There are 35 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiserin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ROOT OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE FOG LAMP SWITCH, WHICH DIFFUSED THE SMOKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AN UNKNOWN CHRYSLER DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES WONT START.
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE
WINDOWS ON CAR WILL NOT WORK AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED 8 MONTHS AGO 2ND. TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE HAD IT.
WINDOS DONT WORK FOR 2ND TIME IN 8 MONTHS. FIRST TIME THEY CLAIM BAD WIRING NOT SURE SECOND TME HAD NT TAKEN IT IN YET TAKING IN JAN.21,2016 TO DEALER.
CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AT CAR WASH AT NIGHT LEAVING ME AND MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER STRANDED UNTIL WE COULD GET A JUMP. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE BATTERY NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS NOR ANY LIGHTS BEING LEFT ON IN INTERIOR. HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE OTHER DAY THE FOG LAMPS WERE ON BUT THE SWITCH WAS NOT TURNED ON. IT WAS DRAINING THE SYSTEM. HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO FOG LAMPS IN ORDER TO STOP THE DRAINAGE. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH SMALL CHILDREN FORCING RELIANCE UPON STRANGERS IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. NOW THE FOG LAMPS ARE INOPERATIVE UNTIL A FIX CAN BE FOUND, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL COLLISION IF DRIVING IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHICH COULD PROVE FATAL DUE TO IT BEING A CONVERTIBLE. THIS IS A GT TURBO EDITION...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF *CN
ES UN PT CRUISER TOURING 2.4 L TURBO NO SILVE MPH GAS NO TIENE LUZ DE DENTRO NO SILVE EL CONVERTIBLE HAY QUE HACERLO MANUAL TIENES MONTONES DE DEFECTO UN CARRO 2005 PT CRUISER TOURING ESTAN SALIENDO DEFECTO FUI A DONDE UN MECANICO DIJO QUE QUE ERA LA COMPUTADORA SENSOL EXIJO MI AREGLO ATT SR CORDOVA O LO LLEVARE A LAS NOTICIAS
FOG LAMPS INTERMITTENT ON AND OFF WITH SWITCH OFF. DRAINED BATTERY AND SHORTED FUSE. *TR
WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RE START THE KEY IGNITION IN THE COLUMN WENT OUT I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THIS SO EARLY IN THE CARS LIFE AT LOW MILES? *TR
THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OF MY 2005 PT CONVERTIBLE CRUISER HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 7 YEARS AND 6 ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE HAS AUTHORIZED THE NAPLETON DEALERSHIP IN LAKE PARK, FLORIDA, TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT TWICE: ONCE IN SEPTEMBER 2012, AND MOST RECENTLY IN MAY 2014. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERFORMS THE SAME REPLACEMENT OF THE HARNESS BUCKLE APPARATUS EACH TIME, BUT THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE UNDERLYING REASON THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AFTER EVERY ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. AFTER THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO FIX IT FAILED BY A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY WITH THE ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM OF THE CAR, BUT DURING THE 5TH AND 6TH ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT SEEM WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS AND ENDED DOING THE EXACT SAME REPAIR THAT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED FOR 7 YEARS. MEANWHILE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. *TR
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
CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES THAT THE INSURANCE RATE WENT UP AND WE PAID FOR REPAIRS THAT WE DID NOT NEED BECAUSE IT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. REPAIRS INCLUDE (BATTERY, STARTER, IGNITION, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES) WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TIPM. THE OTHER PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTERED ARE WINDOW WON'T GO UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIPS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE US FOR UNNECCESARY REPAIRS.
ENGINE LITE CAME ON. REPLACED RECOMMENDED PARTS. LITE CAME OFF AND ON OVER A YEAR OR SO WITH SAME DIAGNOSTIC. REPLACED SAME PART IN LATE 2013 AND LITE STILL STAYS ON. I AM TOLD NOW IT IS THE COMPUTER ITSELF. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PT CRUISER OWNERS AND THAT MANY REPLACE THE SAME PARTS I DID AND IT IS TO NO AVAIL. TO MY BEST OF RECALL IT IS THE UPPER/IN LOWER/OUT OXYGEN 2 SENSOR. WITH THE COMPUTER (ENGINE LITE) CAUSING THIS PROBLEM CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, AN ABNORMAL SMELLED A PLASTIC ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACTED THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TURNING SIGNAL ARM CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF ONCE THE SMOKE DECREASED AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WE OWN A 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY DEAD. THERE MUST BE A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WE TURN OUR LEFT BLINKER ON BEFORE WE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND THIS SEEMS TO KEEP THE FOG LIGHTS OFF. WITH THIS BEING A SHORT, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING - RESULTING IN POSSIBLE DEATH. MY EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR THE SERVICE THAT THE NHTSA PERFORMS AND I ANTICIPATE THEIR ACTION ON THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO BE COMING SOON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOD WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON FOR THE WARNING LIGHT TO DISAPPEAR. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
MY '05 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER (THAT I BOUGHT 3 MONTHS AGO!) HAS STARTED TO NOT START ON ME. I WILL COME OUT FROM WORK, AND IT IS COMPLETELY DEAD. BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED. I GET A JUMP, AND IT WILL RUN, BUT IS THEN SLUGGISH AT FIRST. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW AT LEAST 3 X A WEEK FOR A MONTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT IT IS THE ALTERNATOR, BUT I WENT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS FOR CONFIRMATION AND BOTH TOLD ME IT IS NOT THE ALTERNATOR. THIS MEANS THE DEALERSHIP I WAS AT PRETTY MUCH HAD NO CLUE, OR DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THE ISSUE. I HAVE SINCE LOOKED AROUND, AND I SEE ON BLOGS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS. I JUST WANT MINE FIXED. *TR
MY 2005 PT CRUSIER BOUGHT USED WITH 27000 MILES ON SPEEDOMETER IN JUNE 2009. RECENTLY THE MOTOR STUBBLES AND SHAKES LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT JUST QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CAUSING TRAFFIC TO AVOID ME BY NEAR MISS. I SEE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WARRANTING A RECALL. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON UNINTENTIONALLY AND DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN EMPTY PARKING LOTS 3 TIMES WITH MY CAR BATTERY DEAD. IT SEEMS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS THE CULPRIT AND THIS ISSUE EXISTED SINCE 2001 MODELS, CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT FOR 10 YEARS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 35 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026