2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 26, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 75,000 miles · WA

I purchased the vehicle in december of 2016. The odometer reading was 74,000 miles at that time. It functioned without problems until march 2018. The car was driven about 2 miles and then was parked for about 5 hours. I started the car and drove about 2 blocks at about 25 MPH when all the dashboard lights came on, the gas gauge went to empty and I felt a loss of power. It recovered after a few seconds. It happened again about 1 minute later. I coasted to a stop sign and turned off the engine. I turned it back on about 30 seconds later and drove on. I turned onto a busy street and after driving a few blocks in traffic the power loss happened again. It recovered on its own after about 5 seconds. I got off the busy s street and onto a side street. It happened again after driving a few blocks and did not recover. I coasted into a parking spot and turned off the ignition. After about 5 minutes I started the car and drove about 1.5 miles to my house without incident. The car spent several weeks in a reputable local repair shop. They could not replicate the problem, so could not diagnose. I then drove the car for about 2 months without incident. It has started doing it again. I do not believe I can safely drive it on a busy street or a freeway.

Filed Oct 2, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 95,510 miles · OR

I was in a hwy. All of a sudden, all the gauges light up and I lost power. I push the gas pedal but no acceleration. I managed to park on the side. I turned off the engine and restarted the car again. This happened just 3 weeks after I bought the car. It happened again one month later. It has been now one week later. I am afraid it is going to happen again. It is a very safety hazard since I always travel on a busy highway.

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 99,089 miles · TN

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. I've been hearing a lot of rumors going on about pt cruisers losing power and locking up on people and bad things happening I think chrysler needs to get on the ball and fix these issues with their vehicles since we are only the ones that buy them under faith of safety. I had this happen one other time when I first got it but I didn't think nothing of it. The issue seems to be happening more and more often. It's not even at 100,000 miles yet and I am having this many issues. This pt cruiser needs to be recalled! Me or my children best not get hurt it this thing due to chrysler's neglect on this issue. I've seen many people complain about this issue and nothing being done. Who has to die before it's resolved?!? I would've had pictures but the lights turned off and it went back to normal before I was able to take a snap shot or video of it. Because if I lose power again and it malfunctions and me or my kids get hurt when chrysler has been notified and they don't do anything there will be a law suit. If I had known this issue would occur I would have never bought it, infact I'm still paying on it for another 2 yrs.

Filed Jun 21, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 60,000 miles · MI

This occurs all the time wether I am driving on residental road or on a highway going 70 MPH. My car feels like it is losing power which it is. All the lights on my dash are lit up like a christmas tree and I have to pull over to the side of the road very carefully as I lose steering as well. Sometimes I can just restart the car and everything is fine, sometimes it is a few minutes and a few times it has taken a few hours. I have taken the car in to get the codes read but they tell me it is either the gas cap is loose or another issue with the fuel. I took it to my mechanic and they put it on their computer and got different readings. I was told it was a fuel vacuum problem which was corrected. I still have the issues. Now sometimes the engine jerks and pulls but I don't loose power. Mechanic is unable to find problem. Did not take to dealership after reading all the horror stories about paying dealers tons of money and still not having a working car. Also if I have more then one key on my keyring then the ignition switch doesn't work. If I limit my keyring to just my car key and house key then my car starts everytime and no cutting out while at complete stop like it has in the past. We bought the car used in july 2011 and it now has aprox. 66,000 miles.

Filed Nov 30, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 85,605 miles · WA

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! Car was on highway several times and on 30-40 MPH streets other times.

Filed Nov 30, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 86,000 miles · IL

After starting and running normally for about 20 minutes, the vehicle will begin to exhibit electrical issues. The gauges will drop to zero and then slowly return, the warning lights will flash, and the warning chime will sound repeatedly. It seems like when this happens the engine goes through a start cycle. Most of the time, this problem is otherwise asymptomatic, but occasionally it results in sudden power loss to the engine. It does not seem to matter if the vehicle is moving or not; it happens if the vehicle is stopped, moving slowly, moving quickly, etc. The engine has lost power more than once at a critical moment (turning left, clearing an intersection) and multiple times in moving traffic.

Filed Nov 21, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 4,585 miles · TN

This is the 2nd pt cruiser that I have owned. The first one was great! But...this one!! Ongoing problems since we have owned the car!!!! Seat belt wouldn't unlock couldn't get out of car. I was locked in. Someone had to open door from outside. Lights always flickering. Loss power. Acts up while driving. Finally got so bad that the car would just stall out. Took to dealership and was told they couldn't find anything wrong. They said...and I quote "remember we didn't do anything." why would they say that? The latest... Lights flickering, radio going on and off stopped at a store. When I came couldn't unlock the car with my remote. Had to use key to get in, alarm went off, had to jump in and start car to turn alarm off. Pulled out into traffic and the car quit. Completely stalled out. Turned everything off, put in park and it started up but I parked it at a friends that lived one block away. Was afraid to drive it. 3 hours later went to pick car up and nothing worked. No lights no juice no click no nothing got it jumped started. Went straight to advanced auto because it was late. Alternator ok battery ok I just want to get rid of it but don't want someone else stuck with this lemon what do I do?????

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 43,000 miles · MI

After driving for about 5 minutes and going about 35 MPH the lights on the instrument panel went on and all the gauges went to zero. I didn't totally lost power but slowed down and the gauges popped back and the instrument lights came back on. It has continued to run ok for the last 3 days. Took it to the dealer and was told nothing could be done unless they could duplicate the problem. This exact same thing occurred on september 8, 2013 at a mileage of about 39,100. The car has run ok since up to this latest incident on june 1, 2014.

Filed Oct 29, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 35,000 miles · NC

Driving at 55mph and all the gauges (gas, speed, tach) went to zero and fluttered up and down, the vehicle stalled. Was fortunate enough to be able to pull over safely and restart the vehicle without incidence. The vehicle has repeated this on several occasions. I was able to record on my phone the instrument panel while it was acting up. Think I have isolated the problem to the key and ignition. I have found if I wiggle the key when this happens it stops. This could be very dangerous since you lose power to the vehicle while driving, it happens without warning. Several internet searches reveal alot of people with the same complaint. I think chrysler should so be responsible for repair of this problem, they evidently produced a product with a defect that could potentially cause loss of life or bodily damage.

Filed Feb 27, 2013 · Electrical · 33,000 miles · FL

While driving to work the gauges all dip to zero then all the dash lights come like when the engine is first started. If the gauge dip is short then the engine continues to run. Lately (since jan) the gauges have staying in the zero position longer and the engine loses power. Sometimes the engine will pick back up sometimes not. If it doesn't then I have put the car in neutral and it will restart. This happens several times in succession and sometimes just every once in a while but almost always 4 or 5 times in 45 miles. Once the car has had a chance to sit during the day I don't have the problem on the way home. It seems to have this issue the most on days when we have a heavy dew. Rain does not seem to be a problem. I think moisture is being pulled in during the cool down and causing this issue. I just don't know where. The dealer (after 4 days) can't seem to duplicate the problem. My biggest fear is if this should happen when pulling out in traffic or in a corner as I lose power steering.

Filed Dec 29, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 52,000 miles · NY

While traveling down the qew highway in ontario, the instrument panel on my pt 2009 cruiser started blinking on and off, the gauges went wild with up and down full-range swings, then blinking on and off on and off; I thought the seatbelt may be the problem since the fasten seatbelt indicator remained "on." it happened again a second time right away (less than 2 minutes) accompanied by loss of engine power. I heard sputtering, and then the engine died, and I had to guide it to a resting spot on the side of the road without power steering; not fun. I was in near hamilton, ontario, and managed to get off the highway safely. I inspected under the hood and nothing seemed out of the ordinary at all. Engine restarted right away, and I was able to make it back to e. Amherst ny. This is totally unsafe! I was concerned about getting my family home safely. And there is no way to know what is wrong with the vehicle! I cannot trust my car and that stinks! I had same type of problem with a grand caravan (1994?) and the mechanics could never locate the problem. Makes me wonder about chrysler.

Filed Sep 15, 2012 · Electrical · 31,000 miles · GA

Dash lights start flashing motor starts to stall and lose power has happen several times in past year almost causing me to wreck brake lights exploded and shattered several times.