Your vehicle report
2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 187
- Received Jul 2004 to Feb 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates12 complaints · 6.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night12 complaints · 6.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Glass shatters or cracks without impact11 complaints · 5.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #07V149000On certain passenger vehicles, the rear quarter glass attaching fasteners may pull through their mounts and allow the glass to separate from the vehicle.
- Recall #04V481000Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock braking system (ABS), 2.4L high output turbocharged engine, and 5-SPEED manual transaxle, may exhibit inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the transaxle housing.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 11 crashes, 12 fires, 18 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 19 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
- Glass shatters or cracks without impact
- Power window regulator fails and window drops
- Frame rusts and corrodes through
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 1 |
| Total | 187 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 12 | 6.4% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 12 | 6.4% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 11 | 5.9% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 10 | 5.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 9 | 4.8% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 4.8% | – | |
| Wheel bearings fail prematurely | 9 | 4.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 4.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 8 | 4.3% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 6 | 3.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 6 | 3.2% | – | |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 5 | 2.7% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 5 | 2.7% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 4 | 2.1% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 4 | 2.1% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 3 | 1.6% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #07V149000April 4, 200738,447 vehicles affected
visibility: glass, side/rear
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear quarter glass attaching fasteners may pull through their mounts and allow the glass to separate from the vehicle.
If the glass separates while driving, it could strike another vehicle or injure a pedestrian.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear quarter glass. The recall began on april 30, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #04V481000October 8, 2004115 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock braking system (ABS), 2.4L high output turbocharged engine, and 5-SPEED manual transaxle, may exhibit inadequate clearance between the left front brake tube and the transaxle housing.
Contact between the brake tube and the transaxle housing over an extended period of time may eventually lead to perforation of the brake tube, which could lead to a loss of braking force in the left front/right rear circuit of vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will install revised brake tubes. The recall began october 25, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #04V268000June 3, 2004438,391 vehicles affected
steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4L non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose may contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source Can result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end. The recall began on september 20, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN