2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Recalls & Reliability
158 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 51,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2009 sits among all PT Cruiser years
What owners report
“Intermittently all dash lights come on and all gauges begin fluctuating and the car will begin to sputter and sometimes dies and then it doesn't do it again for miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 PT Cruiser
“My vehicle shuts off randomly while driving 2 mph and while on the highway going 65 mph. Very scary, do not feel safe in my own car. Fear for the safety of my family.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 PT Cruiser
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 143 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 36,700 and 77,000 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 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Technical service bulletins
47 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2009 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 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser reliable?
The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser drew 158 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser are electrical (64 complaints), engine (30), and speed control (14).
At what mileage do 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems around 52,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 36,700 and 77,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2009 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.