RoadVitals

2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Conv Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 25, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
46%
of 24 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Conv submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 25, 2018

CAR IN MOTION, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON , LOST POWER, WAS NEARLY HIT FROM CAR BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ID
11113577
Incident
Jul 9, 2018
Mileage
15,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 16, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10734632
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2015

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON 2/9/2015 ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE IN MOTION MY CAR SHUTDOWN - FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IF IT WASN'T FOR SLOW BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD OF HIT ME. THE CAR WOULD NOT REV OR NOTHING BUT THE LIGHTS, RADIO ALL WORKED. I GOT TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT WAS NOT CHRYSLER AND THEY CHECKED AND THE ENGINE AND BATTERY & ALTERNATOR AND WAS FINE. BUT THEY CONTINUED TO CHECK AND FOUND IT WAS COMPUTER RELATED WHERE THE COMPUTER IS MALFUNCTIONING TO WHERE IT JUST SHUTS EVERYTHING DOWN. I WENT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER THAT DAY BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED AGAIN BUT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A TOW TRUCK FOLLOWING BEHIND JUST IN CASE. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP KEPT MY CAR OVERNIGHT AND TODAY ON 2/11/2015 TOLD ME JUST TO START THE POSSIBLE FIX OF THE CAR THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE TIPM (TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) AND THEY ARE NOT SURE THIS WILL FIX IT BUT JUST TO START IT WILL COST ME $1,149.27. THEY SAID CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OVER (WAS 3 YEARS). I ARGUED WITH THEM AND TOLD THEM CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE AND WARRANTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT - IT IS A DANGER ISSUE THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT FOR. YOU SEE THEY, THE DEALER, EVEN KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH CHRYSLER'S WORK THAT'S WHY THEY THEMSELVES SAY THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY HAVE THE NERVES TO THINK THEY CAN CHEAT ME OUT OF $1,149.47 JUST TO START WORK ON A POSSIBLE FIX. I WANT CHRYSLER TO FIX MY CAR WITHOUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE IT IS THEIR FAULT - I CANNOT DRIVE THIS DANGEROUS CAR. I DID ALSO CONTACT CHRYSLER CORP TODAY AND THEY TELL THE SAME CRAP THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682863
Incident
Feb 9, 2015
Mileage
79,788 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2014

SOLUTION! SOLUTION! SOLUTION! WE HAD THE SAME TYPES OF PROBLEMS AS THE BELOW PROBLEM ENTRY AND THE FIRST 4 PROBLEM ENTRIES FOLLOWING THIS ONE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED DOWN TO A FAULTY IGNITION KEY CYLINDER. THE METAL CONTACT ON THE INSIDE OF THE CYLINDER WAS DEFORMED, THEREBY CAUSING INTERMITTENT CONTACT. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, IT COMPLETELY SOLVED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND BLINK. ALL GAUGES GO TO 0. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS (NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES) THEN RESTART ALL BY IT'S SELF. I CAN BE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER. THERE'S ANOTHER VEHICLE IN TOWN LIKE MINE DOING THE SAME THING. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS.

NHTSA ID
10667408
Incident
Feb 15, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 21, 2014

ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND BLINK. ALL GAUGES GO TO 0. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS (NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES) THEN RESTART ALL BY IT'S SELF. I CAN BE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER. THERE'S ANOTHER VEHICLE IN TOWN LIKE MINE DOING THE SAME THING. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649053
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 24, 2014

WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON, THEN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GO CRAZY AND VEHICLE THEN SHUTS DOWN - HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART ENGINE AGAIN. I SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. TOO EXPENSIVE TO PLAY HIT OR MISS WITH A DEALERSHIP. I AM FRUSTRATED AND WORRIED FOR SAFETY WHEN DRIVING. HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10616130
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
88,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 18, 2013

WHILE DRIVING GAUGES RANDOMLY GO TO ZERO, ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, SOMETIMES ENGINE STALLS FOR ONE SECOND AND THEN RESTARTS, THEN GAUGES GO BACK TO NORMAL. HAPPENED ONCE IN A WHILE A YEAR AGO, NOW HAPPENS DAILY. TOOK TO DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES INCLUDING THIS ONE BUT WITH NO SOLUTIONS. LOTS OF SUGGESTIONS - FUSES, BATTERY WIRES, BATTERY, IGNITION SWITCH - BUT NOTHING DEFINITIVE. CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS, I'M JUST LUCKY IT HASN'T STALLED AT THE WRONG TIME. FRIEND WITH A DODGE HAS SAME PROBLEM AND HIS DEALER CAN'T FIX EITHER.

NHTSA ID
10544265
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
47,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2010
Fire reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10358737
Incident
Sep 20, 2010
Mileage
35,698 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 2009

13,090 MILES MY WIFE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AS SHE DROVE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT DID NOT TOUCH THE DIPSTICK. I ADDED 2 QUARTS AND STARTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THAT IT WAS LEAKING OIL OUT THE ACCESSORIES END OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING EXPELLED FROM THE TIMING COVER. 1ST REPAIR ATTEMPT: UPON TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL WAS AGAIN EXPELLED FROM THE TIMING COVER. THE CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXCESSIVE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY RESULTING IN THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL BEING FORCED OUT OF THE TIMING COVER. 2ND ATTEMPT: THE ENGINE SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP ON 10/16/2007. ON 1/26/2009 AT 32,022 ODOMETER WITH 18,932 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT SHORT BLOCK AND 13 MILES INTO A 15 MILE TRIP, THE REAR TIRES BEGAN SLIPPING AS I TRAVELED AROUND CORNERS. AS I SLOWED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY, I COULD SMELL THE ODOR OF BURNT MOTOR OIL. ENGINE OIL WAS COMING FROM THE ACCESSORIES SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND THE OIL NO LONGER TOUCHED THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN. 27, 2009 FOR REPAIR. THE CRANKSHAFT END SEAL WAS NOTED AS LEAKING WHEN IN REALITY THE SEAL HAD TO HAVE BEEN DISLODGED FROM THE TIMING COVER FOR THE VOLUME OF ENGINE OIL THAT WAS LOST IN 2 MILES. THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL AND DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED AS EITHER THE WEATHER BEING TOO COLD OR THE FACT THAT THE DEALER SERVICE REP HAD SEEN ALL KINDS OF STRANGE FAILURES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO GET THE CAR BEYOND THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FAILURE WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260448
Incident
Feb 26, 2009
Mileage
32,022 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2008

MY PT CRUISER IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL OR MORE PER 1000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249064
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2008

PURCHASED MAR 2007 THE PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE GT. WAS GETTING 19MPG MAXIMUM. WITH 13,000 MILES, THE CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ACCESSORIES END WAS PUSHED OUT BY TOO MUCH CRANKSHAFT END PLAY. 4 QUARTS LOW ON OIL WHEN IT FLASHED THE OIL LIGHT. CAR WAS HAULED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PUT ANOTHER SEAL IN IT AND THAT ONE FAILED WHILE THE DEALER STILL HAD THE CAR. THEY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK CAM BELT AND SEALS. THE CAM BELT MADE EXCESSIVE NOISE ON START-UP FOR THE FIRST MONTH. I NOW HAVE 17,500 ON IT AND THE MAXIMUM FUEL MILEAGE IS 16. IT WILL BE BACK IN THE DEALERSHIP LOOKING FOR A VACUUM LEAK AND CHECKING TO SEE IF CHRYSLER HAS A NEW FUEL MAP FOR THE COMPUTER. COMPLAINT IS FUEL MILEAGE AND ENGINE DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO LOSE ITS OIL WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL FROM ENGINE OIL ON THE TIRES OR FROM THE ENGINE LOCKING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217443
Incident
Nov 7, 2007
Mileage
13,083 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .