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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

What owners actually said

97 reports
58,000 miles · Jul 20, 2012
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING CAR ALL DASHLIGHTS FLASHES OFF AND ON GAUGES DANCE UP AND DOWN CAR LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466706

101,786 miles · Jun 27, 2012
TiresWheels

TPMS FAILURES. 3 OUT OF HAVE FAILED SO FAR. THE FIRST OCCURED WHEN I FILLED THE THE TIRE WITH AIR.THE VALVE STEM HAD BROKEN OFF . THE SECOND AND THIRD HAVE APPEARED BEFORE DOING FRONT BRAKES THIS PAST WEEKEND. BOTH VALVE STEMS ARE ABOUT TO FAIL.THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CRACKS AND NEED REPLACING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463240

50,000 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND THE GAUGES GO UP AND DOWN, THE CAR DIES. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO CODES ARE STORED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, AND MOST OF THEM END WITH ME HAVING TO PULL OVER TO THE SID…

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WHILE DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND THE GAUGES GO UP AND DOWN, THE CAR DIES. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO CODES ARE STORED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, AND MOST OF THEM END WITH ME HAVING TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF & BACK ON. TWICE IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY...THE CAR SHUTS OFF & I'M LITERALLY COASTING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET OVER FOR SAFETY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND ALL THE REPAIR SHOP TELLS ME IS THEY CAN'T FIX IT AND DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462273

53,000 miles · Jun 12, 2012
Power Train

2009 PT CRUISER WITH 53,000 MILES WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IS NOT RELEASING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461317

35,000 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Electrical System

DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP AND GAUGES FALL THE VEHICLE STALLS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE CHANGED SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE. THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS. CHRYSLE…

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DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP AND GAUGES FALL THE VEHICLE STALLS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE CHANGED SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE. THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS. CHRYSLER IS NO HELP WITH SOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449148

55,498 miles · Jan 17, 2012
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY CAR'S DASH BOARD STARTED GOING HAYWIRE. ALL GAUGES (EXCEPT FUEL AND TEMPERATURE) WOULD DROP DOWN TO ZERO FOR A SECOND, AND THEN GO RIGHT BACK UP TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. THE CAR NEVER ACTUALLY STALLED, BUT ACTED A COUPLE TIMES LIKE IT MIGHT. I GAVE IT A LITTLE EXTRA GAS AND IT KEPT RUNNING. TH…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY CAR'S DASH BOARD STARTED GOING HAYWIRE. ALL GAUGES (EXCEPT FUEL AND TEMPERATURE) WOULD DROP DOWN TO ZERO FOR A SECOND, AND THEN GO RIGHT BACK UP TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. THE CAR NEVER ACTUALLY STALLED, BUT ACTED A COUPLE TIMES LIKE IT MIGHT. I GAVE IT A LITTLE EXTRA GAS AND IT KEPT RUNNING. THIS CONTINUED FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE. (APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES.) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444007

35,000 miles · Jan 10, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE GAUGES AND WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE GAUGES AND WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10443368

61,000 miles · Dec 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10441059

39,000 miles · Nov 22, 2011
SeatsSuspension

FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AS A RENTAL RETURN WITH ONLY 389 MILES ON IT. SEEMS THAT THE BUSHINGS SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON A VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND NEW TIRES - I BABY THIS CAR. ALS…

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FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AS A RENTAL RETURN WITH ONLY 389 MILES ON IT. SEEMS THAT THE BUSHINGS SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON A VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND NEW TIRES - I BABY THIS CAR. ALSO, PANEL WITH CONTROLS ON LEFT SIDE OF DRIVERS SEAT HAS DETACHED. I HAVE TRIED TO REATTACH MANY TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. I WILL NEED TO BRING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX. UNFORTUNATELY BOTH OF THESE ITEMS HAPPENED JUST AFTER MY 36/36 WARRANTY WAS UP AND IS NOT COVERED BY MY LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HAVE BEEN QUOTED NEARLY $1000 TO FIX BOTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436795

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE 12/07/2010...REPAIRS CONDUCTED ON 1/21/11 (1) REPLACEMENT DRIVERS (OUTER) L PANEL DRIVER SEAT SWITCH BEZEL BROKEN *SAME EXISTS PANEL CONTINUALLY "BREAKS" DOWN AFTER SITTING ON DRIVERS SEAT (2) POWER LOCK SYSTEM L/R DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK/OR/UNLOCK * ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH "LATE" AUTOMATIC LOC…

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PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE 12/07/2010...REPAIRS CONDUCTED ON 1/21/11 (1) REPLACEMENT DRIVERS (OUTER) L PANEL DRIVER SEAT SWITCH BEZEL BROKEN *SAME EXISTS PANEL CONTINUALLY "BREAKS" DOWN AFTER SITTING ON DRIVERS SEAT (2) POWER LOCK SYSTEM L/R DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK/OR/UNLOCK * ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH "LATE" AUTOMATIC LOCKING OF AUTOMOBILE DOORS ON 11/14/11 DURING OIL-CHANGE (MECHANIC) DISCOVERED (1) BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS (UPPER/LOWER) RF ENGINE (2) SHOCK LEAKING...MECHANIC STATED IN 20 PLUS YRS OF WORK AS A MECHANIC HE HAS "REPLACED" MANY PT CRUISER-BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS...MYSELF, I DOCUMENTED ALL ABOVE IN AN EMAIL TO CHRYSLER 11/14/2011. SUGGESTING "LEMON" AUTOMOBILE & REQUESTED TOTAL COMPENSATION OR (NEW AUTOMOBILE) REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435634

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.