GAUGES GO CRAZY, SOMETIMES IT DIES BUT WILL START UP AGAIN. WONT TRIP CODES TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
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
Compare all Pt Cruiser years →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.
What owners actually said
97 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,639.
DRIVING ALONG AT ANY SPEED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER FROM BRIGHT TO DULL. *TR
MY RIGHT REAR TAIL KEEPS FILLING UP WITH WATER WHICH COULD CAUSE A BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION, OR AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SHORT OUT THE BULB. I HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW REPAIRING THE REAR LATCH THAT QUIT WORKING COULD THAT BE RELATED? *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST STOP, THE GAUGES WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THE GAS GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY. AFTER IT SHUTS OFF, IT WILL START BACK UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. YOU MIGHT BE OKAY FOR A FEW DAYS OR MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK IN WITH THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO D…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST STOP, THE GAUGES WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THE GAS GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY. AFTER IT SHUTS OFF, IT WILL START BACK UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. YOU MIGHT BE OKAY FOR A FEW DAYS OR MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK IN WITH THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. EVEN AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR OVER A MONTH OR MORE. WE THEN CAUGHT THE GAUGES GOING CRAZY AND RECORDED IT FOR THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T FIND A CODE FOR THE ISSUE. WE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. NOW THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE ARE HAVING THAT REPLACED NOW. THIS SAME ISSUE IS AFFECTING MANY 2009 PT CRUISER OWNERS AND CHRSYLER HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING A CAR THAT JUST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY OR A RESIDENTIAL STREET. MY HOPE IS THAT THERE IS NOT A LOSS OF LIFE OR LIMB BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *JS
AS STATED IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE GAUGES START LIGHTING UP AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU WIGGLE THE KEY IT CAN STOP WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY OR TRYING TO PASS THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I REC…
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AS STATED IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE GAUGES START LIGHTING UP AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU WIGGLE THE KEY IT CAN STOP WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY OR TRYING TO PASS THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY YOUR OFFICE FOR OTHER CHRYSLER AND DODGE VEHICLES BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE PT CRUISER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V373 SOUNDS IDENTICAL TO WHAT MY VEHICLE IS DOING. I ALSO HAVE VIDEO THAT SHOWS WHAT THE VEHICLE IS DOING. PLEASE ADVISE IF THE PT CRUISER IS GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND IF NOT AND I PAY TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACE WILL I BE REFUNDED IN THE EVENT THAT THE PTA CRUISER IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. IN ADDITION I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE HORN ON MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER BUT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN DEPRESSED IT STICKS OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL WITHOUT ALOT OF FORCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND GOING ABOUT 35 MPH THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT ON AND ALL THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. I DIDN'T TOTALLY LOST POWER BUT SLOWED DOWN AND THE GAUGES POPPED BACK AND THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. IT HAS CONTINUED TO RUN OK FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD …
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AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND GOING ABOUT 35 MPH THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT ON AND ALL THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. I DIDN'T TOTALLY LOST POWER BUT SLOWED DOWN AND THE GAUGES POPPED BACK AND THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. IT HAS CONTINUED TO RUN OK FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 AT A MILEAGE OF ABOUT 39,100. THE CAR HAS RUN OK SINCE UP TO THIS LATEST INCIDENT ON JUNE 1, 2014. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ALL DASH LIGHTS GOING CRAZY, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN, DRIVING APPROX. 55 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. TOOK TO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF 18 WHEELER WHEN ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN. *TR
THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED, AND THEN ALL GAUGES ON DASH DROPPED TO ZERO AND RESET SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, OFTEN INCLUDING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION OR ENGINE STALLS (THOUGH ENGINE HAS NEVER SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, OFTEN IT IS ONLY REVIVED WITH A PRESS…
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THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED, AND THEN ALL GAUGES ON DASH DROPPED TO ZERO AND RESET SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, OFTEN INCLUDING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION OR ENGINE STALLS (THOUGH ENGINE HAS NEVER SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, OFTEN IT IS ONLY REVIVED WITH A PRESS OF THE ACCELERATOR). AS WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT THE ISSUE WAS NEVER REPLICATED. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEARS, THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM BEING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON (PRACTICALLY WEEKLY), INDICATING MY PASSENGER HAS NO AIRBAG AND COULD BE JEOPARDY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. NO ONE HAS EVER FOUND THIS ISSUE, WHICH AS REPEATED EVEN AFTER BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND BATTERY CONTACTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS REPAIRS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT THIS HASN'T STOPPED, AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY ARE AT RISK IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOESN'T WORK!! *TR
LAST YEAR (2013) I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35MPH, ALL PANEL LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEN ONE DAY IT STARTED AGAIN ALL PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND ALL GAUGES DROPPED DOWN, FUEL TANK GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, ETC AND ENGINE DIED. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND THANKFUL THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO …
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LAST YEAR (2013) I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35MPH, ALL PANEL LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEN ONE DAY IT STARTED AGAIN ALL PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND ALL GAUGES DROPPED DOWN, FUEL TANK GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, ETC AND ENGINE DIED. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND THANKFUL THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO CHAPMAN DEALERSHIP AND NO ERROR CODES APPEARED AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW IT IS APRIL 2014 AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS STARTING AGAIN ALL PANEL LIGHTS ARE BLINKING ON AND OFF AND I AM AFRAID THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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