Two problems related to ignition switch have been reported for the 2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser based on all problems reported for the 2009 Pt Cruiser.
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.
While driving the car will just stop, the gauges will flicker on and off and the gas gauge will drop to empty. After it shuts off, it will start back up as if nothing happened. You might be okay for a few days or months before it happens again. We have had the car back in with the dealer at least 5 times and they can't seem to duplicate the issue. Even after keeping the car for over a month or more. We then caught the gauges going crazy and recorded it for the dealer. They couldn't find a code for the issue. We had the battery replaced and it didn't fix the issue. Now they think it might be the ignition switch. We are having that replaced now. This same issue is affecting many 2009 Pt Cruiser owners and chrsyler has not stepped up to address the problem. It is extremely dangerous to be driving a car that just comes to a complete stop whether you are on the highway or a residential street. My hope is that there is not a loss of life or limb before something is done.