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2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

189 reports with mileage · 69 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

258 reports
53,000 miles · Mar 10, 2009
Suspension

I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE TO THE CHYRSLER FORUMS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALOT OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. SOME WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART. THA…

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I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THE CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE GONE TO THE CHYRSLER FORUMS, AND THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS BY ALOT OF OWNERS OF CHRYSLER HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. SOME WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART. THANKS, DARLENE SMITH *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261489

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2009
Electrical System

FOG LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH WITHOUT MY TURNING THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD DEAD BATTERY? IS THERE A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261459

38,000 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD AT 38,000 MILES. 2 WATER PUMPS WENT BAD ON THE CAR AND CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT. CAMSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. OIL PAN ON ENGINE STARTED LEAKING WHEN CAR HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260879

72,000 miles · Jan 24, 2009
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WE OWNED A 2003 PT CRUISER AND I HAD A WRECK ON APRIL 18, 2008 AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH TO HOLD ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. IT THREW ME FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER WHERE…

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WE OWNED A 2003 PT CRUISER AND I HAD A WRECK ON APRIL 18, 2008 AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH TO HOLD ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. IT THREW ME FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER WHERE I HAD MY HAD RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SHOULDER STRAP HAD CAUGHT WHEN THE COLLISION HAPPENED. WE BOUGHT ANOTHER PT CRUISER, A 2007 AND MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND WHO WAS DRIVING HAD AN ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 21, 2009. THEY SWERVED TO KEEP FROM HITTING A DOG AND HIT A GUARD RAIL ALMOST HEAD ON AND AGAIN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAPS DID NOT CATCH. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A BAD PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISERS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256184

45,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Suspension

I OWN TWO PT CRUISERS, BOTH HAVE HAD CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURES AT 45K MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHRYSLER, ALL OVER INTERNET, FAILURES AT EARLIER MILEAGE AS WELL. THEY DO NOTHING. $650/CAR TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256065

55,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A FUEL INJECTOR FLUSH, CLEANED THE BATTERY, INSTALLED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER IN THE TANK, AND ALSO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A FUEL INJECTOR FLUSH, CLEANED THE BATTERY, INSTALLED FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER IN THE TANK, AND ALSO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 55 TO 15 MPH BEFORE STALLING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10254777

15,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

POWER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254774

30,000 miles · Dec 4, 2008
StructureSuspensionCrash

I JUST FOUND A RECALL ON MY PT CRUISER ON THE WEB AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A NOTICE TO DATE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALLS. MY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ARE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250778

60,000 miles · Oct 23, 2008
SteeringSuspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "GET AWAY FROM HER" WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END REPAIRS WERE COMMON. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "GET AWAY FROM HER" WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END REPAIRS WERE COMMON. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $600. THEY ALSO STATED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD BE NEEDED FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN UPDATED 11/24/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10246495

32,208 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,583. THE TECHNI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,583. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, IN WHICH SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE THROTTLE BODY, THE RADIATOR, AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE POWERTRAIN AND STEERING UNIT. THE REPAIRS COST $4,000. TYPICALLY, THE FAILURES IMMEDIATELY RECUR AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE HER A SMALL REIMBURSEMENT OF $878. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500.

NHTSA ODI #10246138

Official recalls

2

04V268000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Jun 3, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

03V076000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly

Mar 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, A WELDED PIN INTERNAL TO THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) ASSEMBLY CAN UNSEAT AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH DISC.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CLUTCH MAY NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES WITH THE UPDATED DESIGN PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE04028 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Mar 15, 2004 · Closed Jun 18, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid

PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO A SMALLER TRANSAXLE DESIGN.THIS CONDITION ALSO DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLES WITH TURBO ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND HOSE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, OR REPLACED, AS NECESSARY, AND TO CONFIRM THE TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Steering

PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO A SMALLER TRANSAXLE DESIGN.THIS CONDITION ALSO DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLES WITH TURBO ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND HOSE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, OR REPLACED, AS NECESSARY, AND TO CONFIRM THE TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO A SMALLER TRANSAXLE DESIGN.THIS CONDITION ALSO DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLES WITH TURBO ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND HOSE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, OR REPLACED, AS NECESSARY, AND TO CONFIRM THE TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid

PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO A SMALLER TRANSAXLE DESIGN.THIS CONDITION ALSO DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLES WITH TURBO ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND HOSE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, OR REPLACED, AS NECESSARY, AND TO CONFIRM THE TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

PE04-028 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER VEHICLES.ON JUNE 3, 2004, DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 2001-2005 PT CRUISER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4L ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES (RECALL 04V-268).THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED VARIATION OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING, WHICH ALLOWED THE HOSE TO CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.CONTACT BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER CAN CAUSE HOSE DAMAGE AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE. (NOTE: THE FAILURE DATA IN THIS RESUME IS LIMITED TO MY 2001-2003 VEHICLES PER DCC'S PE04-028 INFORMATION RESPONSES.)THIS CONDITION WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES AS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO A SMALLER TRANSAXLE DESIGN.THIS CONDITION ALSO DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLES WITH TURBO ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING HOSE ROUTING THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND HOSE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED AND RELOCATED, OR REPLACED, AS NECESSARY, AND TO CONFIRM THE TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END.

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.