ChryslerPT Cruiser20012.0L/chrysler/pt-cruiser/2001/2-0l/
PT platform

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 PT Cruiser 2.0L.

Body VANEngine 2.0LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser 2.0L is a VAN built on the PT platform and equipped with a 2.0L engine. It features a 5.0‑qt oil capacity with a 5W‑30 API rating, EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 17 city, 23 highway and 20 combined mpg, and is paired with an automatic four‑speed transmission. In its launch year the model generated 630 owner complaints, the highest count in the 2001‑2010 period, with Structure problems and seven recall campaigns shaping the early reliability record, and by 2010 complaints had fallen to 22. Thus the 2001 model year stands as the peak of a declining complaint trend for the PT Cruiser.

Model year2004200320022001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 26R · 540 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04105409AE. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 26R · 540 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04105409AE
Engine air filter04891176AA discontinued
Fuel filter05017081AA discontinued
Spark plug68307021AA discontinued
BatteryBB26R001AA
Front wiper blades55076910AA discontinued
Serpentine belt04668380AF alt 04668247AH
ThermostatP5278144AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight3133 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 23 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsM6 Bolts: 9 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 21 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts100 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub160 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.51-.61 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,500-13,500 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.56 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure25-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 15 ft-lbs / 77 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in / 0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.099 in / 0.463 in / 0.902 in / 0.344 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.106 in / 0.482 in / 0.909 in / 0.364 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.039 in / 0.404 in / 0.843 in / 0.285 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
250 ft. lbs.50 ft. lbs
350 ft. lbs.50 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 2001 the PT Cruiser recorded 630 complaints and 7 recalls, the highest complaint volume in the decade and a noticeable spike compared to 525 in 2002 and 258 in 2003. Recall activity peaked at 7 in 2001 and fell to zero by 2007, while investigations remained at three that year, indicating a concentration of regulatory attention in the inaugural model year. The complaint trend shows a sharp decline through 2003‑2004, a modest rebound in 2005, and a gradual rise again in 2006 before falling toward 2010, placing 2001 at the apex of the problem arc. Structure, wheels, suspension, and steering were the top four complaint categories, with 59, 52, 50, and 41 complaints respectively, and the vehicle also had 36 crash and 17 fire complaints—figures that are higher than in subsequent years. Given the elevated issue density and the lack of subsequent recall or investigation data for later years, 2001 is a less desirable year to buy without a thorough pre‑purchase inspection.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
96
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
630
Owner complaints
36 involved a crash · 17 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 630 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure59
Wheels52
Suspension50
Steering41
Electrical System41
Fuel System, Gasoline41
Engine & Engine Cooling38
Air Bags33

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E033000SuspensionReported 14/04/2008

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS… Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 96 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
23-015-202020-04-30EquipmentDisinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific PT Cruiser. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 PT Cruiser 2.0L take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 PT Cruiser have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg.