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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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74,700 miles · Feb 19, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BROUGHT THE CAR ON 3/25/14 FROM A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP. COMPLAIN ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT THE TIME OF TEST DRIVE. TOYOTA PROMISE ME IT WOULD BE FIXED PICK THE CAR DROVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AND NOTICE THE CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DE…

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I BROUGHT THE CAR ON 3/25/14 FROM A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP. COMPLAIN ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT THE TIME OF TEST DRIVE. TOYOTA PROMISE ME IT WOULD BE FIXED PICK THE CAR DROVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AND NOTICE THE CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE NOTHING WAS FOUND. I LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR AND WHILE ON THE FWY AT 65MPH THE LIGHTS ON THE CONTROL PANEL STARTING GOING ON AND OFF THEY CAR SHUT OFF ON HER. LUCKY SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AVOIDING FROM GETTING HIT. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS SO CAR REALLY WASN'T DRIVEN THAT MUCH. BUT I HAVE THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR WITH A PROTECTION PLAN AND NEED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WORK THE INVOLVED GETTING SOLENOID PACK, BRACKET-TORQUE REACTION,T-STAT, OIL SWITCH, GASKET, AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AS OF 2/10/2015. NOW 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEED A COOLING FAN MODULE. WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY PROTECT PLAN AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 700.00 DOLLAR. I HAVE THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS AND HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN KILLED BEHIND IT CUTTING ON AND OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS CAR AND EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10689389

61,000 miles · Dec 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10441059

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE 12/07/2010...REPAIRS CONDUCTED ON 1/21/11 (1) REPLACEMENT DRIVERS (OUTER) L PANEL DRIVER SEAT SWITCH BEZEL BROKEN *SAME EXISTS PANEL CONTINUALLY "BREAKS" DOWN AFTER SITTING ON DRIVERS SEAT (2) POWER LOCK SYSTEM L/R DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK/OR/UNLOCK * ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH "LATE" AUTOMATIC LOC…

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PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE 12/07/2010...REPAIRS CONDUCTED ON 1/21/11 (1) REPLACEMENT DRIVERS (OUTER) L PANEL DRIVER SEAT SWITCH BEZEL BROKEN *SAME EXISTS PANEL CONTINUALLY "BREAKS" DOWN AFTER SITTING ON DRIVERS SEAT (2) POWER LOCK SYSTEM L/R DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK/OR/UNLOCK * ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH "LATE" AUTOMATIC LOCKING OF AUTOMOBILE DOORS ON 11/14/11 DURING OIL-CHANGE (MECHANIC) DISCOVERED (1) BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS (UPPER/LOWER) RF ENGINE (2) SHOCK LEAKING...MECHANIC STATED IN 20 PLUS YRS OF WORK AS A MECHANIC HE HAS "REPLACED" MANY PT CRUISER-BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS...MYSELF, I DOCUMENTED ALL ABOVE IN AN EMAIL TO CHRYSLER 11/14/2011. SUGGESTING "LEMON" AUTOMOBILE & REQUESTED TOTAL COMPENSATION OR (NEW AUTOMOBILE) REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435634

35,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGAN BLINKING REPEATEDLY, THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN, CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THEN DIED GIVING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION CAR GAVE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGAN BLINKING REPEATEDLY, THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN, CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THEN DIED GIVING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION CAR GAVE NO INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION, DROVE HOME AND HAVE NOT DROVE SINCE. IF YOU GOOGLE "PT CRUISER CONSOLE GOING CRAZY" YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE MALFUNCTION THIS IS A DANGER TO NOT ONLY THE OWNER BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE CHECKING INTO THE ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD AFTER CONTACTING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, THEY TOLD ME "UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DIAGNOSE THE SITUATION YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN YOUR EMAIL...IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET RESOLVED, SEEKING A SECOND OPINION FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER MAY BE A VIABLE OPTION." WHICH I TAKE TO MEAN TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP, GET CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR THEM TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, IF THEY STILL DON'T KNOW AFTER CHARGING YOU $600 THEN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR CARS THAN WE DO. <BR> THIS IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE, SLIPSHODDY WAY TO RUN A COMPANY. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR CARS THEN THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEM HAVE TO STAND BY THEM AND NOT TRY TO SEND THEIR CUSTOMERS OFF TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AFTER CHARGING THEM AN ARM AND A LEG AND STILL NOT KNOWING HOW TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW THEIR CARS BETTER THAN SAY A HONDA DEALERSHIP WOULD. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED COMPLAINTS SO THAT CHRYSLER WILL FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BECAUSE GOING FROM 40 TO 0 ON A BUSY ROAD IS DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433922

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.