Chrysler · PT Cruiser · 2009
0
Recalls
97
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser has no recalls and 97 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (23 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system with 23 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
The contact owns a 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the front driver's side seat erroneously rolled backwards, and the driver was unable to reach the brake pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was...
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SPORADIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER POWERS ON AND OFF ILLUMINATING ALL LIGHTS. WHEN CONDITION OCCURS IT IS VASTLY DISTRACTING UNABLE TO DETERMINE VEHICLE SPEED ACCURATELY. WHEN THE ISSUE IS PRESENT THE ENGINE WILL TYPICALLY SHUT OFF. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN INCREDIBLY BAD CONDITION TO ALLOW I...
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WHILE RUNNING AT 45 MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO, AND THE MOTOR STARTED STUMBLING. TRYING TO NURSE IT HOME, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHERE THE PREVIOUS THINGS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT ALSO THE MOTOR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS LEFT ME STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE ...
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WHILE DRIVING ALL THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON ENGINE STALLS EVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. CAR HAS TO STOPPED, KEY TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE ERRORS CLEAR. IT HAS DONE SINCE IT WAS NEW.. IT HAS BEEN RESEARCHED BY DEALER WHILE IN FOR SERVICE. NEVER FIXED IT IS STILL DOING IT..
INTERMITTENTLY ALL DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND ALL GAUGES BEGIN FLUCTUATING AND THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO SPUTTER AND SOMETIMES DIES AND THEN IT DOESN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR MILES
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED, SOMETIMES FLASHING ON AND THEN OFF WHEN DRIVING. IF DRIVING, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL EITHER ACCELERATE OR SLOW DOWN. BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BACK AND FORTH, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M GOIN...
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2016. THE ODOMETER READING WAS 74,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. IT FUNCTIONED WITHOUT PROBLEMS UNTIL MARCH 2018. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 2 MILES AND THEN WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AT ABOUT 25 MPH ...
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ENGINE LEAKING OIL
I WAS IN A HWY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE GAUGES LIGHT UP AND I LOST POWER. I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL BUT NO ACCELERATION. I MANAGED TO PARK ON THE SIDE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED JUST 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ONE MONTH...
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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.
Showing 10 recent complaints from 97 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2009 Chrysler models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 97 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser are electrical system (23 reports), electrical system,engine (12 reports), air bags (4 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.