2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Electrical System Problems

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

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.

CAR LOOSES POWER, DASH LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF, OCCASIONALLY TURNS COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL POWER TURNS OFF INCLUDING THROTTLE AND BRAKING POWER. ALL LIGHTS IN CAR DASH LIGHT UP AND FLICKER WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND EVERYTIME CAR IS DRIVEN. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY MAY BE RELATED. STALLING WHILE DRIVING: THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS. FIRST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP SLOWING TO STOP. NOT SURE OF MY SPEED, BUT I NOTICED IT STALLED AS I WAS ALMOST TO THE LIGHT. I STOPPED AND THE CAR STARTED UP FINE. THE SECOND TIME WAS 1-2 MONTHS LATER IN JAN. 2017. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ABOUT 30 MPH AND SHIFTED (AUTOMATIC) FROM 3RD TO DRIVE. I PUSHED THE GAS TO SPEED UP AND REALIZED THE CAR HAD STALLED. ONCE AGAIN IT STARTED BACK UP JUST FINE. MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE PROBABLY 2011 OR 2012. THE DIALS ON THE GAUGES WILL SWING BACK AND FORTH WILDLY. DASH LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THE CLUSTER MAKES A POPPING SOUND LIKE IT IS POPPING POPCORN INSIDE THERE. TROUBLE STARTING: FOR A FEW YEARS NOW (POSSIBLY MATCHING THE TIMING OF THE CLUSTER PROBLEM) IT CAN TAKE 2-3 TRIES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. I DON'T HEAR A SOUND THAT IT IS STRUGGLING TO START, IT JUST DOES NOTHING WHEN I TURN THE KEY. HORN MALFUNCTIONING: THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, BUT WHEN I GO TO GIVE A QUICK HONK, IT STICKS AND SOUNDS LIKE I'M GIVING SOMEONE A LOOOONG HONK. THE STALLING WHILE DRIVING IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY RISK. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID I SHOULD GET THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED WITH A REFURBISHED ONE BECAUSE IT COULD BE CAUSING THE STALLING. "ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE STRANGE THINGS TO HAPPEN" I WAS TOLD. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. OTHER THAN FOR TIRES, I ONLY TAKE IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER. IT HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. IT IS A GREAT CAR, UNTIL NOW. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY TODDLER SON IN IT FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. I SPENT $700 ON MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS ME TO SPEND ABOUT $550 ON SOMETHING THAT MAY TAKE CARE OF THE STALLING. *TR

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.

WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT . AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND CHIMES UNTIL PASSENGER EXITS VEHICAL.

THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER, ALL OTHER POWER SEEMS TO BE ON. TAKEN TO MECHANIC AND IT WILL START. HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO TOWS SO FAR, AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT TURNS ON FOR THEM. I'M SEVENTY YEARS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, BECAUSE IT MIGHT DO IT AGAIN WHEN I'M FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME. I LIVE ALONE AND DRIVE THE CAR ALONE. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED.

IGNITION CUT OUT ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH SEVERAL TIMES. JIGGLED IGNITION KEY TO GET ENGINE TO RUN AGAIN. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE CLUSTER WOULD LIGHT UP, ALL GAUGES WOULD FLUNCUATATE AND THE CAR WOULD STALL AND SHUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT ABLE TO BE RESOLVED. THIS ISSUE CAUSES CONCERN AND IS EFFECTING MY TRANSPORTATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CREATING FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON HIGHWAYS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK, THE HORN SOUNDED WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,417.

THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND AT STARTING THE CAR..LIGHTS START FLASHING AND BELLS RING ON THE DASH INDICATING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING CONTROL, SEAT BELTS, OIL, ETC...THE ENGINE HAS NOT DIED YET, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE READ THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A HAPPENING TO A LOT OF CARS I AM LEARY OF TAKING THE CAR A LONG DISTANCE. I HAVE NOT MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER , BUT INTEND TO DO SO THIS WEEK..MY CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES. *TR

-AIRBAGS LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON. -AT TIMES TURNING CAR OFF THE FAN WILL REMAIN ON TILL POWER DRAINED. -WHILE DRIVING, ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH WILL TURN ON AND CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES. AFTER AWHILE THE CAR WILL TURN BACK ON AND BE PERFECTLY NORMAL AGAIN TO DRIVE UNTIL THIS REOCCURS.

