Your vehicle report
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 618
- Received Jun 2000 to Feb 2025
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag52 complaints · 8.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air46 complaints · 7.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Headlights dim or fail at night28 complaints · 4.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #04V268000On 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.
- Recall #02V214000On 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 36 crashes, 17 fires, 36 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air
- Tires blow out or tread separates
- Power steering cuts out while driving
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
- Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag
- Frame rusts and corrodes through
- Glass shatters or cracks without impact
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 618 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 52 | 8.4% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 46 | 7.4% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 28 | 4.5% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 26 | 4.2% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 25 | 4.0% | – | NHTSA recall #02V214000, #02V215000 |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 21 | 3.4% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 20 | 3.2% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 18 | 2.9% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 16 | 2.6% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 15 | 2.4% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 14 | 2.3% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 14 | 2.3% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 14 | 2.3% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 13 | 2.1% | – | |
| Turn signals work intermittently or fail | 11 | 1.8% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 10 | 1.6% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 10 | 1.6% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 9 | 1.5% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 9 | 1.5% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 8 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #04V268000June 3, 2004438,391 vehicles affected
steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
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.
Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source Can result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
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 should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #02V214000August 8, 200297,779 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
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 august 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #02V215000August 8, 2002345,436 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump module mounting flange could leak fuel if the vehicle is involved in a rollover crash.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
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 and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #02V162000June 14, 200277,000 vehicles affected
seats: front assembly: recliner
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.
If the connector for a latch-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not properly protect a child in the event of a crash.
Remedy
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 who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #00V366000November 9, 20001,211,756 vehicles affected
child seat
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.
In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN