RoadVitals

2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
16
Latest May 16, 2019
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.
9%
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.
2
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 16 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 fuel system

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

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 16, 2019
Fire reported

TL-THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. FUEL ODOR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR AN ADDITIONAL HOUR VEHICLE RESTARTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ALONG THE FIREWALL MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED, FIRE REPORT FILED, FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT UPON START UP THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RESTARTED ALMOST AN HOUR LATER. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE FIRE SEEMED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN A WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED BEHIND THE FUEL LINES FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PIIR = Y. AH *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11207986
Incident
May 11, 2019
Mileage
145,000 mi
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
Fuel system
Filed Aug 23, 2017

PURGE CONTROL VALVE IS FAULTY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AFTER FUELING. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. THIS OCCURS BOTH AT THE PUMP IMMEDIATELY AFTER FUELING AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM THE FUEL STATION. THE LATTER HAS CAUSED SAFETY HAZARDS & NEAR-ACCIDENTS COUNTLESS TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11019155
Incident
Aug 22, 2017
Mileage
70,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 1, 2017

STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING, CAR COMPLETELY STOPS AND YOU CAN'T GO FORWARD, HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND BACK IN DRIVE MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER TO EVEN BE ABLE TO DRIVE... CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD...

NHTSA ID
10992738
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
133,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 2, 2015

FUEL LINE HAS BEGUN LEAKING FUEL EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR. HAVE REPLACED FUEL LINE AND CONTINUES TO LEEK. SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE IS NO REAL FIX AND CHRYSLER PLASTIC CONNECTION WAS A POOR BUILD MAKING THIS AN ISSUE FOR ALMOST EVERY PT CRUISER OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10669778
Incident
Dec 19, 2014
Mileage
101,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningFuel system
Filed Nov 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONER ACCUMULATOR LEAKS WATER ONTO THE FUEL LINES. THE FUEL LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A SHIELD WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE AIR CONDITIONER ACCUMULATOR AND THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,086.

NHTSA ID
10486574
Incident
Nov 30, 2012
Mileage
96,086 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 16, 2012

THE FUEL LINE/PRESSURE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE THE PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKS, SPRAYING GAS ON THE FIREWALL. INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL PART, THIS IS NOW THE FOURTH ASSEMBLY IN THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY, NOT CHRYSLER, BUT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FORM CHRYSLER. MY SERVICE TECH SAYS HE REPLACES 50 OR 60 OF THESE PER YEAR. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN THE ASSEMBLY FAILS, THE ODOR OF GAS PERMEATES THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IS VERY STRONG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT AND THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS AT ABOUT 40000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10443900
Incident
Jan 11, 2012
Mileage
55,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 19, 2011
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD SMELL SMOKE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10440451
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
32,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2011

THE PT CRUISER 2005 TURBO WAS PURCHASED NEW AND CURRENTLY HAS 68,296 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CERRITOS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (CERRITOS, CA) AND GLEN E. THOMAS (SIGNAL HILL,CA} AND BOTH SERVICED VEHICLE. NEITHER DEALERS FIXED THE PROBLEM.THE LAST TIME WE PAID A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ALMOST $100 TO JUST RIDE AROUND WITH US TO SEE IF VEHICLE WOULD STOP. AGAIN NOTHING WAS DONE. AFTER FINALLY BRINGING THE CAR BACK 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITHIN A 12 WEEK PERIOD, THEY TOLD US TO CONTACT THE CORPORATE DIVISION AT CHRYSLER BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE OUR VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS IN SEPTEMBER 2011( WHICH PUT OTHERS LIFE IN DANGER) WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MILES/HR. THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF, AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS, FOR FEAR OF RISKING THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND OURSELVES. WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING A RECALL BECAUSE WE KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10428051
Incident
Apr 18, 2011
Mileage
64,040 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 21, 2010

IN 2006 I PURCHASED A 2005 PT CRUISER WITH 12000 MILES, IT RAN GREAT UNTIL MAY,2009 WITH APPROX. 28000 MILES, WHEN IT STARTED SPITTERING AND SPUTTERING UPON ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT EXCEED A SPEED OF 25 FOR 15 TO 25 SECONDS, SOMETIMES LONGER. I FOUND THIS OUT ON A 275 MILE ROUND TRIP UP US HWY 40 AFTER STOPPING TO GET GAS. UPON REENTRY TO HWY 40 WITH CARS TRAVELING 70-85 MPH, MY CAR JUST WOULD NOT GO. I FELT MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY HUSBANDS WAS IN GRAVE DANGER. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND STAYED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD UNTIL IT RETURNED TO NORMAL SPEED. THEN WHILE GOING UP HILLS, OR STOPPED FOR RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGN OR SLOWING DOWN TO YIELD, IT WOULD AGAIN, SPITTER & SPUTT AND BACKFIRE. UPON MY ARRIVAL BACK HOME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS IN NEED OF A TUNE UP (ATL ESS THAN 20000 MILES), AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, WHICH I BELIEVED WAS A UNLIMITED 5 YR/50,000 MILES, COSTING IN EXCESS OF $300.00/WHICH I DID NOT AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET REPAIRED., BUT STILL FEEL THIS IS A DANGER FACTOR FOR ANYONE RIDING IN IT. (WHICH I SELDOM HAVE ANYONE WITH ME EXCEPT MY HUSBAND OCCASIONALLY.) THE PT CRUISER IS STILL THE SAME EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ADDED GAS TREATMENTS AND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANERS TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SEVERE, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. THE CAR TO DATE ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 35000 MILES AND IS STILL ACTING UP, AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A TUNE UP PROBLEM OR THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT WAS STILL IN EFFECT AT THE TIME. (WHAT IS THE WARRANTY WORTH? (NOT LIFE OR LIMB.) I MIGHT ADD THAT IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS WEB SITE OR HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE "PEOPLES RIGHTS AND SAFETY." *TR

