2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Brakes Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11655145

Incident

Dec 18, 2024

DRIVING VEHICLE, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF, CARS STALLS, BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE ENGINE FAN WON'T SHUT OFF WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, AND IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THAT PART IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND VERY IRRITATING, BUT THE STALLING OUT AND COMPLETELY DYING, IS VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET OFF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621837

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE FIRST TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2013 THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. I HAD GONE INTO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE ON BUT SOME WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANICS SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE BATTERY AND REPLACED IT. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WILL FLASH ON AND OFF BUT NOT FOR LONG. LAST NIGHT 7/30/2014 I WAS DRIVING, EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT I WAS IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND NOT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE AT FIRST THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. WE HAD TO PUSH IT TO SAFETY AND THEN I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME KIND OF CODE OR SOMETHING (NO BUS/5) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RPM SECTION OF THE PANEL. COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL ABOUT IT, CALLED AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND IT DIDN'T SHOW UP IN THEIR DATABASE, SO I HAD A FRIEND GOOGLE IT. EVERYTHING POINTS TO THE ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM AND FUSES. SEVERAL PEOPLE POSTED THIS ISSUE WITH JEEPS AND PT CRUISERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617845

Incident

Sep 27, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

ON MARCH 13, 2014 WHILE DRIVING MY PT CRUISER MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE PEDAL DID NOT DEPRESS (MOVE) THUS THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY I HAD JUST BACKED OUT MY DRIVEWAY IS I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC A ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED . I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER FIRST SAID THAT THE BRAKE HOSE HAD DETERIORATED BUT THAN SAID AND CHARGED ME FOR A VALVE BREAK (PART NUMBER 1837900) THE COST OF VALVE $6.92 . IN MY OWNERS MANUAL PAGE 231IT STATES "THE DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM PROVIDES A RESERVE BRAKING CAPACITY IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE TO A PORTION OF THE HYDRAULICS SYSTEM. FAILURE OF EITHER HALF.. ID INDICATED BY THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT... AGAIN I WAS NOT PROVIDE WITH A WARNING OF THE FAILURE AND THE BACKUP SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10572805

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

102,356 mi

FAULTY FIREWALL. THE FIREWALL AROUND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS TWISTING AND SPLITTING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AROUND THE CLUTCH, IT CAN HAPPEN AROUND THE BRAKES. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10420732

Incident

Aug 19, 2011

Mileage

78,500 mi

I HAVE HAD HUGE BREAK ISSUES. I HAD TO REPLACE THREE TIMES THE BRAKES AND ROTOR IN MY CAR. IT ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS AT 28,000. THEN 40,000....AND NOW AGAIN. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT PT CRUISER BRAKE PROBLEMS, AND HOW PREVALENT THEY ARE. I AM SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE. *LN

NHTSA ID

10380984

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

28,000 mi

DRIVING ALONG WHEN POWER BRAKES FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, DRAMATICALLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE AND EFFORT TO APPLY BRAKES. CAP FOR BRAKE VACUUM POWER BOOST MISSING - CAP REPLACED. CAP MUST HAVE DISLODGED OR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, SINCE POWER BRAKES WORKED ON SAME TRIP PRIOR TO INCIDENT AT INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES WAITING AT INTERSECTION OR ELSE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374723

Incident

Jan 4, 2011

Mileage

79,100 mi

I HAVE 2006 PT CRUISER AND I AM HAVING TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SOMETIMES THE STEREO WILL NOT WORK.BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. IF YOU HAVE THE DOME LIGHT ONE AND PUT YOUR BLINKER ON TO THE RIGHT THE LIGHT GOES OUT DOESN'T DO IT ON THE LEFT, THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES HANGS UP AND WILL NOT TURN STUCK FOR A LITTLE BEFORE I CAN GET IT TO TURN OVER AND START, THEN THE AC SPOUSE HAD TO REWIRE IT BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR WASN'T KICKING ON AND OFF, I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A CHRYSLER AND AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE IF CHRYSLER IS NOT WILL TO HELP REPAIR THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT OWN ANOTHER, MY HUSBAND IS OUT OF WORK AND I CANT AFFORD TO REPAIR ALL THE ISSUES THIS CAR HAS..... THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341892

Incident

Jun 7, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD CASKET NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHE STATED THE REPAIR COST WAS FROM $1,500 TO $2,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 84,000. VWB

NHTSA ID

10334318

Incident

May 31, 2010

Mileage

84,000 mi

WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK MY BRAKES WENT FROM SOUNDING AND WORKING FINE TO MAKING A HIDEOUS GRINDING SOUND. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A BRAKE SPECIALTY SHOP THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ALL MY BRAKES (WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM) JUST THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240348

Incident

Aug 21, 2008

Mileage

17,175 mi

I HAVE HAD THIS 2006 PT CRUISER FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WITHIN THAT YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES, BRAKES. THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. I CAN'T BLOW THE HORN WITHOUT POUNDING IT. THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES HOLD MOISTURE, THE THING DRINKS GAS AND RIGHT NOW WITH GAS PRICES THIS IS A PROBLEM. YET, NOBODY WANTS ME TO TRADE IT BECAUSE IT ISN'T WORTH A PENNY BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE FACT THEY LIED ON THE STICKERS ABOUT GAS MILEAGE. I MAY GET 17 MILES PER GALLON. HORRIBLE CAR. I HOPE PEOPLE STOP BUYING THEM UNTIL THEY FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY ALREADY HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228559

