NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
217 reports27,000 miles · May 29, 2007
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT STRAP (REAR) LOCKED WHEN THE REAR SEAT WAS LAID DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE SEAT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HAD TO CUT T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT STRAP (REAR) LOCKED WHEN THE REAR SEAT WAS LAID DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE SEAT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HAD TO CUT THE STRAP TO ALLOW PASSENGER'S TO RIDE IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WITHIN THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED CANT AFFORD $500 TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191931
12,000 miles · May 22, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST BUILD UP ON THE DRUMS, HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST BUILD UP ON THE DRUMS, HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
NHTSA ODI #10191500
52,437 miles · May 13, 2007
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionCrash
STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2006 WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IT MADE A GRINDING, SQUEALING NOISE. IT WAS VERY LOUD. THOUGHT IT NEEDED BRAKES, AND HAD IT CHECKED . THEY WERE FINE. THEN, IT FELT LIKE THE TIRE WAS BAD ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER IN MID MARCH 2007 TO HAVE THE TIRE CHECKED AND IT WAS A LOOSE AXLE INS…
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STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2006 WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IT MADE A GRINDING, SQUEALING NOISE. IT WAS VERY LOUD. THOUGHT IT NEEDED BRAKES, AND HAD IT CHECKED . THEY WERE FINE. THEN, IT FELT LIKE THE TIRE WAS BAD ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER IN MID MARCH 2007 TO HAVE THE TIRE CHECKED AND IT WAS A LOOSE AXLE INSTEAD. THAT STOPPED THE SQUEALING FOR THE TIME BEING. JUST RECENTLY WE THOUGHT THE ROTORS NEEDED TURNED BECAUSE THE VIBRATIONS AND NOISES HAD STARTED AGAIN. ON 5-06-07 MY SON WAS KILLED WHEN HE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SUPPOSEDLY OVERCORRECTED AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HALF OF THE FRONT PASSENGER ROTOR BROKE OFF WITH A BUBBLE DEFECT IN THE METAL. THERE APPEARED TO BE AN OLD CRACK ACROSS THE ROTOR ALONG WITH THE BRAKE THAT SEVERED IT. NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT THERE' WAS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT ENDS AND IF IT SAVED A LIFE IT WAS WORTH CHECKING INTO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190613
33,000 miles · May 12, 2007
Suspension
I HAVE OWNED A 2004 PT CRUISER FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BOUGHT IT WITH 28000 MILES, ON IT, AND AT ABOUT 33000 MILES HEARD A BANG. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT THE SOUND CONTINUED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, BUT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY A FEW DAYS. SINCE THAT TIME WE…
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I HAVE OWNED A 2004 PT CRUISER FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I BOUGHT IT WITH 28000 MILES, ON IT, AND AT ABOUT 33000 MILES HEARD A BANG. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT THE SOUND CONTINUED. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, BUT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY A FEW DAYS. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE CHANGED BRAKES, ROTORS, ETC. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BEARINGS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE ODD SINCE THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN MUCH. I RESEARCHED THE NET, AND FOUND A FORUM WITH MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, ONE PERSON EVEN EXPERIENCED A FATALITY. AS FOR ME, I HAVE LOST CONTROL GOING AROUND A BEND, AND HAVE SINCE CHANGED MY DRIVING BEHAVIOR. PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING LINK, AND NOTE ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TIL09OD8D72ERULQA . THERE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE SINCE THE BRAKES TENDED TO OUTLIVE THE BEARINGS. IF MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IT BECAME TOO COSTLY WHAT REMEDIES WILL CHRYSLER PROVIDE? *AK
NHTSA ODI #10190574
42,000 miles · May 1, 2007
Seats
THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING UNDERNEATH IT TO PREVENT ANYTHING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR FROM ROLLING UNDERNEATH IT AND UNDER THE DRIVER'S FEET. WHEN MY DAUGHTER DROPS HER TOYS OR SIPPY CUPS, IN A HARD STOP, THEY HAVE ROLLED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND UNDER MY BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189359
