10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,439 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #11

Sep 152008

(reported on)

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • miles
2002 Chrysler PT CRUISER had a safety recall. Consumer states the dealership charged a fee for a safety recall. Power steering fluid was leaking and there was no power steering assist. The power steering hose was loose at the rack and pinion. According to the work order, the recalled hose did not apply to the problem.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #10

Feb 222007

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Chrysler PT CRUISER AT45 mph she smelled smoke. After driving two miles more there were flames and ashes coming from under the hood. The contact stated she pulled off the road, exited the vehicle, and removed her personal belongings. Atc approximately 15 seconds later the vehicle was completed engulfed in flames. The roads were clear. The contact stated there was a fire department report available. The fire marshall was unable to inspect the vehicle to determine to the cause of the fire. The vehicle was declared a total loss by the insurance company. She received a recall notice for the fuel pump module secondary seal on August 30 2004 and had it replaced at 8900 miles. Talso, he contact stated she received a recall for power steering pressure hose on August 11th 2005 at 14000 miles. The contact was unsure if the power steering pressure hose was replaced, adjusted or inspected. The vehicle had 20000 miles at the time of the fire.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #9

Apr 072006

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,754 miles
: the contact stated a leak was detected in the power steering hose. A NHTSA recall, 04V268000 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the power steering hose, however the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair without charge under the recall.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #8

Oct 252005

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 3,000 miles
The contact states there is a NHTSA campaign id number 04V268000 concerning the steering power assist hose piping and connections. The consumer is experiencing the same symptoms as indicated in the recall but the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. No repairs have been made at this time due to the expense.

- Portchester , NY, USA

problem #7

Oct 252005

(reported on)

PT Cruiser

  • miles
Consumer letter regarding recall on power steering hose. The consumer had difficulty getting her vehicle inspected, she was always getting the run around from the dealer. Recall #04V268000.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #6

Jun 072005

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,128 miles
The consumer took the vehicle to a service dealer for recall campaign 04V268000 repair work for the power steering hose on 6/7/05. She received another recall letter yesterday with the same information, and when she called the dealer she discovered that the recall work was not completed. The dealer picked the vehicle up at the owner's business for service because the dealer was located more the 47 miles from the vehicle owner. The owner's concern was that the recall work was not completed in the first place. The only thing the owner noticed was that there was a noise in the front of the vehicle before the recall notice was received. When the owner had the vehicle inspected by her mechanic, she was told that the bearings were out. This is what led the owner to take the vehicle to a service dealer for the recall work in the first place. This led to the chain of events listed above with the incomplete recall work.

- Lincoln Park, NJ, USA

problem #5

Mar 022005

PT Cruiser 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Recall campaign 04V268000 concerning power steering hose assembly. After the vehicle been at the dealer for days he told consumer to pick up the vehicle, and that the recall repairs were not done because it was not mentoned on the work order.

- Mishawaka, IN, USA

problem #4

Aug 122002

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • 14,889 miles
The vehicle power steering pressure hose failed prior to recall notification. The consumer requested reimbursement.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 062004

PT Cruiser

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,755 miles
Consumer received recall 02V268000 concerning power steering hose. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer. Mechanic took the key, went to the vehicle, came back and gave the consumer the keys. The hood was never lifted.

- Pascagoula, MS, USA

problem #2

Jul 312004

PT Cruiser

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,300 miles
While driving, the consumer smelled smoke. The power steering unit caught on fire. The consumer was going approximately 15 to 20 mph when the fire occurred. Provide further details.

- West Linn, OR, USA

problem #1

Jul 102004

PT Cruiser 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
While pulling into a parking space vehicle caught on fire under the hood. Local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was waiting on the manufacturer to send out an inspector to investigate the fire. The Chrysler inspector and insurance inspector both reported that the fire was caused by the power steering hose failure. The hose leaked onto the hot exhaust pipe which caused the fire. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was still covered under it's original warranty but the manufacturer refused to be financially responsible.

- Oakley, CA, USA