2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Routine

Owners filed 115 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
55,699 milesMedian miles at failure

95 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System34
010
Air Bags22
809
Service Brakes6
010
Engine6
010
Unknown or Other5
000
Seat Belts5
101
Power Train4
000
Vehicle Speed Control3
000
Steering3
010
Visibility2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Mar 23, 2026MD

TIPM. Faulty Module, causing ignition/run power loss while driving.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 28, 2023MD

Problems reside in the total integrated power management module. TPIM whereas vehicle will shut off while driving. No indicator lights to give warning before the vehicle shuts off. Has on occasion shut off and recovered power multiple times within a minute This is a very dangerous scenario to conduct a road test or have someone confirm the issue on the road.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 18, 2020NC

AIRBAGS LIGHT AND DING SOUND THAT DOESN'T GO OFF FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THERE'S NO PROTECTION FOR EITHER SIDE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 23, 201972,000 milesCA

THE AIRBAG SIGN FOR PASSENGER 2 TURNS ON AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING, SPEEDING PROBLEM WHEN WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR TAKES FOREVER TO SPEED UP

Air BagsCrash4 injured
Filed Jun 30, 2019173,519 milesSC

TAKATA RECALL THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. AN OBJECT WAS STRUCK IN THE ROAD AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *BF *JB

SteeringFire
Filed Oct 8, 201870,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING ON 10/7/2018 THE STEERING BECAME HARD AND UPON STOPPING THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON PT CRUISERS IN THE PAST, 04V268000. WHEN I CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VIN. BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR ON 10/7/2018 THERE WAS NOT ANY STEERING FLUID UNDER THE CAR. LUCKILY THE FIRE WAS NOTICED PRIOR TO LEAVING THE CAR OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I WILL LIKE CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN CARED FOR VERY WELL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS CLAIM. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 10, 201835,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARX AUTO CENTER (132 ROCKDALE AVE, SOUTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02748, (508) 997-2377), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 5, 201892,000 milesCO

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE WAS HIT CROSSED INTO MY LANES AND I HIT THE VEHICLE HEAD ON, POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES TO KNEE, CHEST AND LAP FROM BELT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT *TR

Air Bags
Filed Dec 5, 2017MI

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS OFF WHEN UNOCCUPIED, GOES ON AND CHIMES WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED. HORN STICKS. OVERHEATS WHEN IDLED SHORT PERIODS (TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC.) BLOWS COLD AIR WHEN AT IDLE, ONLY PROVIDES HEAT WHEN ROLLING. ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 1, 201793,500 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RECHARGED THE BATTERY, BUT COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARK THOMAS MOTORS INC (2315 SANTIAM HWY SE, ALBANY, OR 97322) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE WRONG BATTERY, AND CHANGED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO MARK THOMAS MOTORS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM, ALTERNATOR, AND WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO MARK THOMAS MOTORS AND WAS STILL THERE AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND THE CASE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY LIKELY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 14, 201725 milesCA

CAR LOOSES POWER, DASH LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF, OCCASIONALLY TURNS COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL POWER TURNS OFF INCLUDING THROTTLE AND BRAKING POWER. ALL LIGHTS IN CAR DASH LIGHT UP AND FLICKER WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND EVERYTIME CAR IS DRIVEN. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 15, 201752,000 milesOH

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND CHIMES ALL THE TIME. NO ONE EVEN HAS TO BE SITTING IN THE SEAT. GOES OFF ALL THE TIME. THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IF IT IS IN A CRASH. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 29, 201763,000 milesMO

PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKS UP, WILL NOT PERFORM, I AM 75 & WIFE IS 71, DANGER FOR OUR LIVES....

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 19, 20173,751 milesNJ

CAN NOT SHIFT INTO PARK TO START CAR, AND GO INTO GEARS ON 2008 AUTOMATIC, ONCE CAR STARTS AND ENGINE IS WARM NO PROBLEM SHIFING

Electrical System
Filed Feb 1, 201754,000 milesCT

THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY MAY BE RELATED. STALLING WHILE DRIVING: THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS. FIRST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP SLOWING TO STOP. NOT SURE OF MY SPEED, BUT I NOTICED IT STALLED AS I WAS ALMOST TO THE LIGHT. I STOPPED AND THE CAR STARTED UP FINE. THE SECOND TIME WAS 1-2 MONTHS LATER IN JAN. 2017. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ABOUT 30 MPH AND SHIFTED (AUTOMATIC) FROM 3RD TO DRIVE. I PUSHED THE GAS TO SPEED UP AND REALIZED THE CAR HAD STALLED. ONCE AGAIN IT STARTED BACK UP JUST FINE. MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE PROBABLY 2011 OR 2012. THE DIALS ON THE GAUGES WILL SWING BACK AND FORTH WILDLY. DASH LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THE CLUSTER MAKES A POPPING SOUND LIKE IT IS POPPING POPCORN INSIDE THERE. TROUBLE STARTING: FOR A FEW YEARS NOW (POSSIBLY MATCHING THE TIMING OF THE CLUSTER PROBLEM) IT CAN TAKE 2-3 TRIES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. I DON'T HEAR A SOUND THAT IT IS STRUGGLING TO START, IT JUST DOES NOTHING WHEN I TURN THE KEY. HORN MALFUNCTIONING: THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, BUT WHEN I GO TO GIVE A QUICK HONK, IT STICKS AND SOUNDS LIKE I'M GIVING SOMEONE A LOOOONG HONK. THE STALLING WHILE DRIVING IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY RISK. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID I SHOULD GET THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED WITH A REFURBISHED ONE BECAUSE IT COULD BE CAUSING THE STALLING. "ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE STRANGE THINGS TO HAPPEN" I WAS TOLD. I BOUGHT

Air Bags
Filed Nov 28, 20161 milesTX

PASSENGER SAT IN SEAT DRIVING LESS THEN MILE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON ONCE PASSENGER GETS OUT SEAT LIGHT GOES OFF. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 24, 201615,770 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE DEPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,770.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 13, 2016IN

THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER, ALL OTHER POWER SEEMS TO BE ON. TAKEN TO MECHANIC AND IT WILL START. HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO TOWS SO FAR, AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT TURNS ON FOR THEM. I'M SEVENTY YEARS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, BECAUSE IT MIGHT DO IT AGAIN WHEN I'M FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME. I LIVE ALONE AND DRIVE THE CAR ALONE. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 12, 2016140,000 milesTX

WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT . AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND CHIMES UNTIL PASSENGER EXITS VEHICAL.

Service BrakesFire
Filed Aug 4, 201672,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ON A DIRT PATCH, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PADS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE TO RISE FROM BENEATH THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

20 of 115 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201022010Routine
200997010Routine
2008 — this page115060Routine
2007149030Routine
2006349151Fatalities reported
20051875120Routine
20042173153Fatalities reported
20032584151Fatalities reported
20025115342Fatalities reported
20016187170Above average

Compare every PT Cruiser year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.