1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Routine

Owners filed 77 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
78,000 milesMedian miles at failure

43 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 105,000120,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System10
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor5
001
Vehicle Speed Control4
202
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint4
001
Seat Belts4
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash4
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal2
000
Unknown or Other2
010
Suspension › Front2
100

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm10E059000
Filed Dec 27, 201022,689 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Corporation

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.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint09E056000
Filed Oct 9, 20095,787 vehiclesQualis Automotive Llc

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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift04V021000
Filed Jan 13, 20042,315,768 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Jul 12, 2012125,000 milesNC

SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT "PULL OUT". AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND FOR SHORT DURATION. PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE OFTEN UNTIL BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL FOR PAST 2-3 WEEKS. *TR

Suspension
Filed Oct 26, 2011115,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER PROPOSED THAT THE CONTACT PAY 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 13, 2011111,300 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT REMAINED STUCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEATBELT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,320 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,300.

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 27, 2011LA

I HAVE A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE, THAT THE SEATBELT ARE GENERALLY USELESS. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELTS LOCK AND WILL NOT RETRACK, THEREFORE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IN A CONVERTIBLE. I LIVE IN A STATE WHERE SEATBELTS ARE REQUIRES, BUT WHEN THEY ARE LOCKED I CAN NOT USE THEM. I HAVE NOT FOUND WHERE THE SEATBELTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON SEATBELTS SINCE THEY ARE A SAFETY DEVICE? I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT IS AN ONGOING SITUATION WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING YESTERDAY. *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Feb 5, 201115,000 milesIL

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY IN MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND A GRINDING SOUND. WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY BROKE IN HALF BY THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND WHEN THE TOW COMPANY CAME THEY INFORMED ME THIS WAS THE 4TH CHRYSLER CONVERTIBLE IN TWO MONTHS THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO TOW WITH THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BREAKING. I THEN DECIDED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS AND IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE 2 RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THEY INFORM ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN YOU LIST THE FOLLOWING RECALLS 04V021000, 09E056000 AND 10E059000 ON YOUR WEBSITE. I AM JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS, LIKE TWO OF THE OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHARED WITH ME. TWO OF THE OTHER VEHICLES HE TOWED, THE DRIVERS WERE INJURED WHEN THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND THEY CRASHED.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 3, 2010GA

MY 1997 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN DURING RUSH HOUR. AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AT A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTERSECTION, MY CAR DIED MIDWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WIRING IS THE CAUSE FOR MY FUEL PUMP TO CUT OFF AS A SAFETY MEASURE FOR THE CARS PROTECTION BUT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. AFTER SEEING THE DEALER AND LOOKING AT ONLINE FORUMS, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS COMMON FOR THE 2.7L ENGINE IN MY CAR AND MANY OTHER AUTOS MADE BY DAMLIER CHRYSLER. IF THE 18 WHEELER WOULD HAVE NOT CHANGED LANES I WOULD HAVE DIED. I AM WAITING TO REPLACE THE WIRING BECAUSE THIS IS SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF WORK. *TR

Suspension › FrontCrash
Filed Jul 13, 2010172,000 milesAL

WHILE DRIVING A1997 CHRYS. SEBRING CONVERTIBLE ACROSS A BRIDGE OVER A LAKE, THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. I ALMOST DIDN'T STOP BEFORE GOING IN THE WATER. CAR BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY AND A PATROLMAN STAYED WITH ME UNTIL WRECKER ARRIVED . IT DID MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT FENDER, PLASTIC BUMPER BRAKES AND WHEEL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 13, 201035,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER AND GEAR LIGHTING INDICATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CAUSED THE ODOMETER AND GEAR LIGHT INDICATOR TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ODOMETER WORKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 23, 2009130,000 milesKS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. COMPUTER WILL NO LONGER "GO TO SLEEP" AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. THE CAR MUST NOW BE JUMP STARTED WITH A PORTABLE BOOSER PACK THAT I CARRY IN THE CAR. DEALER CLAIMS THE COMPUTER MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,000 PLUS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Nov 25, 200891,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, A POLICE OFFICER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE JUST AS IT BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT BOTH A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 17, 200824,000 milesCT

PURCHASED 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. IN 1998 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE TACHOMETER, AND ODOMETER FADE IN AND OUT, OUT MOSTLY. CANT SEE MILEAGE, SO CANT SELL CAR. DEALER SAYS COST IS ABOUT $600 TO FIX. AND IS COMMON PROBLEM. IF ITS SO COMMON, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 6, 200856,877 milesMO

ELECTRONIC ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER DISPLAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT IT IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR MODEL. DIFFICULT TO TRACK SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SELL WITH OUT FIX WHICH WILL BE OVER $500 FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND COULD INVOLVE INDIVIDUAL GAUGES WHICH WILL COST AROUND $380. CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR THIS. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 2, 2008MA

SEBRING CONVERTIBLE INTERIOR FLOODS EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE CARPET BECOMES COMPLETELY SOAKED AND TAKES DAYS TO DRY OUT IN THE MEAN TIME CAUSING A CONCERN ABOUT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE SEATS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 21, 2008117,000 milesUT

PROBLEM WITH DASH CLUSTER SPEEDO AND TACH QUIT WORKING DEALER SAID THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME ON THIS CAR. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 19, 2008CA

OCCASIONALLY, THE SEATBELT ON ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING LOCKS UP. WHEN IT DOES, IT CANNOT BE EXTENDED/PULLED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHEN IT HAPPENS, BOTH SEATBELTS FREEZE, LEADING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. SOMETIMES, AFTER WAITING A HALF HOUR OR SO, THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. IN THE MEANTIME, UNLESS I HAVE TIME TO WAIT, I MUST DRIVE WITHOUT THE SAFETY OF MY SEATBELT, WHICH NOT ONLY PUTS MY LIFE AT RISK, BUT MAKES ME A LAWBREAKER AND POTENTIALLY LIABLE FOR A TICKET. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL CHRYLER DEALERS, NONE OF WHOM ADMITS TO HAVING HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND ALL OF WHOM WANT TO RUN EXPENSIVE TESTS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, AND WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AN HELP US PLEASE! *TR

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Aug 7, 2007116,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. HE NOTICED A CONSTANT LEAK ON THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOLD. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Jul 11, 2007135,000 milesWI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. ON JULY 9, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AXLE TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTROL ARM AND AXLE WERE REPLACED ON JULY 11, 2007 FOR $1,080. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 00V421002 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

Air Bags › Frontal2 injured
Filed Nov 21, 2006FL

1997 SEBRING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED. *TS *JB

Electrical System
Filed Apr 12, 2006CA

ODOMETER FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN, COMMON PROBLEM, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT RECALLED. IT CAUSES PROBLEMS WHENEVER YOU NEED TO PURCHASE ANYTHING FOR YOUR VEHICLE (TIRES, OIL CHANGE, PARTS ETC). PLEASE RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE! *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Oct 3, 2005140,000 milesNJ

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE FUEL PIPE WAS CORRODED AND DRIPPED GASOLINE, AND WAS LESS THAT ONE FOOT FROM THE MUFFLER. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO PURCHASE THE PART FOR CAR THE SALESMAN SAID HE WAS ABOUT THE 15 PERSON TO BUY THE PART. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HE WAS GOING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS THE CONTACT DAUGHTER'S CAR, AND HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S SAFETY AND THOSE OF OTHERS. *AK

20 of 77 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200539210Routine
200462290Routine
200324300Routine
2002121310Routine
2001120320Routine
200078220Routine
199992331Fatalities reported
199852310Routine
1997 — this page77320Routine
199668331Fatalities reported

Compare every Sebring Convertible year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 27, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.