NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
217 reports40,318 miles · Sep 21, 2007
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. HE INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. HE INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,318.
NHTSA ODI #10203642
70,000 miles · Sep 17, 2007
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. DURING A CRASH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TORE. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED, PURCHASE DATE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. DURING A CRASH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TORE. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED, PURCHASE DATE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10203201
30,000 miles · Sep 11, 2007
Power Train
AFTER MY 30,000 MILE MAJOR MAINTENANCE, I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. IT WAS UNDER THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE WARRANTY SO I PAID THE $100 AND THEY "FIXED" IT. THE LEAK CONTINUED AFTER 3 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. …
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AFTER MY 30,000 MILE MAJOR MAINTENANCE, I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. IT WAS UNDER THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE WARRANTY SO I PAID THE $100 AND THEY "FIXED" IT. THE LEAK CONTINUED AFTER 3 OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALER SHOP TO BE FIXED AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND THE LEAK. THEY NOW THINK IT'S COMING FROM THE "TOP". SINCE I DON'T MONITOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL, MY CONCERN IS THAT I WILL HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE THE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. ALSO, THE CAR IS KEPT IN MY GARAGE DURING EXTENDED TIMES WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN AND THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE PUDDLE WHEN I RETURN. I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL IS FLAMMABLE SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN THERE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE BUT SEEMS TO LACK GUIDANCE AND HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202558
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
STALLING AT STOP, RUNNING ROUGH AT LOW SPEEDS AND IDLE, MISSING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200089
19,000 miles · Aug 3, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD ROUGH IDLE AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT-OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,400 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
NHTSA ODI #10198441
48,000 miles · Jul 13, 2007
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEBBING/THREADING THAT HOLDS THE CONNECTOR INTO THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE FEELS THAT IF A CRASH OCCURRED, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO HOLD OR SUPPORT THE PERSON IN THE SEAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEBBING/THREADING THAT HOLDS THE CONNECTOR INTO THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. HE FEELS THAT IF A CRASH OCCURRED, THE SEAT BELT WOULD FAIL TO HOLD OR SUPPORT THE PERSON IN THE SEAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND PARTS ASSOCIATE AGREED THAT THE SEAT WAS UNSAFE. THE COST FOR PARTS IS $321.68 AND THE COST OF LABOR IS $324.75. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10196300
300 miles · Jul 2, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES CONSTANTLY HAVE GRINDING AND NOISE PROBLEMS, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT OR GOES TO THE FLOOR EASILY. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF A 2004 PT CRUISER WITH TURBO, BUT APPEARS TO BE A 2003 CHASSI AND BREAKS HENCE THE DRUM BREAKS ON THE REAR. DRUM BREAKS ON A TURBO MODEL HUMMMM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10195184
18,400 miles · Jun 20, 2007
SuspensionTires
LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON THE 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON FRONT WENT BAD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SO BAD I DID NOT DRIVE IT FURTHER THAN A BLOCK FROM WORK , THE CLOSEST PLACE. THEY CHARGED ME $313.00 TO FIX THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND OUTT HE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY ,BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND…
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LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON THE 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON FRONT WENT BAD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SO BAD I DID NOT DRIVE IT FURTHER THAN A BLOCK FROM WORK , THE CLOSEST PLACE. THEY CHARGED ME $313.00 TO FIX THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND OUTT HE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY ,BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS ALSO GOING BAD AND REPLACED IT AND THE DAMAGED HUB. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME THE $313.00 BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HUB WAS NOT REPLACED, AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. A CAR WITH LESS THAN 19,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE BAD WHEEL BEARINGS ALREADY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SO BAD THAT THE WHEEL COULD HAVE SEIZED OR FALLEN OFF AND CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS ON THE INTERSTATE. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SOME KIND OF DEFECT, AND THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WORN UNEVENLY DUE TO THE DAMAGED WHEEL BEARINGS. CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPLACE FRONT TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10193867
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2007
Exterior Lighting
FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. THEY TURNED ON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AFTER CAR WAS PARKED ALL NIGHT AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ONCE THE BATTERYWAS CHARGED AND RETURNED TO CAR FOG LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THEM OFF WAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10192952
53,000 miles · May 29, 2007
Suspension
THE WHEEL BEARING ARE WORN OUT ON A NEW CAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISERS. THE FRAME IS THE SAME AS A DODGE NEON, BUT THE PT CRUISER BODY IS 600 POUNDS HEAVIER CAUSING ADDED STRESS ON THE WHEELS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10191973
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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