NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
217 reports44,000 miles · Oct 19, 2009
Suspension
ON 04/26/07 MY PT CRUISER WAS INTO DEALERSHIP (NOT SAME AS WHERE I BOUGHT CAR). TECH SAID EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FRONT BEARINGS & MAY NEED HUBS REPLACED. I BOUGHT CAR 07/28/06 FROM DAYTONA CHRYSLER IN AUTO MALL. I PAID TO HAVE BEARINGS REPLACED, LATER IN 2007, @ DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. & OTHER ONE REPLACED IN 2008 OR 2009. …
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ON 04/26/07 MY PT CRUISER WAS INTO DEALERSHIP (NOT SAME AS WHERE I BOUGHT CAR). TECH SAID EXCESSIVE PLAY IN FRONT BEARINGS & MAY NEED HUBS REPLACED. I BOUGHT CAR 07/28/06 FROM DAYTONA CHRYSLER IN AUTO MALL. I PAID TO HAVE BEARINGS REPLACED, LATER IN 2007, @ DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. & OTHER ONE REPLACED IN 2008 OR 2009. THE ONE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE IS MAKING NOISE AGAIN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288910
41,000 miles · Oct 17, 2009
Electrical System
ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER BEING RESET. CHECKED BY MECHANIC, COMPUTER SAYS PROBLEM IS IN "CRUISE CONTROL", & HAS BEEN RESET 3 TIMES. & IS ON AGAIN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288786
100,000 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
IN MY 2004 PT CRUISER-FIRST WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON LIGHT IN RAIN, THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. GOT IT FIXED FOR $600, THEN FOG LAMPS WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE, NOW THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP MY FOG LIGHTS FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE E…
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IN MY 2004 PT CRUISER-FIRST WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON LIGHT IN RAIN, THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. GOT IT FIXED FOR $600, THEN FOG LAMPS WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE, NOW THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP MY FOG LIGHTS FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY IS TO REMOVE THE FUSE EACH DAY. I HAVE HEARD OF BOTH PROBLEMS OCCURRING IN PTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287429
82,151 miles · Sep 26, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED AND THE FOG LIGHTS ON THE CAR REMAIN ON EVEN WITH THE SWITCH OFF AND THE KEY OUT. THIS DRAINS THE BATTERY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THERE ARE OVER 4000 PARTS ON BACK-ORDER SO MANY OTHER PT CRUISERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10285334
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2009
Suspension
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER - THIS IS THE 3RD REPAIR TO CONTROL ARMS IN 5 YEARS. I LEARNED OF THE LATEST ISSUE THROUGH A STATE CAR INSPECTION. THE CONTROL ARMS COLLAPSED AND NOW THE MECHANISM IS USING THE CAR FRAME FOR SUPPORT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284733
55,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Exterior Lighting
LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWITCH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276727
62,400 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE - FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON - HEADLAMPS FLICKER - DEALERSHIP REPORTS THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 3000 OF THESE ON BACKORDER - PART #05073049AB. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10274885
65,269 miles · May 24, 2009
Suspension
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RT FRT WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES, STARTING @ APPROX 35K MILES & NOW ONLY 65K MILES. WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3 MO & 10K SINCE LAST TIME REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269835
75,000 miles · May 13, 2009
Exterior LightingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HE INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WAS MELTING AND SMOKING. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP A FIRE FROM OCCURRING. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE U…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HE INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WAS MELTING AND SMOKING. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP A FIRE FROM OCCURRING. THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE THE SWITCH FAILED; THEREFORE, HE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THERE WERE NO CURRENT REPLACEMENT PARTS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE PART THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL CORRECT THE FAILURE IS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,600.
NHTSA ODI #10268600
77,444 miles · May 11, 2009
Electrical System
FOG LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, EVEN WHEN CAR IS OFF. SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEAD BATTERY. 395 INSTANCES OF THIS ON ONE WEB SITE. 77,000 MILES ON A 2004 PT CRUISER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10268365
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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