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Electronic stability controlPart report

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser Electronic stability control Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
5%of 97 total for the year
Median mileage
40,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 5% of the 97 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 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.

“I've had my Pt Cruiser for atleast 3 years now. Today as I was driving all the lights started going on and off on the dash board and was acting as if it were going to stall out. However , every time I hit the gas the MPH gauge would go up. However my gauges on my dash board had stopped working until I'd hit the gas petal again. It did this for at least a few minutes I was on a busy road when it happened and was not able to pull off the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10908937, filed 2016-09, 99,089 miles

“More often than not, all the lights on dash illuminate when the car is first started, sometimes flashing on and then off when driving. If driving, sometimes the car will either accelerate or slow down. Because the speedometer goes back and forth, I have no idea how fast I'm going. If I slow down when approaching a red light or to make a turn, the car has cut off. Looking online, this appears to be a common problem of Pt Cruiser owners, yet I've never seen a recall. Diagnostics ran a few times and no reading shows up. Only told, it appears to be an electrical issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11150244, filed 2018-11, 40,000 miles

“I'm driving the car and all the dash lights instrument cluster lights come on & off blinking . All the hands like fuel hand and RPM start blinking up and down. It drops in speed. So I press on the gas. It comes back up but it guns the engine and starts jerking. Every time warning light comes on all the hands start blinking again and it drops in speed but this time it cuts off! In the middle of the highway! I coast to the side and crank the car again. The dash lights and all the hand gauges blinging but this time it didn't cut off. I purchased this vehicle on 2009! …”

NHTSA complaint #10786145, filed 2015-10, 38,000 miles

“Driving at various speeds, all warning lights flash on and off, then all guages go up and down dramatically, the loss of power, car comes to stop but engine doesn't die. Turn off engine, then on then same thing 2-3 more x on way home. Dangerous. Due to faulty tipm made by Chrysler? This has happened 20 different days in last month, also battery dead once, engine cooling fan failed twice, rear taillights blew from electrical surges 3x, twice power window wouldn't go. Taken into shop two diff. Occasions but can't repeat problem so they can't fix it. Help! …”

NHTSA complaint #10807483, filed 2015-11, 85,605 miles

“While driving at speed of 40 MPH all lights on the console began blinking repeatedly, the tachometer and speedometer began going up and down, car began to rapidly decelerate and then died giving me just enough time to get off the side of the road before causing an accident. Turned off ignition and restarted the ignition car gave no indications of malfunction, drove home and have not drove since. If you google Pt Cruiser console going crazy you will see multiple other owners are having the same issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #10433922, filed 2011-11, 35,000 miles

Electronic stability control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200955%
200822%
200732%
2006154%
200521%
200410%
200321%
200231%

Other parts of the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Electrical system
60 complaints
Engine
26 complaints
Vehicle speed control
14 complaints
Air bags
7 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
7 complaints
Steering
6 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Engine cooling
4 complaints
Exterior lighting
4 complaints
Other or unknown
4 complaints
Wheels
4 complaints
Seat belts
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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