← New search

2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

95 reports with mileage · 20 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 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

115 reports
54,600 miles · May 6, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME ACTIVATED. INDICATES NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLY NO SRS CAPABILITY. PER LITHIA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP #4, "WITECH TEST CODES SET, B1B57, B1B55, B1B56, B1B54". "REPLACE PASS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RECEIVER (BUCKLE), ON NATIONAL BACKORDER NO ETA AT THIS TIME". PROBLEM, REDUCED PASSENGER SAFETY,…

Read full complaint

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME ACTIVATED. INDICATES NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLY NO SRS CAPABILITY. PER LITHIA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP #4, "WITECH TEST CODES SET, B1B57, B1B55, B1B56, B1B54". "REPLACE PASS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RECEIVER (BUCKLE), ON NATIONAL BACKORDER NO ETA AT THIS TIME". PROBLEM, REDUCED PASSENGER SAFETY, CONTINUES CHIMING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 SECOND INTERVALS AND BRIGHT RED WARNING LIGHT; NO FIX AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510796

30,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Power Train

THE CLUTCH STARTED TO MAKE IT HARD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ARIZONA SO IT STARTS TO WARM UP TO ABOUT 100 DEGREES AROUND THIS TIME (END OF APRIL). THIS THEN OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2011 AND 2012 FROM APRIL TO THE END OF OCTOBER (WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL OFF BELOW 100 DEGREES). EVERY YEAR IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND…

Read full complaint

THE CLUTCH STARTED TO MAKE IT HARD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ARIZONA SO IT STARTS TO WARM UP TO ABOUT 100 DEGREES AROUND THIS TIME (END OF APRIL). THIS THEN OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2011 AND 2012 FROM APRIL TO THE END OF OCTOBER (WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL OFF BELOW 100 DEGREES). EVERY YEAR IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND TODAY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ALL WARM WEATHER LOCATED PT'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509985

50,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10493048

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FUEL LINE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO PAY $ 109.25 TO HAVE THE FUEL LINE REMOVED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10485684

29,000 miles · Nov 2, 2012
Tires

VALVE STEM FAILURE AND RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO GALVANIC CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482949

133,450 miles · Aug 23, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE CAR TENDS TO STALL WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50, IT WILL JERK A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN GOING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SEEKING AND TRYING ALL TYPES OF SOLUTIONS…

Read full complaint

THE CAR TENDS TO STALL WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50, IT WILL JERK A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE GOING FORWARD. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN GOING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SEEKING AND TRYING ALL TYPES OF SOLUTIONS. EVEN TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVING THE SAME STALL AND ROUGH IDLING. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472115

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.…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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

51,954 miles · Jun 20, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BRAKES ALSO EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO CONDUCTED A DRIVABLE PERFORMANCE CHECK AND A BODY ELECTRICAL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BRAKES ALSO EMITTED A SQUEAKING NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO CONDUCTED A DRIVABLE PERFORMANCE CHECK AND A BODY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECK BUT COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND READJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,954 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10462413

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…

Read full complaint

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

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.