RoadVitals

2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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 Apr 3, 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.
6%
of 187 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 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 brake

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

Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 3, 2018

2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION ON THE INLET NOZZLE FUEL TANK. *SMD THE DEALER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CRACKED TRIM AROUND A/C UNIT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN, FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING, AND REAR SHOCK NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10919533
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
39,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STIFF. AFTER REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11075818
Incident
Jan 15, 2018
Mileage
200,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CAUSED THE SPEED TO INCREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,293.

NHTSA ID
10654970
Incident
Nov 8, 2014
Mileage
160,293 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 2014
2 injuries reported

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MONTHS BACK. I WAS DRIVING FROM VEGAS BACK HOME TO LOS ANGELES ON THE I-15 FREEWAY. I WAS ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND JUST TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WAS ROCK HARD. IT JUST WOULDN'T PRESS DOWN. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO NOT GET INTO A COLLISION AT THAT SPEED AND MOVED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WAITED FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STARTED PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES SLOWLY. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND SINCE THE BRAKES WOULDN'T GET PRESSED I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVE MODE. I CALLED 911. THE STATE TROOPER THAT CAME CHECKED THE CAR, SAT ON THE DRIVER SEAT ND DROVE THE CAR A BIT. HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID "I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SURVIVED THIS. THERE ARE NO BRAKES IN THE CAR". HE CHECKED THE COOLANT, BRAKE FLUID, OIL AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. I CALLED AAA WHO TOWED MY CAR BACK TO VEGAS TO FIX IT. THAT COST ME $424. THE REPAIR GUY WHO FIXED THE CAR SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE MANIFOLD FROM WHERE THE PIPES ARE CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES HAS A METAL ELBOW THAT CONNECTS THE PIPES TO THE MANIFOLD. THAT METAL ELBOW FELL OFF AND HE TRIED SETTING IT BACK ON BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T STAY. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT SINCE THE METAL ELBOWS COMES WITH THE MANIFOLD AND THAT IS MADE AT THE CHRYSLER FACTORY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THE SAME THING. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME SINCE THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10628121
Incident
Aug 17, 2014
Mileage
72,099 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2014

I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. ON MARCH 29TH MY FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. I WENT ON LINE AND SAW SEVERAL "BLOGS" ABOUT THIS ISSUE - I AM AN OLDER WOMEN WITH MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THINGS SO I WENT TO A PARTS STORE THAT WAS OPEN AND THE CLERK PULLED THE #8 FUSE OUT - FOR THE FOG LIGHTS SO MY BATTERY WOULD NOT RUN DOWN BEFORE SERVICE/REPAIR WAS OPEN ON MONDAY- THE MECHANIC STATED HE COULD FIX IT AND ALSO THAT THE DEALERSHIP JUST TOOK IN A USED CRUISER AND THE FOG LIGHTS DID NOT WORK - THEY FOUND THAT SOMEONE HAD TOOK THE FUSES OUT FOR THAT CRUISER ALSO - IS THIS A DEFECTIVE ISSUE- APPEARS NOW ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN IMPROVED. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMPUTER AND AGAIN SEEMS OTHER CRUISER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE ALSO - THIS IS A LOT OF EXPENSE AND WITH THE LOAN ON THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO NOW GET A DIFFERENT CAR AS THIS DOES SEEM TO BE A LEMON - BUT I HAVE TO KEEP IT TILL I CAN AFFORD TO GET A DIFFERENT CAR - WITH ALL THESE ISSUES - NO ONE WILL WANT THIS ONE EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576880
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Brakes
Filed Mar 21, 2012

WHEN REPLACING FRONT BRAKE PADS ON MY 2005 PT CRUISER, TURBO, I NOTICED ONE FRONT ROTOR HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR, SO I NEEDED TO PURCHASE TWO NEW ROTORS. I WENT TO O'REILLY'S AUTO PARTS STORE, AND THEY HAD EVERYTHING IN STOCK. AFTER REPLACING ONE ROTOR, I ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THE BRAKE PADS INTO THE BRAKE PAD BRACKET, BUT THEY WOULDN'T GO OVER THE NEW ROTOR. AFTER COMPARING THE OLD ROTORS TO THE NEW ONES, I NOTICED THE NEW ONES WERE MUCH THICKER THAT THE OLD ROTORS. I WENT BACK TO O' REILLY'S WITH BOTH SET OF ROTORS THINKING THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG ROTORS. AT O' REILLY'S AFTER LOOKING THROUGH THIER MANUALS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS THEY GAVE ME ARE THE CORRECT ROTORS. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT COMES OUT THAT MY 2005 TURBO PT CRUISER HAS NON- TURBO BRAKE PARTS ON IT. THE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKE PAD BRACKETS ARE FOR A STANDARD CRUISER. I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED, AND INSTALL THE ALL THE CORRECT BRAKE PARTS THAT BELONG ON MY PT TURBO.