NHTSA ID
10312461
Incident
May 15, 2009
Mileage
28,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 19, 2009

MY WIFE'S 2005 PT CRUISER WITH ONLY 10,100 HAS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM STARTING. BY REPLACING OR REINSTALLING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY THE ENGINE WILL START. RECENTLY ON ONE OCCASION THE ENGINE STALLED; GLADLY IN A PARKING LOT, HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD OR FREEWAY AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED. HAS CHRYSLER BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IS IT JUST THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE OR ARE THERE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WILL THERE BE A RECALL BY CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE OR AFTER AN ACCIDENT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10277347
Incident
Jul 16, 2009
Mileage
10,100 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 11, 2009

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND THIS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THE VEHICLE DID START WITH A JUMP OR BY CLEANING THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268448
Incident
May 11, 2009
Mileage
9,611 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2007

SINCE NEW, FEB. 2005, MY 2005 PT CRUISER SHAKES AND STUMBLES AT IDLE. AT 180 MILES, THE ENGINE STOPPED IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED, BUT IT RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH. THE DEALER REPLACED A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE ENGINE HASN'T DIED SINCE, BUT I STILL EXPERIENCE ROUGH IDLE AND STUMBLE ON ACCELERATION. THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN DO NO MORE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10188959
Incident
Feb 22, 2005
Mileage
180 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2006

O RINGS ON FUEL INJECTORS CAME OFF, CAUSING INJECTORS TO TAP. CHRYSLER WILL NOT TOUCH IT. THEY KEEP SAYING THE INJECTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAP! I WENT TO 4 CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS, AND 3 SAID IT`S NORMAL, AND ONE SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE TAP. I WENT TO 3 OTHER MECHANICS ( NON CHRYSLER) AND THEY ALL SAID IT`S NOT NORMAL, AND TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADMIT THERE`S ANYTHING WRONG, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE TO GET A DIFFERENT CAR! AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT, I WON`T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM! I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANY CHRYSLER PRODUCT TO ANYONE! *JB

NHTSA ID
10168327
Incident
Aug 25, 2006
Mileage
24,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2006

FUEL INJECTOR O RINGS COME LOOSE CAUSING INJECTORS TO TAP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10168324
Incident
Aug 21, 2006
Mileage
24,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 9, 2005

I PURCHASED NEW,2005 PT CRUISER IN EL PASO, TX. RETURNED CAR FOR SERVICE AT 3 WEEKS WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS- MISSING, MISFIRE. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG & RESET COMPUTER. RETURNED CAR FOLLOWING WEEK- ENGINE USED 1/2 QT OIL IN ONE WEEK. COULD SMELL GAS WHILE DRIVING CAR. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG. I SPOKE WITH SALES MANAGER AND TRIED TO RETURN CAR. THEY SAID NO, THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY SAID CARS COULD USE OIL IN FIRST MONTH OF USAGE. THEY SAID THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS BEING TRANSFERRED TO DALLAS FOLLOWING WEEK, THEY SAID NO PROBLEM, IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG GO TO DEALER IN DALLAS. SEPT- CAR USED 1/2 QT OIL AGAIN, GAS/OIL SMELL GETTING STRONGER WHILE DRIVING- EFFECTING MY ASTHMA. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE- SERVICE SAID OIL USAGE NORMAL FOR UP TO ONE YEAR. SERVICE SAID THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUE UNTIL CAR WAS USING 1 QT OIL EVERY 500 MILES. SERVICE DID OIL CHANGE. SERVICE STARTED OIL USAGE REPORT ON CAR AND SAID TO BRING CAR IN EVERY 500 MILES FOR CHECK. I DROVE CAR 500 MILES AND CHECKED OIL. SERVICE HAS OVERFILLED OIL LEVEL AND IS 1/4 INCH OVER THE FILL LINE. RETURNED TO SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO CHECK OIL AND SAID THAT I NEEDED APPOINTMENT AND WOULD NEED TO LEAVE CAR AGAIN. CAR TO GO TO SERVICE FOR FOURTH TIME ON MONDAY, OCT 10. *NM

NHTSA ID
10139128
Incident
Jul 25, 2005
Mileage
681 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 .