2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
The 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 244 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns engine. After that come electrical system (11%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 244 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 19 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 59,000 miles 207 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 40 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 32 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 32 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 34 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 23 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 21 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 207 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 59,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 63,000 miles (24 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 17 complaints mention a fire; 19 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser with enough data (126 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Customer believes he had a faulty air bag system. Customer states that the air bag system was faulty because the air bags did not deploy in an accident causing injuries to himself and two other passengers. The consumers 2 children were injured due to the seat belt impact. The consumer injured his knee and suffered a concussion. The consumer provided multiple pictures of the vehicle and also pictures of the injured parties. Georgia accident report. Updated 09/26/07
Driving down residential street and an SUV accelerated from driveway or side of road without looking and crushed the passenger door and panel. Passenger had to be extricated and airbags did not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH and in an attempt to avoid crashing into an animal, abruptly moved the steering wheel. As a result, the contact crashed into a ditch. The vehicle rolled over four times before landing upside, on all four wheels. The air bags failed to deploy with the impact. The contact sustained severe injuries to the neck. The passenger sustained injuries to the shoulder, right knee and a fractured sternum.
After coming from the store I notice a big spot of oil on the garage floor,I wipe it up went inside the house the next day I went on some errands came back to the house and some more oil, at this point call my local parts house he came up with a bad front oil seal. So I wanted to did further into this, and found a lot of dodge, chrysler, owner had this same problem.I pull up and copy these problem's some p/t owners said the dealer wanted to charge them to change the engine because of the thrust bearing was to far…
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.