Four problems related to power steering fluid have been reported for the 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser based on all problems reported for the 2005 Pt Cruiser.
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser convertible. While driving various speeds, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and caused the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering hose was faulty and caused the power steering fluid to leak out. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer (jeff wyler Chrysler, 1117 state rt. 32, batavia, OH) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl- the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser. The contact stated that the vehicle made a loud whining sound and that the steering began to get tough. The contact found that the power steering fluid was leaking and took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer stated the hose to the steering needed to be replaced, but even though there was a NHTSA recall number: 04vv268000 (steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections), the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 150,000. Rl.
Took 2005 pt convertible for oil change, mechanic informed me I was very low on power steering fluid, he refilled it. Gradually began noticing whining/groaning sound when turning, the tighter the turn the worse the sound. Sound increasingly became more frequent. Returned to mechanic (a different one) and he said I was out of steering fluid. I informed him that it had been filled about a month ago. Going from memory here. . . He checked for leak and found none, and refilled. Problem continued to increase until the power steering stopped completely and I could barely turn the car. Returned to previous mechanic to find that the hose had popped off. He reattached. A couple months later when turning left I heard an odd sound, can't really describe. Within a week the groaning was back, hose had popped off again, and fluid ran out in a matter of days. The mechanic again reattached and said something about the way the equipment is arranged under the hood, causes something to rub against the power steering hose, causing it to detach. This ordeal was repeated 3 times within about a year. I was finally able to pin down the type of movement that caused the hose to come off. . . Turning left while at an incline or decline. Through-out all this (I am not good with cars and am a girl) I ended up needing to replace the steering column. I wish I had thought to check into this sooner as I see this is not an isolated problem.