2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Steering Problems

Hello My name is [XXX]. I own a 2002 Chrysler Pt cruiser and for some reason the power steering went out while I was driving! I was able to make it home because I wasn’t far away! My power steering stopped out of no where and my fluid is full and my belt is attached I was also told my pump was in great condition! I’m really concerned because I had my 6 year old child in the car! I now can’t make appointments work or even take my child to school I’m in need for help! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Answers and explanations to all of the above questions: My power steering assembly is leaking pretty bad and is only getting worse. I have a bad shoulder that I had surgery on and if it goes completely out I am afraid i wont be able to turn the steering wheel & cause an accident. The rims on the vehicle are cracked/cracking & I believe one has a hole or 2 & another 1 is forming one. It's also scratching & ruining the rotors. Its not the pads they are fine but I need at least 1 new rotor & can't because the rims are defective causing it to happen again which can easily damage the calipers locking up the wheel causing a crash plus sometimes theres a loud crunching noise not grinding like the pads are bad cause they are not. I know the difference. The trac off & airbag lights are on then they go off then come back on again.The dashboard is cracked and it caused the vent to break where anything can get in it.The clear coat is peeling and yet the paint under it is in great shape.I also believe that the instrument cluster is causing the lights to come on the dashboard.The vehicle can be picked up when ever you have a spot open for it. I would like 48 hours notice due to work. This is a safety issue if the power steering goes while driving I cant steer it because I didn't know it was leaking it went out and I was stuck blocking traffic and couldn't turn it the passenger had to do it for me, If the rims get worse or hole bigger it can crack or break in half while I am driving. The defrost vent is open to particles that can get in there that shouldn't. The airbag light on could be a defect or the air bags defective. Nothing has been inspected on it since I just found out when looking up this make, year and model a price on power steering to find out there's a recall on it as well as other issues. There were no warnings and the only code that came up was the high fan relay switch. Since then the trac off light goes on and off as well as airbag light and now is currently on.

DROVE THE VEHICLE 12 MILES TO GET HOME. (THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) IMMEDIATELY TURNING OFF ENGINE AFTER MAKING IT HOME. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE (BIG LEAK) FROM HOSE AND SMOKE SMELL FROM UNDER HOOD. (ENGINE LOOKS CHARD)

VEHICLE RECALLED IN 2004 FOR POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAK POTENTIAL. RECALL WAS COMPLETED. POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE IS NOW LEAKING. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR A REPAIR.

..ON MY 2002 PT CRUISER THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER HAS ROTTED SO BAD THAT IT BROKE IN A FEW PLACES CAUSING THE LOWER A ARM TO MOVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL OUT OF YOUR HANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT,THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THEN 15 MPH,..AND THAT WAS WHILE HOLDING THE WHEEL TIGHTLY....IF THIS CROSS MEMBER WAS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THERE WOULD BE A VERY BAD CRASH,..I SUGGEST ANY ONE THAT HAS A PT CRUISE HAVE IT CHECKED FOR THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTING BEFORE A CRASH TAKES PLACE,,,I WAS ABLE TO BUY A NEW CROSS MEMBER AND THE CHEAPEST PRICE WAS $514 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING,..NOW COMES THE COSTS TO INSTALL IT...WHAT IS ODD THE CROSS MEMBER ROTTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY,...I HAVE SOME PICS OF IT WITH THE A ARM OFF THE CROSS MEMBER..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERABLE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V268000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000.

I HAD JUST PUT FUEL IN MY CAR AND WAS DRIVING ACROSS A PARKING LOT. I PROCEEDED TO PARK MY CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL AND A BURNING SMELL. MY LOWER SET OF LIGHTS ( FOG LIGHTS) HAD TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES, WHICH IS ODD SINCE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SMOKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAD TO REMOVE FUSE #8. SAME SET OF LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON BEFORE A FEW YEARS BACK DRAINING MY BATTERY SINCE I COULDN'T TURN THEM OFF WITH THEIR SWITCH. IN ADDITION, MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AT RANDOM WHILE I'M DRIVING AND MY CLOCK LIGHTS GO OUT FREQUENTLY. HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ON ME 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT AS A RESULT. *TR

THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE STATE'S HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY HOME. HE HEARD POP AND THEN SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE STARTED RATTLING, THE OWNER STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK. THE SHOP NOTIFIED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN, BOTH STEERING KNUCKLE BUSHINGS, BALL JOINTS, FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION PARTS WERE ALL BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR AS IT NOT JUST MINE AS I ASK THE SHOP AND THEY HAS SEVERAL VEHICLE OF THAT MAKE COME IN WITH SAME PROBLEM. WE AS TAX PAYERS BAILED THEM OUT, AND NOW IT TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL THEM THEY NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PT CRUISER ON THE ROAD TODAY, BUT I GUESS THEY GREEDY SON OF B***HES IN DETROIT TOOK THE MONEY AND LEFT THE CUSTOMER PAYING FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILIES. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DIE IN CAR IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE.

