IllustrationTHE FIXED REAR QUARTER GLASS ON MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER FELL OUT. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO PROPERTY OR A PERSON. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL, G01, FOR 2005 AND 2006 PT CRUISERS. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE ADHESIVE FAILED.*TR
2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pt Cruiser years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
3825–50K
3550–75K
2175–100K
23100–150K
8150K+
164 reports with mileage · 53 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 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
217 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROUTERS ON THE VEHICLE FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM. A MECHANIC STATED THAT MOST PT CRUISERS HAVE VERY POOR ROUTERS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROUTERS ON THE VEHICLE FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM. A MECHANIC STATED THAT MOST PT CRUISERS HAVE VERY POOR ROUTERS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
IN APRIL 2008, OUR 2004 PT CRUISER TURBO FOG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON FOR NO REASON. INTERNET FORUMS CLAIM THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE COST IS $70 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY TO FAIL. *TR
TWO GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES SUFFERED BELT SEPARATION WITHIN 10 DAYS. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOPS WHICH DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES. FOUR TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM TIRE RACK, AND THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ARE STILL ON THE AUTO. *TR
WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY AT 33,000 MILES AND IS STILL ONGOING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TIRE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAKAGE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAKING OFF OF THE CHROME ALLOY ON THE WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED TH…
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WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY AT 33,000 MILES AND IS STILL ONGOING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TIRE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAKAGE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAKING OFF OF THE CHROME ALLOY ON THE WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ONE WHEEL THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW AT 43,000 MILES WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE DOING THE SAME THING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE OTHER WHEELS AFTER TALKING WITH THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS A TIRE WILL HEAT UP WHEN IT SLOWLY LOSES AIR AND COULD FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. I HAVE LEARNED THIS BY EXPERIENCE AS A TRUCK DRIVER WHEN I HAD A SLOW LEAK IN A WHEEL ON THE STEERING AXLE AND IT EXPLODED ON MY TRUCK AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THE TINY LEAK IN THE CHROME WHEEL. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE NUMBER OR NAME OF WHO HE TALKED TO AS HE SAID IT WAS COMPANY POLICY NOT TO GIVE THESE OUT. HE ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE WHEEL WAS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM THE PARTS DEPT. THIS OF COURSE UPSET ME AND I RAISED MY VOICE TO HIM AND HE SAID THAT IF I KEPT YELLING AT HIM HE WOULD REFUSE TO HELP ME AT ALL. THIS WAS DONE ALL BY PHONE ON 8-11 08
VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40K MILES AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIMINISHED OR NO STEERING CONTROL. SAFETY OR DEFECT RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY CHRYSLER. *TR
IN JULY 2008, OUR 2004 PT CRUISER FOG LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON FOR NO REASON. INTERNET FORUMS CLAIM THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE COST IS $70 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. FAILURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY TO FAIL. *TR
GRINDING NOISE, WOBBLE IN STEERING-LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING GONE AT 43000 MILES-REPLACEMENT COST $300.00. *TR
LOUD GRINDING/GROWLING NOISE, THUMPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. GETS LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. REPLACED TIRES 6/08 THOUGHT IT WAS THAT. FOUND OUT ITS THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS. *TR
MY 2004 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA JUST OUT OF THE BLUE, STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE FRONT END NOISE AND STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I MADE IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD. IT HAD 36,274 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THE…
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MY 2004 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA JUST OUT OF THE BLUE, STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE FRONT END NOISE AND STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I MADE IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD. IT HAD 36,274 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SOME RESULTING IN CRASHES. IN MY OPINION SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS SO WIDE SPREAD THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL. THANKS, FOR YOUR TIME. JOHN PALMER *TR
Official recalls
104V268000 · 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.
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
1PE04028 · 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.