Page 2 of 3 · complaints 51–100 of 121

2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2008117,000 milesAL

2.7 LITER ENGINES MY MECHANIC SAID THEY ARE BAD DESIGNS HE HAS HAD ALOT OFCOME IN HIS SHOP WITH RODS KNOCKING. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jul 24, 200890,000 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR STRUT MOUNT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR STRUT WAS CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THE PARTS WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE HER WITH AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE PRODUCED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. AS OF JULY 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 11, 2008103,000 milesGA

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, ADDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD SEVERAL THINGS GO WRONG. JUST TO NAME A FEW: ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT WAS JUST OVER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH OIL CHANGES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS DONE 3-4000 MILES, TRANSMISSION PAN HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT WHICH RESULTED IN POOR PERFORMANCE, CONTROL ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS(I DID NOT NEED THE MOUNTS REPLACED AND THE REPAIR WAS NOT DONE UNDER WARRANTY), WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT HOUSING(WAS TOLD BOTH WEREN'T COVERED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN), REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER REPLACED AND/OR FIXED THREE TIMES, DRIVER POWER WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED(GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE FROM THE REGULATOR, WHICH I PAID), VISOR VANITY LIGHT-PART ORDERED BUT "TOO LATE" WHEN TRIED TO HAVE IT REPLACED(WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT PART WAS IN), DASH LIGHTS-ON & OFF, HEADLIGHTS REPLACE SEVERAL TIMES, HUB SEAL REPLACED, PASSENGER SEAT ADJUST ARM BROKEN, LIGHTER INOPERATIVE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FIRST MONTH I HAD THE CAR! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 4, 200875,600 milesIN

MOTOR FAILED AT 75,600 MILES WHEN THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3-4,000 MILES. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 29, 200868,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. HIS DAUGHTER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND NECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint
Filed Apr 21, 200880,244 milesNJ

THERE WAS A CREAKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN AND I HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR. THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT I HAD BEEN DRIVING 55MPH WITH 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THANKFULLY, I HAD DROPPED THE CHILDREN OFF AND WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 27, 200872,500 milesMO

THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD MUFFLER. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC NEAR OUR HOME WHO DIAGNOSED IT WITH A FAILED TENSIONER SPRING ON THE TIMING BELT WHICH CAUSED ENGINE SLUDGE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 24, 200872,000 milesOH

I AM YET ANOTHER OWNER OF A CHYRSLER SEBRING WITH THE 2.7L MOTOR GOING BAD DO TO ENGINE OIL SLUDGING THAT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS WITH A RECALL. IT IS IN A 2002 ITH 72,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. BRIAN KLESHINSKIO OD *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 6, 200881,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

Structure
Filed Jan 7, 200874,500 milesHI

MAJOR HEADACHE HAS BEEN THE RECENT ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF WHAT MAY BE OIL SLUDGE GATHERED IN THE MOTOR. ENGINE SEIZED BRIEFLY UPON SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THEN BEGAN "CLICKING" UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION TO/FROM HIGH RPMS (UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING). CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS BROKEN CONNECTOR ROD AND BEARING IN #2 CYLINDER, WHICH NECESSITATES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED PRICE TAG: $10,000 (MORE THAN VEHICLE'S WORTH). OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE INCLUDED FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG PART THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT; PERSISTENT DIMMING/FLICKERING OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS; MULTIPLE BATTERY AND HEADLIGHT BURNOUTS; EMISSION LEAKS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS REQUIRING TWO SEPARATE REPAIRS; AND CD PLAYER SKIPPING, REQUIRING (ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER) A COMPLETELY NEW STEREO SYSTEM. SPEAKERS ARE SOMEWHAT SHOT AND THE DRIVER-SIDE SUNVISOR CLIP BROKE UNDER SLIGHT PRESSURE. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 20, 200775,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT. HE COULD ONLY SEE WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LENSES SHOULD BE REPLACED. AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2007, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPLACED THE LENSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,000. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $600.00. UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 7, 200798,000 milesTX

I PURCHASED A 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION ONE YEAR AGO. I MAINTAINED THE CAR, CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY, AND PUT 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE IT THREW A ROD. I HAD CHANGED THE OIL 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THE CAR HAS UNDER 100,000 MILES TOTAL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $8000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THEY WILL ONLY GIVE ME $1000 ON A TRADE, LEAVING ME IN TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUITY (-$6400) TO AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEY ARE UNYIELDING IN EVERY ASPECT AND REFUSE TO HELP ME GET INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TO REPAIR WHAT IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH RESEARCH TO LEARN THESE ENGINES ARE JUNK. NOW I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AND STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. THEY ARE FORCING ME INTO A REPO SITUATION, WHICH WILL ABSOLUTELY RUIN MY CREDIT. NOT TO MENTION, I CANNOT GET INTO ANOTHER CAR WITH THAT ONE STILL IN FINANCING. SINCE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ANOTHER SHOP, THEY BLAMED THE SHOP AND SAID THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG. FUNNY, THE SAME SHOP AND SAME GUY HAS BEEN CHANGING MY OIL FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I COULD NOT SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! AND STILL, I HAVE NO VEHICLE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 7, 200778,000 milesOH

DRIVING ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 6, 2007 AND MY CAR'S OIL CAME ON, WHICH IT HAS IN THE PAST AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR'S ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SMOKE. WHEN I OPENED THE ENGINE THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. AND THERE WAS NO LEAK. WHEN I GOT THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS GONE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 4, 200767,722 milesFL

ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK , SHUT OFF TOWED HOME PARKED EVER SINCE . 4000.00 TO REPLACE ENGINE UNABLE TO AFFORD. *TR

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Jun 17, 200732,376 milesNY

GAS CAP LEAK IS DETECTED AND ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. TRIED AFTER MARKET CAP AND 2 DIFFERENT CAPS FROM DEALER AND PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. DASH LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET NUMEROUS TIMES, MECHANIC THINKS THE FILLER PIPE MUST BE BENT AND LEAKING SOMEWHERE ELSE BELOW THE CAP. ACTUALLY, JUST HAD LIGHT RESET WITH CAP SEALED TIGHT, DID NOT TOUCH IT, AND 3 DAYS LATER LIGHT CAME ON ANYWAY. EASY SOLUTION CHANGE THE LAW, SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY AND CORRECT THE LOSS OF A LITTLE GAS VAPOR WHILE HUMMERS DRIVE AROUND AT 5- 10 MILES A GALLON IS THE TRUE CRIME HERE. CHANGING THE LAW INCREASES THE TOLERANCES AND LET'S MOVE ON TO BETTER THINGS. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH STUPID DASH LIGHT ON. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jun 10, 2007FL

2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LXI WITH MULTIPLE STILL YET UNRESOLVED "ELECTRICAL" PROBLEMS : DOOR LOCKS (8+ TIMES ATTEMPTED REPAIR) FRONT PASSENGER POWER WINDOW(2X ATTEMPTED REPAIR) , AIRBAG LIGHT RESULTING FAILED SEAT BELT TENSIONER(2X), WIPER MOTER FAILED, STEREO SYTEM (2X), OTHER ISSUES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 16, 200795,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAITED FIVE MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FLUIDS BACKED UP INTO THE ENGINE. THE ROADS WERE WET DUE TO RAIN, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO WATER FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO ADDITIONAL FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Feb 27, 200764,500 milesVA

HEARD CRACKING NOISES FROM STEERING COLUMN. AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON; HORN DOES NOT WORK; CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. NOTE: DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM. "AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING" FAILURE. PART IS CURRENTLY ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FROM CHRYSLER, ACCORDING TO DEALER SERVICE MGR. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONING AIR BAG SRS, HORN, OR CRUISE CONTROL. BASICALLY, THIS ONE PART FAILURE HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL TO OPERATE WHILE I AWAIT A MANUFACTURER'S BACK ORDERED PART. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 7, 200770,000 milesPA

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON JUNE 28TH THE CAR BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE WILDLY. MY ENGINE JUST BLEW, I HAD OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND WORKING TO FIND ME A NEW ENGINE, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING AND THEY USUALLY GO AT 50,000 MILES. AT LEAST I GOT 70,000. IT IS SITTING IN HIS SHOP RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T PAY FOR IT. THIS CAR COST $30,000. NEW. I LEASED IT NOW IT WILL COST $36,000. AND I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT COME DECEMBER! *JB

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Jan 29, 200750,000 milesIN

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AT 5 MPH HEARD A POP, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DRIVER DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES. *AK

