2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser problems
The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 799 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (10%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (9%) and suspension (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 799 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 10% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 48 and 26
- Injuries and deaths
- 51 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 58,000 miles 507 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 38 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 98 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 130 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 85 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 58 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 34 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 29 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 7 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Among the 507 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 58,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 66,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 48 complaints mention a crash; 26 complaints mention a fire; 51 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Chrysler PT Cruiser with enough data (458 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15 MPH the roadway was wet and the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. When this occurred ,the air bags deployed the contact's shirt and undergarment caught on fire. The police were contacted to the scene of the accident and helped extinguish the flames. The contact suffered major burns to the stomach, hands, arms and left thumb. Updated 05/16/2006.
Vehicle was involved in a side impact collision. Vehicle was t boned on right side. Upon impact, right side air bags did not deploy, cause unknown. Driver and passenger were injured. Please give any further details.
2001 pt crusier was head head on by another vehicle at a high rate of speed. $7,000.00 to pt cruiser and airbags did not deploy. Chrysler refused to investigate complaint saying that they are not made to go off on stopped vehicles. My car was stopped at a traffice light when hit head on. Injuries resulted
I have a 2001 pt cruiser. I had an incident in wisconsin 11/24/03 where my steering wheel locked and could not be unlocked, thus I could not start the car. I had it towed to the dealership the next day. They found nothing wrong. On 2/26/04 the steering column was clicking. I took it to a dealership in st. Louis. The steering column had to be replaced a bearing went out at 38913 miles. Then 8/31/04 I had just pulled into my subdivision after a long trip and the car would rev but did not accelerate.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that she replaced her entire brake system in august 2008; however, the failure has recurred. A second chrysler dealer also advised her that she had to replace the entire brake system. The chrysler manufacturer informed the contact to take her vehicle to a dealer to have it repaired. There were no recalls and the warranty has expired. The failure mileage was 34,837 and the current mileage was 47,420.