RecallRepo

2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 439,207 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 04V268000 2004-06-03 438,391 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.

POWER TRAIN 03V076000 2003-03-10 816 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, A WELDED PIN INTERNAL TO THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) ASSEMBLY CAN UNSEAT AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH DISC.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE CLUTCH MAY NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES WITH THE UPDATED DESIGN PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT…

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
34
1crashes3fires2injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
20
1crashes2injuries
STEERING
19
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
17
1crashes1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
1crashes
SUSPENSION:FRONT
13
1crashes
AIR BAGS
12
8crashes1fires13injuries
SUSPENSION
11
ENGINE
10
3fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
9
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints354

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The front passenger seat heating system experienced a catastrophic electrical malfunction. While the vehicle was started and parked in our driveway, the front passenger seat suddenly developed an extreme hot spot and became engulfed in flames even though the heated seat switch was in the off…”

SEATS · reported 2026-06-26

“Front seat belt doesn't engage after many attempts.”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2024-03-01

“The clutch will not disengage every time and never fully disengages. I noticed my car had a recall for this problem in the past, so before doing the work, I called a dealer for chrysler and was informed that the recall had already been performed. So I took it upon myself at my own expense to have…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2023-12-14

“The clutch will not disengage every time and never fully disengages. I noticed my car had a recall for this problem in the past, so before doing the work, I called a dealer for chrysler and was informed that the recall had already been performed. So I took it upon myself at my own expense to have…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2023-12-14

“The contact owns a 2003 chrysler equipped with douglas, tire line: dug xtra-trac ii, tire size: 205/55r/16 91t and dot number: n60fn11r. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the vehicle started to perform slowly when the front passenger side tire…”

TIRES · reported 2023-07-24

“When the fog lights are engaged, smoke and burning smell appears to be coming inside the steering wheel on the left side.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2022-07-01

“Was warming my car up and drove 2 miles to my mom's house and turned it off. Came out about 30 minutes later and the car was full of smoke. Aired out the car and noticed a burnt hole in the middle of the passenger seat. The seat warmer had malfunction and started the seat on fire. Even with the…”

SEATS · reported 2022-01-05

“I replaced my vehicles battery 2 days ago(nov 12, 2019)(very old battery and with the cold in massachusetts it needed to be changed). Now with a properly functioning battery the voltage regulator in pcm (not alternator) is signaling alternator to raise charging voltage intermittently to as high as…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2019-11-12

Defect investigations

Investigation PE02082 Opened 2002-11-06 · closed 2003-04-23

SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS.…

Investigation PE04028 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…

Investigation PE04028 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…

Investigation PE04028 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…

Investigation PE04028 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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Chrysler Pt Cruiser as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.