Wheels › Rim
Filed Dec 14, 2006VA

CHROME ON RIMS OF 2002 SEBRING ARE FLAKING OFF. I HAVE HAD 6 FLAT TIRES IN THE 14 MONTHS I OWN THE CAR. I PUT AIR IN THE TIRES 2X WEEK. RIMS HAVE BEEN CLEANED BY A TIRE SHOP, BUT HE SAID THE CORROSION OF THE WHEELS ARE MAKING THE TIRES LEAK BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HOLD A SEAL. EACH TIME I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED (EVERY 3K MILES) I COMPLAIN THAT THE TIRES LEAK. DEALER SERVICE DEPT DOES NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHEELS, PUTS AIR IN THE TIRES. CAR HAS A FULL SIZE SPARE WITH SAME RIMS. WHEN I NEEDED TO FIX ONE OF THE FLATS AND PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON,THE SPARE WAS ALSO FLAT.. IT HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THE TRUNK AFTER BEING REPAIRED 6 MONTHS EARLIER, BUT IT HAD ALSO BEEN ON THE CAR, BECAME FLAT, WAS REPLACED BY THE SPARE, THAT WAS NOW FLAT AGAIN. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 1, 200643,195 milesMD

DRIVING ON I-295 IN THE EVENING WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY, DRAMATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST POWER AND STARTED STALLING. MY WIFE WAS VERY NEARLY STRUCK BY TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WE WERE INFORMED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 29, 200647,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A DRY SMOOTH HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK, BUT THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 22, 2006MO

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS TIMES, WITH NO OBVIOUS TRIGGERS. SOMETIMES IT'S ON FOR DAYS OR WEEKS, OTHER TIMES IT COMES ON AND GOES OFF EVERY FEW SECONDS, OTHER TIMES IT STAYS OFF FOR MONTHS. TOTALLY BIZARRE. I'M SICK OF IT, BUT I CAN'T TRADE IT IN WITH THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY DOING STUPID STUFF LIKE THAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2003. IT'S A 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 400 TIMES. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 7, 200669,000 milesPA

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON JUNE 28TH THE CAR BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE WILDLY. MY ENGINE JUST BLEW, I HAD OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND WORKING TO FIND ME A NEW ENGINE, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THAT THIS ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING AND THEY USUALLY GO AT 50,000 MILES. AT LEAST I GOT 70,000. IT IS SITTING IN HIS SHOP RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T PAY FOR IT. THIS CAR COST $30,000. NEW. I LEASED IT NOW IT WILL COST $36,000. AND I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT COME DECEMBER! *NM

Wheels › Rim
Filed Jul 28, 200642,000 milesWI

I HAPPILY BOUGHT A NEW SEBRING CONVERTIBLE IN JULY 2002. I BOUGHT THE "COMPLETE" 7/70 EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE WOMAN AND DO NOT WANT TO WORRY ABOUT REPAIRS. DURING 2003 AND 2004, I EXPERIENCED FREQUENT "SOFT" TIRES. DURING A RAIN STORM, I HYDROPLANED ON HIGHWAY 41 AND LOST CONTROL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANYONE OR THE CAR. ONLY MY NERVES. I WOULD TEST AND FILL THE TIRES FREQUENTLY. I WAS FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE DURING RAIN/SNOW BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL CONTROL DUE TO THE TIRES NOT GRIPPING THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW TIRES AND THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN DEC. 2005 AT SEARS, HAD THE ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. I CONTINUED TO HAVE SOFT TIRES. SEARS REPLACED THE TIRE VALVES, AND HAD TO SMOOTH THE RIMS TWICE. I NOW HAVE TO CHECK AND FILL THE TIRES WITH AIR 2 - 3 TIMES A WEEK. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT OF THE SEBRING CONVERTIBLE RIMS)AND WAS TOLD TO CALL CHRYSLER. AFTER BEING ON HOLD 30 MINUTES, I GOT THROUGH TO CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER RECOGNIZES THIS DEFICIENCY IN THE RIMS, THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT REPORT THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RIMS AND NOT THE TIRES? I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES!!! PLEASE CHECK THE ACCIDENT RECORD OF CHRYSLER SEBRINGS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *JB

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft
Filed Jul 21, 200640,964 milesCA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL. THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED. WITHIN 1,000 MILES LATER, THE NOISE AND THE VIBRATION RETURNED ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LEFT FRONT AXLE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT AXLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS STILL A NOISE PRESENT. UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB

