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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

97 reports
85,000 miles · Sep 3, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH. VERY SCARY, DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CAR. FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI #11021241

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2017
Seat Belts

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS TORN. THE STITCHING UNRAVELED FROM THE BELT PART WHICH GOES ACROSS THE CHEST. THE METAL PIECE IS IN THE FASTENER, BUT NO BELT IS ATTACHED TO IT. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE PASSENGER AND UNLAWFUL IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

NHTSA ODI #11015569

42,500 miles · Jun 29, 2017
Wheels

A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT 11001939 ; WHERE THE WHEEL SENSOR/VALVE BLEW OUT OF THE RIM ; TOOK THE TIRE AND RIM TO "COSTCO TIRE" WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE TIRES ; THE CHRYSLER ALUMINUM SENSOR WAS STILL INSIDE THE TIRE ; THEY SAID THE ALUMINUM WAS SO CORRODED ; THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT ; NOW AS AN ENGINEER IN THE METALS INDUSTRY ; YOU …

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A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT 11001939 ; WHERE THE WHEEL SENSOR/VALVE BLEW OUT OF THE RIM ; TOOK THE TIRE AND RIM TO "COSTCO TIRE" WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE TIRES ; THE CHRYSLER ALUMINUM SENSOR WAS STILL INSIDE THE TIRE ; THEY SAID THE ALUMINUM WAS SO CORRODED ; THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT ; NOW AS AN ENGINEER IN THE METALS INDUSTRY ; YOU N E V E R ; PUT ALUMINUM AND STEEL PARTS TOGETHER BECAUSE JUST THEM TOUCHING EACH OTHER ; CAUSES A GALVANIC REACTION WHICH DOES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE...............CORROSION AND SEPARATION. ANY TIME THE TWO METAL TOUCH YOU GET THIS REACTION; TO PUT THESE TOGETHER YOU SURROUND THE METAL WITH A SLEEVE CALLED A "JOCK" KIT TO KEEP THE SEPARATE; OBVIOUSLY TO PREVENT THIS. EVEN THOUGH I STOPPED THE VEHIHCLE AS SOON AS MY SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON I ALSO DESTROYED THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE (BFGOODRICH ADVANTAGE)........THE TIRE MANAGER ASKED HOW I KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING; I TOLD HIM I WAS AN EXPERIENCED RACE CAR DRIVER AND DIDN'T PANIC. NOW ; ALL CHRYSLER PT CRUISER TO MY AND COSTCO'S TIRE MANAGER HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME SET-UP FOR WHEEL SENSORS IN ALL THEIR MODELS ; I OWN 2 OF THEM ; LOVE THEM ; BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WITH WATER ETC. ADDED TO THE FACTS, I'M SURE THEIR ARE OTHERS' WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND MAYBE NOT THE EXPERIENCE TO NOT MAKE THIS A "ROLLOVER" OR "OTHER LANE SWERVE " SITUATION. I LIVE IN PA. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NEVER DRIVEN THE WINTER THRU SALTS FOR SNOW ; REALLY A CONCERN IN MY MIND HOW THESE ARE IN STEEL RIMS.............PROBABLY DOES NOT EFFECT THE ALUMINUM OPTIONAL WHEELS THEY OFFERED. THANKS

NHTSA ODI #11002096

45,254 miles · Jun 28, 2017
Wheels

WHEEL SENSOR /AIR VALVE BLEW OUT OF WHEEL ITSELF ON THE INTERSTATE 79 @ 70 MPH ; OBVIOUSLY LOST ALL AIR SUDDENLY ; HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM ANOTHER PT CRUISE OWNER ; THESE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED WHEEL SENSOR/AIR VALVES................NO DAMAGE STOPPED WITH 10 SECONDS. I SEE REPORTS HERE AS FAR BACK AS 2011 ; SHOWN UNDER TI…

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WHEEL SENSOR /AIR VALVE BLEW OUT OF WHEEL ITSELF ON THE INTERSTATE 79 @ 70 MPH ; OBVIOUSLY LOST ALL AIR SUDDENLY ; HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM ANOTHER PT CRUISE OWNER ; THESE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED WHEEL SENSOR/AIR VALVES................NO DAMAGE STOPPED WITH 10 SECONDS. I SEE REPORTS HERE AS FAR BACK AS 2011 ; SHOWN UNDER TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11001939

68,171 miles · Jun 4, 2017
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT A 2009 PT CRUISER FROM IMPERIAL CHRYSLER IN MENDON, MA IN AUGUST 2013. IMMEDIATELY, IT STARTED TO ACT UP-THIS WAS SEPT 2013. DURING DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO ON, THE GAUGES WOULD GO UP & DOWN, AND THEN IT WOULD STALL. I WOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND IT WOULD START RIGHT UP, HOWEVER, THIS C…

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TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT A 2009 PT CRUISER FROM IMPERIAL CHRYSLER IN MENDON, MA IN AUGUST 2013. IMMEDIATELY, IT STARTED TO ACT UP-THIS WAS SEPT 2013. DURING DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO ON, THE GAUGES WOULD GO UP & DOWN, AND THEN IT WOULD STALL. I WOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND IT WOULD START RIGHT UP, HOWEVER, THIS COULD OCCUR 3-4 MORE TIMES DURING THAT DAY, OR IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. IT WAS VERY INCONSISTENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IMPERIAL CHRYSLER HAD IT IN SEPTEMBER 2013, THEY DID A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE NOT WORKING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, UNRELATED TO THE ISSUE DESCRIBED ABOVE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE THAT I WAS HAVING AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY ADVISED THAT I SHOULD LEAVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK SO THEY COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING. AFTER THE CAR SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2016 WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 128 AND THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, GAUGES UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR STALLED. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AND MOVE ON. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY POSITION TO BE PLACED IN, BEING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH CARS RACING BY. AS A RESULT, I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING ANYWHERE BUT LOCALLY. DURING THE NEARLY 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR, I HAVE PUT ON JUST UNDER $16,000 MILES DUE TO THESE UNRESOLVED ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH JUST OVER $68,000 MILES ON IT. AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH THE CHRYSLER-TRAINED EXPERTS AT IMPERIAL CHRYSLER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS WHO HAVE THEORIES ON WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10993079

40,000 miles · Mar 10, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE GAUGE READINGS FLUCTUATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD "AN ELECTRONICS PROBLEM." THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE GAUGE READINGS FLUCTUATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD "AN ELECTRONICS PROBLEM." THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10959949

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

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.