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2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser are lower than the model-year median of 202.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

86 reports with mileage · 11 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports
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55,000 miles · Nov 27, 2018
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #11154208

40,000 miles · Nov 9, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11150244

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

125,000 miles · Sep 29, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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 HAPPEN…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10910609

41,000 miles · Nov 28, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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 DA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10661227

36,700 miles · Jul 1, 2014
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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 REC…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10607292

35,000 miles · Oct 29, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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 W…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10549927

74,660 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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 GAUG…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10548154

74,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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 T…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10547908

73,000 miles · Jun 21, 2013
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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 W…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10521017

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.