NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
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 contacted regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 87,000.
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 IN A VEHICLE AND CONTACTING CHRYSLER LED TO NO SOLUTION FOR RESOLVING. INTERNET SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF SITUATION AND EXISTS ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. CHRYSLER DOES HAVE A RECALL NOTICE "01V288000" FOR MODEL YEAR 2001 WHICH APPEARS TO BE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE. DUE TO THE HIGHLY DISTRACTING NATURE OF THIS CONDITION AND FREQUENCY OF SIMILAR OWNER REPORTS IT SEEMS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS THAT A RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT EXIST.
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 OF A BUSY 4 LANE HIGHWAY. ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED WHERE I DROVE IT HOME. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I SEE WHERE ONLINE THIS HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT OVER AND OVER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO THROW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT IT AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T CARE.
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 GOING. IF I SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN, THE CAR HAS CUT OFF. LOOKING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM OF PT CRUISER OWNERS, YET I'VE NEVER SEEN A RECALL. DIAGNOSTICS RAN A FEW TIMES AND NO READING SHOWS UP. ONLY TOLD, IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.
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 WHEN ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY AND I FELT A LOSS OF POWER. IT RECOVERED AFTER A FEW SECONDS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER. I COASTED TO A STOP SIGN AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I TURNED IT BACK ON ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER AND DROVE ON. I TURNED ONTO A BUSY STREET AND AFTER DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS IN TRAFFIC THE POWER LOSS HAPPENED AGAIN. IT RECOVERED ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS. I GOT OFF THE BUSY S STREET AND ONTO A SIDE STREET. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS AND DID NOT RECOVER. I COASTED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 1.5 MILES TO MY HOUSE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS IN A REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. I THEN DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT HAS STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. I DO NOT BELIEVE I CAN SAFELY DRIVE IT ON A BUSY STREET OR A FREEWAY.
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 LATER. IT HAS BEEN NOW ONE WEEK LATER. I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS A VERY SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I ALWAYS TRAVEL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY.
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.
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TURNED ON AND OFF BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. ALSO, THE HORN DID NOT WORK DUE TO THE AIR BAG INDICATOR THAT WAS WIRED INTO THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED HILLTOP CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE HORN OR AIR BAG, THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *TT *TR
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING & CAR STOPPED ON MORE THEN 1 OCCASION
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. BACK HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE MIDDLE. ALL THE HANDS LIKE FUEL HAND AND RPM START BOBBING UP AND DOWN. IT DROPS IN SPEED. SO I PRESS ON THE GAS. IT COMES BACK UP IN SPEED BUT IT GUNS THE ENGINE AND STARTS JERKING. EVERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN ALL THE HANDS START BOBBING 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. IT STARTS DOING THE WARNING LIGHTS AND THE HAND GAUGES BOBBING BUT THIS TIME IT DIDN'T CUT OFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT ON 12/23/2014. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 11/22/2014! 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,THEIR HAVE BEEN ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PT. IT'S NOT SAFE! YOU KNOW IT'S NOT SAFE WHEN YOU'RE GOING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR CUTTS OFF! THIS IS NOT GOOD. *TR
PURCHASED VEHICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH ABOUT 32,000 MILES, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GREAT UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AT ABOUT 41,000 VEHICLE HAS STARTED STALLING WHEN MOVING, HORN WILL NOT QUIT, STARTING ISSUES AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I HAVE READ MOST OF THE PRIOR 60 COMPLAINTS DATING BACK TO 2010 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY CHRYSLER . I HAVE HEARD ON THE NATIONAL NEWS THAT THERE IS FINALLY A RECALL WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME REASON. *TR
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.
TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY I NOTICED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMING ON AT ONCE, FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 SECONDS, THEN GOING OFF AGAIN. I ALSO NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE AND TACHOMETER NEEDLES DANCING AROUND AT THE SAME TIME, BEFORE STABILIZING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I WAS AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE COULD STALL BUT LUCKILY THE MOTOR KEPT RUNNING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF STALLING. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER POSTS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THEM DESCRIBED THE ENGINE STALLING. MANY OF THESE STATE THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT. I FIND THIS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE AS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF A MAJOR LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS SOMEONE GETS HURT AS A RESULT. THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY OF THESE DESCRIPTIONS TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *TR
THE VALVE STEMS CORRODE & HAVE TO BE REPLACED ??????? WHY SHOULD I AS THE CONSUMER NEED TO REPLACE BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF "NEW IMPROVED " STEMS ??????NOT ONLY IS THIS AN INCONVIENCE, BUT ALSO A GREAT EXPENSE !!!!!! PEOPLE WHO LIVE A LIMITED INCOME SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS... I HAD THE CAR 1 YEAR & HAD TO "REBUILD" MY STEMS BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD THE PRICE OF NEW ONES . NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN ??? THIS IS NOT FAIR. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY OTHER CRUISER, HOW CAN YOU VERIFY THIS AS NOT BEING A PROBLEM ???
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
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.
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 12/03/14*LJ UPDATED 8/31/2017*CN
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
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.
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
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.
"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.
PROBLEMS WITH HARD CLUTCH WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND THE CLOCKSPRING WHICH BOTH ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DOING ABOUT 55MPH. ALL OF MY GAUGES STARTED TO LIGHT UP, THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO ZERO THEN UP TO 65, THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF, THE CAR THEN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THEN EVENTUALLY JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, BUT ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE LANE. THE WHEELS TIGHTENED SO I COULD NOT STEER, I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 20 MINS. IT STARTED AGAIN BUT STRUGGLES TO GO OVER 40 BEFORE IT STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. I CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, NO CODES ARE RECORDED. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH PT CRUISERS AS I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND HAD IT FOR LESS THEN 3 WEEKS. I DROVE IT A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES. WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO ZERO THEN BACK UP TO 80, I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND ACCELERATE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH BOARD, THE CAR FUEL GAUGES WENT UP AND DOWN, AND FINALLY THE CAR STALLED. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHICH WAS A VERY SCARY. NO CODES WERE RECORDED FOR A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, AND SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL PT CRUISERS FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER ATTEMPTING FOR A REFUND, AS I FEEL MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ARE AT RISK. *TR
DRIVING AT 55MPH AND ALL THE GAUGES (GAS, SPEED, TACH) WENT TO ZERO AND FLUTTERED UP AND DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I WAS ABLE TO RECORD ON MY PHONE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE IT WAS ACTING UP. THINK I HAVE ISOLATED THE PROBLEM TO THE KEY AND IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND IF I WIGGLE THE KEY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT STOPS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU LOSE POWER TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I THINK CHRYSLER SHOULD SO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM, THEY EVIDENTLY PRODUCED A PRODUCT WITH A DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE OR BODILY DAMAGE. *TR
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.
ENGINE DIES AT SPEED, AND WILL RESTART IN A SECOND OR TWO (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). GAUGES GO HAYWIRE. CAN SOMETIMES RESET CONDITION FOR A WHILE (MINUTES TO AN HOUR) BY TURNING KEY OFF-ON, OR RESTARTING WHILE AT SPEED - SOMETIME NOT. HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE, CAR NOW HAS 185,000 MILES. REPLACED ENGINE PCM - NO EFFECT. REPLACED ENGINE TIPM - NO EFFECT. KIND OF SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOFTWARE DESIGN DEFECT? *TR
GAUGES GO CRAZY, SOMETIMES IT DIES BUT WILL START UP AGAIN. WONT TRIP CODES TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *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 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
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. *TR