Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 74 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 74, in the owner's own words
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".
CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING (ALSO FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL AND MAKE). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU CAN BREAK DOWN ON ROAD WHICH CAN EITHER CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR CAUSE ROAD BLOCKAGE. *JS
ENGINE FAN DOES NOT TURN ON CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNER THAT HAVE A PT CRUISER (DIFFERENT YEARS) AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FAN. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER DEALER WHICH DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SO THEY ARE NOT ISSUING ANY RECALLS YET. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS BUT HE DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO CHECK THE CAR COMPUTER. ANOTHER PLACE HAS THE EQUIPMENT BUT WANTS $200. TO SEE IF IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THIS SINCE IT DOES NOT JUST EFFECT MY VEHICLE BUT MANY PT CRUISERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, REPLACED ALL OF THE SENSORS ON THE VEHICLE, THE RELAYS, AND THE ELECTRICAL FUSES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.
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.
"TAKATA RECALL " IN MY PT CRUISER THE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN IN THE CAR AND THE FRONT AXLE BAR AND FRAME WAS BROKEN AND THE WHEELS COULD NOT TURN OR CONTROL THE CAR I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TRYING TO TURN INTO A ICE CREAM SHOP THE CAR IS STILL DOING A SUDDEN JERKING WHEN DRIVEN AND AFTER PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT STARTED AND FIXED I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND NO MONEY TO GET ANOTHER.
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH AND DASHBOARD FAULTS OUT WITH INCOHERENT READINGS AND TRANSAXLE SHIFTS SELF INTO NEUTRAL. I SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE. DASHBOARD READINGS GO BACK TO NORMAL AND TRANSAXLE GOES BACK INTO DRIVE. 15 SECONDS LATER BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. CONTINUE DRIVING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS ENGINE STALLS OUT. SHIFT GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT IT WON'T START. COAST TO A STOP AND OPEN HOOD. NOTICE AN ODD SMELL. OPEN HOOD AND ALTERNATOR IS ON FIRE. CLOSE HOOD AND GRAB PERSONAL BELONGINGS (EXCEPT FOR PHONE CHARGER) OUT OF VEHICLE. CALL 911 AS VEHICLE BURNS UP. FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVE AND EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT VEHICLE BADLY DESTROYED BY BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
I PURCHASED A USED 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY HOME WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, IT SOUNDED LIKE WATER RAPIDLY BOILING WITH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE LOOK UP THIS PROBLEM AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 2001 TO 2008 PT CRUISERS, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IT WENT FROM A RADIATOR CAP TO THE BLADES COMING OFF OF THE FAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW SO MANY VEHICLES CAN HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT THERE BEING A RECALL TO FIX THIS. TO LOWER THE ENGINE HEAT I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAT OR AC UP TO THE HIGHEST SETTING. I HAVE HAD THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP REPLACED. HOW CAN THIS SAME PROBLEM GO UNFIXED FROM YEAR TO YEAR? I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS TILL I EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES TO LOOK, EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WATER BOILING SOUND, CAR OVERHEATING ALMOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD REPLACED AND STILL THIS SAME PROBLEM EXIST. I AM SHOCKED THAT I DID NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM LISTED ON YOUR SITE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE IT. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM YEAR AFTER YEAR, YET IT GOES UNFIXED. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I AM AFRAID THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO JUST STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE SOMEONE SLAM INTO THE BACK OF ME WHERE MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN SIT. THE LIGHT TO SHOW IT IS OVERHEATING NEVER LIGHTS UP. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS! NO BELLS OR WHISTLES GOING OFF. JUST SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CAR WITH LIQUID SHOOTING OUT ALL OVER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE MY ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE!! IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! SINCERELY, PT CRUISER OWNER. *TR
I FILED A CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT THE RUSTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. *TR
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL, OVER HEATING (WHICH WAS NEVER FIXED EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES), AND TRANSMISSION. IN 2013 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY 4 LANE HWY. I HEARD A SUDDEN AND LOUD BOOMING NOISE AND THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THINKING THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD I BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. THE CAR MADE THAT LOUD BOOMING NOISE A SECOND TIME AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY AGAIN. IT THEN LOST ALL POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY. AFTER REMOVING AND OPENING UP THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHEARED IN HALF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I BELIEVE THAT THE SLIGHTLY WORN ENGINE MOUNTS CAUSE A BINDING ACTION ON THE DRIVE SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION THUS CAUSING THE SHAFT WHICH IS MADE OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL TO BASICALLY EXPLODE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS SO WELL KNOWN BY US CAR BUFFS THAT JASPER ENGINES INC. (A WELL KNOWN COMPANY THAT REMANUFACTURES ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS) REPLACES THIS STOCK SHAFT WITH A STRONGER MORE ROBUST ONE WHEN THEY REMANUFACTURE THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR THAT HAPPENED WHEN THIS TRANSMISSION SHAFT FAILED ALMOST CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON A VERY BUSY HWY. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL ALL TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPOSITE SHAFT. *TR
I FIRST SENT THIS COMPLAINT ON MAR 7, 2014 AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL REPLY ACKNOWLEDGING IT, BUT SINCE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. IS MY COMPLAINT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY? IT IS A SERIOUS COMPLAINT AS FOLLOWS: ON FEB 5, 2014, MY 2001 PT CRUISER SHUT DOWN WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN A BUSY STREET. IT DIDN'T MAKE A SPUTTER OR A SOUND, IT JUST DIED. LUCKILY, IT COASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OFF ONTO A QUIETER STREET AND UP AGAINST A CURB. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP THE EXPLANATION FOR THE MOTOR SHUTTING DOWN WAS ALARMING. THE AUTOMOTIVE TECH REPORTED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. AS I UNDERSTAND, WHEN THIS SENSOR GOES BAD, THE ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN. WITH NO WARNING. I HAD GAS IN MY PT. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS; THE TECH SAID MOST CARS THAT ARE 'NEWER' (AS FAR BACK AS 2002, AT LEAST) HAVE THIS SENSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD. I LOOKED THROUGH EVERY PAGE OF MY 2001 PT CRUISER OWNER'S MANUAL AND DIDN'T FIND ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SHOULD BE TESTED REGULARLY, IF IT COULD BE TESTED, THAT IS. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE DOING THE PUBLIC A LIFESAVING SERVICE TO LOOK INTO THE DANGER OF THIS FAILED DESIGN, NOT TO JUST REPLACE THEM IN ALL CARS WITH A NEW ONE, BUT WITH ONE THAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO FAIL AT THE RISK OF THE DRIVE AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE VICINITY WHEN A MOVING CAR DECIDES TO JUST SHUT DOWN. WITH NO WARNING. THERE IS NOT A TIME FRAME FOR THIS PART TO FAIL, BUT CARS THAT ARE AROUND MY CRUISERS MAY BE READY TO GIVE OUT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
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. *JB
CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. VERY SCARY SITUATION,EVIDENTLY THIS IS COMMON WITH PT CRUISERS. WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 245,000.
THE ENGINE STARTING MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ABOUT 40 MPH. I STOPPED TO CHECK OIL WHICH WAS ABOUT 1/2 QUART DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. UNKNOWN TO ME BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. SOMEONE BEHIND ME ALERTED ME AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO THE PT CRUISER WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
OVER HEATS DONE EVRYTHING TO THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND STILL OVER HEATING ISSUES, BEEN IN THE SHOP OR UNDRIVABLE MORE THAN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. THIS IS A BAD IMAGE FOR CHRYSLER, AS I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, WITH NO RESULTS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED ALMOST EVERYTHING TO BE CHANGED IN THESE MOTORS, CARS ARE JUNK NOW IM STUCK WITH A LEMON I OWE ON. GRRRRR. *TT
PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,591 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS CONSUMED MORE OIL THAT NORMAL. TOOK A 200 MILE ROAD TRIP, UPON RETURN THERE WAS A RATTLING AT THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. TENSIONER PULLEY WAS BAD. TAKEN TO MECHANIC SHOP WITH 93,643 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. WHILE DISASSEMBLING THE CAR TWO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, BUSTED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, A BAD WATER PUMP, BUSTED RADIATOR SEAL, AND A BAD TENSIONER PULLEY WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED OR SHOWED SIGNS OF ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT BACK TOGETHER IT IDLES HIGH, CUTS OFF, AND OVERHEATS. TIMING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED, IT IS IN TIME. CAR RUNS WELL AT HIGHER SPEEDS BUT CANNOT STAY ON AT LOWER RPMS. I AM NOW REPLACING THE FAN, PCV VALVE AND PIPING, AND POSSIBLY GOING TO PERFORM A COOLANT FLUSH. I HAVEN'T PASSED 100,000 MILES AND I'M ALREADY HAVING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. *TR
2001 PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS,FROM A NEW RADIATOR,NEW HOSES,FANS, BELTS,FLUSHES,ETC. AND IT STILL OVERHEATS. PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARNED OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT THESE CARS,THEY OVERHEAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE HAD REPAIRED ON THEM. I HATE THEM THEY NEED TO BE BANNED FROM BEING PURCHASED ANYWHERE WHERE CARS ARE SOLD!!!!!!! *LN
ENGINE LIGHT ON/225+K MILES, CAR MECHANICALLY SOUND, CODE P0601, RUNS GOOD. BOUGHT IN 2003 OFF DAEWOO LOT. USED. WITH 12+K MILES. CHANGED: VALVE COVER,3 PCV'S,EGR TUBE,INTAKE. NORMALLY CHANGE SYNTHIC OIL SAE 5/30 OIL EVERY 14K MILES. WITH TWO OIL FILTER CHANGES EVERY 7K MILES., SPARK PLUGS EVERY 6MOS,WITH WIRES. MECHANIC TAKES OFF LIGHT, GOES BACK ON AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED BACK ON. *TR
JUST COMPLETELY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED WITH CHRYSLER FOR PRODUCING AN AUTOMOBILE THAT'S CONSTANTLY CAUSING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT. JUST A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT.WHO NEED THIS WHEN THE ECONOMY IS AT ITS LOWEST EVER? PLEASE HELP THE MANY OWNERS OF PT CRUISERS. THANK YOU *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING EXAMINED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 9/1/09 *CN THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FOG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WITH NO WARNING. A NEEW MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS NEEDED. UPDATED 09/02/09.*JB
VACUUM LINE CAME OFF ENGINE CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THERE WAS NOT A CLAMP ON THE LINE AND YOU COULD ALMOST BLOW THE LINE OFF WITH YOUR MOUTH IT WAS SO LOOSE! *TR
ENGINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY EXHAUST FUME SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE "FLEX" PART OF THE EXHAUST PIPE BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY SAID THE WHOLE FLEX PART AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ONE PART AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (COST ABOUT $1400). THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION UNTIL THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. TOOK VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PT AND THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THE CARS. I HAD THE PART REPLACED SO THAT THE CAR WOULD PAST INSPECTION AND BE LEGAL TO DRIVE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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