NHTSA ID
10453060
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Mileage
59,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 27, 2010

I OWN A 2005 PT CRUISER; I HAVE 134,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND KEEP IT SERVICED REGULARLY. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH SAFETY FACTORS CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2009. DECEMBER 2009 MY TIMING BELT WENT OUT ON INTERSTATE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHICH INCLUDED A NEW WATER PUMP. I CONTINUED TO HAVE OVERHEATING ISSUES, AND CONTINUED TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS AND NOTHING COULD BE IDENTIFIED AS THE PROBLEM. FEBRUARY 2010: I HAD TO HAVE VALVES SEALS REPAIRED DUE TO THEM LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS WAS DONE BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. APRIL 2010: I CONTINUED TO HAVE OVERHEATING ISSUES. I WAS ALSO NOW HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHERE MY TAILLIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BLOWING THE BULBS COMPLETELY OUT, TO WHERE THE BULBS WOULD BE BROKEN AND I WOULD HAVE NO LIGHTS AT ALL ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE, THERE WERE TIMES THIS WOULD OCCUR AT NIGHT WHICH WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MAY 2010: I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO CHRYSLER DEALER; AGAIN NOTHING COULD BE RESOLVED. JUNE 2010: BROUGHT THE CAR BACK FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE ALL DAY. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THE COOLER SENSOR AND SENSOR PLUG NEEDED REPLACED, AND TAIL LIGHT RECEPTORS WERE CHANGED OUT. JUNE 2010: ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND IT WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. WHEN TRAVELING I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL ON 55. THE CRUISE CONTROL TOOK OVER MY ACCELERATION AND IN NO MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 115+ MPH, I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I FINALLY PULLED THE E-BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR, AND HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THEN INTO PARK. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO PARK THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THESE SAFETY ISSUES ARE OF A SERIOUS NATURE. YOUR TIME IN LOOKING INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340305
Incident
Jun 26, 2010
Mileage
134,335 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 20, 2009

IN 2007 I WAS DRIVING WHEN I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY TIRES. I WAS HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS FOUND. OVER THE YEAR I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY TIRES 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WOULD WEAR AND I WOULD SLIDE AND THE TIRES WOULD SKID IN SIMPLE WEATHER. IN MARCH OF 2008 I HAD TO REPAIR MORE TIRES AND MY BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT WITH WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. ALSO IN 2007 I STARTED HEARING A SQUEALING SOUND IN THE ENGINE, I HAD IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. BUT DECREASED ONCE THE MECHANIC PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID. SINCE THEN EVEN NOW I STILL HEAR THE SQUEAKING AND EVERY MONTH I HAVE TO PUT IN STEERING FLUID. I CALLED CHRYSLER REGARDING RECALLS RELATING TO THESE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS WERE IN EFFECT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFO IN 2008 REGARDING THESE RECALLS THAT I NOW SEE ONLINE. ALSO MY AUTOMATIC STICK SHIFT STICKS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALMOST HIT SOMETHING HEAD ON TWICE SINCE DECEMBER 2008 BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SHIFT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255791
Incident
Dec 18, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 8, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, A DRUMMING AND SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10192754
Incident
Feb 1, 2006
Mileage
25,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 3, 2007

BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AT SAME TIME. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME. BULBS RECEIVE MAJOR DAMAGE. MAJOR CHANCE FOR REAR END COLLISION WHEN BULBS BLOW. ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS TYPE? THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189628
Incident
May 3, 2007
Mileage
71,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 1, 2005

I HAVE A CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER. IT HAS BEEN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME THING. ON NOV. 5, 2005 THE BRAKES FAILED, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. IT WENT TO THE SHOP BY WRECKER. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON NOV 9, 2005 NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE CAR, WAS TOLD IT RUNS BEAUTIFUL. ON NOV. 30, 2005 GOING HOME STOPPING IN TRAFFIC THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, ALMOST HIT A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. IT IS RIGHT NOT SETTING AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND SAID THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE RODE AROUND FOR A WEEK WITH A CO-PILOT IN IT AND NOTHING SHOW UP ON THAT. I HAVE LOST OVER 100 MILES PER TANK IN GAS MILEAGE. NO CHRYSLER DEALER CAN SEEM TO FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. WHAT CAN I DO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144160
Incident
Oct 24, 2005
Mileage
19,136 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .