Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
You can dial Goodyear at [phone] press 1 then, press 3. Ask about Goodyear case # 559-496. It involves my PT cruisers, its original sets of tires and continued problems. I was worried about having future blow-outs. It s a matter of safety. Goodyear reasonably, adjusted three tires for me after I explained my blow outs situation. I followed up again with Goodyear, and toyo (file # 035253), explained the 16 inch wheel saga. How I spent a year going from dealership to dealership complaining about the 16 inch wheels and the tire blow-outs. They never recorded my rim complaints no matter which dc 5 star dealership I went too. They would record the cruisers mileage, and any warranted items they could bill dc for, but never a wheel or tire complaint. I questioned the service managers and the mechanics and they all repeated. …
On 12-17-04 my tires were rotated and balanced at discount tire co. This resulted in vibration at low speeds in my steering wheel. Discount rechecked the balancing, but found nothing wrong. Several days later I moved the l/f tire to the rear to see if the wheel might be the problem - the vibration stopped! On 12-23-04 I stopped by the local Goodyear dealer to discuss the problem with them. It was made clear that all I wanted was a tire safety inspection at no expense to me. They said they would be happy to inspect the tire at no cost and the next morning I dropped the car off at 7 am (12-24-04). A couple of hours later Goodyear called and said the l/r tire was bad (tread separation) , that they had replaced it with a new tire, and it was ready to be picked up. No mention was made of any cost involved, and I assumed it was a free replacement (27K miles). …
On Saturday aug 13, 2005 my wife and I had a flat on our 2001 PT Cruiser on the right front. On Monday aug 15, 2005 I took the tire and had it fixed. The problem was that the chrome on the inside of the rim was peeling and the tire was not adhering to the rim. On Tuesday aug 16th I took the car into the Chrysler dealer and had them look at the problem. They confirmed what the tire dealer said. I talked with the garage advisor and he stated that I was not the first person with this problem. The solution was to buy new rims. I called the Chrysler hot line number [phone] and spoke with customer service reps crystal and carol and finally carol said that the 3 year warranty was up. My problem with this is that the rims are starting to peel on the early additions of the make of car and that it has taken 5 years or so for this to be noticed. …
Over approximately the past year I have been dealing with thelen auto group in bay city, michigan regarding defective rims on my 2001 PT Cruiser. I am constantly replacing air in fairly new tires due to this. After speaking to thelen several times chrylser was called in December of 2005 (date below is approximate). After the dealer scraped and sprayed the rims to stop the peeling a couple of times thelen's mechanic (pat) stated that this just wouldn't work. Pat also went on to add (in the presence of my father) that he never saw such a thing. This was on a June 2006 visit to replace my radiator. After several phone calls Chrysler now states that the dealer told them it was just salt erosion and they would not replace the rims. Chrysler also states that this info was given to them from mike thelen and his mechanic. Mr. Thelen states he did not says this. …
Re: 2001 PT Cruiser tire pressure loss from chrome plating failing on the rims allowing air loss I wish to document my extreme dissatisfaction concerning my experience with Chrysler concerning what I have come to learn is without question, a serious manufacturer''s defect with the wheels of my car. The wheels have not provided anywhere near a reasonable service life and whose problem had been misdiagnosed until the basis of failure had degraded until its cause was without question, apparent. I have also learned that problem is also recognized by Chrysler service dealerships as a routine problem, is abundantly documented and widespread on focused websites related to this vehicle and is problem familiar to each tire shop I have gone to. Without question this problem poses an extreme danger to drivers of the vehicle who unknowingly will drive on a potentially extremely under-inflated tire. …
In one month's time, I have had 5 flat tires. After the second flat, I went to a tire dealer. The tire tread was low but the tires were not bald. I decided to have all 4 tires replaced. In the last 2 weeks, I have had to call aaa for 3 flat tires. After the first call, I took the car back to the tire dealer. He showed me the wheels that are completely corroded. They said that Chrysler has had this problem for 10 years but nothing is ever done. I'm in the process of trying to find new wheels but in the week since I had the car in, I have had another flat. I should have been on the interstate when this happened but luckily had gotten a ride with someone else. When are these defective wheels going to be recalled. They are creating potentially life-threatening instances.
The original chrome wheels on my Chrysler 2001 PT Cruiser have continually lost air for at least the past two years. I have to add air every several days. Both the mechanic at the tire shop and my own mechanic said there was nothing wrong with the tires, but the pitting of the wheels was causing air to leak out. This is a problem that should not happen on a six year old car with 80,000 miles. I was unable to return to the dealer because ownership has changed several times since I bought the car and it is out of warranty. I believe this is a manufacturing defect that May cause a loss of air at high speed and lead to a crash. This is a known problem that has been documented on several websites, but has not been addressed by Chrysler.
I have always had trouble keeping air in the tire of this car. I have talked to other owners and they to have had trouble. It is the chrome wheels that is causing the problem. We have not had an accident but I'm sure some one has. It also happened in my daughters stratus rt , chrome wheels. I talked to GM people that had chrome wheel from that era and they to had problems with the chrome wheels. I was wondering if you have had any other complaints of this nature. I still have the car but my daughter got rid of hers. We had to put another tire on the car this week because the tires keep losing air. I talked to the dealership years back and they said there was know problem. I should have done this years ago but never did.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other PT Cruiser years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 13% of the model year's 618 complaints. The component named most often is rim (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.