Chrysler›PT Cruiser›2001›2.4L/chrysler/pt-cruiser/2001/2-4l/

PT platform

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser — 2.4L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 PT Cruiser 2.4L.

Body VANEngine 2.4LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser pairs its PT platform and VAN body classification with a 2.4L engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel economy of 17 city and 23 highway mpg. Routine maintenance requires 5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil with a filter, yet standard servicing is heavily overshadowed by the vehicle's poor reliability record. As the inaugural year of the model's 2001-2010 span, 2001 logged the highest number of owner complaints across the entire lineup at 630—dominated by Structure issues and accompanied by seven recalls—making it the most problematic model year for researchers to consider.

Model year2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter	04105409AE
Engine air filter	04891176AA discontinued
Fuel filter	05017081AA discontinued
Spark plug	68307021AA discontinued
Battery	BB26R001AA
Front wiper blades	55076910AA discontinued
Serpentine belt	04668380AF alt 04668247AH
Thermostat	P5278144AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	168.9 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	63 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	3133 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.3 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	17 / 23 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

8.5–10.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2001 Limited Edition Wagon

150 hpHorsepower (as tested)

162 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2001	Limited Edition Wagon 2.4L I-4	8.50 sec	16.70 sec	150 hp	FWD
2001	Limited Edition Wagon 2.4L I-4	8.60 sec	16.60 sec	150 hp	FWD
2001	Limited Edition Wagon 2.4L I-4	8.79 sec	16.65 sec	150 hp	FWD
2001	Limited Edition Wagon 2.4L I-4	10.90 sec	18.20 sec	150 hp	FWD
2002	Wagon 2.4L I-4	9.20 sec	16.90 sec	150 hp	FWD
2003	GT Wagon 2.4L Turbo I-4	6.70 sec	15.30 sec	220 hp	FWD
2003	GT Wagon 2.4L Turbo I-4	7.20 sec	15.70 sec	220 hp	FWD
2003	GT Wagon 2.4L Turbo I-4	7.20 sec	15.70 sec	220 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter 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 Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	M6 Bolts: 9 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 21 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	100 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	160 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.51-.61 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	11,500-13,500 ohms
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.56 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Oil Capacity	5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	25-80 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 15 ft-lbs / 77 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	77 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.005 in / 0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.099 in / 0.463 in / 0.902 in / 0.344 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.106 in / 0.482 in / 0.909 in / 0.364 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.039 in / 0.404 in / 0.843 in / 0.285 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	25 ft. lbs.	25 ft. lbs
2	50 ft. lbs.	50 ft. lbs
3	50 ft. lbs.	50 ft. lbs
4	90 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 mi	Brake 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 mi	Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 mi	Timing 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 required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter 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 needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The 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.

The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser stands out as the most problematic model year in the generation, with 630 complaints, 7 recalls, 3 investigations, and 96 TSBs—all the highest figures in the 2001–2008 range. The top complaint areas—Structure (59), Wheels (52), Suspension (50), and Steering (41)—along with 36 crash and 17 fire complaints, indicate widespread issues, though the data does not specify root causes. After 2001, complaints and recalls drop sharply, with 2002–2005 showing moderate improvement and 2006–2008 having far fewer reports and zero recalls. This suggests that 2001 was a launch-year with significant teething problems, while later years benefited from refinements. **Takeaway:** Avoid the 2001 model; a 2003–2005 PT Cruiser offers a much better balance of lower complaint counts and fewer recalls, making it a safer used choice.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

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

’01’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10

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.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
23-015-20	2020-04-30	Equipment	Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
08-049-20	2020-04-22	Electrical System	Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use 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.

Group 26R battery Vehicles taking 5 qt w/ filter PT-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 04105409AE Engine air filter 04891176AA Fuel filter 05017081AA Spark plug 68307021AA

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 PT Cruiser 2.4L take?

5 qt w/ filter 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 2.4L get?

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