Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number 06511385A$) are one-time usage. Vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires Service Kit PN 68461214AA; includes Transmission Isolator PN 68264483AA, and Adaptation Bracket 68264479AA and Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA Vehicles built after on or after 10/23/2015 will require only the Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA. 2. All 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the vehicle you are repairing has a crack in the flex plate or failed pump bushing inspect and confirm that both (2) dowel pins
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser powertrain problems
critical 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 25 powertrain complaints filed for the 2006 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
Of the 5 model years of Chrysler PT Cruiser we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 25.
Owners have filed 25 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT WILL PREVENT THE MIL FROM ILLUMINATING WHEN TRANSMISSION LIMP IN IS ENCOUNTERED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a powertrain plagued by transmission control and electrical failures. The transmission downshifts unprompted at 40–55 mph, gets stuck in gear, or won't move at all—sometimes after multiple PCM replacements that don't stick. The Powertrain Control Module fails repeatedly, setting off cascading problems: speedometer jumping wildly from 0 to 100 while parked, all warning lights flashing, and battery drain even with engine off.
Sudden unintended acceleration occurs during braking from highway speeds, forcing one owner to keep a hand on the shifter to slip into Neutral. Shifter cable failures allow transmission to slip from Park into Reverse—one complaint documents a fatal rollaway. Transmission fluid leaks without warning; low rev shafts break at 40,000 miles. Manual transmission clutch becomes impossible to shift when the air conditioner runs or in hot weather. Engine stalls while driving or at traffic stops; overheating persists at idle despite fan replacement. The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) causes engine limp mode capping speed at 45 mph. Owners report 4+ dealer visits without permanent fixes and cite multiple part replacements—timing belts, motor mounts, ignition switches, PCMs, transmissions, engines—none resolving core faults.
Same Chrysler PT Cruiser powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission downshift/shift failure
Transmission downshifts unprompted while driving at moderate highway speeds (40–55 mph), fails to shift into requested gear, remains stuck in lower gear, or struggles to shift. Some owners report inability to shift at all or transmission slipping from Park.
When: Various speeds 40–55 mph; mileage range 17,000–157,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unwanted downshift to second or lower gear; Failure to shift into third or higher gear; Stuck shifter in Park position; Transmission will not move vehicle forward or reverse; Jerking and violent motion at speed
Codes mentioned: P0700
Repairs/costs cited: PCM/TCM replaced multiple times; transmission sensor replacement recommended; transmission replacement required in at least one case (code P0700); low rev shaft found broken, requiring transmission replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised to bring vehicle back; no recall noted; manufacturer aware of some failures but offered no remedy.
PCM/transmission control module failure
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or Transmission Control Module (TCM) fails repeatedly, causing cascading electrical and drivetrain problems. Replacement does not resolve recurrent issues.
When: Multiple failures throughout ownership; earliest complaint from 5+ years before complaint date
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Speedometer jumping 0–100 mph erratically while vehicle stationary; Multiple warning lights flashing (engine, battery, oil, airbag, seatbelt, gas gauge); Instrument cluster dials moving wildly; Transmission control loss; Battery losing charge for no known reason
Codes mentioned: P0700
Repairs/costs cited: PCM/TCM replaced multiple times without resolving failures; extended warranty used to replace instrument cluster after complete failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer would only replace cluster after complete failure; offered extended warranty coverage in one case; no recalls or TSBs noted.
Sudden unintended acceleration
Engine revs and vehicle accelerates without driver input, particularly during braking from highway speeds. Throttle appears stuck or unresponsive. Owner reported hand-over-shifter workaround to slip into Neutral.
When: Most often during high-speed braking; highway/freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs without throttle input; Sudden forward acceleration during braking; Vehicle accelerates to dangerous speed; Cannot control acceleration through normal pedal operation
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; owner using shifter workaround to manage.
Transmission shifter stuck or false Park position
Gear shift selector becomes stuck in Park or moves to a 'false Park' position that does not actually engage Park. Liquid intrusion into shifter mechanism causes shifter cable to slip. Vehicle can roll from Park.
When: 46,587 miles for documented case; can occur at any mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter stuck in Park; Unable to shift into other gears; Vehicle rolls from Park position; Liquid in transmission shifter assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Shifter cable repaired; failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware of failure; dealer repaired cable but recurrence noted.
Engine stalling and power loss during driving
Engine cuts off or stalls while driving at various speeds and conditions. Power surges and dips make vehicle dangerous. In one case, engine lost power on exit ramp; in another, vehicle stalls when stopping in traffic.
When: Various conditions including highways, traffic stops, exit ramps
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving; Power loss then sudden surge; Vehicle cuts off at stop in traffic; Inconsistent idle speed; Check engine light on during surges
Repairs/costs cited: Timing belt replaced, motor mount replaced, ignition switch replaced; repeated shop visits (4+) without permanent fix.
Low rev shaft breakage
Low rev shaft breaks, causing transmission damage. Vehicle loses all forward and reverse motion capability.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs but vehicle will not move forward or reverse; Transmission fluid leaking
Repairs/costs cited: Low rev shaft replaced; transmission replacement required.
Transmission fluid leak
Transmission begins leaking fluid without warning. Vehicle starts jerking and fluid visible at bottom of vehicle.
When: Exit ramp, low mileage noted
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking while driving; Fluid visible leaking underneath vehicle; No warning indicator before failure
Clutch hardness and temperature sensitivity (manual transmission)
Manual transmission clutch pedal becomes very hard to shift and difficult to operate, particularly in hot weather or when air conditioner is on. Below 60°F, shifting is smooth; above 75°F, pedal goes to floor and becomes nearly impossible to shift. Hydraulic cylinder throw varies with temperature.
When: Temperature-dependent; occurs above 75°F and when AC on
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal goes to floor; Very hard to shift in hot conditions; Smooth shifting in cool conditions; AC operation increases hardness
Repairs/costs cited: Hydraulic cylinder throw varies with temperature; temperature-sensitive software suspected.
Inability to accelerate and jerking at speed
Vehicle requires continuous pressure on accelerator to move forward at low speeds (15 mph); once higher speed is reached, vehicle jerks violently. Recurring issue.
When: 15 mph initial acceleration, violent jerking at 60 mph; 84,514 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Requires continuous throttle pressure to accelerate; Violent jerking at higher speeds; Poor low-speed drivability
Overheating at idle with fan control malfunction
Engine overheats at idle despite normal operation while driving. Fan assembly fails to cycle properly—previously would not turn off even when engine off, running battery dry. Recent fan assembly replacement has not resolved overheating.
When: 2 years of recurring problem; ongoing after fan replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Overheating at idle and drive-through stops; Fan runs continuously even with engine off; Smoke from overheating; Loud bubbling when engine off; Correct temperature while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Entire fan assembly and harness replaced; problem persists.
Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) failure
Multiple complaints reference TIPM as source of electrical power problems. Engine light thrown into limp mode; vehicle will not exceed 45 mph. Some owners explicitly noted TIPM defect in complaint.
When: 58,000 miles noted in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Engine light comes on repeatedly; Vehicle enters limp mode (max 45 mph); Passenger airbag malfunction related; Multiple electrical failures attributed to TIPM
Repairs/costs cited: New computer installed in at least one case; TIPM defect noted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Noted as known defect in complaints; no recall or remedy mentioned.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Engine lights come on randomly. Idle speeds inconsistent. Windshield cracked straight across we had no idea what happened until we read an article about Chrysler’s defective totally integrated power modules problems titled “Chrysler tipms causing power problems
Had powertrain trouble with your 2006 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 powertrain problem on the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
It's a serious issue. 25 complaints have been filed, including 4 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 46,000 and 122,000 miles, with the median around 81,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 122,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2006/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.