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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
89,426 miles · May 12, 2016
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,426.

NHTSA ODI #10864615

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

59,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION AT 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE TOWING COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION AT 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE TOWING COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE OF WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK, SHOULDER, AND HEAD PAIN. THE CHILD OCCUPANT SUFFERED FROM A BRUISED FOOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10845564

60,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Air Bags

"TAKATA RECALL" AFTER STARTING THE CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 60,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD MY CAR HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE TO TELL ME WHAT THE LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN AND NO CODES COME UP. EACH TIME THE LIGHT APPEARS IT WILL MAKE A DING SOUND ABOUT EVER …

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"TAKATA RECALL" AFTER STARTING THE CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 60,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD MY CAR HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE TO TELL ME WHAT THE LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN AND NO CODES COME UP. EACH TIME THE LIGHT APPEARS IT WILL MAKE A DING SOUND ABOUT EVER 30 SECONDS. I'VE TRIED CHECKING THE FUSE AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THERE WEREN'T ANY LOSE WIRES. THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY AND MAKES ME WONDER IF MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS GOING TO POP OUT AT ANY MIN. THIS HAS TO BE DANGEROUS SO I HAVE TO WARN PEOPLE BEFORE THEY SIT THERE AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY ELECT TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND I'M UP FRONT LIKE A PERSONAL DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI #10836922

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

18,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015
Steering

PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN MARCH 2009. IN AUGUST 2012 HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED - WITH ONLY 3 YEARS AND 9,000 MILES. LATER LEARNED SON HAD TO HAVE SAME REPAIR ON USED 2008 P/T HE HAD BOUGHT. IN OCTOBER 2015, ONLY 3 YEARS AND 9,000 MILES MORE, HAD TO HAVE THE SAME REPAIR DONE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10787013

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

26,000 miles · Jul 19, 2015
Engine

LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING & CAR STOPPED ON MORE THEN 1 OCCASION

NHTSA ODI #10734981

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

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.