NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
26 reportsClear category filter31,000 miles · Dec 28, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine
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 SOLU…
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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 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.
NHTSA ODI #11385200
68,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine
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…
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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 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.
NHTSA ODI #11243684
1,000 miles · Jun 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine
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..
NHTSA ODI #11221818
75,000 miles · Jul 26, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine
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 GAU…
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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 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.
NHTSA ODI #11113929
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2018
Engine
ENGINE LEAKING OIL
NHTSA ODI #11065546
95,510 miles · Oct 2, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
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 AFRAI…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #11031412
85,000 miles · Sep 3, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #11021241
99,089 miles · Sep 23, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
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. …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10908937
60,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10875743
86,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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, T…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10807543