only for us but for othe
TIPM already replaced 1x for same issues occurring again now, a few years later and for at least the last 8 months from this posting, occurring more and more frequently now and last time occurring was feb 01, 2016. All dash / engine status lights come on for no reason, then off seconds later, occurring anytime while engine is running. Engine stalls - sputtering, power steering and breaks fail to work properly during this time, fuel level gauge wildly fluctuates and smell of gas is noticeable, all causing a dangerous situation when at highway speeds. Head lights and interior lights randomly go bright or dim for a fraction of a second. Dealership unable to diagnose as it does not stay broke long enough for their techs to diagnose with their equipment even after having the car for 2 full days, despite this problem seen visually by dealer and on video recording. …
Engine & cooling all 91 →
all of the dash board instrument cluster lights turn on breifly,car speed starts to drop, lights on dash turn back off,[ all except seat belt lights] then car seems to restart itself and will reaccelerate.all this happens while we are driving in traffic at highway speeds, this is not good and could result in a very serious incident, not only for us but for othe
TIPM already replaced 1x for same issues occurring again now, a few years later and for at least the last 8 months from this posting, occurring more and more frequently now and last time occurring was feb 01, 2016. All dash / engine status lights come on for no reason, then off seconds later, occurring anytime while engine is running. Engine stalls - sputtering, power steering and breaks fail to work properly during this time, fuel level gauge wildly fluctuates and smell of gas is noticeable, all causing a dangerous situation when at highway speeds. Head lights and interior lights randomly go bright or dim for a fraction of a second. Dealership unable to diagnose as it does not stay broke long enough for their techs to diagnose with their equipment even after having the car for 2 full days, despite this problem seen visually by dealer and on video recording. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 47 →
While driving I noticed rattling noises coming from the rear of the vehicle and excessive road noise in the passenger compartment coming from the back. After a rainy day I observed puddles of water behind the rear seats. Upon investigating I found that the fixed rear quarter windows were no longer properly attached to the body of the vehicle. I learned that a recall was performed on this vehicle back in 2007 (NHTSA campaign number: 07V149000) I called Chrysler and they verified that the recall had been performed on this vehicle in May of 2007. It would appear that the fix is not effective, and frankly I am not surprised. Expecting plastic to maintain integrity long term under tension is foolish. It should be possible to use a more permanent, flexible adhesive (e.g. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While driving various speeds during inclement rain weather, the front and rear wipers failed. In addition, the horn failed to activate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser 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 a good car?
Based on 349 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 PT Cruiser rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the PT Cruiser at the same age. It is one of the PT Cruiser years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The electrical system — 138 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about horn. Next are the engine & cooling (91) and windows, wipers & sunroof (47).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the most recent from April 4, 2007 (glass, side/rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002 and 2006. See the full Chrysler PT Cruiser years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 46% 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.