IllustrationUnknown went to get an inspection and I got a paper with information for how to search up if there was any recalls with my car and it has 5 recalls it said
2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
400–25K
2425–50K
4250–75K
2075–100K
24100–150K
9150K+
159 reports with mileage · 28 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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports12 fire reports12 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
9 reportsThe car (manual 5-speed) has issues going into reverse and hits hard shifting into other gears. I see where online it shows this issue happened quite a bit with the 2002 PT Cruiser. I don't drive my care every day and I keep it maintained very well. I have not had any accidents in it so I believe this may also be a recall iss…
Read full complaint
The car (manual 5-speed) has issues going into reverse and hits hard shifting into other gears. I see where online it shows this issue happened quite a bit with the 2002 PT Cruiser. I don't drive my care every day and I keep it maintained very well. I have not had any accidents in it so I believe this may also be a recall issue.
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE
WINDOWS ON CAR WILL NOT WORK AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED 8 MONTHS AGO 2ND. TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE HAD IT.
IN JULY 2014 NOTICED BACK WINDOW ON PASSENGER WAS LOOSE, WINDOW FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING 11 2014... HAD TIMES WHEN CAR WAS ACTING LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENG. LIGHT CAME ON BUT WOULD GO OUT AFTER IT QUIT. FINALLY MADE IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR TO HAVE IT SCANNED AND PART REPLACED AFTER 9 MOS. SETTING. RAN GO…
Read full complaint
IN JULY 2014 NOTICED BACK WINDOW ON PASSENGER WAS LOOSE, WINDOW FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING 11 2014... HAD TIMES WHEN CAR WAS ACTING LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENG. LIGHT CAME ON BUT WOULD GO OUT AFTER IT QUIT. FINALLY MADE IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR TO HAVE IT SCANNED AND PART REPLACED AFTER 9 MOS. SETTING. RAN GOOD FOR ONE WEEK THEN STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING. IN AUGUST OF 2015 I WAS APPROACHING MY HOME GOING DOWN A BIG HILL ON MY RD. WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH WITH A SEMI RIGHT BEHIND ME. THE CARS SPEED WAS 45 THENWENT DOWN TO 20 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS FAST ENOUGH FOR THE TIRES TO SQUEAL. I HAD MY 2 YR. OLD GRANDSON IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I KNEW I COULDN'T MAKE IT IN MY DRIVEWAY SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON MY 4WAYS AND PULLED IN MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET SO I DIDN'T GET RAN OVER BY THE SEMI TRUCK. ALSO WHEN I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IN JUNE OF 1915 THE STEERING IN THE CAR WAS REAL STIFF AND STILL IS ONLY WHEN TURNING BUT HAS POWER STEERING FLUID. BOUGHT MY OWN SCANNER AND IT SAYS I NOW NEED TO REPLACE A TRANS. CONTROL UNIT PART # P0700 ALONG WITH THE PART THAT WAS JUST REPLACED. I'M AT WITS END, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS . PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I REALLY NEED MY CAR AND FEEL RIGHT NOW IT IS A DEATH TRAP AND DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN.
DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT AT WILL AND ENGINE LIGHTS SHOW CODES EVEN AFTER REPLACING SENSORS NOW 02 SENSORS NOT WORKING .LOOK LIKE THIS HAD BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW AND CHRYSLER FAILS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP MYSELF AND OTHER PT DRIVERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR JUST TURNED ITSELF OFF. RESTARTED AGAIN BY TURNING THE IGNITION. HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND EVEN WILE RUNNING ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. HAVE TO MANAGE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAIT A BIT TO RESTART VIA THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE TIME A GENTLEMAN EVEN PUSHED THE CAR TO …
Read full complaint
WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR JUST TURNED ITSELF OFF. RESTARTED AGAIN BY TURNING THE IGNITION. HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND EVEN WILE RUNNING ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. HAVE TO MANAGE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAIT A BIT TO RESTART VIA THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONE TIME A GENTLEMAN EVEN PUSHED THE CAR TO HELP BE GET IT OFF OF THE ROADWAY. HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO REPAIR AUTO BY CHANGING OUT THE VARIOUS SENSORS INDICATED BY THE CODE SHOWN IN THE MILEAGE/SPEEDOMETER GAUGE. NUMEROUS TECHNICIANS HAVE TRIED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. WORKS FOR AWHILE, THEN REVERTS TO STALLING AGAIN AND AGAIN. *JS
MY 2005 PT CRUISER CHRYSLER AT 49,661 MILES WAS IN AN ACCIDENT RIGHT FRONT END THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED IT WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT TIRE WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROGRESSIVE THEY HAD IT LOOKED AT AND STATED THE FRONT BEARING AND HUB WAS GONE AND THAT THIS IS A …
Read full complaint
MY 2005 PT CRUISER CHRYSLER AT 49,661 MILES WAS IN AN ACCIDENT RIGHT FRONT END THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED IT WAS MAKING A NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT TIRE WHEN I RETURNED IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROGRESSIVE THEY HAD IT LOOKED AT AND STATED THE FRONT BEARING AND HUB WAS GONE AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I CHECKED SOME SITES ON LINE IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND NEITHER THE INSURANCE NOR E CHRYSLER FEELS THIS DEFECT IS ANY OF THERE FAULTS. *TR
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2006, AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO BRAKE WHETHER IT WAS A QUICK BRAKING OR NORMAL BRAKING ANYTHING ON THE FLOOR LIKE A CHEEZIT BOX OR WATER BOTTLE, OR ANY NYLON CLOTHING(GYM RUNNING PANT) WENT UNDER MY SEAT AND UNDER MY BRAKE PEDAL AND 2 OUT THE 3 TIMES I ALMOST WRECKED. I HAVE HAD THE LAST STRAW…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2006, AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO BRAKE WHETHER IT WAS A QUICK BRAKING OR NORMAL BRAKING ANYTHING ON THE FLOOR LIKE A CHEEZIT BOX OR WATER BOTTLE, OR ANY NYLON CLOTHING(GYM RUNNING PANT) WENT UNDER MY SEAT AND UNDER MY BRAKE PEDAL AND 2 OUT THE 3 TIMES I ALMOST WRECKED. I HAVE HAD THE LAST STRAW THIS WEEK WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT NORMAL BRAKING AND MY RAIN JACKET ALONG WITH MY WATER BOTTLE ROLLED UNDER MY SEAT AND I COULD STOP MY CAR FOR ALL OF THE STUFF UNDER MY PEDAL AGAIN. PT CRUISERS NEED A RECALL A DRAWER OR SOMETHING SHOULD BE PUT UNDER THE SEAT TO STOP ARTICLES IN THE BACK SEAT FROM GOING TO THE FRONT. *JB
Official recalls
307V149000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Apr 4, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY PULL THROUGH THEIR MOUNTS AND ALLOW THE GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE GLASS SEPARATES WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR INJURE A PEDESTRIAN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
04V481000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Oct 8, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), 2.4L HIGH OUTPUT TURBOCHARGED ENGINE, AND 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSAXLE, MAY EXHIBIT INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND THE TRANSAXLE HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND THE TRANSAXLE HOUSING OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO PERFORATION OF THE BRAKE TUBE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE IN THE LEFT FRONT/RIGHT REAR CIRCUIT OF VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REVISED BRAKE TUBES. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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
2EA07004 · Rear Quarter Panel Glass Separation
Opened Feb 16, 2007 · Closed Apr 5, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 PT CRUISER VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 5/17/05 THROUGH 9/1/05 TO CORRECT A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS THAT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.DCC WILL INSPECT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY.DCC WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS IN MAY 2007. VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE ABOVE BUILD DATES ARE NOT AFFECTED.A CHANGE MADE BY THE ASSEMBLY PLANT IN MAY 2005 THAT MODIFIED THE GLASS ATTACHMENT LED TO THE POTENTIAL FOR GLASS SEPARATION.IN SEPTEMBER 2005, SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE PROCESS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THIS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.SEE RECALL 07V149 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
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.