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, HAD TO PULL OVER. WHEN CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS OIL ON THE CAP. JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE.....BEFORE THIS INCIDENT MY POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL DEALING WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THE HOSE, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER PERSON HE PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND THERE IT WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE HOSE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER BUT WASN'T. *TR

10-18-2011 I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR LAST MONTH (09-26-2011) AND MY CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHING HAVE ALREADY WENT BAD. NOW 2 NIGHTS AGO (10-16-2011) MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE EVERYTHING CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH IS MESSED UP. I SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS FOR THAT HAPPENING TO THE 2002 PT CRUISERS AND NOW THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WILL NOT FIX IT (EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL WITHIN MY 30 DAY WARRANTY) I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM WOULD NOT GIVE ME A CARFAX ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, SOLD ME THE CAR WITH A RECALL ALREADY ON IT THAT WAS ISSUED WAY BACK IN 2004. (POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE) THAT I WAS TOLD COULD CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING AND CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE FOG LAMP LIGHT ILLUMINATED THERE WAS A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE ALSO SMELLED BURNING RUBBER; HOWEVER, AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SEVERAL PT CRUISERS EXHIBITED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEIR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT HER TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. THEY ALSO ADVISED HER NOT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR TOWED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

MAY OF 2009, CAR WOULD NOT START. NO CLICKS, NOTHING. THEN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, TURNED OVER. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SHOP. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND CHRYSLER TOLD THEM TO LOOK AT A JUNK YARD. COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. STARTING TO HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ALMOST 1 YEAR LATER. LOW MILES, ONE OWNER. SCARED TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE CAR WON'T START. *TR

LEAKING STEERING RACK AND SOLENOID PACK. POSSIBLE LEAK IN STEERING PUMP ALSO. SAFETY OF TIE ROD ENDS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, CONTROL ARMS NOTED IN INSPECTION OF FRONT END BOTH BY A CHRYSLER DEALER AND BY AN AUTO-REPAIR CHAIN. BOTH RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF PARTS (IN SHOP RIGHT NOW) TO ELIMINATE A SAFETY RISK. IN SPEAKING TO ANOTHER OWNER OF THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, I LEARNED THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE PLACED POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, BUT A NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CAP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DRIVEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,164 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 12/30/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. SHE NOTICED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR REASON FOR THE NOISE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (04V268000) FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THAT RECALL; HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, SHE SMELLED SMOKE, DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND SMOKE BEGAN TO "BELLOW" FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE HOSE, CALIPER, BRAKE PAD, ROTOR AND THE WHEEL COVER. SHE WAS CHARGED $406.60 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE SAME DEALER TOLD THAT THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING. THEY CALIPER WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. SHE ASKED THE DEALER WHY THEY HAD NOT REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME ACCORDING TO WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A NEW ISSUE. SHE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND WAS BILLED $239 TO REPLACE THE CALIPER SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RECENTLY, SHE SMELLED SMOKE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE CALIPER WAS WARPED BECAUSE OF INTENSE HEAT AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD SOOT IN IT AND THAT THE WARPED CALIPER WAS HOLDING THE WHEEL IN PLACE. SHE PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,181. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09

1) HEARD OCCASIONAL "CLICKING" NOISE IN STEERING. DID NOT EXPERIENCE STEERING PROBLEMS. 2) ON SATURDAY, MAY 26TH, THE TIE ROD BROKE WHILE TURNING A CORNER, STOPPING THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY. FORTUNATELY, THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED. 3) THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A NEARBY CAR MAINTENANCE CENTER. *TR

WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT ABOUT 35,598.00 MILES . THE BRAKES MAKE A GOD AWFUL NOISE I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEM THE BRAIN BOX WENT OUT THE SAME TIME AS THE TRANMISSION. THE DASHBOARD ON TOP HAS CRACKED FOR NO REASON THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT FOR NO REASON THEY SAY AND IT HAS STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THE TRUNK LID SHOCKS ARE GIVEN OUT AND THE CAR JUST TURNED TO 40,000.00 MILES I THINK THEY MAKE THEM TO BREAK AT A CERTAIN TINE AND NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESES PROBLEMS I THINK MY NEXT CAR MIGHT BE A TOYOTA AT LEAST THEY DON'T FALL APART SO EASY BECAUSE I BABY THIS CAR LIKE ITS THE ONLY ONE I WILL EVER OWN IF CHRYSLER WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING THEY WOULD TAKE THIS LEMON BACK AND GIVE ME A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE AND I WOULD DO THE CHRYSLER ADVERSEMENT ALL OVER IT FOR THEM AS LONG AS IT LOOKS GOOD . BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY FOR ANOTHER NEW AUTOMOBILE HAVE A FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF AND IM NOT ALLOWED TO WORK ANYMORE THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THIN TANKS FOR LISTENING. *TR

TL*- 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. *AK