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Electrical systemPart report

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Electrical system Problems

Complaints
138about this part
Share
40%of 349 total for the year
Median mileage
60,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 138 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 40% of the 349 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“When randomly driving all the lights on the dashboard go crazy, the fuel gauge goes to empty even when it's a full tank, the car loses power and the engine starts to stall... It's very scary because where I drive there are busy highways and I'm scared too death I'm going to get killed or kill someone.”

NHTSA complaint #10860373, filed 2016-04, 6 miles

“The instrument cluster lights go on and off. The fuel, MPH, and RPM gauges go up and down. The car loses power and the accelerates by itself. I looked in you tube for information and found that I was not the only one with this problem! Some people state that once they replace the ignition switch the problem goes away.”

NHTSA complaint #10714032, filed 2015-05, 178,000 miles

“While driving 25 MPH my vehicle dash board gauge just started lighting up. The speedometer started spending around, and then it just shut off, it started up again, but it did it several times before I was able to drive it.please help me to find out what is wrong with my car. I have had several thing replace on it and it still doing the same thing, cant afford another car now.”

NHTSA complaint #10664235, filed 2014-12, 70 miles

“I got the car 6 months ago and have had nothing but problems. All the dash lights come on and the gauges go to zero. It has almost caused me to be in an accident, it died in the middle of a busy intersection, it has died while I'm stopped at a red light and happens at various speeds, I've replaced the, alternator, starter, gauge cluster and some other small things and nothing is working. …”

NHTSA complaint #10593158, filed 2014-05, 150,000 miles

“I started up my Pt Cruiser and all warning lights came on except check engine light and the chime came on like door open or lights still on. Idled fine but lights did not turn off till I turned off engine, started with no lights after.. I see that this a problem reading several other posts.”

NHTSA complaint #10785749, filed 2015-10, 49,861 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2010314%
20096062%
20084539%
20072315%
200613840%
20052714%
20044420%
20034517%
20029719%
20017813%

Other parts of the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Engine
55 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
47 complaintsEngine cooling
36 complaintsAir bags
35 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
28 complaintsExterior lighting
21 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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