Most common 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
Share of the 618 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler PT Cruiser complaints by model year
Best PT Cruiser years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2006. Compare all years →
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls (5)
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4l non-turbocharged engines and automatic transaxles, the power steering pressure hose May contact the automatic transaxle differential cover, potentially damaging the hose.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and relocate, or replace as necessary, the power steering hose and confirm torque of the hose fastener at the steering gear end. The recall began on September 20, 2004.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel supply line could contact the air-conditioning tube service port. This can cause chafing of the line resulting in a fuel leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel line for abrasion and install a clip to ensure isolation. In cases with evidence of fuel line abrasion, the fuel line will be replaced. Owner notification began August 12, 2002.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump module mounting flange could leak fuel if the vehicle is involved in a rollover crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a secondary seal over the fuel pump module. Owner notification began August 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the right rear "65%" seat center lower anchor was manufactured with a wire diameter that is greater than the maximum allowable dimension as specified in the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the right rear seat center anchor and, if necessary, resize the anchor to meet the diameter specified within the standard. Owner notification began November 4, 2002.
Child seat
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser:
Engine compartment fires
Pe04-028 was opened to investigate seven complaints alleging that the engine compartment caught fire on my 2002 pt cruiser vehicles.on June 3, 2004, daimlerchrysler (dcc) notified NHTSA of a safety defect in my 2001-2005 pt cruiser vehicles equipped with naturally aspirated 2.4l engines and automatic transaxles (recall 04v-268).the notification identified variation of the high pressure power steering hose routing,…
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
Fuel hose abrasion
What 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners say
Wheels & tires all 80 →
I was making a right hand turn from a main road onto a side street. While the car was turning, I heard a clunk and the steering wheel was jerked from my hands. The car pulled hard to the right and crashed into the curb. The car was towed to the repair shop and the service tech showed me the engine cradle was completely rusted out and the k frame was cracked all the way thru. It's to rusted to be welded and I was told this is a common problem with the Cruiser and Dodge neon, since they use the same frame. The tech also told me I was lucky that I wasn't moving at high speed or the results could have been fatal. He also told me that Chrysler is aware of this problem, they are completely out of replacement parts, and they basically ignore any complaints.
After regular road driveing for a month had front tires wear down to steel belt, purchased tires at walmart so took car back in to have tires looked at was told it was an alignment issue. I know this is not the case because car had just been serviced and alignment checked the same day tire were put on car. The wear out is on the insides of both front tires, and minor wear on the insides of the rear tires as well as majority of the tread is worn off as well on all 4 tires. This wear down caused me to go into ditch in snowy conditions, while driveing at safe speeds.
Electrical system all 78 →
The electrical system is malfunctioning the fans do not kick on at all,even after reaching temperature.Even when the "Air" condition is turned on full blast or the "Heater" it doesn't matter which one is used it still doesn't engage the "Fan".
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor and discovered a plug melted and that the fog lights were not illuminating. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and repaired. The contact did not have the name of the parts that were replaced. The failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000. Updated 04/07/15 updated 9/21/2017
Engine & cooling all 74 →
The electrical system is malfunctioning the fans do not kick on at all,even after reaching temperature.Even when the "Air" condition is turned on full blast or the "Heater" it doesn't matter which one is used it still doesn't engage the "Fan".
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle then became engulfed in flames. The contact exited the vehicle and rushed away from the scene. The contact stated that the vehicle exploded. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. It was not indicated if a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent a technician to inspect the vehicle. No further assistance was offered. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was 107,000. The VIN was not provided.
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 20 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser a good car?
Based on 618 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 PT Cruiser rates avoid: 2.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the PT Cruiser at the same age. It is one of the PT Cruiser years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The wheels & tires — 80 complaints, 13% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rim. Next are the electrical system (78) and engine & cooling (74).
How many recalls does the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the most recent from June 3, 2004 (hose, piping, and connections). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002 and 2006. See the full Chrysler PT Cruiser years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.