2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Problems, Recalls & Reliability
799 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 95/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 65,500 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009–2010.
Avoid
Where 2001 sits among all PT Cruiser years
What owners report
“In october, 2004 the fog light indicator would stay on, even though the fogs lights were not on. Then the fog lights stopped working all together. May, 2005, the fogs lights came back on by themselves, even though no lights were on and the car was turned off. I had the light stalk replaced by the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
“Consumer states vehicle was driving with a lose lug nut and a broken lug nut on the left rear wheel. Vehicle was tow to the dealer. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
“Engine stops dead in the middle of driving...dealer has not been able to repeat problem but 4 warnings come up on computer”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
“Lower control arm bushings need replacement already at 29000 miles, on 2001 pt cruiser. This premature failure is a safety risk and appears to be common on this vehicle (admitted by dealer), yet is out of warranty. Should warrant a recall notice and free repair.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
“These grab bars are made of a hard compound. These grab bars protrude on the interior of the cabin. Driver and all passengers can easily receive head injuries unless they are short.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
“The consumer hit a cement divider head on, on the drivers side. The steering and wheel traction had gone out, also the air bags did not deploy. Refer odi #770588, 1006108 scc”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 PT Cruiser
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 504 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 58,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 38,460 and 85,540 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353.…
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
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.
Fix: 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. OWNERS…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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. OWNERS…
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…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V268000.
Led to recall campaign 02V214000.
Technical service bulletins
90 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2001 PT Cruiser TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser reliable?
The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser drew 799 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 95/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems?
The top reported problems for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser are electrical (139 complaints), wheels & tires (86), and engine (84).
At what mileage do 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems show up?
Owners most often report 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems around 58,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 38,460 and 85,540 miles.
Does the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.