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2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 202.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

164 reports with mileage · 53 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 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports15 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

217 reports
85,000 miles · Nov 1, 2012
EnginePower Train

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. CAR SHUT OFF AT AROUND 60MPH. DRIFTED OFF ROAD AND RESTARTED AND WENT A MILE OR SO AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WE KEPT DOING THAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC IT RAN FINE ON THE WAY THERE, AROUND 15 MILES. HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER, IT READ BAD INJEC…

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ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. CAR SHUT OFF AT AROUND 60MPH. DRIFTED OFF ROAD AND RESTARTED AND WENT A MILE OR SO AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WE KEPT DOING THAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC IT RAN FINE ON THE WAY THERE, AROUND 15 MILES. HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER, IT READ BAD INJECTORS SO HE REPLACED THEM. THEN HE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING AGAIN HE PUT IT BACK ON HIS COMPUTER AND IT READ BAD COIL SO HE REPLACED THE COIL PACK,PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES. IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS . UNTIL NOW 10/30/2012. . TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC, HE REPLACED O2 SENSORS. RAN FOR 2WKS. SAME THING AGAIN! ONCE AGAIN TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC . HE PUT IT ON HIS COMPUTER ONCE AGAIN AND IT READ FINE. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO OUR CHRYSLER CENTER. ALTHOUGH WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER RUNNING CAR (WHEN IT IS RUNNING RIGHT) ,THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD SHUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT. PLEASE FINE ANSWER TO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482846

124,000 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER AND DIE. WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. SOMETIMES IT WILL START UP AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO START BACK UP, …

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WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER AND DIE. WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY DIE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. SOMETIMES IT WILL START UP AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO START BACK UP, WHILE PEOPLE ARE HONKING AND HAVING TO GO AROUND MY CAR. MOST OF THE TIME THE CAR WILL RUN ROUGH AFTER RE-START, BUT WILL RUN NORMALLY AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DIES. MANY OTHER PT OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY! FOUR MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. NO LUCK. HAVE REPLACED THE ECM AND JUST ABOUT EVERY SENSOR AND REPLACEABLE ENGINE PART. NO LUCK. THIS IS OCCURRING IN OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES, TOO. IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE HAS FOUND AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CHRYSLER SHOULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479917

41,365 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAD TO UNPLUG THE LIGHTS IN ORDER FOR THEM NOT TO STAY ON. NOW THEY ARE COMPLETELY OFF. WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN. I HAVE 46,000 MILES AND EVERYTHING DESCRIBED IN THESE REPORTS WENT WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475743

93,330 miles · Aug 19, 2012
Steering

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVIEWED THE FRONT TIRES WERE POINTING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR SHOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIRE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. CAR WAS TOWED, TIE ROD END REPLACED. ( HAVE PART IF NEEDED).…

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WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. INSPECTION OF THE CAR REVIEWED THE FRONT TIRES WERE POINTING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR SHOWED THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIRE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. CAR WAS TOWED, TIE ROD END REPLACED. ( HAVE PART IF NEEDED). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471454

5,000 miles · Aug 18, 2012
Engine

CONSUME TOO MUCH OIL SINCE GOT THE NEW CAR. LOST ABOUT 1 QT EVERY 3K. NOW AT 65K, LOST 1 QT ABOUT EVERY 1K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471380

90,000 miles · Aug 5, 2012
Engine

MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, SO WE HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FAN FUSES, AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING. MY COUSIN HAS THE SAME CAR ONLY A 2002 WHICH IT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD TO BLOW. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE HOWEVER I AM NOT SEEING VERY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. JUST DOING A SEARCH…

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MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, SO WE HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FAN FUSES, AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING. MY COUSIN HAS THE SAME CAR ONLY A 2002 WHICH IT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD TO BLOW. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE HOWEVER I AM NOT SEEING VERY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. JUST DOING A SEARCH ON LINE FOR PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THERE ARE TONS OF THEM. WHY WOULD THERE NOT BE A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE? I HAVE A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN THAT HAS NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS 90K ON IT AND THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPAIRED, LIKE DOUBLE WHAT THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FOR I HAVE ABOUT $10,000.00 WORTH OF REPAIR BILLS, THAT'S A LITTLE LIKE A LEMON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469267

68,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTURED AND WAS CAUSING STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468345

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2012
StructureWheels

WHEELS PEEL AND CORRODE. MAKES TIRES FLAT CONSTANTLY. TIRES WILL NOT KEEP AIR. MAKES TIRES WEAR OUT OFTEN AND THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467572

49,500 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Suspension

COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER CAR, BUT ONCE IT GOT CLOSE TO 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THANK GOD IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEN WHEEL BEARING, CONTROL ARM, MOTOR MOUNT, SWAY BAR BUSHING, RACK AND PINON, ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHEN CONTACTING CHRYSLER THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF R…

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COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER CAR, BUT ONCE IT GOT CLOSE TO 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THANK GOD IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEN WHEEL BEARING, CONTROL ARM, MOTOR MOUNT, SWAY BAR BUSHING, RACK AND PINON, ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHEN CONTACTING CHRYSLER THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF RECALLS FOR THE FRONT END SUPENSION BUT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER IT. THINGS THAT SHOULD OF NOT WORN OUT THIS SOON HAS WORN OUT, I JUST HAD TO DO THE BUSHING IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AFTER REPLACING THE WHOLE CONTROL NOT OVER 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE MAX OUT 2 FIRESTONE CREDIT CARDS TRYING TO KEEP MY CAR ON THE ROAD. LOVE THE DESIGN BUT HATE THAT I JUST CAN NOT DEPEND ON THIS CAR... PS I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT HAS LESS THAN 82,000 MILES ON IT TODAY 06/19/2012. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462288

113,000 miles · May 28, 2012
Exterior Lighting

THE FOG LIGHTS IN MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER REMAIN ON, EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE LEFT BLINKER ON FOR THE FOG LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. OTHER TIMES THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE FOG LIGHTS STAY ON AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459839

Official recalls

1

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.

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

1

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

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.