SAME AS OTHER OWNERS, DASH LIGHTS GO ON,GAUGES DIE,AND CAR SHUTS OFF. IT WILL RESTART AFTER A BIT AND RUN FINE UNTIL BOOM IT HAPPENS AGAIN. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES SO DEALER AND SHOPS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. SOME EVEN REFUSE TO LOOK AT THE CAR. I CAN NOT TRUST THIS CAR FOR ANY LONG TRIP OR ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

CAR HAS HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH ALL WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AND SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE ALL GOING DEAD. AFTER A MOMENT THE GAUGES COME BACK TO LIFE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR WAS JUST STARTED. THE ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING AND THE RADIO, WIPERS, ETC ALL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. ISSUE IS CONFINED TO THE INSTRUMENTATION PANEL. THIS CAN OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN GO FOR DAYS WITHOUT HAPPENING. I AM NOT ABLE TO 'FORCE' THE CONDITION AND GET IT TO OCCUR ON DEMAND SO THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE ISSUES INCLUDING IGNITION SWITCH AND THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE - I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET IT FIXED SO THE CAR WILL BE SAFE. THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURS WITH MY CAR - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XOVO0SIC9BK OR HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=FCIM1AYPBHI. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,274.

WHILE DRIVING ALL INSTRUMENT GAUGES BEGAN FLASHING AND GOING UP AND DOWN. COULD NOT ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. 3 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I JIGGLED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BY JIGGLING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND AFTER 1 WEEK HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN EASY TO MOVE AND NOW WITH A NEW SWITCH IT FEELS "NORMAL". WITH THE RECENT RECALLS OF IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES PERHAPS THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ON CHRYSLER MODELS. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH IF THE ENGINE STALLS COMPLETELY IN TRAFFIC. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT OF HAVING NO STEERING CONTROL IF THE ENGINE DOES STALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2014 IT HAD 58,000 MILES ON IT. ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BLEW OUT. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (CARMAX) AND HAD IT REPLACED.NO PROBLEM. THREE MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. I GET A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT, NEEDS A SOCKET REPLACEMENT. #ISSUE 1 IN MAY 2014, THERE WAS A SLIGHT ELEVATION IN THE TEMPERATURE (HIGH 80'S), I WANTED TO TRY ON THE A.C., WHEN DOING SO I HEARD A "POP" THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM THE VENT. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT CAME FROM NOT BEING USED FOR AWHILE. THE AIR DID NOT BLOW COLD RIGHT AWAY, IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINS BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO COOL. NOW ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO RUN THE A.C., THE SAME THINGS HAPPENED (THE "POP", 15MIN COOLING TIME) BUT A NEW PROBLEM CAME UP...WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT BEGAN TO SHAKE! IT WAS IDLING, WHILE SITTING; THEN WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WAS OKAY (SLIGHT IDLE, BUT STOPPED). THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT IS VERY SPONTANEOUS. MY PLAN WAS TO GET SERVICE ON THE A.C BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM #ISSUE 2 PLEASE HELP!!!! *JS

THE ISSUES STARTED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER EARLY DECEMBER 2013. MY CAR BATTERY WAS UNABLE TO HOLD A CHARGER AND MY CAR CONTINUOUSLY WOULD NOT START. I SPENT ABOUT 200 TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR AND STARTER TESTED AS WELL AS GET A NEW BATTERY PUT INTO MY CAR. I THEN HAD THE SAME SITUATION HAPPEN THE MECHANIC TRIED A NEW BATTERY AND MY CAR WORKED FOR A WEEK. THEN IT DIED AGAIN THE MECHANIC SENT ME TO AN ELECTRICIAN THE ELECTRICIAN STILL CLAIMED IT WAS THE BATTERY. THEN TODAY I HAD THE CAR JUMP STARTED AGAIN ONLY TO FIND I GOT NOT EVEN HALF A MILE FROM WHERE I WAS AND MY CAR LIGHTS ALL OVER STARTED FLICKERING THEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF TO THE POINT MY EMERGENCY FOUR WAYS WOULD NOT EVEN WORK THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AT A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WASN'T EVEN STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT SO IT WAS DARK OUT AND I HAD TO CALL 911 BECAUSE I WAS UNSAFE AND SO WAS ANYONE ELSE TRYING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE I HAD NO ABILITY TO SIGNAL TO PEOPLE IN A SAFE WAY TO MOVE INTO THE OTHER LANE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS BY PEOPLE DRIVING MY YEAR AND OTHER YEARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE HAD VERY SIMILAR ISSUES TO MINE. WITH A CONSTANT RESPONSE OF BEING TOLD THAT THERE EITHER IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR THEY CAN SAY THERE IS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. THESE CARS ARE WALKING DEATH TRAPS TO THERE OWNERS WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAUSE IT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO EXPLANATION AND THE COMPANY/DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I REALLY DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT FOR THIS TO GO UNSPOKEN ANY LONGER BECAUSE IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED BY IT YET ITS A HUGE CHANCE SOMEONE WILL/COULD! A VEHICLE CANNOT BE PERFECTLY FINE IF IT JUST QUITS WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING THE INCIDENCES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT WARNING LIGHTS START FLASHING OFF AND ON, THE GAUGES DROP TO ZERO THEN COM BACK UP, AND THE ENGINE FALTERS SOMETIMES AND STOPS OTHER TIMES. WHEN ENGINE STOPS, POWER STEERING IS LOST. CAR WILL START UP AGAIN WITH STARTER. *TR