Chrysler PT Cruiser loss of power problems

Filed Mar 23, 2026 · Electrical · MD

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

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 5, 2017 · 80,000 miles · TX

For about a year now,my car's dash lights will all illiminate on and off irratically and gaugues fluctuating up and down simultaneously. Often but not always,the car will stall and die when this happens. Other times I can feel a loss of power. In febuary I had my battery corrosion cleaned up,terminals replaced and tightened. For about four months afterwards it never happened again. It's almost as if the voltage is unstable..like it's being choked off. Car battery light sometimes is on..othertimes it's off and has been that way for years. Car has about 121,000 miles.

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 24, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 70,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving various speeds, the vehicle lost power and multiple warning lights on the instrument cluster illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the vehicle previously stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on multiple occasions, but it was unable to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact was unsure if the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

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 Apr 1, 2016 · Electrical · 122,500 miles · PA

As I was driving my car all the gauges and warning lights came on,gas gauge needle went to e(tank was full), lost power as I was driving. Took the car to my mechanic they tried to duplicate the problem, of course they couldn't. Then the engine light came on. Put the car in the garage...again! A week later the problem returned. My job requires me to work across all 3 shifts, I am frighten to drive my car, I often have my grandchildren in the car with. They were in the car march 25,2016 when the car began bucking and jerking while we were driving home. I was on a street doing 45 MPH, when the cars speed dropped to 5 MPH. I was impeding traffic, and cars were passing me on curves! I was on another site and see 93 other complaints, for the same issue. I am thinking there will need to be a loss of life before chrysler corp. Does something to correct this serious problem.

Filed Jan 21, 2016 · Steering · 100,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chrysler pt cruiser. While driving 15 MPH, the power steering pressure line failed and caused power steering fluid to seep into the engine, which caused the loss of power steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000.

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.