IllustrationFOG LIGHTS ON MY 2004 PT CRUISER STAY ON ALL THE TIME, DRAINING THE BATTERY. MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH DOES NOT TURN OFF THE FOG LIGHTS. PULLED THE FUSE TO DISABLE THE CIRCUIT AND ATTEMPTING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
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 →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
390–25K
3825–50K
3550–75K
2175–100K
23100–150K
8150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE STATED THAT IN JULY 2007 SHE PURCHASED FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORTED TIRES. THE TIRES BECAME DRY ROTTED AND WORE PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE TIRES WERE DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER YET WERE STILL BEING SOLD BY A SEPARATE UNKNOWN COMPANY. GOODYEAR ANALYZED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE STATED THAT IN JULY 2007 SHE PURCHASED FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORTED TIRES. THE TIRES BECAME DRY ROTTED AND WORE PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE TIRES WERE DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER YET WERE STILL BEING SOLD BY A SEPARATE UNKNOWN COMPANY. GOODYEAR ANALYZED THE TIRES AND DETERMINED THE TIRES EXHIBITED PREMATURE WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO DISCOUNT A NEW SET OF TIRES FOR THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THE TIRES MAY BE THE SAME AS THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,481 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.
CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL IN VEHICLES *GR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ADDING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLS AS A MANDATORY FEATURE WAS AN EVASIVE DECISION. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO PROTESTED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OF EVENT DATA RECORDERS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS W…
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CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STABILITY CONTROL IN VEHICLES *GR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ADDING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROLS AS A MANDATORY FEATURE WAS AN EVASIVE DECISION. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO PROTESTED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION OF EVENT DATA RECORDERS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/21/10*JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE CHRYSLER AND GM BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OWNER OF 2004 PT CRUISER IS NO LONGER ABLE TO SEEK COMPENSATION FM CHRYSLER/GM FOR A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HER PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK WAS DEFECT…
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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE CHRYSLER AND GM BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OWNER OF 2004 PT CRUISER IS NO LONGER ABLE TO SEEK COMPENSATION FM CHRYSLER/GM FOR A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HER PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK WAS DEFECTIVE AND COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER FILED SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. EXPECTING TO HAVE HER DAY IN COURT, CHRYSLER FILED CHAPTER 11 A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TRIAL DATE. *JB
SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. BATTERY WILL RUN DOWN. *TR
MY 2004 PT CRUISER NEEDS THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AGAIN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THE BEARINGS ARE SHOT AND YOU HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE ASSEMBLY RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL BEARING. I'VE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OWNERS AND THEY TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS THERE A CHANCE OF A RECALL?? *TR
I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER WHICH I BOUGHT IN NOV 2005. FIRST INCIDENT, REAR LEFT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT VERY RAPIDLY. LATEST "BIG" PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009, BROTHER NOTICED MY FOG LAMPS ON, NOT ONLY HAD I NOT TURNED THEM ON, I NEVER USED THEM BEFORE. THOUGHT IT WAS A RANDOM I…
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I HAVE A 2004 PT CRUISER WHICH I BOUGHT IN NOV 2005. FIRST INCIDENT, REAR LEFT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT VERY RAPIDLY. LATEST "BIG" PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009, BROTHER NOTICED MY FOG LAMPS ON, NOT ONLY HAD I NOT TURNED THEM ON, I NEVER USED THEM BEFORE. THOUGHT IT WAS A RANDOM INCIDENT BUT BATTERY KEPT DYING. FINALLY DETERMINED IN JULY 2008 BY MECHANIC THAT THE SWITCH ARM WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP ARE BACK ORDERED AND TO "JUST UNPLUG THE LIGHTS" TO FIX. MECHANIC REPLACED, THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. THEN PANEL KEPT CLAIMING DOOR AJAR. NO DOOR WAS OPEN!!! MECHANIC REPLACED DOOR LATCH. THOUGHT PROBLEM SOLVED. WENT OUT TO CAR ON 1/19/09, IT WAS GONE. CITY TOWED IT DUE TO COMPLAINT OF MY ALARM GOING OFF AND NOT SHUTTING OFF. COST ME $234 TO RECLAIM AND FIND ALARM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND BATTERY BEING DRAINED AGAIN!! INTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR SINCE JUNE 2009, (BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, SWITCH ARM, DOOR LATCH, TOWING) HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT COST OF ALARM AND OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL REPAIRS TO COME. UNTIL READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, HAD NO IDEA THE SMELL OF BURNING I HAVE SMELT ON OCCASION MAY ACTUALLY BE COMING FROM MY OWN CAR. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, DON'T EVER BUY A CHRYSLER. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LOST ALL THE OIL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER PUTTING 2 PINTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, I DROVE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT AFTER ROUGHLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. …
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LOST ALL THE OIL OUT OF MY ENGINE. THIS CAUSED MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. AFTER PUTTING 2 PINTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, I DROVE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT AGAIN MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT AFTER ROUGHLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING. I PUT 3 PINTS OF OIL IN A DAY LATER AND TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE ENGINE GASKET SEAL. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THE INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE GASKET REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED FOR VEHICLES OVER 120,000 MILES. LEAKING OIL IN THIS MANNER IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, AND I'M LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING HOME. I NOTICED ONLINE, THAT MANY OTHER PT OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE TYPES OF ENGINE FAILURES CONSISTENTLY. I CANNOT PAY THE 2800 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR, THE CAR WILL SIT UNTIL CHRYSLER LOSES THIS LAWSUIT. *TR
THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW WITH 236 MI. AT 36000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD UPON STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO AT A STOP IT LUNGES AND ACTS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO QUIT . IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OF A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? THIS IS CONSISTENTLY THE WA…
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THIS VEHICLE I PURCHASED NEW WITH 236 MI. AT 36000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD UPON STARTING OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO AT A STOP IT LUNGES AND ACTS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO QUIT . IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OF A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED? THIS IS CONSISTENTLY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE RUNS. *TR
04' PT CRUISER - BOUGHT NEW AND I AM NOW HAVING THE FRONT BEARING AND HUBS REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. BOUGHT NEW TIRES YESTERDAY TO THEN BE TOLD THAT THE BEARING S ARE BAD. RATHER TICKED OFF AS THIS IS CAUSING ME TO TAKE TIME FROM WORK AND TO ARRANGE A RIDE TO PICK UP THE CAR ONCE REPAIRED. …
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04' PT CRUISER - BOUGHT NEW AND I AM NOW HAVING THE FRONT BEARING AND HUBS REPLACED FOR THE 4TH TIME. LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. BOUGHT NEW TIRES YESTERDAY TO THEN BE TOLD THAT THE BEARING S ARE BAD. RATHER TICKED OFF AS THIS IS CAUSING ME TO TAKE TIME FROM WORK AND TO ARRANGE A RIDE TO PICK UP THE CAR ONCE REPAIRED. *TR
Official recalls
104V268000 · 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
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.