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2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Pt Cruiser years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chrysler Pt Cruiser are substantially higher than the model-year median of 202.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

351 reports with mileage · 160 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 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports34 fire reports43 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

44 reports
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3,200 miles · Aug 29, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON JULY 10, 2003, MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DONATING BLOOD. SHE PASSED OUT AND THE 2002 PT CRUISER THAT SHE WAS DRIVING HIT A SMALL PINE TREE WITH A GLANCING BLOW TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE POWER POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE AND BRING THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES…

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ON JULY 10, 2003, MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DONATING BLOOD. SHE PASSED OUT AND THE 2002 PT CRUISER THAT SHE WAS DRIVING HIT A SMALL PINE TREE WITH A GLANCING BLOW TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER, AND THEN HIT A POWER POLE HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE POWER POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE AND BRING THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES DOWN ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, SHE WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30 TO 35 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT , HER HEAD SNAPPED FORWARD AND HIT SOMETHING (I ASSUME THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WHICH CAUSED A BONE-DEEP GASH IN BER FOREHEAD REQUIRING 10 (TEN) STITCHES TO CLOSE.I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR BEFORE REPAIRS WERE BEGUN. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "....THE IMPACT, (WHICH DID NOT INVOLVE THE FRAME) DID NOT CREATE THE LONGITUDINAL (FRONT TO BACK) DECELERATION NECESSARY TO DEPLOY AIR BAGS.".IN FACT, THE FRAME WAS BENT. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP MANAGER, THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL WAS MOVED BETWEEN 7 AND 10 MM.*AK MY CONTENTION IS THAT AN IMPACT SUFFICIENTLY HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK A POWER POLE SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPOLY. I SAID THAT IN A LETTER BACK TO CHRYSLER AND HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THEM. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE PT CRUISER WAS $9,147.92

NHTSA ODI #10036852

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ON A MAJOR STREET AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026754

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2003
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026188

9,080 miles · Jun 22, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

ALL AIR BAGS FAILED TO INFLATE IN A SIDE AND FRONT IMPACT CRASH OF 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023556

16,500 miles · Jun 3, 2003
Air BagsCrash

SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN SEVERE SIDE CRASH. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10020973

11,000 miles · Mar 10, 2003
Air BagsSuspensionCrash

THE VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLED TO THE RIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE MODULE FELL OUT ALSO.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10011189

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION 1/8/03. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM NOW RECOVERING FROM A FRACTURED STERNUM INJURY. I HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE AS TO WHY THE BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY...PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED IF THEY WORKED.

NHTSA ODI #10005319

6,500 miles · Jan 26, 2003
Air Bags

ON THE 28TH OF NOV 2002 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE REARENDED A PICKUP TRUCK AND IT WAS AROUND 45MPH. WHEN SHE STRUCK THE VEHICLE HER AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. NOW SHE HIT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON AND IF I'M RIGHT ANYTHING ABOVE 25 OR MORE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY. LUCKLY MY WIFE WASN'T INJURED BUT SHE COULD HAVE B…

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ON THE 28TH OF NOV 2002 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE REARENDED A PICKUP TRUCK AND IT WAS AROUND 45MPH. WHEN SHE STRUCK THE VEHICLE HER AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. NOW SHE HIT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON AND IF I'M RIGHT ANYTHING ABOVE 25 OR MORE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY. LUCKLY MY WIFE WASN'T INJURED BUT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED. I CALLED THE COMPANY AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CALLED THEN IMMEDIATELY BUT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE DEFECT AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND CHRYSLER SAID THE SHOULD 'VE BEEN NOTIFIED SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP RIGHT AWAY AND THEY STARTED TO REPAIR IT WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT WORK. THERE WAS $5,400 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BASICALLY IT WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF IS WHAT HAS ME STUMPED. IT'S A 2002 PT CRUISER

NHTSA ODI #10003433

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Air BagsVisibility

A WHITE POWDER SUBSTANCE IS LEAKING FROM AIR BAG. DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG AND DASHBOARD. THE SUBSTANCE STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS A REACTION FROM PAINT ON THE PLASTIC. THE CONSUMER GETS ILL FROM RIDING IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER EXPERIENCES NAUSEA/HEADACHES, AND SORE THROAT WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. T…

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A WHITE POWDER SUBSTANCE IS LEAKING FROM AIR BAG. DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG AND DASHBOARD. THE SUBSTANCE STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS A REACTION FROM PAINT ON THE PLASTIC. THE CONSUMER GETS ILL FROM RIDING IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER EXPERIENCES NAUSEA/HEADACHES, AND SORE THROAT WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHAT THE POWDER WAS-REPLACE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDOWS SLIP DOWN IN THE TRACK BY THEMSELVES AND MAKES A SQUEAKY/CREAKING NOISES WHEN USED-MAY STILL EXIST PER INVOICE, AND REINSTALL 2 RUBBER BUMPERS IN GLOVE BOX-HAD TO ORDER A NEW AIR BAG MODULE-SECOND TIME. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8017669

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK *TT CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8010311

Official recalls

3

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.

02V215000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Aug 8, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY SEAL OVER THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 2002. 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.

01V288000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Sep 10, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLUSTER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF ITS GAUGES, ILLUMINATION, AND WARNING LAMPS, COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE CLUSTER COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-FLASH THE CLUSTER SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 8, 2001. 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.