Seat Belts › Front
Filed May 24, 2006IN

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARYING PERIODS OF TIME. UNDER WARRANTY THEY HAVE REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE. WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON SOMETIMES. THEY SAID THAT THE BAGS WILL NOT OPERATE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THE LIGHT MUST BE ON FOR THEM TO WORK ON IT AND IT WILL NORMALLY BE OUT BY THE TIME THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND GET IT IN. *JB

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Apr 15, 200646,000 milesFL

BACK BUMPER ASSEMBLY HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE BODY. THERE HAS BEEN NO UNDO STRESS PUT ON THIS COMPONENT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS AS OF THIS DATE. ADEQUATE MEANS WILL BE TAKEN TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS COMPONENT. *NM

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Mar 7, 200645,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LAMP INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE WIRING OF THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY HAVING THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE SEAT BELT CONNECTIONS REPLACED.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 19, 20055,000 milesFL

"AIR BAG" LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS OLD. COULD NOT DUPLICATE FOR REPAIR. PROBLEM CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY AND BROUGHT IN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2004 AND RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF "SEAT BELT TENSIONER". PROBLEM CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. BROUGHT INTO A CHRYSLER DEALER FOR SERVICE A THIRD TIME IN DECEMBER OF 2005. DEALER WANTS $500+ FOR REPLACEMENT OF "SEAT BELT TENSIONER" AGAIN AND A CLOCK SPRING (?) IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *NM

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Dec 19, 2005FL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE RETRACTING SPRING IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE RETRACTOR SPRING IN THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 23, 200574,484 milesFL

MY CAR QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BECAUSE THE ENGINE FAILED. COST OF REPAIR IS $3,600. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 21, 2005FL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK, IT WAS TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CALLED AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, AND CHRYSLER WOULD PROVIDE A REBUILT ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE CONTACT'S NEGLIGENCE. HE CHANGED THE OIL HIMSELF, AND HAD NO PROOF TO SHOW IT WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY. THEREFORE, CHRYSLER WAS NOT GOING TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window
Filed Oct 10, 200510 milesWA

ON 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST GET PULLED OF THE REARVIEW WINDOW EVERYTIME THE TOP IS BEING LOWERED / RAISED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND AT THE END OF THE SUMMER WE HAVE IT REATTACHED BY THE DEALER AT A COST OF NEARLY $100.-. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME, AND IT CANNOT BE FIXED ANYMORE WITHOUT CHANGING THE GLASS. EVEN AFTER THE GLASS WILL BE REPLACED THE SAME PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE WIRES FOR THE REAR DEFROST ARE EITHER TOO SHORT OR ROUTED WRONG. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE MORE CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS THEY TRIED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER BUT THEY ARE UNABLE / UNWILLING TO FIND A FIX. DEALER IS TOWN & COUNTRY CHRYSLER, 13733 AURORA AVE N, SEATTLE WA, TEL# 206 365 3530. THE SILVER TEAM (JEFF) IS THE ONE THAT HAS SERVICED THE CAR AND HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. *NM

Wheels
Filed Sep 28, 2005VA

I WAS DRIVING RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH. BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANY COMPROMISE IN VEHICLE HANDLING. I PULLED OVER, VISUALLY INSPECTED THE TIRE AND TRIED TO BOUNCE THE CAR FRONT TO REPLICATE THE SOUND WITH NO SUCCESS. I DECIDED TO PROCEED ON AND ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 60-65 MPH. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLANKING SOUND AND THE CAR BEGAN VIBRATING. I MOVED OFF THE ROAD, TO THE RIGHT AND STOPPED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY BOTH IN BRAKING AND STEERING. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SINGLE BANG NOISE AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE UP FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A BOLT FELL OFF OF A SUPPORT ARM THAT HOLDS THE RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER IN PLACE. THE SUPPORT ARM HAD BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE RIM AND LOCKED THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE PREMIUM RIM, SUPPORT ARM, BOLT AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE BRAKE CALIPER. MY BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED, MY CAR IS 3 YRS OLD AND HAS 27,000 MILES AND IS IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION. *NM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 23, 200553,000 milesFL

DT: 2002 CHRYSLER SEA BRING CONVERTIBLE LX - THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. SINCE OWNING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AS APPROACHING A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL REV AND SURGE FORWARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. TOOK IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WERE ARE UNABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHY THE VEHICLE DID THIS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, HITTING OBJECTS IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 19, 200519,000 milesWV

