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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
28about this part
Share
8%of 349 total for the year
Median mileage
61,585miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 8% of the 349 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,585 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“Loses power then surges while driving. Like it is going to die then it suddenly surges and drives ok. It doesn't do it often, but it is scary when it does. Also, when it does this, my check engine light will come on? Someone told me this could be related to the clutch. How can that be a clutch issue? Can someone please tell me where to start looking for the problem? Is being going for month's now...”

NHTSA complaint #10899088, filed 2016-08, 122,000 miles

“If my ignition switch is too far forward my car will lose power and what to stop I figured out if when I turn the car on and move the switch back the car will not do that but if I forget and leave it forward it will do this again all my lights come on and I lose power. I believe it should be part of this recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10669532, filed 2015-01, 96,000 miles

“It accelerates suddenly, most often when braking from a high speed (like in rush hour), but one time it accelerated and I hit the car in front of me. No damage (I guess because the speeds were low). Now I havbe to drive with my hand on the shifter so I can slip it into neutral if it accelerates suddenly. It almost always happens on the freeway, even if I'm parked in rush hour. It almost always happens when braking from a high speed (rush hour again).”

NHTSA complaint #10850092, filed 2016-03, 122,066 miles

“Takata recall- the car will at random times not change out of first gear. I can pull over sometimes and restart it multiple time and it would work. My windshield wipers also randomly come on now. And the thermometer sometimes will be blank and sometimes will say -12 when it is 90 degrees, and sometimes it is accurate. And sometimes it will light up saying I am in all gears, park, neutral, drive, reverse. It is very dangerous if I am on the interstate, or going up a hill and this happens I can't go over 35 miles per hour without taking a chance of blowing my engine.”

NHTSA complaint #11021624, filed 2017-09, 130,000 miles

“Driving vehicle cuts off when I stop.on highways... .engine revs up car go faster like throttle or gas petal stuck have to apply brakes automatic transmission sometimes won't change gears I have to restart car about three times runs good for couple days does same has been in shop 4 times had timing belt and motor mount replaced.new ignition switch, not key side battery check eng. And battery light back on dont communicate with shop diagnostic machine.. Still having problems with gears afraid of this car and has not finish paying for it yet”

NHTSA complaint #10781015, filed 2015-10, 110,000 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 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Electrical system
138 complaints
Engine
55 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
47 complaints
Engine cooling
36 complaints
Air bags
35 complaints
Exterior lighting
21 complaints
Steering
18 complaints
Brakes
15 complaints
Electronic stability control
15 complaints
Body and structure
15 complaints
Fuel system
14 complaints
Other 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 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