Showing the 2006 PT Cruiser Base. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
19–22 mpgcombined; city 17–19, highway 24–26; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,760–$21,180U.S. average; Ohio $13,190–$19,960 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 PT Cruiser. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 373 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 PT Cruiser. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
151
3
1
0
Engine
61
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
41
5
2
0
Visibility
38
1
1
0
Air bags
35
21
0
20
Power train
30
5
0
0
Exterior lighting
21
0
0
0
Steering
21
2
1
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
16
1
0
0
Structure
15
5
1
4
Unknown or other
14
2
1
2
Fuel/propulsion system
11
0
0
0
17 more parts
Visibility/wiper
11
0
0
0
Suspension
9
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
9
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
8
2
0
0
Tires
8
0
0
0
Seat belts
7
3
0
2
Equipment
6
1
0
3
Fuel system, gasoline
5
0
0
0
Seats
5
0
0
1
Service brakes
4
0
0
0
Interior lighting
3
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, air
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
2
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, diesel
1
0
0
0
Trailer hitches
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 PT Cruiser over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY PULL THROUGH THEIR MOUNTS AND ALLOW THE GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 53 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 PT Cruiser, the latest on Apr 7, 2021. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (16), equipment (16), engine and engine cooling (9), structure (9), power train (6).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 PT Cruiser.
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
PT Cruiser Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 26 / 22
PT Cruiser Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 24 / 21
PT Cruiser Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
19 / 25 / 21
PT Cruiser Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 4-spd
Premium Gasoline
17 / 24 / 19
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data