21 of the 171 complaints about the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser are about the engine — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 77,135 miles.
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #11562365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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
NHTSA complaint #11066981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #11052441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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 MY CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. OTHER THAN FOR TIRES, I ONLY TAKE IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER. IT HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. IT IS A GREAT CAR, UNTIL NOW. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY TODDLER SON IN IT FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. I SPENT $700 ON MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS ME TO SPEND ABOUT $550 ON SOMETHING THAT MAY TAKE CARE OF THE STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10948893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10906177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING DEPRESSED AND RELEASED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #10874849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE CLUSTER WOULD LIGHT UP, ALL GAUGES WOULD FLUNCUATATE AND THE CAR WOULD STALL AND SHUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT ABLE TO BE RESOLVED. THIS ISSUE CAUSES CONCERN AND IS EFFECTING MY TRANSPORTATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CREATING FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10824634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES FLASH OR GO TO ZERO , ENGINE FAILS AND CAR STALLS WHILE GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THREE TIMES IT HAS STALLED TO A HALT, MANY TIMES IT JUST SHUDDERS. CAR IS ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10788764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT WARNING LIGHTS START FLASHING OFF AND ON, THE GAUGES DROP TO ZERO THEN COM BACK UP, AND THE ENGINE FALTERS SOMETIMES AND STOPS OTHER TIMES. WHEN ENGINE STOPS, POWER STEERING IS LOST. CAR WILL START UP AGAIN WITH STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #10653950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. AT THAT TIME I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKING FOR THE VEHICLE. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE THEN, TWICE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10652279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING THE INCIDENCES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #10648798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO THE LAST GEAR AND WAS SLIPPING. CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED OUT THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A CELLINOID BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN HE REPLACED IT THE TRANSMISSION STILL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BY NOT CHANGING GEARS AND WHEN HE TOOK THE PART BACK TO THE PARTS STORE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLERS TRANSMISSIONS. I HAD A TOWN & COUNTRY VAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THAT TRANSMISSION ALSO WAS DEFECTIVE. NOW I CANNOT GET MY MONEY BACK FROM BUYING A PART THAT REALLY WASN'T NEEDED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IT SELF IS DEFECTIVE. MY MECHANIC FELT SO BAD ABOUT THIS THAT HE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED CHRYSLER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHAT RIGHTS OR WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? I DO NOT HAVE MONIES TO SQUANDER AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR MY CAR. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10585743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE AC UNIT THE FAN DOESN'T COME ON RIGHT AWAY AND WHEN IT DOES IT POPS AND THE CAR BEGINS TO OVER HEAT. AT THE TIME I TURN OFF THE POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10584794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I BOUGHT THIS PT CRUISER FROM A LOCAL DEALER, THE FIRST TIME IT TURNED OFF I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THOUGHT IT JUST STALLED FROM NOT BEING WARMED UP. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROAD DOING 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I BUMPED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH MY KNEE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. LUCKILY IT WAS A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO A STOP THEN RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES MORE, ALL WITH BUMPING MY KNEE AGAINST THE IGNITION KEY. IT INSTANTLY TURNS THE CAR OFF. WITH THE GM RECALL IN THE NEWS I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION SINCE I DON'T HAVE A GM CAR BUT DECIDED TO LOOK WHEN I HEARD IT INVOLVED THE IGNITION TURNING THE CAR OFF. I SAW THAT IT IS SIMILAR YET NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT MY IGNITION SO I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. I KNOW THAT MANY PARTS ARE USED ACROSS BRANDS AND THESE PARTS MAY BE THE SAME. I AM WORRIED I MAY BUMP MY KNEE ON A WINDY ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER STABILITY AND STEERING IF IT TURNS OFF. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS IMMEDIATELY!!
NHTSA complaint #10576950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY PT CRUISER FROM TIME TO TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS WILL SUDDENLY STALL. ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AND FALL OF AT WHICH CALL WILL STALL. THIS ACTION OCCURS EITHER WHILE IDLING AND OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. THE ACTION SOMETIMES WILL SHUT CAR DOWN THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS START BACK UP. PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION. I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS SITUATION AND KNOW ONE SEEMS TO CARE OR NO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2006. I WOULD LIKE TO NO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO I CAN GET THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10532156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER ONE HOUR AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10493048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2008 PT CRUISER HAS A BAD #3 VALVE. I HAD THE CAR TUNED UP DUE TO A MISFIRE CODE OF THE #3 VALVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR TWO DAYS WITH NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, THE CAR IDLED ROUGH AND THE SAME CODE FOR #3 MISFIRE VALVE CAME UP ON THE DASH. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE PRESSURE IN THE VALVE AND #1,2, & 4 HAD A PRESSURE OF 175 WITH # 3 HAVING PRESSURE OF 110. MY CAR ONLY HAS 77,135 MILES ON IT. I FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME VALVE ON THE SAME YEAR AND THEIR CAR ONLY HAD 38000. SEEING HOW MORE THAN ONE CAR HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM, DOESN'T THIS NEED LOOKING INTO. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE VALVE OR REPLACE THE ENGINE HEAD WHICH COSTS AROUND $1500.00.
NHTSA complaint #10404574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE BEING EMITTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS MISSING FROM THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,474 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,674. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DUE TO A MISSING COVER ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UPDATED 05/06/11
NHTSA complaint #10384311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE BEING EMITTED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD A HEAT SHIELD WAS MISSING FROM THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,474 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,674. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DUE TO A MISSING COVER ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UPDATED 05/06/11
NHTSA complaint #10384311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.
NHTSA complaint #10369861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE CONCERNS ABOUT A MECHANICAL FAILURE SHE HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HER 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER (DOT/I#2010-1236) RESPOND TO CLEVELAND, OH OFFICE *TGW FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE 3RD CYLINDER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10354270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.