2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Problems

What owners report

Owners of this convertible most often describe electrical trouble — a multi-function column switch that leaves the fog lights on and drains the battery, plus intermittent no-starts that several shops could not pin down. Front wheel bearing wear is a close second, reported at low mileage, and tire and wheel problems (sidewall failures, flaking chrome rims that will not hold air) round out the picture. Reliability complaints cluster in the first 50,000 miles, with the electrical and steering reports continuing at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front wheel bearing noise and failure

   • 16 complaints (23%)
   • median 38,795 mi at 4.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2012

   Complaints describe a thumping, grinding or crunching noise from the front, felt as a vibration through the steering or like driving over small bumps. Owners report one or both front hub and bearing assemblies being replaced, often at surprisingly low mileage, and some had the same side fail twice. Dealers and independent shops are described as replacing the sealed hub and bearing unit, with estimates around several hundred dollars plus alignment. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 65,000 miles, sometimes again shortly after a first replacement; a few reports at higher mileage.

   What to check: During a test drive, listen for growling or thumping from the front at low speed and while turning, and feel for vibration or play in the steering. Ask for receipts showing whether either front hub/bearing was replaced and at what mileage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving felt like car was going over mini-speed bumps. Took it to tire store and found out it wasn't the tires and they recommended the dealership. At the dealership they informed me it was the left-front bearing and I shouldn't be driving on it at all because the wheel could fall off. Had it repaired there. Picked up vehicle a week later and steering still didn't feel right. Took it back and they determined that the right front knuckle needed repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10231617, filed 2008-06, 42,000 miles

   “I have had problems with this car more than any other new vehicle I've owned. I had AC compressor problems still under warranty... I replaced the alternator and battery at 36700 miles. Now, both front wheel hub and bearing assemblies are shot, and will be replaced at 43,000 miles. I bought this car new, and it is my 3rd and last Chrysler product. I had an 2002 pt, this 2005 cruiser, and I've got an 2006 cruiser that is starting to show signs of wheel bearing issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10218220, filed 2008-02, 43,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Fog lights stay on and drain the battery (column switch)

   • 13 complaints (19%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2015

   Owners describe the fog lamps coming on by themselves, sometimes with the key removed, leaving the battery flat by the next morning; several say pulling the fog lamp fuse is the only reliable stopgap. Complaints tie this to the multi-function switch on the steering column, and some report smoke or a burning smell from the column. Dealers are described as replacing the switch part, back-ordering it, or, in a few accounts, being unable to find the drain. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 120,000 miles, across all seasons and at any speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Park the car, shut it off and confirm the fog lamps and their indicator are actually off; then check that the battery holds charge overnight. Ask whether the column switch has been replaced and whether a battery drain test was ever done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 Pt Cruiser Convertible fog lights came on while the vehicle was stopped and parked in parking lot. Came back 1 hour later and the battery was dead. Had no phone and had to walk 4 blocks in a dark vacant, scary part of town by myself. Called bcaa and they came out to give me a boost. The tech told me this is a rampant problem with these cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #10321246, filed 2010-03, 45,000 miles

   “Left work to find the battery was dead. Got it jumped and went home. When I turned the car off and removed the key, I noticed that the fog light indicator light remained on. I checked the lights and found that they were still on. I turned the lights on, signaled left and right, jiggled it around and the indicator light finally went off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10407383, filed 2011-06, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and stalling (electrical)

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the car going completely dead or failing to crank intermittently, sometimes after sitting at work, with a jump start getting it going again. Complaints mention repeated replacement of battery, starter, ignition parts and spark plugs without solving it, and several attribute the problem to a control module; others describe surging or stalling at stops. Dealers are often described as unable to reproduce or diagnose the fault. Reported from around 15,000 to 130,000 miles, with no clear pattern of weather or driving conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery, starter or any control module has been replaced and whether a no-start fault was ever diagnosed. Check that all warning lamps behave normally at key-on and start the car several times cold before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Approximately 3 -4 months ago I took my car to the mechanic because the airbag light was intermittently coming on. A complete diagnostic was completed and the mechanic determined that nothing is wrong with it. A week later the problem continued and the battery light became coming on. About a week after that, I was traveling about 40 MPH when all of the lights (battery, traction off, ABS, brake, airbag, oil, etc) came on and began flashing at different intervals. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10554670, filed 2013-12, 90,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10775388, filed 2015-09, 40,000 miles
4. 4
   Tires

   Tire sidewall and tread failures

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2005–2019

   Owners describe blowouts and sudden loss of air at highway speed, with sidewall splitting, shredding or tread separation rather than ordinary tread wear. Several complaints note the tires had relatively few miles on them, and owners say the tire maker or dealer declined to treat it as a defect. In some cases wheels that would not seal were suspected of contributing to repeated flats. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 70,000 miles, on tires with low mileage; often at highway speed.

   What to check: Inspect all four tires for sidewall cracks, bulges or uneven tread, and check the DOT date codes for age. Ask about the tire brand and whether any tire was replaced for sidewall or separation problems.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Catastrophic tire failure at highway speeds due to tread separation - cooper response touring 205/55 r16 91h on 2005 Chrysler pt cruiser. Tread depth = 5/32, tires were new on used car purchased in 07/2014. No dry rot or visible cracking on tires, 23k mileage on tires. In 07/2018, two of the tires in the set of 4 were replaced due to the beginnings of tread separation (would not balance). I am a former tire development engineer for a major us tire manufacturer and I have analyzed hundreds of failed tires returned to the manufacturer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11278905, filed 2019-11, 70,500 miles

   “Driving on entrance ramp to highway when there was a violent shudder. Car was difficult to steer (severe vibration). Pulled off on emergency shoulder. There is a large hole in tire sidewall. Sidewall was shredded. Tread was not affected. 4500 miles on tires. Tire was removed and spare tire was mounted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661170, filed 2014-11, 82,137 miles
5. 5
   Wheels

   Chrome wheel flaking and repeated flat tires

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2018

   Complaints describe chrome peeling from the inside of the alloy rims, which then fails to seal against the tire bead, so tires lose air while parked or go flat while driving. Owners report repeated re-mounting and resealing of the same tires and, in some cases, buying new rims. Complaints also mention rims cracking and being replaced. Reported on cars typically past 40,000 miles, often soon after purchase as a used vehicle.

   What to check: Look at the inner bead area of each rim for flaking chrome or corrosion, and check tire pressures after the car has sat. Ask whether any wheel was replaced or resealed because of slow leaks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2005 pt cruiser turbo convertible with factory 17 chrome wheels. The chrome is flaking off of inside of wheel rims prevents tire from gripping proper seal. Tires repeatedly go flat while parked and while driving. Have replaced all four tires with new ones and had tires cleaned, re-mounted & resealed multiple times. Three different tire professionals tell me it is a factor defect. Tire blew out while driving last week and I almost lost control. Online, I have found several other pt cruiser owners with the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10343873, filed 2010-07, 99,000 miles

   “Dec 2013 had to replace rim on front passenger side 2014sept rim cracked on passenger side rear.t. The rear passenger rim has been cracked twice. Total of three times rim cracked.coming home and going to gym.first time I had rim repaired second time bought new rim. The third nothing but took off and put donut tire on. The first time I don't remember the date.I bought 4 new tires. 2014.”

   NHTSA complaint #10633634, filed 2014-09

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the front wheel bearings, tire age and condition, and the wheel bead surfaces, since those are the most commonly reported repair items. Also confirm the fog lamps switch off with the key and ask for service records on any electrical no-start repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.