12,070 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Electrical System
MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE ROUGH IDLE AND SURGES. THIS FIRST STARTED WHEN A/C OR HEAT WERE ON. AT THIS TIME THE CAR DOES THIS EVEN WHEN A/C OR HEAT ARE NOT ON. CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN ACCELERATING EITHER FROM A PARKED POSITION, ACCELERATING TO A FREEWAY SPEED AND WHEN IN IDLE POSITION. ON FEBRUARY…
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MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE ROUGH IDLE AND SURGES. THIS FIRST STARTED WHEN A/C OR HEAT WERE ON. AT THIS TIME THE CAR DOES THIS EVEN WHEN A/C OR HEAT ARE NOT ON. CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN ACCELERATING EITHER FROM A PARKED POSITION, ACCELERATING TO A FREEWAY SPEED AND WHEN IN IDLE POSITION. ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2005, HEAD GASKET, CYLINDER HEAD AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED PER MY COMPLAINT OF PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD 12,070 MILES ON IT. JUNE 17TH, 2005, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AGAIN AND ALSO REPLACED SPARK PLUG CABLES BECAUSE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLES WERE NOT REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 18TH AND THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN WHICH I MADE FURTHER COMPLAINTS ON NOVEMBER 15TH 2006. TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD MONITOR SENSORS WERE WITHIN RANGE, TBS UPDATES CHECKED AND NONE WERE AVAILABLE. SPARK PLUGS AND CABLES WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. JULY 11TH 2006, TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED COMPLAINT THAT ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN RUNNING A/C. FLASHED PROGRAMMED CONTROLLER AND CHECKED OVER ENGINE SYSTEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189140
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF A RECALL BE OPENED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE STALLS WHILE SHE IS DRIVING AND HAS A ROUGH IDLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189025
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2007
Electrical System
2004 PT CRUISER CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE GAUGES**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS PROBLEM MAYBE RELATED TO RECALL # 01V288000 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189027
21,000 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Unknown Or Other
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING NEW CAR PURCHASE SCAM (BOGUS WARRANTY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY) THAT IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON A CHRYSLER WEBSITE DISCUSSING HUNDREDS OF CORPORATE SAFETY, CONTRACT AND WARRANTY ISSUES. YESTERDAY A WOMAN FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A NEW CAR…
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING NEW CAR PURCHASE SCAM (BOGUS WARRANTY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY) THAT IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON A CHRYSLER WEBSITE DISCUSSING HUNDREDS OF CORPORATE SAFETY, CONTRACT AND WARRANTY ISSUES. YESTERDAY A WOMAN FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A NEW CAR FROM THEM AND IF IT IS TWO YEARS OLD (BUT BRAND NEW NEVER SOLD TO AN ACTUAL CUSTOMER) THAT THE WARRANTY BEGINS THE DAY THAT IT IS BUILT VS. WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY SOLD. SO WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW CAR FROM THEM APRIL 2005 AND THE CAR WAS BUILT IN DEC 2003 THEY TRICKED ME AND CHANGED THE PAPERWORK TO SAY THAT IT WAS A USED CAR, BUT NEVER OWNED BY ANYONE OTHER THEN A CHRYSLER DEALER. THINKING THAT YOU HAVE A NEW CAR WITH A 3 YEAR AND 36,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN YOU DRIVE OFF THE LOT YOU ARE IN FACT SCREWED OUT OF 1 & A HALF YEARS OF A CAR WARRANTY WITHY NEW STICKERS STILL ON THE WINDOW. SEE COMMENTS BELOW. I COULD NOT GET IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE EXCEPT THIS WOMAN THAT HAD NO CLUE ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND ENDED UP FAXING A COMPLAINT TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN STUGGART, GERMANY VS. DETROIT, MI. .
NHTSA ODI #10184402
37,616 miles · Jan 26, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
MY 2004 PT CRUISER AFTER I WAS DRIVING FOR APROX 15 MIN., AND THEN PARKED, STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT THEN QUICKLY CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED FROM THE DASH FORWARD. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED 11 DAYS EARLIER AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SMOKE OR SMELL WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10180774
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.
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