RAN IN BACK OF VEHICLE. AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR IS IN SHOP BEING REPAIRED. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENING ON ALL CHRYLER

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jun 30, 200527,000 milesNC

SEAT BELT TENSIONER ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME AT 27K MILES & THE SECOND TIME 1 YEAR & 5 DAYS LATER AT 43K MILES. WHEN IT FAILS THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON & I'M TOLD THIS MEANS THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED THUS POSSIBLE SEVERE INJURY IF A CRASH OCCURS. WARRANTY IS 12 MONTHS OR 12K MILES.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jun 2, 2005NY

I STARTED TO GET A VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHECKED AND DETERMINED THAT THE STEEL BELTS INSIDE THE TIRES HAVE SHIFTED. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I PURCHASE NEW TIRES

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 23, 2005IA

APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK VERY LATE AT NIGHT, MY LIGHTS WENT OUT ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES. THEY WOULD COME RIGHT BACK ON WHEN I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH, BUT IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A LOOSE WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, MAY 2005, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT 2A.M. MY LIGHTS WENT OUT TWO TIMES AND CAME BACK ON WHEN I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH.

Air Bags
Filed May 16, 2005NJ

I LEASED THE 2002 SEBRING CONVERTABLE LXI ON SEPT 9, 2002 SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN HAVING ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT SINCE JUNE 2003 TO THIS DATE MAY 2005. STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER 3 TIMES N THE DRIVER SIDE AND 2 ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, SET BELT EXTRACTER. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS REPLACING THESE PARTS BUT EVERY OTHER MONTH IT SEEMS THAT THE AIR BAG LIKE IS STILL COMING ON. AMONGST OTHER ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE SUCH AS THE STEERING PULLING LEFT TO RIGHT OR WHEN I EXCEL {4 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED} THE STEERING SPINS 3-4 TIMES COMPLETELY AROUND I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SINCE JUNE 2003. THE TRANSMISSION IS BUCKING, SLIPPING, AND/OR STICKING INTO GEAR, I HAVE BEEN COMPLANING ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE FEBRUARY 2004. TO THIS DAY MAY 15, 2005 ALL THE ABOVE COMPLAINTS ARE STILL AN ISSUE.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 23, 2005OK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON, AND CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED A CLOCK SPRING. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 8, 200527,000 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 5, 200575,000 milesTX

I FOLLOWED THE MAINTENENCE SCHEDULE ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH REGULAR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES, YET I AM NOW FACED WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN MY 2.7 ENGINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM. THE QUOTE FROM THE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPT IS 10K FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Dec 10, 200425,000 milesNY

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER FAILED TWICE. UNDER 25,00 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED "OPEN CIRICUT IN PRE-TENSIONER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT.*AK HAVE FRIEND WITH SAME CAR WHICH HAD SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER FAIL FOUR TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT EFFECTS CORRECT OPERATION OF SEATBELT RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER.

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 11, 2004IL

PASSENGER SEAT PRE-TENSIONER REPLACED. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 11, 2004IL

REVVING OF ENGINE WHEN CAR STARTED. TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER REDLINE. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. NEED TO TURN OFF AND RESTART. TAKEN TO DEALER. NO CODES FOUND. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS. *NM

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire
Filed Oct 5, 200450,000 milesOH

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BRUNT A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THROUGH A PILLOW THAT WAS LAYING ON THE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF ENGAGE BUTTON. THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE SEAT HEATER SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS ONLY RECOVERING THE SEAT.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Sep 30, 2004OH

ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR, AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR 3 MONTHS AGO TO CORRECT THAT. TODAY, TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WHICH KEPT COMING ON EVERY 10 SECONDS. DEALER STATED BECAUSE OF A BAD SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT CONTRAPTION AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON--DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. SO, OF COURSE THEY HAD TO ORDER SOME KIND OF PART TO THE TUNE OF 118 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR SO BILL WAS 330 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE IS DEFECTIVE AND THEIR FAULT. WHAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS TO DO WITH THE SEAT BELT IS BEYOND ME. NOTICED A SIMILIAR COMPLAINT ON YOUR SITE DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AT 03:21 PM FOR SAME MODEL CAR. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. AS THE PERSON STATED IN THEIR COMPLAINT, AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY FOR NO REASON, OR AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE HERE.*AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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