I am writing to ask has there have been any reports of the 2002 pt cruiser having an acceleration problem? On 11/30/2005 as I was making a u-turn when my car accelerated at a high rate of speed that caused me to hit a curb and blew out my right front tire, it also left me in a disoriented state of mind. I had no control over that car until it hit the curb. Please at your earliest convenience…
2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser cruise control problems
severe 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 9 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 20 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler pt cruiser. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and caused the speed to increase to approximately 85 MPH. Also, the contact indicated that the brakes malfunctioned and the vehicle would not stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not…
I lost control of the pt cruiser accelerator pedal and could not control the speed of the vehicle. I had to ride the brake with both feet. The engine RPM went over 4000 RPM. When I came home, I needed all my strength to move shift into park while keeping both feet on the brake pedal. The vehicle was in motion. I was entering a rotary.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 23,800 and 111,000 miles, with the median around 74,345. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,800; a quarter make it past 111,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chrysler/PT Cruiser.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.