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2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

95 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine complaints

15 reports
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106,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING THE INCIDENCES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10648798

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2014
EnginePower Train

MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO THE LAST GEAR AND WAS SLIPPING. CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A CELLINOID BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN HE REPLACED IT THE TRANSMISSION STILL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BY NOT CHANGING GEARS AND WHEN HE TOOK THE PART BACK TO THE PARTS STORE …

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MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO THE LAST GEAR AND WAS SLIPPING. CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A CELLINOID BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN HE REPLACED IT THE TRANSMISSION STILL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BY NOT CHANGING GEARS AND WHEN HE TOOK THE PART BACK TO THE PARTS STORE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLERS TRANSMISSIONS. I HAD A TOWN & COUNTRY VAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THAT TRANSMISSION ALSO WAS DEFECTIVE. NOW I CANNOT GET MY MONEY BACK FROM BUYING A PART THAT REALLY WASN'T NEEDED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IT SELF IS DEFECTIVE. MY MECHANIC FELT SO BAD ABOUT THIS THAT HE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED CHRYSLER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT RIGHTS OR WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? I DO NOT HAVE MONIES TO SQUANDER AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR MY CAR. THANKS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585743

53,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT THIS PT CRUISER FROM A LOCAL DEALER, THE FIRST TIME IT TURNED OFF I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THOUGHT IT JUST STALLED FROM NOT BEING WARMED UP. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROAD DOING 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH MY KNEE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. LUCKILY IT WAS A STRAIGHT ROAD WI…

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I BOUGHT THIS PT CRUISER FROM A LOCAL DEALER, THE FIRST TIME IT TURNED OFF I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THOUGHT IT JUST STALLED FROM NOT BEING WARMED UP. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROAD DOING 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH MY KNEE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. LUCKILY IT WAS A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO A STOP THEN RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES MORE, ALL WITH BUMPING MY KNEE AGAINST THE IGNITION KEY. IT INSTANTLY TURNS THE CAR OFF. WITH THE GM RECALL IN THE NEWS I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION SINCE I DON'T HAVE A GM CAR BUT DECIDED TO LOOK WHEN I HEARD IT INVOLVED THE IGNITION TURNING THE CAR OFF. I SAW THAT IT IS SIMILAR YET NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT MY IGNITION SO I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. I KNOW THAT MANY PARTS ARE USED ACROSS BRANDS AND THESE PARTS MAY BE THE SAME. I AM WORRIED I MAY BUMP MY KNEE ON A WINDY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER STABILITY AND STEERING IF IT TURNS OFF. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS IMMEDIATELY!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576950

147,000 miles · Jul 27, 2013
Engine

MY PT CRUISER FROM TIME TO TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS WILL SUDDENLY STALL. ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AND FALL OF AT WHICH CALL WILL STALL. THIS ACTION OCCURS EITHER WHILE IDLING AND OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. THE ACTION SOMETIMES WILL SHUT CAR DOWN THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS START BACK UP. PLEASE FIND A SO…

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MY PT CRUISER FROM TIME TO TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS WILL SUDDENLY STALL. ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AND FALL OF AT WHICH CALL WILL STALL. THIS ACTION OCCURS EITHER WHILE IDLING AND OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. THE ACTION SOMETIMES WILL SHUT CAR DOWN THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS START BACK UP. PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION. I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS SITUATION AND KNOW ONE SEEMS TO CARE OR NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO I CAN GET THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532156

50,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10493048

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.