NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
45 reportsClear category filter70,000 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Electrical System
JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM...WHILE DRIVING, AT SOME POINT, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON, SEAT BELT ETC. AS WELL AS ALL THE NEEDLES, SPEEDOMETER, GAS ETC WILL GO DOWN...THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR HAS STALLED OUT. ABOUT APRIL 2012 THE IC PANEL WAS REPLACED. A…
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JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM...WHILE DRIVING, AT SOME POINT, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON, SEAT BELT ETC. AS WELL AS ALL THE NEEDLES, SPEEDOMETER, GAS ETC WILL GO DOWN...THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR HAS STALLED OUT. ABOUT APRIL 2012 THE IC PANEL WAS REPLACED. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES AT THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO MAKE THE PROBLEM HAPPEN. WELL, IT DOESN'T END THERE...LAST FALL THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN!!!! THE DEALER HAD IT AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS TIME THEY NEVER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. SO, I FIGURED I COULD DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO HEAT, OR AIR CONDITIONING, NO RADIO, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM HASN'T OCCURRED, UNTIL JUST RECENTLY...THIS TIME IT GOES OFF CONTINUALLY, SOMETIMES. THIS IS SO SCARY! THE CAR CAN STALL ANYWHERE! I HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS SAME ISSUE ON SEVERAL BLOGS...STILL UNRESOLVED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10536253
52,000 miles · Aug 18, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility
IN APRIL 2012 MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TURNING TO WARM AIR WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ACTING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON AUGUST 6, 2012 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE LINE, AND IF MORE PROBLEMS BRING IT BACK.…
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IN APRIL 2012 MY AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TURNING TO WARM AIR WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ACTING AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON AUGUST 6, 2012 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE LINE, AND IF MORE PROBLEMS BRING IT BACK. ON AUGUST 8TH THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT ONLY TURNED WARM THE CAR CUT OFF. AS LONG AS I'M RUNNING STEADY ON THE HIGHWAY IT WORKS FINE.I ACTUALLY HAVE TO TURN THE AIR OFF AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR NOT RUN IT AT ALL AROUND THE CITY,I RETURNED AGAIN TO THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. I WENT ON LINE TO JUST ANSWER TODAY, CHRYSLER EXPERT INFORMING ME THAT POSSIBLY THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN NEEDS REPLACING WHICH IS COMMON IN PT CRUISER.I AM CONCERNED IT WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS TO MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10471398
53,000 miles · Jun 26, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
MY INFANT NEPHEWS AND MY NIECE WERE IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK, I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR LOCKING ITSELF WHILE I DRIVE, BUT THIS TIME IT LOCKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CLICKER (REMOTE) OR THE KEY TO UNLOCK UNTIL MY NEPHEWS WERE PANICKED (ABOUT SEVEN/TEN MINUTES THAT TIME) IT OPENED AND…
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MY INFANT NEPHEWS AND MY NIECE WERE IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK, I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS. I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR LOCKING ITSELF WHILE I DRIVE, BUT THIS TIME IT LOCKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CLICKER (REMOTE) OR THE KEY TO UNLOCK UNTIL MY NEPHEWS WERE PANICKED (ABOUT SEVEN/TEN MINUTES THAT TIME) IT OPENED AND I GOT THEM OUT, BUT IT UPSET ME SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY PASSENGERS AND THIS MORNING, IT LOCKED ME IN FROM THE INSIDE AND NOTHING WOULD RELEASE THE LOCKS, NOT THE DOOR NOT THE REMOTE, NOT THE MANUAL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE BEING TOLD ITS THE RKEM, THIS IS A HAZARD AND A HALF, I WAS ABOUT READY TO BUST THE WINDOWS FOR MYSELF (I WAS LOCKED IN FOR ALMOST TWENTY MINUTES/HAD TO KEEP RESTARTING THE CAR TO GET AIR IN, BECAUSE IT WAS HOT. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW THIS WOULD NOT BE A RECALL ITEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10463195
35,247 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PT CRUISER HOME, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONE TIME AND STAYED ON FOR THE TEN MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO GET HOME. THEY CAME ON AGAIN BRIEFLY TWO MORE TIMES FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, WROTE THEM DOWN AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALE…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PT CRUISER HOME, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONE TIME AND STAYED ON FOR THE TEN MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO GET HOME. THEY CAME ON AGAIN BRIEFLY TWO MORE TIMES FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, WROTE THEM DOWN AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REPAIR MADE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME. AGAIN IN MAY, 2012, THE CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE AND BRIEFLY WHILE DRIVING HOME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ISSUE FOR CONSUMERS TO DEAL WITH AND I ALSO URGE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANELS ON THE 2008 PT CRUISERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460831
48,268 miles · Apr 14, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility
DASHBOARD, INSIDE, OUTSIDE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING; WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEED TO BE REPLACED; IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2011, AND NOW AGAIN IN 2012. PER DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT., CA LAW REQUIRES IT BE REPLACED - FOR SAFETY SAKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10455233
17,000 miles · Mar 21, 2012
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, AND CROSSING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE COLUMBIA RIVER WITH NO SHOULDER, THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. ALL THE GAUGES STARTED TO CUT IN AND OUT (GAS, SPEED AND RPM ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON), AND THEN THE CAR STALLED AND DIED. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND HE SAW …
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WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, AND CROSSING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE COLUMBIA RIVER WITH NO SHOULDER, THE CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. ALL THE GAUGES STARTED TO CUT IN AND OUT (GAS, SPEED AND RPM ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON), AND THEN THE CAR STALLED AND DIED. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND HE SAW MY FLASHERS AND I WAS FRANTICALLY HONKING MY HORN BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO DIE. HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER 18 WHEELER DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM AND THAT ONE NEARLY HIT US. THIS WOULD HAVE EASILY KILLED ME AND MY FAMILY ( A BEAUTIFUL 16 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND A BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO IS A NEWLY GRADUATED DVM. MIRACULOUSLY THE CAR RESTARTED DURING MY PANIC, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RAN EXHAUSTIVE TESTS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM EITHER, WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS WELL: HTTP://WWW.PTCRUISERLINKS.COM/FORUM/TECH-PERFORMANCE-FORUM/33457-FLASHING-ICONS-GAUGES-GO-UP-DOWN-THEN-CAR-DIES.HTML THEN I FOUND THIS SITE AND FOUND EVEN MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EARILY SIMILAR. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE! PLEASE INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION!!!! *JS
NHTSA ODI #10452595
48,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
NHTSA ODI #10450483
36,000 miles · Feb 7, 2012
Electrical System
DURING DRIVING OPERATIONS, THIS IS AFTER START UP, THE DASH BOARD INDICATORS WILL BLINK ON, LIGHT UP. THIS DESCRIPTION INCLUDES ALL OF THE INDICATORS, SUCH AS LOW TIRE PRESSURE, OIL, SEAT BELT, ETC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10446982
45,000 miles · Feb 6, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATORS WOULD ALL ILLUMINATE ERRONEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATORS WOULD ALL ILLUMINATE ERRONEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
NHTSA ODI #10446800
36,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,0…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
NHTSA ODI #10374924