Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
7%of 187 total for the year
Median mileage
70,639miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 7% of the 187 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,639 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“This is not the first incident. While driving the vechile will suddenly stop in the middle of the street. The temperature gage goes up and the car shuts off. Cause me and my family body to jerk back and forth. The car is stopped in the middle of the street. When the car shuts off there is no warning, therefore other vechiles almost crashes into the back of the Pt Cruiser. My children and I feels in safe.”

NHTSA complaint #10637837, filed 2014-09, 112,000 miles

“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 out of specs.and pushing the front seal out and causing leak. …”

NHTSA complaint #10548718, filed 2013-10, 55,000 miles

“Dashboard lights go out at will and engine lights show codes even after replacing sensors now 02 sensors not working .look like this had been a ongoing problem for years now and Chrysler fails to address the problem. Please help myself and other pt drivers having the same problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10766519, filed 2015-09, 53,700 miles

“While stopped at a stop light the car just turned itself off. Restarted again by turning the ignition. Has done this several times since and even wile running on the freeway at freeway speeds. Have to manage to get off the freeway and wait a bit to restart via the ignition switch. One time a gentleman even pushed the car to help be get it off of the roadway. Have tried numerous times to repair auto by changing out the various sensors indicated by the code shown in the mileage/speedometer gauge. Numerous technicians have tried to remedy the situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10598302, filed 2014-06, 91,000 miles

“Transmission parking pall broke. After placing car in park and exiting vehicle, the car started to roll backwards. Had to get car open quickly again and apply brake to keep vehicle from striking a person or another vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10269432, filed 2009-05, 8,359 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200977%
2008109%
20071711%
2006288%
2005137%
20042110%
20033514%
2002357%
2001478%

Other parts of the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Electrical system
27 complaintsEngine cooling
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsSuspension
18 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsWheels
11 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology