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2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser are lower than the model-year median of 202.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

86 reports with mileage · 11 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

60 reports
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125,000 miles · Sep 29, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH WHILE DRIVING, CAR DIES THEN RESTARTS, VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CHRYSLER CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE, TOOK IT MECHANICS THEY CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE 100'S OF ISSUES WITH MANY DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE PT CRUISER HOWEVER CHRYSLER IS IGNORING AND THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. SOME DAYS THIS HAPPEN…

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ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH WHILE DRIVING, CAR DIES THEN RESTARTS, VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CHRYSLER CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE, TOOK IT MECHANICS THEY CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE 100'S OF ISSUES WITH MANY DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE PT CRUISER HOWEVER CHRYSLER IS IGNORING AND THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. SOME DAYS THIS HAPPENS A LOT THEN IT WILL GO 3 OR 4 DAYS WITHOUT.

NHTSA ODI #10910609

99,089 miles · Sep 23, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I'VE HAD MY PT CRUISER FOR ATLEAST 3 YEARS NOW. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF ON THE DASH BOARD AND WAS ACTING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL OUT. HOWEVER , EVERY TIME I HIT THE GAS THE MPH GAUGE WOULD GO UP. HOWEVER MY GAUGES ON MY DASH BOARD HAD STOPPED WORKING UNTIL I'D HIT THE GAS PETAL AGAIN. …

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I'VE HAD MY PT CRUISER FOR ATLEAST 3 YEARS NOW. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF ON THE DASH BOARD AND WAS ACTING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL OUT. HOWEVER , EVERY TIME I HIT THE GAS THE MPH GAUGE WOULD GO UP. HOWEVER MY GAUGES ON MY DASH BOARD HAD STOPPED WORKING UNTIL I'D HIT THE GAS PETAL AGAIN. IT DID THIS FOR AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF RUMORS GOING ON ABOUT PT CRUISERS LOSING POWER AND LOCKING UP ON PEOPLE AND BAD THINGS HAPPENING I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO GET ON THE BALL AND FIX THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES SINCE WE ARE ONLY THE ONES THAT BUY THEM UNDER FAITH OF SAFETY. I HAD THIS HAPPEN ONE OTHER TIME WHEN I FIRST GOT IT BUT I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. IT'S NOT EVEN AT 100,000 MILES YET AND I AM HAVING THIS MANY ISSUES. THIS PT CRUISER NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! ME OR MY CHILDREN BEST NOT GET HURT IT THIS THING DUE TO CHRYSLER'S NEGLECT ON THIS ISSUE. I'VE SEEN MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING BEING DONE. WHO HAS TO DIE BEFORE IT'S RESOLVED?!? I WOULD'VE HAD PICTURES BUT THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A SNAP SHOT OR VIDEO OF IT. BECAUSE IF I LOSE POWER AGAIN AND IT MALFUNCTIONS AND ME OR MY KIDS GET HURT WHEN CHRYSLER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING THERE WILL BE A LAW SUIT. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS ISSUE WOULD OCCUR I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT IT, INFACT I'M STILL PAYING ON IT FOR ANOTHER 2 YRS.

NHTSA ODI #10908937

60,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME WETHER I AM DRIVING ON RESIDENTAL ROAD OR ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH. MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS LOSING POWER WHICH IT IS. ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH ARE LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY CAREFULLY AS I LOSE STEERING AS WELL. SOMETIMES I CAN JUST RESTART THE CAR…

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THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME WETHER I AM DRIVING ON RESIDENTAL ROAD OR ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH. MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS LOSING POWER WHICH IT IS. ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH ARE LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY CAREFULLY AS I LOSE STEERING AS WELL. SOMETIMES I CAN JUST RESTART THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS FINE, SOMETIMES IT IS A FEW MINUTES AND A FEW TIMES IT HAS TAKEN A FEW HOURS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO GET THE CODES READ BUT THEY TELL ME IT IS EITHER THE GAS CAP IS LOOSE OR ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE FUEL. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY PUT IT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND GOT DIFFERENT READINGS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FUEL VACUUM PROBLEM WHICH WAS CORRECTED. I STILL HAVE THE ISSUES. NOW SOMETIMES THE ENGINE JERKS AND PULLS BUT I DON'T LOOSE POWER. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. DID NOT TAKE TO DEALERSHIP AFTER READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT PAYING DEALERS TONS OF MONEY AND STILL NOT HAVING A WORKING CAR. ALSO IF I HAVE MORE THEN ONE KEY ON MY KEYRING THEN THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T WORK. IF I LIMIT MY KEYRING TO JUST MY CAR KEY AND HOUSE KEY THEN MY CAR STARTS EVERYTIME AND NO CUTTING OUT WHILE AT COMPLETE STOP LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN JULY 2011 AND IT NOW HAS APROX. 66,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10875743

50,000 miles · May 17, 2016
Electrical SystemSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SWITCH BEZEL FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN EXPOSED WIRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SWITCH BEZEL FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN EXPOSED WIRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE COMPONENT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10865311

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2016
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS 2009 PT CRUISER IN 2012 WITH ABOUT 45000 MILES. SINCE THE ODOMETER HAS REACHED ABOUT 80000 THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR EVEN WHEN PARKED AND DURING ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. THEN ALL GAUGES GO UP AND DOWN DRAMATICALLY. SOMETIMES THIS IS ALL T…

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I PURCHASED THIS 2009 PT CRUISER IN 2012 WITH ABOUT 45000 MILES. SINCE THE ODOMETER HAS REACHED ABOUT 80000 THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR EVEN WHEN PARKED AND DURING ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. THEN ALL GAUGES GO UP AND DOWN DRAMATICALLY. SOMETIMES THIS IS ALL THAT HAPPENS. HOWEVER IF IT HAPPENS TOO MANY TIMES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR'S ENGINE JUST STOPS. IT COMES BACK BUT IT IS JERKING THE TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY. I HAVE PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT IT HASN'T STOPPED AT HIGH SPEED AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC FAIRLY EASILY. HOWEVER THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE, SO WE HAVE TO USE IT, BUT WE ARE UNWILLING TO LEAVE TOWN WITH IT DOING THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10860715

86,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

AFTER STARTING AND RUNNING NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO EXHIBIT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE GAUGES WILL DROP TO ZERO AND THEN SLOWLY RETURN, THE WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH, AND THE WARNING CHIME WILL SOUND REPEATEDLY. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE GOES THROUGH A START CYCLE. MOST OF THE TIME, T…

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AFTER STARTING AND RUNNING NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO EXHIBIT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE GAUGES WILL DROP TO ZERO AND THEN SLOWLY RETURN, THE WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH, AND THE WARNING CHIME WILL SOUND REPEATEDLY. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE GOES THROUGH A START CYCLE. MOST OF THE TIME, THIS PROBLEM IS OTHERWISE ASYMPTOMATIC, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT RESULTS IN SUDDEN POWER LOSS TO THE ENGINE. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR NOT; IT HAPPENS IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, MOVING SLOWLY, MOVING QUICKLY, ETC. THE ENGINE HAS LOST POWER MORE THAN ONCE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT (TURNING LEFT, CLEARING AN INTERSECTION) AND MULTIPLE TIMES IN MOVING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #10807543

85,605 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, THEN ALL GUAGES GO UP AND DOWN DRAMATICALLY, THE LOSS OF POWER, CAR COMES TO STOP BUT ENGINE DOESN'T DIE. TURN OFF ENGINE, THEN ON THEN SAME THING 2-3 MORE X ON WAY HOME. DANGEROUS. DUE TO FAULTY TIPM MADE BY CHRYSLER? THIS HAS HAPPENED 20 DIFFERENT DAYS IN LAST M…

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DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, THEN ALL GUAGES GO UP AND DOWN DRAMATICALLY, THE LOSS OF POWER, CAR COMES TO STOP BUT ENGINE DOESN'T DIE. TURN OFF ENGINE, THEN ON THEN SAME THING 2-3 MORE X ON WAY HOME. DANGEROUS. DUE TO FAULTY TIPM MADE BY CHRYSLER? THIS HAS HAPPENED 20 DIFFERENT DAYS IN LAST MONTH, ALSO BATTERY DEAD ONCE, ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED TWICE, REAR TAILLIGHTS BLEW FROM ELECTRICAL SURGES 3X, TWICE POWER WINDOW WOULDN'T GO. TAKEN INTO SHOP TWO DIFF. OCCASIONS BUT CAN'T REPEAT PROBLEM SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. HELP! CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES AND ON 30-40 MPH STREETS OTHER TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #10807483

38,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON & OFF BLINKING . ALL THE HANDS LIKE FUEL HAND AND RPM START BLINKING UP AND DOWN. IT DROPS IN SPEED. SO I PRESS ON THE GAS. IT COMES BACK UP BUT IT GUNS THE ENGINE AND STARTS JERKING. EVERY TIME WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE HANDS START BLINKING AGA…

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I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON & OFF BLINKING . ALL THE HANDS LIKE FUEL HAND AND RPM START BLINKING UP AND DOWN. IT DROPS IN SPEED. SO I PRESS ON THE GAS. IT COMES BACK UP BUT IT GUNS THE ENGINE AND STARTS JERKING. EVERY TIME WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE HANDS START BLINKING AGAIN AND IT DROPS IN SPEED BUT THIS TIME IT CUTS OFF! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! I COAST TO THE SIDE AND CRANK THE CAR AGAIN. THE DASH LIGHTS AND ALL THE HAND GAUGES BLINGING BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T CUT OFF. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 2009! IF I HAD KNOWN THAT PT'S WERE FAULTY, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT IT. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE. SOMETIMES AT HIGHER SPEEDS SOMETIMES AT LOWER SPEEDS. SOMETIME JUST SITTING PARKED IT CUTS OFF! FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE SINCE,THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PT. IT'S NOT SAFE! IT'S NOT SAFE WHEN YOU'RE GOING 70 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR CUTS OFF!

NHTSA ODI #10786145

98,000 miles · May 28, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY POST, AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY POST, AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10721999

87,922 miles · Mar 22, 2015
Electrical System

I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE MIDDLE. ALL THE HANDS LIKE FUEL HAND AND RPM START BOBBING UP AND DOWN. IT DROPS IN SPEED. SO I PRESS ON THE GAS. IT COMES BACK UP IN SPEED BUT IT GUNS THE ENGINE AND STARTS JERKING. EVERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN ALL THE HANDS START BOBBING AGAIN AND IT DROPS IN SPEED BU…

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I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE MIDDLE. ALL THE HANDS LIKE FUEL HAND AND RPM START BOBBING UP AND DOWN. IT DROPS IN SPEED. SO I PRESS ON THE GAS. IT COMES BACK UP IN SPEED BUT IT GUNS THE ENGINE AND STARTS JERKING. EVERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN ALL THE HANDS START BOBBING AGAIN AND IT DROPS IN SPEED BUT THIS TIME IT CUTS OFF! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! I COAST TO THE SIDE AND CRANK THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTS DOING THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE HAND GAUGES BOBBING BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T CUT OFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT ON 12/23/2014. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 11/22/2014! IF I HAD KNOWN THAT PT'S WERE FAULTY, I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT IT. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE. SOMETIMES AT HIGHER SPEEDS SOMETIMES AT LOWER SPEEDS. SOMETIME JUST SITTING PARKED IT CUTS OFF! FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE SINCE,THEIR HAVE BEEN ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PT. IT'S NOT SAFE! YOU KNOW IT'S NOT SAFE WHEN YOU'RE GOING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR CUTTS OFF! THIS IS NOT GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700913

Official recalls

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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

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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.