The 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 438,391 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 291 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING04V2680002004-06-03438,391 affected
Defect
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
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38
2crashes8fires
STEERING
18
2crashes1deaths
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
17
1fires
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
17
ENGINE
14
2fires
AIR BAGS
11
6crashes1fires7injuries1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
SUSPENSION
10
SUSPENSION:FRONT
8
1crashes1deaths
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
Total complaints291
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I purchased the 2004 chrysler pt cruiser on 1/10/2024. I learned that the chrysler dealership does not make keys for the vehicle when locked out, nor does it service the vehicle. They will "address" a recall notice and will do an oil change and will do an inspection only. Chrysler dealership told…”
“Power steering hose leaking.”
“So I had been having issues with the car overheating well I'm almost home and my daughter says she smells smoke so pull over and rush to get my babies out of the car because under the hood it had caught on fire”
“Ball joint are missing”
“Ball joint are missing”
“It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats…”
“It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats…”
“It started with the dashboard lights and the middle stick lights (p,d,r,n++) I can't see at night what speed I'm going or my levels or anything bc the lights quit working, I had the battery replaced I've had the battery changed twice, I've had the thermostat changed twice but it still over heats…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE04028 Opened 2004-03-15 · closed 2004-06-18
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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…
InvestigationPE04028 Opened 2004-03-15 · closed 2004-06-18
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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…
InvestigationPE04028 Opened 2004-03-15 · closed 2004-06-18
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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…
InvestigationPE04028 Opened 2004-03-15 · closed 2004-06-18
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Chrysler Pt Cruiser as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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