Incident

May 11, 2008

Mileage

44,052 mi

I TOOK OUR 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND INSPECTION ON FEB 21, 2008. THE SERVICE ADVISER BRUCE WARREN, CAME TO THE WAITING ROOM TO INFORM ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY WERE DOWN TO 5%. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THEM, AND SAID I DID NOT HEAR ANY NOSE FROM THE WARNING SCRAPERS. HE SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT GO METAL TO METAL. I THOUGHT THEY MUST BE USING CHEAPER PADS TO GO OUT IN 19,000 MILES. BRUCE CAME BACK TO INFORM ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE BELOW MIN. THICKNESS TO RESURFACE. I TOLD HIM TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED THE CAR, AND I WOULD TALK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER KIRK IRVINE AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY BRAKES, AND AM I GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 19000 MILES. HE SAID WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ALL THE BRAKES LASTING. I TOLD HIM I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CHRYSLER CO., AND ASKED FOR THEIR 800 NUMBER. HE GAVE IT TO ME AND I CALLED CHRYSLER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE LADY TAKING MY CALL SAID I MAY NOT BE CONTACTED. I TOLD THE DEALER AND THE CORP. OFFICE, THAT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU FEEL SAFE WITH A CAR, THAT IT'S BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT IN ABOUT HAVE THE TIME OF NORMAL AND WITHOUT GOING METAL TO METAL WEARS OUT THE ROTORS. IF THE ROTORS GO FIRST, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY THIN. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER, OR CHRYSLER. I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT, BECAUSE IF I'M RIGHT AND ACTION IS TAKEN IT COULD SAVE LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227939

Incident

Feb 21, 2008

Mileage

19,030 mi

ON MY 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE BRAKES AND WHEELS LOCKED UP WHEN I HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING A TRUCK WHO HAD SLOWED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER, EVEN THOUGH I HIT THE TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226778

Incident

May 5, 2008

Mileage

34,000 mi

I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2006 PT CRUISER. I HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS WHEN THE FRONT CALIPER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY BRAKES TO GO OUT. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING, RUNNING OUT OF OIL AND NOT HAVING HEAT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED, THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER MY REPAIRS AND IT WOULD COST OVER 1000.00 TO FIX. THE PROBLEMS WERE: I HAD A HOLE IN MY RADIATOR, I WAS MISSING THE CONNECTORS TO HOLD THE RADIATOR IN PLACE, I HAD NO HEAT, I NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON. THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO OIL OR COOLANT IN MY CAR AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET THE CAR IN RUNNING CONDITION TO FIND OUT WHERE THE OIL LEAK WAS. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY CAR, SO I TOOK IT TO A FAMILY FRIENDS AUTO SHOP. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPAIRED, THE CONNECTORS AND HAD COOLANT PUT IN. I THEN PICKED IT BACK UP TO TAKE IT BACK TO CHRYSLER TO HAVE THE OIL LEAK FIXED. AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT, THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR FIXED WITH THEM, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH A CAR THAT THEY DIDN'T FIX. I DID FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THROUGH THE FAMILY SHOP. I HAVE A CRACKED HEAD GASKET, AND THE OIL LEAK. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 MONTHS, AND I HAVE ONLY PUT ON 12000 MILES. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 27,000 MILES TODAY. THESE SORT OF THINGS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210836

Incident

Oct 24, 2007

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED CLICKING LIKE THEY DO WHEN HITTING THE WIRELESS REMOTE. AT THE SAME TIME THE FLASHERS WOULD GO ON. THIS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY ALL THE WAY TO WORK ON CITY STREETS AS WELL. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER AT THIS TIME. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON, SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC IN JANUARY FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. I HAD LESS THAN 10000 WHEN THE CAR WOULD SHIMMY VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE NOT OF A MATERIAL MADE TO WITH STAND MUCH HEAT. HE ADVISED A BEEFIER ROTOR. THERE WAS NOW A HEAVY DUTY ROTOR AVAILABLE ON THE AFTER-MARKET. I DID NOT TAKE THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY MOST LIKELY WILL TELL ME I WAS TOO HARD ON THE BRAKES. IF THAT WERE THE CASE THE HONDA, WHICH HAD 107000 MILES ON IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FOR BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BY NOW, IT WAS ON THE FIRST SET AND FINALLY NEEDED PADS. . ANOTHER CAR DID NOT SEE ME COMING AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WENT TO HIT THE HORN IT WOULD NOT HONK. I HAD TO REPOSITION MY HAND SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND THE RIGHT SPOT AND THEN PUSH VERY HARD. I PLANNED TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AND NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER AMERICAN CAR AGAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THEM. * AK

NHTSA ID

10191173

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

37,000 mi