2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Recalls & Reliability
171 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 25/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 56,246 miles.
Typical
Where 2008 sits among all PT Cruiser years
What owners report
“-airbags lights are always on. -at times turning car off the fan will remain on till power drained. -while driving, all the lights on dash will turn on and car will shut down. This has happened countless times. After awhile the car will turn back on and be perfectly normal again to drive until this…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 PT Cruiser
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 138 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 61,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 92,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Technical service bulletins
55 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2008 PT Cruiser TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser reliable?
The 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser drew 171 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 25/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser are electrical (52 complaints), airbags (24), and engine (21).
At what mileage do 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems around 61,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 92,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.