U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Chrysler PT CRUISER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

618 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

57,530 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 384 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 618 complaints (8.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	97	15.7%
Electrical and battery issues	61	9.9%
Braking behavior	50	8.1%
Transmission and shifting	37	6.0%
Engine operation	22	3.6%
Fuel system concerns	14	2.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure

Electrical System

Wheels:Rim

Unknown Or Other

Wheels

Air Bags

Exterior Lighting

Steering

Structure: 53; Electrical System: 45; Wheels:Rim: 35; Unknown Or Other: 29; Wheels: 25; Air Bags: 23; Exterior Lighting: 23; Steering: 23

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

116

50,000 to 74,999

101

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 116; 50,000 to 74,999: 101; 75,000 to 99,999: 56; 100,000 to 149,999: 56; 150,000 and above: 18

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (116). 234 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

2025

2000: 7; 2001: 22; 2002: 75; 2003: 57; 2004: 70; 2005: 67; 2006: 41; 2007: 76; 2008: 59; 2009: 32; 2010: 19; 2011: 14; 2012: 14; 2013: 11; 2014: 22; 2015: 10; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2022: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 97 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002632 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

CLOCK SPRING BROKE IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN

Owner-reported narrative. 44,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005417 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

OUTCOME OF MY COMPLAINT #769146 DATED MAY 1, 2001. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHROME WHEELS WAS FINALLY RESOLVED WHEN CHRYSLER REPLACED THE FRONT TWO CHROME WHEELS AT 24,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH OUT-OF-ROUND SINCE NEW, CREATING THE WOBBLE IN THE STEERING, UNEVEN STEERING, VIBRATION AND TIRE WEAR. I AM STILL AWAITING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TWO NEW PRO-RATED (BY GOODYEAR) EAGLE GT TIRES ON THE FRONT, AS WELL AS AWAITING WORD ABOUT A PROMISE TO REEPLACE THE TWO REAR EAGLE GT TIRES AS WELL. ANYONE WITH THE SAME WHEEL AND/OR TIRE PROBLEMS CAN WR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030898 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)

5 BATTERIES, RADIO, SPEAKERS, DOOR LOCKS, PAINT, SPEED SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION, FAN MOTOR ON ENGINE, OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, T14 CIRCUIT ALL WITHIN 27 MONTHS. CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF ALL THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER IS NO HELP! CUSTOMER CARE HUNG UP ON ME. LEMON LAW RAN OUT 1 MONTH AGO. UPSIDE DOWN CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN. HELP!!!!!

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040832 · 2003-09-27 (September 27, 2003)

BOUGHT AN EARLY 2001 PT CRUISER. ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, BATTERY FAILS, CAR WOULD NOT START, JUMP STARTING DID NOT WORK. TOWED IT IT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FAULTY. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THIS OCCURED, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER STILL SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY'S FAULT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 22, 2001 AND I PUT A SPARE BATTERY IN CAR AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002633 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE BROKE

Owner-reported narrative. 50,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002633 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002733 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

REAR BRAKES ON 2001 PT CRUISER W/25000 MILES MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS IF THE PADS ARE WORN OUT. DEALER HAS CHECKED THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THEY'RE SHOWING NORMAL WEAR ON THE PADS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER CRUISERS AND DODGE NEON'S AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002733 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001878 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEAD CASKET. ON DECEMBER 23 VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH THIS TIME DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002930 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY CAR A 2001 P.T. CRUISER WITH ONLY 44243 MILES ON IT, THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002930 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007504 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)

THE TIMING BELT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007504 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006673 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

VEHICLE FUEL TANK WAS OVER FILLED, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE REAR RIGHT DOOR AND RUG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006673 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015025 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)

THE VEHICLES FUEL PUMP RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015025 at NHTSA ↗