2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 5%of 115 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 5% of the 115 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When driving the car, dashboard lights start flickering, gauges start bouncing. Sometimes this is all that happens, other times it's as if the car stalls as I have no acceleration. A couple of times, the engine has shut itself off. In researching this online, I find dozens and dozens of instances of this same thing happening with pt cruisers.”
NHTSA complaint #10548320, filed 2013-10, 75,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10576950, filed 2014-04, 53,000 miles“Following an oil change and air filter replacement at a valvoline express shop, the technician used an air hose to blow out debris (seeds, nuts, etc.) from the air filter box. Approximately one mile after leaving the shop, the gas pedal on the car went loose, and the engine kept revving, steadily increasing the speed of the car. I was able to slow the car by braking hard and eventually switching to neutral, and pulled the car safely to the side of the road. The engine continued to rev as though I had the gas pedal to the floor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10334965, filed 2010-06, 50,000 miles“The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the entire instrument panel illuminated and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10630133, filed 2014-09, 50,000 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 5% |
| 2009 | 14 | 14% |
| 2008 | 6 | 5% |
| 2007 | 4 | 3% |
| 2006 | 7 | 2% |
| 2005 | 10 | 5% |
| 2004 | 6 | 3% |
| 2003 | 12 | 5% |
| 2002 | 13 | 3% |
| 2001 | 13 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
45 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsEngine
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsTires
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology