2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11726467

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

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 ID

11562365

Incident

Dec 28, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11318612

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11281931

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

Mileage

72,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11228564

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

Mileage

173,519 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11139029

Incident

Oct 7, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11093247

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11066981

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

Mileage

92,000 mi

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 ID

11052441

Incident

Dec 3, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID

11021095

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

93,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11015281

Incident

Aug 14, 2017

Mileage

25 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10995408

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10981417

Incident

Apr 20, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10967048

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

3,751 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10948893

Incident

Jan 22, 2017

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10928376

Incident

Nov 28, 2016

Mileage

1 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10918465

Incident

Oct 13, 2016

Mileage

15,770 mi

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 ID

10906177

Incident

Sep 7, 2016

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

NHTSA ID

10905917

Incident

Sep 10, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10893164

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNDECIDED UPON AUTHORIZING THE DEALER TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR A REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10887588

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

43,000 mi

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 ID

10874849

Incident

May 14, 2016

Mileage

137,000 mi

IGNITION CUT OUT ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH SEVERAL TIMES. JIGGLED IGNITION KEY TO GET ENGINE TO RUN AGAIN. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED

NHTSA ID

10872814

Incident

May 28, 2016

Mileage

102,000 mi

IN DEC. 2013, AT 71K MILES, IN THE CAR USED BY MY COLLEGE-AGE DAUGHTER, WHEN STARTING THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING (20'S) I NOTED ROCK-HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND NO POWER ASSIST WHATSOEVER WHILE BACKING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY. BY THE STREET, IT HAD A NORMAL PEDAL FEEL AND ASSIST. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED IN COLD-MORNING STARTS. THE DEALER, KLABEN CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF KENT, OHIO, WAS HELPFUL AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER A FEW WEEKS LATER, FOR FREE. A YEAR LATER MY DAUGHTER MENTIONED THE CAR WAS DOING THIS AGAIN (COLD WEATHER HAD RETURNED). I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KLABEN AND SAID I WAS COMPELLED TO CONTACT NHTSA AS IF I OR MY DAUGHTER HIT A PERSON BECAUSE OF NO BRAKE ASSIST WHATSOEVER, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC. IN MARCH OF 2015, KLABEN AGAIN REPLACED THE BOOSTER AND PCV FILTER, FREE, INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE BOOSTER. WHILE THIS SERVICE WAS APPRECIATED, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE RECENTLY (JAN. 2016), I STARTED HER CAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ROCK-HARD WHEN PUSHING IT TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. IT IMMEDIATELY HAD POWER ASSIST AFTER THAT, BUT THIS TELLS ME THE PROBLEM IS RETURNING. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL LAST YEAR (AFTER OUR CAR'S LAST BOOSTER REPLACEMENT) ON 2013-14 DODGE DART MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR WAS IDENTICAL--REPLACE BOOSTER IF OIL IS FOUND IN THERE. I BELIEVE OTHER CHRYSLER MODELS BESIDES THE DART ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AS OUR CAR HAS. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND HOPEFULLY A PERMANENT FIX FOUND. I BELIEVE OUR CAR'S COLD-WEATHER BRAKING WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AND I DON'T WANT THIS PROBLEM TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE NEXT WINTER.

NHTSA ID

10824698

Incident

Jan 10, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

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 ID

10824634

Incident

Feb 5, 2016