NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 115 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, plus NCAP crash-test ratings.

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2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser owner complaints

Owners have filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, describing incidents dated July 1, 2007 to March 16, 2026.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 45 complaints
Air Bags 24 complaints
Engine 20 complaints
Power Train 10 complaints
Service Brakes 8 complaints
Exterior Lighting 7 complaints

Of the 115 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 115 complaints, owners report 14 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11726467 · Filed March 23, 2026
TIPM. Faulty Module, causing ignition/run power loss while driving.
ODI #11562365 · Filed December 28, 2023
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…
ODI #11318612 · Filed March 18, 2020
AIRBAGS LIGHT AND DING SOUND THAT DOESN'T GO OFF FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THERE'S NO PROTECTION FOR EITHER SIDE.

Read all 115 complaints

Owner-reported

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser mileage at failure

93 of the 115 complaints on file for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Electrical System	Median 60,000 miles	Middle half 45,000–85,000 miles	Based on 37 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

115 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Electrical System

ODI #11726467

Incident: March 16, 2026 · Filed: March 23, 2026

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

Electrical System; Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11562365

Incident: December 28, 2023 · Filed: December 28, 2023

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11318612

Incident: December 20, 2019 · Filed: March 18, 2020

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

Air Bags; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11281931

Incident: November 15, 2019 · Filed: November 23, 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

Air Bags

ODI #11228564

Crash 4 injuries

Incident: June 27, 2019 · Filed: June 30, 2019

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

Steering

ODI #11139029

Fire

Incident: October 7, 2018 · Filed: October 8, 2018

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

Power Train; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11093247

Incident: April 11, 2018 · Filed: May 10, 2018

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.

Air Bags; Structure; Engine

ODI #11066981

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 2, 2018 · Filed: February 5, 2018

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

Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11052441

Incident: December 3, 2017 · Filed: December 5, 2017

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.

Electrical System

ODI #11021095

Incident: November 15, 2016 · Filed: September 1, 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.

Other Chrysler PT Cruiser model years

Check your 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chrysler PT Cruiser at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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