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 E…
2009 chrysler PT Cruiser steering problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN MARCH 2009. IN AUGUST 2012 HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED - WITH ONLY 3 YEARS AND 9,000 MILES. LATER LEARNED SON HAD TO HAVE SAME REPAIR ON USED 2008 P/T HE HAD BOUGHT. IN OCTOBER 2015, ONLY 3 YEARS AND 9,000 MILES MORE, HAD TO HAVE THE SAME REPAIR DONE AGAIN.
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 IGNITI…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 chrysler PT Cruiser?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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