general problems of the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

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.

The car will shut off and not restart for at least 10 minutes. I have taken it to several mechanics and when the tester is applied no code appears and none have been able to tell us what the problem is. I took to the internet and found numerous instances of the same circumstances but no solution. This is dangerous because there is no warning, it just stops. Do to the highly dangerous situation we only take it on the street where the likelihood of collateral injuries can be better controlled. This has been ongoing for about (6) months, the last time was about 6 weeks ago.

I slowed downed for a rail road crossing and after I crossed it the front end dropped down . I lost control of the car . The car veered right . I got stopped before I got to the ditch . We couldn't move the car . Had it towed to a garage . After inspection they told me the frame that holds the suspension together rusted through and broke in half . It pushed the suspension up and against the engine . If I would have been going any faster could have veered left to a head on crash or hit the ditch and flipped the car . Definitely think this is design flaw , when your frame fails and you loose control of your vehicle . A pot hole could at 55 mph could have done the same thing only with more tragic consequences.

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.

I filed a claim with Chrysler about the rusted out engine cradle and they refused to replace it.