NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
97 reportsClear category filter1,842 miles · Nov 16, 2009
Electrical System
HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 02 PT CRUISER NOT STARTING FOR 7 YEARS AND WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED CHYRSLER AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING TO FIX AND PAY FOR PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WAS AND NOTICE CHRYSLER WAS PUTTING CHEAP PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE UPGRADED THE…
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HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 02 PT CRUISER NOT STARTING FOR 7 YEARS AND WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED CHYRSLER AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING TO FIX AND PAY FOR PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WAS AND NOTICE CHRYSLER WAS PUTTING CHEAP PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE UPGRADED THE CABLES CONNECTING TO AND FROM THE BATTERY AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE. THE CABLES WERE UNDER VOLTED AND WEREN'T ABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND I GOT STRANDED SOMETIMES. CHRYSLER CALLED DEALER AND HAD THIS WORK DONE AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR OR THE OTHER CONNECTION I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. PLEASE LET YOUR SERVICE MANAGER KNOW THAT IT IS THE LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY CABLES TO THESE AREAS. HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING, HESITATION STARTING OR WOULDN'T START AT ALL HAPPEN AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES FOR 2 DAYS JUST AFTER BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292370
4,000 miles · Sep 19, 2009
Electrical System
CAR WON'T START AT TIMES. HAD TO JUMP IT THEN IT STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINING THE BATTERY IF CAR SITS FOR A DAY OR TWO. CHANGED BATTERY 3 TIMES, STILL HAVING PROBLEM. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW, DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR NOT RELIABLE. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I'VE HAD TO CHARGE THE BATT…
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CAR WON'T START AT TIMES. HAD TO JUMP IT THEN IT STARTED. SOMETHING DRAINING THE BATTERY IF CAR SITS FOR A DAY OR TWO. CHANGED BATTERY 3 TIMES, STILL HAVING PROBLEM. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW, DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR NOT RELIABLE. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I'VE HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN AFTER A FEW DAYS WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284582
91,000 miles · Jul 15, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
FOUND 2002 PT CRUISER WITH DEAD BATTERY ON OCCASION, NO CONSISTENCY. REPLACED BATTERY (7.75 YEARS OLD, 90K MILES) AFTER 3RD INSTANCE OVER 2 MONTHS, ISSUE RESOLVED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. CAR PARKED IN HOT PARKING LOT, FOG LIGHTS WERE DIM WHEN APPROACHING CAR. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, HAD IT JUMPED. UPON RETURNING HOME, …
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FOUND 2002 PT CRUISER WITH DEAD BATTERY ON OCCASION, NO CONSISTENCY. REPLACED BATTERY (7.75 YEARS OLD, 90K MILES) AFTER 3RD INSTANCE OVER 2 MONTHS, ISSUE RESOLVED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. CAR PARKED IN HOT PARKING LOT, FOG LIGHTS WERE DIM WHEN APPROACHING CAR. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START, HAD IT JUMPED. UPON RETURNING HOME, WENT TO TURN OFF CAR, FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. FIDDLING WITH LIGHT SWITCH WOULD MAKE THEM GO OFF TEMPORARILY, THEN RIGHT BACK ON. FOUND TURNING LEFT BLINKER IN ON POSITION KEPT FOGS OFF. RESEARCHING ISSUE, FOUND THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2 WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM CHRYSLER ON REPLACEMENT PART, AS ALL ONLINE SOURCES SAY IT IS BACK ORDERED 30-60 DAYS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276880
98,000 miles · Jun 3, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure
I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I HAVE SENT CHRYSLER MANY LETTERS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK. MIND YOU I KEEP MY CAR GARAGED A…
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I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER A FEW YEARS AGO NOW. I HAVE SENT CHRYSLER MANY LETTERS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK. MIND YOU I KEEP MY CAR GARAGED AND IT IS WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY BY A SHOP THAT I HAVE USED FOR YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WERE GONE. SO I CONTACTED MY NEXT CLOSEST DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THAT MY CPU WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY LASTED MORE THAN A DAY. THEN MY DASH COMPLETELY CRUMBLED. IT CRACKED FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT IN THE CENTER AND ON BOTH SIDES. I WROTE A LETTER AND EMAIL WITH NO ANSWER. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY PHONE AND THE LADY TOLD ME TO F%*K OFF AND HUNG UP ON ME. SO I GAVE UP. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO IS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE SCANNED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS MY CPU AGAIN! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SO I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER BECAUSE THIS REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $1400.00 DOLLARS. NO RESPONSE. BUT THE SCARIEST WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 13 MONTH OLD NIECE IN THE CAR AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I ALMOST HAD GOT IN A WRECK TRYING TO GET US TO SAFETY. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I FIGURED WHATEVER IT WAS DONE FOR NOW. WE WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A NOT SO DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT SO I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE CAR. WE HEADED OFF ON OUR WAY AND MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING MY FAIRLY NEW BATTERY WAS DEAD. MY FLOOD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND HAD BEEN ON ALL NIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10272819
34,000 miles · Mar 15, 2009
Electrical System
FAILURE OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH: INITIALLY THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN APPROXIMATELY 11/2008. INITIALLY THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/PARKED. THIS REQUIRED THAT I REMOV…
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FAILURE OF MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH: INITIALLY THE FOG LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN APPROXIMATELY 11/2008. INITIALLY THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW THE FOG LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF/PARKED. THIS REQUIRED THAT I REMOVE THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FOG LIGHTS SO THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGE BOARDS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH PT CRUISERS. NOT ONLY IS IT ANNOYING, BUT IT IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE (ELECTRICAL) HAZARD. I FEEL I RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261851
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2009
Air BagsElectrical System
HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING...I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING...AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A RADIO AND SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAUSES MY RADIO DISPLAY TO "POP" IN AND OUT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT I HAVE NO HORN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE …
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HORN AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING...I REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING...AND IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A RADIO AND SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAUSES MY RADIO DISPLAY TO "POP" IN AND OUT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT I HAVE NO HORN. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 03. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260219
45,000 miles · Feb 25, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH, LIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WERE SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THE HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING. ALL LIGHTS FAILED, INTERIOR, HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259878
45,000 miles · Nov 6, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED, THE FOG LIGHTS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE WIRING PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,663 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED, THE FOG LIGHTS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE WIRING PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,663 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 11/24/08 *CN WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE USED, THE FOG LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. EVENTUALLY, THE FOG LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10247888
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2008
Electrical System
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER RECALL NOTICE FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NJ THE CONSUMER SENT IN A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER. RECALL # 01V288000 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10247030
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2008
Electrical SystemStructure
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN CENTER FROM FRONT WINDOW TO INSIDE EDGE, RUNNING ACROSS VENT, WHICH HAS FALLING INTO DASH IN PIECES; ALSO FREQUENTLY "SHORTS OUT" AND RADIO, INSIDE LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, ALL GO OUT MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244748
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.
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