2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the power steering fluid hose was leaking. The contact stated that at that time, it was a small leak; however, the power steering fluid hose then developed a severe leak. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected. The contact was informed that a diagnostic test needed to be performed. The contact declined to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure however, the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA ID

11719373

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

Mileage

71,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking with and an abnormal odor emanating through the vents. Additionally, the steering wheel became firm. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering system needed to be repaired because the hose was disconnected. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage unknown.

NHTSA ID

11620679

Incident

Jun 30, 2018

I bought this car and seen online there was a safety recall for the power steering/hoses malfunctioning. This cars power steering is non-existent and WILL NOT HOLD any power steering fluid. I'd like to file for the recall. This makes my car dangerous to drive. It's my only transportation. Thanks! [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11422896

Incident

Jun 8, 2021

WHETHER IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL, TILT STEERING WHEEL CLAMPING MECHANISM HAS WORN THROUGH WIRES CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND ITS WARNING SYSTEM, CREATING INTERMITTENT (SHORT?) FAILURE OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, PRESENTING POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS OFF, HORN WILL NOT SOUND BUT VENTILATION FAN RUNS. WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON, HORN WILL SOUND, BUT IF ACTIVATED, VENTILATION FAN STOPS RUNNING. MUST CONSTANTLY ADJUST STEERING WHEEEL TILT TO MAKE FAN RUN OR HONK HORN - CREATING A DISTRACTED DRIVING HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11267038

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11033993

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURN TO EITHER SIDE. I HAD THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACE TWICE AND THE RACK AND PINION REPLACE AND THE CAR STILL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURN. DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE PART AND AN INDIVIDUAL MECHANIC HAS REPLACE THE SAME SWITCH. TO NO AVIL , I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10968508

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

99,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN GENERAL IS FAULTY. WE HAVE PAID TO FIX THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH & THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE & NOW THE PUMP ITSELF HAS GONE OUT. WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS WHOLE LINE OF VEHICLES RECALLED. WE WERE DRIVING WHEN ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED & I KNOW THAT OUR VEHICLE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10940440

Incident

Jan 6, 2017

Mileage

152,530 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE FAILED AND CAUSED POWER STEERING FLUID TO SEEP INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10821540

Incident

Jan 14, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10808571

Incident

Jun 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10705355

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER T CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING THE BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE STEERING UNDER CONTROL THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10477406

Incident

Sep 22, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, WHINING SOUND AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HOSE TO THE STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04VV268000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10477399

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10258383

Incident

Jul 17, 2008

Mileage

49,661 mi

IN 2007 I WAS DRIVING WHEN I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY TIRES. I WAS HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS FOUND. OVER THE YEAR I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY TIRES 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WOULD WEAR AND I WOULD SLIDE AND THE TIRES WOULD SKID IN SIMPLE WEATHER. IN MARCH OF 2008 I HAD TO REPAIR MORE TIRES AND MY BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT WITH WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. ALSO IN 2007 I STARTED HEARING A SQUEALING SOUND IN THE ENGINE, I HAD IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. BUT DECREASED ONCE THE MECHANIC PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID. SINCE THEN EVEN NOW I STILL HEAR THE SQUEAKING AND EVERY MONTH I HAVE TO PUT IN STEERING FLUID. I CALLED CHRYSLER REGARDING RECALLS RELATING TO THESE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS WERE IN EFFECT. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFO IN 2008 REGARDING THESE RECALLS THAT I NOW SEE ONLINE. ALSO MY AUTOMATIC STICK SHIFT STICKS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. I HAVE ALMOST HIT SOMETHING HEAD ON TWICE SINCE DECEMBER 2008 BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SHIFT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255791

Incident

Dec 18, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN HER STEERING COLUMN. SHE ALSO SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V268000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10252843

Incident

Dec 19, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, BUT THE FINAL STRAW IS WHEN, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK AND STARTING IT - THE CAR BACKFIRED AND BLEW THE PLUGS. COST TO REPLACE $2,900.00. THIS HAPPENING RIGHT AFTER I SPENT $1,400.00 TO REPLACE BUSHINGS AND TIE RODS. CHRYSLER CORPORATE ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO ONE OF THEIR DEALERS IN WHICH I DID. CHRYSLER CORPORATE NOR THE DEALER WILL DISCUSS THE FACTORY DEFECT STATING NO KNOW REASON FOR A VEHICLE TO BLOW TWO PLUGS WHEN IT ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224157

Incident

Feb 7, 2008

Mileage

81,013 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT WAS STIFF AND SHE HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS. THE CONTACT PUT POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING BECAME EASIER. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AGAIN AND SHE REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,490. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE PRESSURE STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THE BUSHINGS WERE WORN

NHTSA ID

10221770

Incident

Mar 2, 2008

Mileage

13,490 mi

I BEGAN HEARING A POPPING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AT APPROXIMATELY 25000 MILES. AT 27000 MILES, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD RACK & PINION UNIT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. AT 30000 MILES, THE NOISE RETURNED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO RE-DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170383

Incident

Apr 15, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi