Two problems related to transmission not go into gear have been reported for the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Chrysler Pt Cruiser based on all problems reported for the 2001 Pt Cruiser.
(1) normal driving conditions; (2) car began to buck and then would not shift into gears; transmission was replaced.
2001 Pt Cruiser, 5 speed manual transmission, 60,000 miles engine surges when car is moving, most noticeable when the car is not in gear. When coasting the engine rpm will vary between 1,200 and 2,000 rpm every 3-4 seconds until the car comes to a stop and then the engine rpm falls to 800. When the car is in gear, the car will accelerate without stepping on the gas pedal. The dealer reprogrammed the powertrain control module, but that only fixed the problem for one day. The car engine can surge when coasting and about to move into a parking spot or garage. I believe this is a serious safety issue.