2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 158 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (38%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (19%) and cruise control (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 158 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 52,000 miles 143 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 41 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 31 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 143 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 52,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 51,000 miles (55 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 3 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 84% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser with enough data (113 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a side impact collision at 35 MPH. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it caught fire. The fire was extinguished by the towing company. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. There were two injuries, one of which required medical attention. The contact suffered neck, shoulder, and head pain. The child occupant suffered from a bruised foot.
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.
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.
Door will not open after car is in park, engine turned off, key is removed from ignition. I have to re-start engine to power down driver's window to reach through open window to open door from outside door latch. This has happened muliple occurrences with no obvious reasons. Should there be an emergency to exit vehicle, my concern is would I be able to get out.
While driving to work the gauges all dip to zero then all the dash lights come like when the engine is first started. If the gauge dip is short then the engine continues to run. Lately (since jan) the gauges have staying in the zero position longer and the engine loses power. Sometimes the engine will pick back up sometimes not. If it doesn't then I have put the car in neutral and it will restart.