2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser: engine overheating

Filed Sep 1, 2019 · Engine · 85 miles · PA

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.

Filed Aug 7, 2018 · Engine · 159,245 miles · PA

Engine fan does not turn on causing car to overheat. I have spoken to other owner that have a pt cruiser (different years) and they also have the same problem with the fan. I called the chrysler dealer which did not have enough complaints about this so they are not issuing any recalls yet. I took this car to my mechanic and he could not determine what is causing this but he did not have the equipment to check the car computer. Another place has the equipment but wants $200. To see if it is a problem with the computer. I feel that chrysler should cover this since it does not just effect my vehicle but many pt cruisers.

Filed Jan 28, 2015 · Engine · 71,250 miles · PA

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.

Filed Mar 12, 2014 · Engine · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chrysler pt cruiser. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The failure mileage and VIN was not available.

Filed Oct 3, 2012 · Engine · 131,000 miles · MO

Car suddenly began overheating without warning. Very scary situation,evidently this is common with pt cruisers. Why have there been no recalls?

Filed Mar 20, 2011 · Engine · 93,643 miles · VA

Purchased the car with 69,591 miles. Car has always consumed more oil that normal. Took a 200 mile road trip, upon return there was a rattling at the timing chain cover. Tensioner pulley was bad. Taken to mechanic shop with 93,643 miles at time of incident. While disassembling the car two broken motor mounts, busted lower control arm bushing, a bad water pump, busted radiator seal, and a bad tensioner pulley was discovered. The car never overheated or showed signs of any of these problems. After the car was put back together it idles high, cuts off, and overheats. Timing has been checked and rechecked, it is in time. Car runs well at higher speeds but cannot stay on at lower rpms. I am now replacing the fan, pcv valve and piping, and possibly going to perform a coolant flush. I haven't passed 100,000 miles and I'm already having this kind of trouble.

Filed Feb 18, 2011 · Engine · 120,000 miles · TN

2001 pt cruiser overheating problems. Have spent over $2,000 dollars in repairs,from a new radiator,new hoses,fans, belts,flushes,etc. And it still overheats. People need to be warned of this problem about these cars,they overheat no matter what you have had repaired on them. I hate them they need to be banned from being purchased anywhere where cars are sold!!!!!!!

Filed Sep 19, 2009 · Engine · 94,000 miles · MS

Just completely angry and frustrated with chrysler for producing an automobile that's constantly causing overheating problems that no one seems to be able to correct. Just a lot of money being spent.who need this when the economy is at its lowest ever? Please help the many owners of pt cruisers. Thank you

Filed Jul 9, 2008 · Engine · 65,000 miles · IL

There is a chronic problem with 2001 to 2003 chrysler pt cruisers overheating to the point of disabling the car, and sometimes damaging the car beyond repair. There appears to be no solution to the problem. The following discussion thread has over 250 people complaining about this problem, and only a small fraction of them have had satisfactory solutions. Http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/chrysler-pt-cruiser/t3qtlfa0vl7r6is09 the above link is one thread out of many dozens of similar discussions on many dozens of web sites out there. And then there are all of the people who have not turned to the web for help and advice... This is a serious and ongoing problem that chrysler needs to address. People's cars are being completely ruined with no chance of repair, and chrysler will not even acknowledge a problem.

Filed Feb 8, 2008 · Engine · 145,000 miles · NY

I recently purchased a used 2001 pt cruiser. After watching a pt cruiser catch on fire in my work parking lot, I noticed that I had no heat. I added coolant and everything seemed fine until I drove it for over 20 minutes. It started to overheat and smoke started coming out from under the hood (in the dead of winter). After letting it cool I was able to get it home. I added coolant and checked for leaks and found none. Then I checked the internet to help troubleshoot the issue... And ran across several website with my exact same problem with many people stating that they had spent thousands of dollars without any results, and with no help from chrysler resolving the issue.

Filed Aug 12, 2007 · Engine · 109,000 miles · FL

My pt cruiser overheated and I realized that the fan was not coming on. I took it in for repair and the mechanic said the sensors and fuses were fine and that the fan assembly needed replacing. Which cost $700. 2 weeks later, the car overheated, again and once again a couple of days after that. This time it stalled and would not start back up.

Filed Jul 30, 2007 · Engine · 116,783 miles · KY

Overheating, steam rolling out from under hood and stalling. Repaired 9/2006 at the cost of $379.38. Problem has started again, 10 months later.