Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

7 reports

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150,100 miles · Mar 10, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherFire

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THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHERE THE RADIO CUP HOLDERS AND THE SHIFTER. CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO THE DAMAGE. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. THE RADIO KEPT TURN ON AND OFF. I HEARD CRACKING WHEN I WENT INTO WORK. WHEN I CAME OUT I SAY THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF DAMAGE. I DID GET THE CAR STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME, BUT IT'S NOT DRIVABLE SINCE THE CAR DIED AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT INTO PARK IT WAS LIKE PARK WAS NOT AN OPTION. AMD THE CAR KEPT MOVING SO I PUT THE E BREAK ON.

NHTSA ODI #11185656

113 miles · Mar 1, 2019

Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I DON'T TRULY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPEN TO IT N IF IT'S BEEN FIXED BUT I DO KNOW THAT PRIOR IT WOULD HAVE UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED CONTROL N STEERING PROBLEMS N GPS N VIDEO N AUTO RECORDING N RADIO FREQUENCIES.

NHTSA ODI #11183323

28,584 miles · Jul 13, 2015

Unknown Or Other

I WAS PREVIOUSLY HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. I WAS TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY AND I LOST MY 2ND GEAR. I CURRENTLY CAN USE ALL OF THE GEARS IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXCEPT 2ND.

NHTSA ODI #10733525

55,000 miles · Jun 27, 2008

Unknown Or Other

FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS UNDER 60000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10232513

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2005

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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I HAVE TAKEN MY PT CRUISER INTO DEALER 10-12 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT. THERE HAVE BEEN PARTS LOOSE THAT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED, SUCH AS BELTS, HOSES, CONNECTIONS AND INTERIOR PARTS THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF THE CAR AND DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO MANUFACTURER AND APPLIED FOR LEMON LAW, BUT CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT LISTEN AND TOOK DEALER SIDE. THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE NOISES, BUT I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THE SHOP SUPERVISOR WHO HAS BEEN CHECKING OUT MY CAR FOR THE NOISES HAS A SEVERE HEARING LOSS AND A CLAIM AGAINST INSURANCE COMPANY FOR HEARING PROBLEMS. THERE ARE HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISES, SQUEALS AND LOUD SCREECHING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR LOSES POWER AND SEEMS TO HESITATE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TRAIN WHISTLE IN THE DISTANCE. I HAVE HEARD POPPING SOUNDS IN THE FRONT END AND SQUEALING AND SCREECHING SOUNDS FROM THE BRAKES AND UNDER HOOD IS CONSTANT. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE THAT IS HEARD SOMETIMES IN STEERING AND TURNING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE THE POWER STEERING UNIT TO SEE IF IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND ORDERED THE PART. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SERVICE, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AGAIN AND DID NOT DO ANYTHING. WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES THE NOISE IS SO LOUD IT CAN BE HEARD FOR A LONG DISTANCE. IT SOUNDS LIKE CARS BEING CRUSHED. THE NOISE IS ALSO PRESENT IN TURNING CORNERS AND DRIVING, BUT WORSE IN STEPPING ON BRAKES. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES A BRAKE PROBLEM BUT SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS RADIO/CD PLAYER DID NOT WORK WHEN NEW, SENSOR LIGHT REPLACED, RATTLES UNDER DASH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ETC, BUT THE NOISES AND IN-ABLILITY TO REPAIR HAVE ME WORRIED ABOUT SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THEY HEAR THE NOISE, BUT THEN TELL ME THE MECHANIC CANNOT DUPLICATE AND DO NOTHING TO REPAIR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2003. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138432

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2004

Unknown Or Other

CONSUMER REQUEST ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION REGARDING DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALLS. *MR *NM

NHTSA ODI #10083886

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2003

Unknown Or Other

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY UNREADABLE IN SUNLIGHT AND/OR "RAINY" WEATHER. PH

NHTSA ODI #10006768

Official recalls

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.

03V076000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly

Mar 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, A WELDED PIN INTERNAL TO THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) ASSEMBLY CAN UNSEAT AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH DISC.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CLUTCH MAY NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES WITH THE UPDATED DESIGN PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2003. 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

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

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

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.