NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
258 reports57,977 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE. SHE NOTICED A WHITE, HAZY TAPE MARK ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IN JULY OF 2007, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE TO A SERVICE REPAIRMAN AND WAS INFORMED OF THE DEFECT AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER PERFORMED THE R…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S BUMPER IS DEFECTIVE. SHE NOTICED A WHITE, HAZY TAPE MARK ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IN JULY OF 2007, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE TO A SERVICE REPAIRMAN AND WAS INFORMED OF THE DEFECT AT THAT TIME. CHRYSLER PERFORMED THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEFECT IS STILL PRESENT. SHE WOULD LIKE THE BUMPER TO BE REPLACED FOR FREE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,977 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,977.
NHTSA ODI #10203349
80,000 miles · Sep 10, 2007
Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM WAS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRE. AS A RESULT, HE HAS PLACED AIR IN THE TIRE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM WAS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRE. AS A RESULT, HE HAS PLACED AIR IN THE TIRE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,655 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CONSUMER STATED NOW HAS A 2ND TIRE THAT HE HAS TO MAINTAIN AIR IN EVERY OTHER DAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS THE CENTER HUB COVER BECAUSE IT SNAPS IN PLACE AND LEAVES SPACE FOR SAIL AND OTHER MATERIALS TO ENTER. UPDATED 10/23/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202393
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2007
Steering
WHEN ADJUSTING THE STEERING COLUMN, OR TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, THE RADIO AND HORN ARE DISABLED. PULLING OR PUSHING THE STEERING COLUMN WILL ENABLE THE RADIO AND HORN. THE DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND AT ONE POINT THOUGHT IT WAS CORRECTED, HOWEVER, AFTER SECURING A LOOSE WIRE THAT CORRECTED THE HORN PROBLEM THE TECHNICI…
Read full complaint
WHEN ADJUSTING THE STEERING COLUMN, OR TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, THE RADIO AND HORN ARE DISABLED. PULLING OR PUSHING THE STEERING COLUMN WILL ENABLE THE RADIO AND HORN. THE DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND AT ONE POINT THOUGHT IT WAS CORRECTED, HOWEVER, AFTER SECURING A LOOSE WIRE THAT CORRECTED THE HORN PROBLEM THE TECHNICIAN WANTED THE CAR TO REMAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP OVERNIGHT SO AS TO CONFIRM THE CORRECTION IN THE MORNING WITH A COLD START. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE CORRECTION FAILED, AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS CORRECTION IS AT THE COST OF THE OWNER. I WAS ADVISED THAT ON THE DAY THAT MY CAR WAS SERVICE ANOTHER PT OWNER BROUGHT HER CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE INDENTICAL PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200725
75,000 miles · Aug 21, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES AND CAUSE HER TO JUMP START HER BATTERY OFTEN. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS THE SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE F…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES AND CAUSE HER TO JUMP START HER BATTERY OFTEN. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS THE SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET GONE TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, SHE CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE POWERTRAIN AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
NHTSA ODI #10200393
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2007
Exterior Lighting
I OWN A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE COVERS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME TOTALLY YELLOW AND HAZY OR FOGGY MAKING THEM VERY, VERY DULL AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO THE COST OF THESE COVERS, I FEE…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE COVERS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME TOTALLY YELLOW AND HAZY OR FOGGY MAKING THEM VERY, VERY DULL AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO THE COST OF THESE COVERS, I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF SAME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10198147
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2007
Wheels
THE VEHICLE HAS OEM CHROME ALLOY WHEELS. DUE TO CORROSION THE TIRES WILL NOT PROPERLY SEAL AND THE TIRES CONSTANTLY LEAK AIR PRESSURE. DUE TO CORROSION THE NUTS AND LUGS DO NOT SCREW ON/OFF WITH NORMAL TORQUE. DUE TO CORROSION THE CENTER CAPS WILL NOT STAY SECURELY ON THE WHEEL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10195662
20,000 miles · Jul 7, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WE OWN A 2003 PT CRUISER. IT HAS MANIFESTED THREE SEPARATE PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND FROM OTHERS ON THE INTERNET: FIRST, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO CLICK THE GAS CAP. WE DID THAT, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SECOND, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH FAILED SUCH SO THA…
Read full complaint
WE OWN A 2003 PT CRUISER. IT HAS MANIFESTED THREE SEPARATE PROBLEMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND FROM OTHERS ON THE INTERNET: FIRST, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO CLICK THE GAS CAP. WE DID THAT, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SECOND, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH FAILED SUCH SO THAT THE LIGHTS TURNED ON WITHOUT THE SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM ONLY AFTER THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED, STRANDING MY WIFE AT WORK. I "FIXED" THIS PROBLEM BY PULLING THE FUSE ON THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS IN WHICH THIS FAULTY SWITCH HAS ACTUALLY STARTED FIRES. THIRD, WE HAVE THE INFAMOUS INTERMITTENT STARTING"PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY. I CHECKED ALTERNATOR FUNCTION AND INTEGRITY OF ALL CABLE CONNECTIONS TO THE STARTER. THEN I READ OTHERS' COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND THERE IS NO AVAILABLE SOLUTION. THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT, AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS DEAD IN THE DRIVEWAY. OUR VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT, AND WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD EXPECT MANY MORE MILES FROM IT. WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FRUITLESS DIAGNOSTICS DONE ON IT. WE STILL OWE $1,800 TO CHRYSLER FINANCIAL FOR THE CAR. IT PAINS US TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS A LUMP IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE, ASSUMING THE MANUFACTURER HAS FOUND A SOLUTION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, BUT WE COULD NOT GET IT TO REPEAT FOR THE DEALER. IS THERE A "SECRET WARRANTY" FOR THIS ISSUE? WE CANNOT FIND A FULL-TEXT TSB TO FIND OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10195556
42,000 miles · Jul 5, 2007
SteeringFire
AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR SHE NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST IN THE STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DIRECT THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND UPON EXITING ,NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. SHE ASKED OTHERS TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLA…
Read full complaint
AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR SHE NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST IN THE STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DIRECT THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND UPON EXITING ,NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. SHE ASKED OTHERS TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. UPON REVIEW AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE TRAIL OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE ROAD BED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-500 FEET BEFORE SHE CAME TO A STOP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10195403
10,000 miles · Jun 28, 2007
Exterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE SCRATCHED AND DISCOLORED, WHICH DIMINISHED THE VISIBILITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ODI #10194882
18,000 miles · Jun 25, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
ON THE STREET ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE KEY OFF. RAISED THE HOOD, HAD FIRE BENEATH THE BATTERY AREA. DEALER STATED THAT A MISROUTED CABLE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND STARTER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE FIRE WHICH RUINED THE CABLING, BATTERY AND STARTER. CHRYSLER'S EXTEND…
Read full complaint
ON THE STREET ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE KEY OFF. RAISED THE HOOD, HAD FIRE BENEATH THE BATTERY AREA. DEALER STATED THAT A MISROUTED CABLE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND STARTER SHORTED OUT, CAUSING THE FIRE WHICH RUINED THE CABLING, BATTERY AND STARTER. CHRYSLER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE BECAUSE THE BATTERY CABLE WAS NOT COVERED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10194142
NHTSA investigations
2PE04028 · 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.
Illustration