IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPRING INSIDE THE HOOD LATCH FRACTURED CAUSING THE HOOD LATCH TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SPRING WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE HOOD LATCH.
2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
550–25K
4225–50K
3850–75K
2075–100K
21100–150K
13150K+
189 reports with mileage · 69 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 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
What owners actually said
258 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED A KNOCKING SOUND IS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO REVERSE, OR WHEN A STOP, AND THEN PLACED INTO PARK. THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER EACH START AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE SKIM MODEL IN TH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A KNOCKING SOUND IS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO REVERSE, OR WHEN A STOP, AND THEN PLACED INTO PARK. THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER EACH START AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE SKIM MODEL IN THE COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/05/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, WITH PRIOR BRAKING, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE MADE IMPACT WITH AN SUV. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND HAS BEEN DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAS …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, WITH PRIOR BRAKING, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE MADE IMPACT WITH AN SUV. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND HAS BEEN DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THE COVERING OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CLOUDY. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
MY 2003 PT CRUISER, STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAS HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS ONE YEAR AGO. NOW, WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I HAVE HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR OIL AND/OR BRAKE FLUID LEAKS THREE TIMES. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR A FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. I AM SI…
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MY 2003 PT CRUISER, STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAS HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS ONE YEAR AGO. NOW, WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I HAVE HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR OIL AND/OR BRAKE FLUID LEAKS THREE TIMES. I AM TAKING IT IN FOR A FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. I AM SIMPLY LOOKING FOR ANY AND ALL AVENUES WITH WHICH TO FORMALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF QUALITY IN THE VEHICLE AND THE LACK OF QUALITY SERVICE AT THE "FIVE STAR" DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE CAVALIER RESPONSE WAS EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING. IT IS QUITE CLEAR TO ME CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE ABOUT QUALITY OR ITS CUSTOMERS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT OCCURRED HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT INSPECTED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS REPLACED. THE POLICE WERE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT OCCURRED HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT INSPECTED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS REPLACED. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 05/04/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING, AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 15 TIMES AND MULTIPLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE STA…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING, AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 15 TIMES AND MULTIPLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE STALLING PROBLEM. UPDATED 6/12/2006 -*NM
I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER WITH ABOUT 30,800 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR WHEN STOPPED IN GEAR AND YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK SUDDENLY GOES INTO GEAR AND IT TAKES TWO FEET ON THE BREAK PAD TO HOLD IT. THIS ONLY LASTS ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THEN STOPS. ON 03-28-06 I WAS DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AND AS SHE WENT TO CROSS IN FRONT OF THIS CAR I…
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I HAVE A 2003 PT CRUISER WITH ABOUT 30,800 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR WHEN STOPPED IN GEAR AND YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK SUDDENLY GOES INTO GEAR AND IT TAKES TWO FEET ON THE BREAK PAD TO HOLD IT. THIS ONLY LASTS ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THEN STOPS. ON 03-28-06 I WAS DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AND AS SHE WENT TO CROSS IN FRONT OF THIS CAR IT JUMPED INTO GEAR AND I ALMOST HIT MY DAUGHTER. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DID A ROAD TEST AND DRB TEST AND SHOWED NO CODES. THEY SAID WAIT UNTIL IT GETS MORE REGULAR AND BRING IT BACK IN. I DID EMAIL CHRYSLER CORP. ON THIS AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. I DON'T FEEL THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THIS GET FIXED. IT SEAMS THEY COULD REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR ME TO RUN SOMEONE OVER. MY 3 YEAR/36,000 WILL BE UP SOMETIME THIS APRIL. I DON'T FEEL ITS FARE FOR ME TO WAIT TILL IT GETS WORSE AND THEN DIG ME $1500.00 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ESPECIAL AFTER IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO CHRYSLER ATTENTION DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. VERY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THIS. *NM
NOV 19, 2005 I PURCHASED A NEW LOT MODEL 2003 PT CRUISER WITH 14 MILES ON IT. AT 500 MILES I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OF FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS WHEN ANY OTHER ELECTRIC WAS TOUCHED IN VEHICLE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN NOTHING IS TOUCHED. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE TO SEE IF …
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NOV 19, 2005 I PURCHASED A NEW LOT MODEL 2003 PT CRUISER WITH 14 MILES ON IT. AT 500 MILES I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OF FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS WHEN ANY OTHER ELECTRIC WAS TOUCHED IN VEHICLE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN NOTHING IS TOUCHED. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE TO SEE IF THIS WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS BUT THEY STILL CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM.. I WAS ISSUED A TICKET BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE GIVEN A COPY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE TICKET SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS TO BE FIXED OR I AM SUPPOSED TO STOP DRIVING IT.. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AND THAT HASN'T HELPED EITHER. I NEED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED OR REPLACED AS I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO USE IT LEGALLY BY ORDER OF POLICE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE SAID THAT THIS IS JUST A PROBLEM THAT I WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH AS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH 2001,2002,2003,2004 PT CRUISERS. IF THIS IS SO, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A DISCLOSURE WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FLICKERS AND THERE IS WIND NOISE NOTICED NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Official recalls
204V268000 · 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
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.