DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler division is recalling more than 438,000 PT Cruisers because power steering fluid can leak from the vehicles, causing potential engine compartment fires, federal safety regulators said on Friday.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 438,391 PT Cruisers from the 2001-2004 model years were affected by the recall, which is a blow to Chrysler's recent claims about improved quality.
NHTSA said the safety defect stemmed from contact on some of the vehicles between a high pressure power steering hose and the automatic transaxle differential cover.
Chrysler spokeswoman Curtrise Garner said there had been nine reports of underhood fires apparently caused by the problem.
"The likelihood of fires is very low," she said, adding that no injuries or deaths had been reported.