1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Defect. FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.

Risk. IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.

Defect. QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.

Risk. SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy. QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Risk. EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING

I JUST SPENT 12.95 ON GETTING A CAR HISTORY REPORT BECAUSE MY TITLE SAYS THE CAR IS A RECONSTRUCTED,TOTALED TITLE,BUT RECEIVING YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND TITLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT ISN'T A RECONSTRUCTED CAR????I'M CONFUSED ...WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY FOR..THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,IT'S THERE DECEASED MOM'S CAR..I'M WRITING YOU AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SITE,EITHER I GET THE RIGHT REPORT SINCE I'M HOLDING THE TITLE IN MY HAND THAT SAYS OPPOSITE OF YOUR FINDINGS,OR MY MONEY BACK? I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS RECONSTRUCTED TOTALED TITLE YOUR SITE DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GET AHOLD OF YOUR SCAM ,WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN TOOK FOR THERE MONEY AND GIVING NO INFORMATION... *TR

BRAKES FAILED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT HARD WHILE HWY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING QUICKLY. IF I HADN'T PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE QUICKLY, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *LN

I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI AND THE SEATBELTS "LOCK" IN THE RETRACTED STAGE AT VARIOUS TIMES. BOTH BELTS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED NEW SEAT BELTS BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BOTH BELTS WENT BAD AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, AND THAT THE RELEASE AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THE SEBRING. *TR

THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN IT RAINS. I TRAVELED ONE AND A HALF HOURS IN A STORM. THE WATER ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WHERE I HAD CLOTHES IN A SMALL PILE..THEY WERE LITERALLY FLOATING FROM SO MUCH WATER THAT WAS POURING IN. AT ANY TIME THAT I HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT THE WATER WOULD THEN COME TO THE FRONT IN A HUGE WAVE OF WATER. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? *TR

WELL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BACK WINDOW WAS FULLY OUT, ALSO WHEN IM DRIVING IT SEEMS AS THO IM GOING SLOWER THAN WHAT MY SPEEDOMITER SAYS. THE ALARM DOESNT WORK AT ALL. MY BREAKS BONT FULLY BREAK ON TIME SO I HAVE TO STOP EARLYER THAN USUAL.ALSO ONE DAY I WAS IN THE CAR AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK SLOWLY ALSO THE STERING WHEEL LOCKED.ALSO WHEN I PUT GAS IN IT , IT SAYS ITS HALF EMPTY FAST WHEN I ONLY DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER,BUT WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE THE MEETER GOES UP.

RECALL #717, POWER MIRROR SWITCH, ALLEGED REPAIRED 03-20-97 ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER VIP SUMMARY REPORT. RETURN TO DEALER 12-01-09 DUE TO ALL 4 POSITIONS NOT WORKING. INVOICE STATES "CHECK RECALL #717," "NO LONGER COVERED," "NEEDS MIRROR SWITCH." GUESS I'M SUPPOSE TO BUY THE RECALLED MIRROR SWITCH. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APR 05 FROM FRIENDS. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED. WHILE RUNNING, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND RECALL C45 ALLEGED TO BE COMPLETED 10-25-05. DUE TO MY CHILDREN NOW USE THE CAR, A RETURN WAS MADE TO A DEALER 12-01-09 FOR RECALL. INVOICE STATES "REINSPECT RECALL #C45." WHILE WAITING, SERVICE ADVISOR APPEARED TO DISCUSS RECALL AND STATE THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTERLOCK CABLE. INVOICE STATED "DID RECALL C45 REPLACE SHIFTER ROD," "NEED TO REPLACE INTERLOCK CABLE, $227.00." SO IT APPEARS AFTER DOING ANOTHER SHIFTER ROD, MAYBE THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE AS IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT # 10126915. THOUGH I SAID THIS WAS A RECALL AND A SAFETY ISSUE, HE REPEATED I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE. ABOUT TO LEAVE, A LONG SPRING WAS FOUND ON DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SHOWN SAME AND SAID A NEW ONE WAS PUT IN, HOPEFULLY WITH A NEW SHIFTER ROD, THOUGH MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG FIX FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

THE ODOMETER AND RPM GAUGE WORK INTERMITTENTLY LIKE IN COMPLAINT 10061946. THOUGH THE FUSES LOOK GOOD, THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM FLASH DO NOT WORK NOW SINCE THE ABOVE HAS BEEN OCCURRED. *TR

RECALL #750 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ALLEGED REPAIRED 02-10-98. THIS IS A NEW (10-08-09) RECALL. DUE TO MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, IT WAS ASKED IF THE NUMBERS OF THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS NUMBERS COULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF ORIGINAL CHRYSLER OR AFTERMARKET QUALITY PARTS WERE USED. THOUGH THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, LOSS OF STEERING, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED I'D NEED TO CHECK THE ORIGINAL REPAIR ORDER (02-10-98). THE ORIGINAL OWNER IS DECEASED. SO I GUESS I SHOULD CRAWL UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK FOR WHEREVER THESE PARTS ARE, LET ALONE THE NUMBERS, OR PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THEM, OR JUST HOPE CHRYSLER HAD AND USED THEIR OWN PARTS. *TR

VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNMODIFIED! WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, I HEARD A POP (LIKE A BALLOON POPPING) AND SMOKE AND FLAME BURST FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED FIRE BEGAN IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL LINE AND SPREAD INTO THE DASHBOARD. POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING ARC WHICH COMPROMISED THE RUBBER FUEL HOSE. *TR

WISHING TO INSTALL AN INFANT CAR SEAT IN BACK SEAT, DISCOVERED THAT NO LOCKS ARE PRESENT ON THE BACK SEAT SEAT BELTS ALLOWING ANY PASSENGERS TO BE THROWN FROM VEHICLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN A CONVERTIBLE. *TR

VEHICLE STALLS OR NEARLY STALLS DURING OPERATION IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MANNER. VEHICLE WILL RESTART. THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT: EGR VALVE, AIS MOTOR, PCM, DISTRIBUTOR. *TR

CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. FIRE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL ARCING FROM SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOTOR ON DRIVER DOOR. *NM

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH TIE ROD ENDS FRACTURED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT TIRES WENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE SEALED PIVOT JOINTS WERE NOT LUBRICATED AND RESULTED IN THESE FAILURES. *JB

ACCELERATION PROBLEM. GOING 35-40 IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, THOUGHT WE WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT, ACCELERATION PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CAR SPED UP. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED AND CAR PUT INTO NEUTRAL. STOPPED BEFORE REACHING TWO CARS AHEAD WAITING TO TURN. *JB

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON MY 96 SEBRING HAS LOCKED UP AND CAN NO LONGER BE PULLED OUT OF THE SEAT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT A RECALL, BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE "AT LEAST TWO HOURS LABOR, NOT COUNTING PARTS AND WOULD BE OVER $200 TO FIX). TO ME, THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. I NORMALLY DRIVE ALONE, SO THE BELT GOT MINIMAL USE BEFORE BECOMING DEFECTIVE. I SENT A DETAILED LETTER TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER FROM THEIR WEB SITE AND GOT A VERY BRIEF REPLY OF "I'M SORRY." THERE WAS NO OFFER OF HELP OR SUGGESTIONS TO SPEAK OF. AT ANY RATE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO COST ME A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET THIS FIXED SO THAT PASSENGERS IN MY CAR CAN RIDE IN SAFETY ONCE AGAIN. *JB

I PRESENTLY OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER SERBRING CONVERTIBLE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1996. THE BATTERY FOR THIS VEHICLE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS THE BATTERY YOU MUST REMOVE THE FRONT TIRE AND THEN THE SHROUD THAT COVERS THE WHEEL WELL. MY BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON THE DAY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED; THE SECOND TIME WAS IN 1999 AND MOST RECENTLY TODAY; NOVEMBER 22, 2005. DURING THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE BATTERY ON 11/22 OUR MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BATTERY CASING THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY IN PLACE WAS TOTALLY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THIS CORROSION (ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC) IS FROM BATTERY ACID AND OTHER ELEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS ALSO DAMAGED/CORRODED DUE TO THE BATTERY ACID AND THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED AS WELL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATION JUST PRIOR TO WRITING TO YOU AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE; DESPITE THE FACT THAT I TRULY BELIEVED THAT THIS SITUATION WAS CAUSED BY EXTREMELY POOR ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE OF 1) I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE DRIVERS MAY BE TOTALLY UNAWARE OF AND 2) IF IN FACT THEY ARE OR COULD HAVE IN THE FUTURE A COR

DT: THE CONTACT COULD TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF A SAFETY DEFECT. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE RECALL HE GOT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. UPDATED 11/16/05. *JB

ON JULY 11, 2005 I DROVE FROM MY HOME IN BOLIVIA, NC TO DUNN, NC (APPROX. 125 MI) TO PICK UP MY GRANDSON & A FRIEND. WHILE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CRACKERBARRELL RESTAURANT AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT 421 & I95, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND LEANED OUT THE WINDOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY DAUGHTER. SUDDENLY BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS EXPLODED FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE AND FUMES. ALL THREE OF US IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE AUTOMOBILE. I SUFFERED A SEVERE BRUSED AND CUT RIGHT ARM AND BRUSING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY NECK & SHOULDER AND A TWISTED RIGHT KNEE. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN DUNN BY THE PARAMEDICS & RELEASED. THE CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED. HAD THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING SOUTH ON #421, A 2 LANE HWY USED MOSTLY BY 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER LARGE TRUCKS. NO DOUBT I WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS REPORT. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR IF THE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED IN MY FACE WHILE TRAVELLING AT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAG ON THE DIRVERS SIDE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE DUNN POLICE DEPARTMENT (CASE # OCA 2005 01833). THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT UNDISTURBED UNTIL WEDNESDAY THE 13TH, WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO MARTIN'S AUTO BODY SHOP ON BEACH ROAD IN SOUTHPORT, NC. IT REMAINS THERE UNDISTURBED. ON JULY 15TH A MR JAMES WILLIAMS, SENT BY CHRYSLER, INS