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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

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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
35,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGAN BLINKING REPEATEDLY, THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN, CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THEN DIED GIVING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION CAR GAVE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH ALL LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE BEGAN BLINKING REPEATEDLY, THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN, CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THEN DIED GIVING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION CAR GAVE NO INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION, DROVE HOME AND HAVE NOT DROVE SINCE. IF YOU GOOGLE "PT CRUISER CONSOLE GOING CRAZY" YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE MALFUNCTION THIS IS A DANGER TO NOT ONLY THE OWNER BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE CHECKING INTO THE ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD AFTER CONTACTING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, THEY TOLD ME "UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DIAGNOSE THE SITUATION YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN YOUR EMAIL...IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET RESOLVED, SEEKING A SECOND OPINION FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER MAY BE A VIABLE OPTION." WHICH I TAKE TO MEAN TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP, GET CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR THEM TO SEE IF THEY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, IF THEY STILL DON'T KNOW AFTER CHARGING YOU $600 THEN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR CARS THAN WE DO. <BR> THIS IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE, SLIPSHODDY WAY TO RUN A COMPANY. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR CARS THEN THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEM HAVE TO STAND BY THEM AND NOT TRY TO SEND THEIR CUSTOMERS OFF TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AFTER CHARGING THEM AN ARM AND A LEG AND STILL NOT KNOWING HOW TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW THEIR CARS BETTER THAN SAY A HONDA DEALERSHIP WOULD. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED COMPLAINTS SO THAT CHRYSLER WILL FIX THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BECAUSE GOING FROM 40 TO 0 ON A BUSY ROAD IS DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433922

40,000 miles · Oct 29, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED A USED 2009 PT CRUISER IN MAY 2011, WITH 37,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES LATER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH STARTED TO LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. FIRST THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE WHOLE CLUSTER LIT UP AND THEN THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMET…

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PURCHASED A USED 2009 PT CRUISER IN MAY 2011, WITH 37,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES LATER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH STARTED TO LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. FIRST THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE WHOLE CLUSTER LIT UP AND THEN THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ALSO DROPPED. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, BUT IT CHECKED OUT OK AND I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS. THIS TIME IT FLASHED ON AND OFF APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. TODAY, 10/29/11, AT 49,000 IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. I DID NOT LOSE POWER OR ACCELERATION, BUT AT ONE POINT I DID FEEL A HICCUP IN THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CANNOT EXPLAIN THIS. I LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433528

20,442 miles · Sep 30, 2011
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM, JUST LEFT OF CENTER. THE CRACK RAN UP THE WINDSHIELD FOR ABOUT 3 INCHES, THEN TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE CRACK RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT A-PILLAR. IT BEARS MENTIONING THAT THE CRACK S…

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THE WINDSHIELD ON THIS VEHICLE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM, JUST LEFT OF CENTER. THE CRACK RAN UP THE WINDSHIELD FOR ABOUT 3 INCHES, THEN TURNED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE CRACK RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT A-PILLAR. IT BEARS MENTIONING THAT THE CRACK STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HADN'T EVEN BEEN STARTED YET. I'VE SEEN MANY MENTIONS ON-LINE OF PT CRUISER'S WITH PROBLEMS IDENTICAL TO MINE, AND MY NEIGHBOR'S PT ALSO HAS THIS SAME CRACK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF AN ISSUE WITH PT WINDSHIELDS, AND DENIED MY REPAIR REQUEST UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED BY CHRYSLER'S 36/36 BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE, THEY AGREED, AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF WRANGLING, TO FIX MY WINDSHIELD IF I PAID A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I DID, RELUCTANTLY, BECAUSE HERE IN TEXAS, A VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER HAS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISER WINDSHIELDS. IT ALSO SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER HAS THEIR HEAD BURIED IN THE SAND. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE PT CRUISER WINDSHIELD ISSUE IN A PROPER MANNER, BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428084

40,400 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Electrical System

2009 PT CRUISER PURCHASED 10/2010 FROM RENTAL FLEET. HAD 40,000 MILES THEN, HAS 45,000 NOW. WHILE DRIVING (MPH NOT RELEVANT), THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF WITHIN SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LIGHT, SOMETIMES IT'S THE ENTIRE CLUSTER. THE GAUGE NEEDLES FALL TO ZERO THEN GO BACK TO CUR…

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2009 PT CRUISER PURCHASED 10/2010 FROM RENTAL FLEET. HAD 40,000 MILES THEN, HAS 45,000 NOW. WHILE DRIVING (MPH NOT RELEVANT), THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF WITHIN SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LIGHT, SOMETIMES IT'S THE ENTIRE CLUSTER. THE GAUGE NEEDLES FALL TO ZERO THEN GO BACK TO CURRENT READING. FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY SINCE 10/2010, BUT ISSUE NEVER IMPAIRED THE PERFORMANCE UNTIL 08/09/2011 WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. GOT IT TO CURB (WITHOUT GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND), TURNED OFF KEY, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, RESTARTED, AND HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC 08/13/2011; COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. CALLED CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, DESCRIBED ISSUE; THEY WANT TO PUT ON COMPUTER WHICH MY MECHANIC JUST DID. NO REPAIRS MADE. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE OF SIMILAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, I'M FEARFUL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CANNOT RESOLVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419317

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURPASS THE SET SPEED, BY 2-3 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE WENT AROUND A CURVE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF …

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2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURPASS THE SET SPEED, BY 2-3 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE WENT AROUND A CURVE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD WAY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10408408

42,000 miles · May 19, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED, THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAULTY CLUTCH WAS NOT COVER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED, THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAULTY CLUTCH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10402114

25,000 miles · May 6, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE READING ON THE GAUGES BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE READING ON THE GAUGES BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10399389

44,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Electrical System

2009 PT CRUISER HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SLOVE.WHILE DRIVING CAR ALL DASHLIGHTS FLASHES OFF AND ON GAUGES DANCE UP AND DOWN CAR LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST INVOLVED IN MANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394419

20,871 miles · Feb 25, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SHE DROVE OVER ICE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SHE DROVE OVER ICE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA EMERGENCY VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,871.

NHTSA ODI #10384522

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2011
Suspension

CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD. NOW THE CONTROL ARM HITS THE SUBFRAME WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOBBLES AT ALL SPEEDS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT, ONLY 48,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTING. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10379522

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.