Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system78
- Structure67
- Suspension66
- Engine and engine cooling62
- Wheels61
- Steering61
- Exterior lighting48
- Power train47
- Fuel system, gasoline46
- Air bags43
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 36 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 33 2001 PT Cruiser vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser failed the safety check 2.05% of the time — 2% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 98,468 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
154 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 10% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €32,095.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde89
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen65
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk33
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse31
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld27
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm24
- Band onvoldoende profiel24
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
62 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 327 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 101 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 58% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.8% | 19.3% |
| Suspension | 16.8% | 15.4% |
| Brakes | 15.8% | 13.4% |
| Tyres | 7.9% | 5.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.9% | 9.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.9% | 6.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
71 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 249,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
87 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 76% arrived as used imports, 22% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.7–12.0 L/100 km (about 20 mpg US), CO₂ 269–276 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| PT Cruiser · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 |
| PT Cruiser · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 10.2 | 12.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
| 2019420 21 Aug 2019 | Other Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempere… |
| 2004186 4 Jun 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.4L non-turbo engine and an automatic transaxle, routing variation in the high pressure power steering hose could allow con… |
| 2002150 9 Aug 2002 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, frontal barrier collision tests have indicated that the top flange surface of the fuel pump module may crack resulting in a possible fuel l… |
| 2002149 9 Aug 2002 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel supply line may contact the air conditioning tube service port. This could potentially cause a rub-though condition and a subsequ… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.
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.
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.
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 ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chrysler told its dealers about the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 634066 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND. *SLC |
| 633463 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXCESSIVE IGNITION OFF DRAW VOLTAGE. *SLC |
| 629163 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR SQUEAK. *TT |
| 629139 | MOISTURE ACCUMULATION INSIDE A VENTED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY CONDITION. *TT |
| 628191 | EXPERIENCING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *TT |
| 628186 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MODERATE TO SEVERE HIGH WAY SPEED 45-60 MPH VEHICLE SURGE. *TT |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 621942 | THIS BULLETIN REINFORCES A REQUIREMENT TO CEASE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING SUPPLEMENTAL OIL ADDITIVE TREATMENTS IN ALL DAIMLERCHRYSLER ENGINES. *TT |
| 621940 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONTAINS BOTH UPDATED SELF-ADHESIVE SERVICE AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL PAGES AND UPDATE PAGES REQUIRING HAND WRITTEN CHANGES TO EXISTING PAGES. *TT |
| 621938 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONTAINS BOTH UPDATED SELF-ADHESIVE SERVICE AND / OR DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL PAGES AND UPDATE PAGES. *TT |
| 621925 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUNROOF WIND DEFLECTOR VIBRATION. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 621891 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST IN WHICH THE FUEL GAUGE DOE SNOT REGISTER FULL EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. *TT |
| 621886 | SUBJECT REGARDING RADIO CONNECTOR REPAIR KIT. *TT |
| 620956 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND. *TT |
| 620072 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE / DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL REVISIONS. *TT |
| 620068 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHEN THE HVAC UNIT BLOWER IS TURNED ON HIGH, A TICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD FROM THE REAR SEATING POSITION. THE CAUSE OF THE TICKING SOUND IS THE BODY EXHAUSTER FLAPS HITTING THE BODY EXHAUSTER HOUSING RETAINER. THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES REPLACING THE REAR BODY EXHAUSTER ON VEHICLES THAT EXHIBIT THE SYMPTOM. *TT |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620063 | THIS BULLETIN REINFORCES A REQUIREMENT TO CEASE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING SUPPLEMENTAL OIL ADDITIVE TREATMENTS IN ALL DIAMLER CHRYSLER ENGINES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 619123 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT ALL FACTORY INSTALLED EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS A SUNROOF, MEET THE UPPER INTERIOR HEAD PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. *TT |
| 618889 | ADVANCE SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING UNDER-SEAT STORAGE BIN RETROFIT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
FUEL HOSE ABRASION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation