Problems · by component
2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser power train problems
36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser cite power train, 7% of all 523 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
36
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ENGINE STARTS AND RUNS, BUT AS SOON AS I PUT IT INTO ANY GEAR BUT PARK, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY DIES. IT WILL RESTART, BUT AGAIN DIES WHEN PLACED IN A GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE CHECKED FOR CODES AND THIS IS THE CODE THAT CAME UP (P0601). IT HAS 83500 MILES. HE SAYS IT NEED A NEW COMPUTER. THIS INITIALLY STARTED BACKING INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR JUST QUIT. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND WENT TO PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT AGAIN QUIT. THIS HAPPENS OVER AND OVER, UNTIL SOMEONE PUSHED ME OUT OF THE STREET. CAR IS NOW PARKED UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
“CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (KMM7261775V12890L0KM)US CUSTOMER SERVICE - CHRYSLER BRAND SITE BRIEF DESCRIPTION: TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING 2002PT COMMENTS: I AM VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO SEND THIS EMAIL DUE TO THE FACT AS A PT 2002 OWNER AND A VERY HAPPY ONE JUST HAD THE SCARE OF MY LIFE.WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH MY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING MY PT CRUISER TO LIFT THE BACK WHEELS OFF THE GROUND AND THREW ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD LUCKY FOR ME I HAD MY SAFETY BELT ON.NOW HERE I AM STUCK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH NO REVERSE AND NO GEARS.I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. THIS PLACE DOES ALL MY WORK AND I HAVE RECORDS TO PROVE WITH THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE AND WELL TAKING CARE OF. MY CONCERN IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION PLACE SAYS IT WILL COST 2800.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. I WOULD LIKE SOME KIND OF RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER. THERE RESPONSE WAS WE DONT CARE AND WILL NOT HELP. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LINKAGE ARM HAD COME OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WERE HELD ON BY BUSHINGS. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE MANUFACTUER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WILL DO THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SINCE MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WITH A USED ONE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TWO WEEKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.”
“HAVE A 2002 PT CRUISER WITH EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. REPLACEMENT OF 1 QT. OIL EVERY 750 MILES. BOUGHT CAR NEW IN 02. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE INCEPTION. ADDRESSED PROBLEM TO DEALER IN SALEM, OR. THEY CONTENDED IT WAS NORMAL . I HAVE 58K ON ENGINE NOW AND PROBLEMS STILL CURRENT. *TR”
Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.