1997 Chrysler Sebring complaints

THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE AND HAD A BODY SHOP PUSH IT BACK IN PLACE, A FEW MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ALL 1997 SEBRINGS BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE PANEL BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER RAN INTO A CEMENT BOTTOM OF A LIGHT POLE IN A PARKING LOT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

THE PROBLEM WITH THE WHEELS ON MY SEBRING LXI IS THAT THEY ARE ALL WARPED. I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A BAD VIBRATION AND WHEN I WENT TO GET NEW TIRES INSTALLED, THE TIRE DEALER SAID THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE WARPED. THE CAR SHIMMIES ALL OVER THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE WHEEL COMPANIES ON EBAY ADVERTISING REPLACEMENT WHEELS FOR THE LXI, SAYING "REPLACEMENT WHEELS FOR THE WARP PRONE SEBRING LXI WHEELS". I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE WHEEL MANUFACTURER, WELD WHEELS, HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL ATTEMPTS.*AK

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED @ 54,000 MILES. FAILURE CAUSED TIMING BELT TO JUMP WHICH BENT VALVES. INTERNET INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEBRING HAS HISTORY OF THIS FAILURE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER REPAIRS BUT WON'T. DON'T BUY CARS OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES FROM CHRYSLER.

RECALL 97V201000; LOWER BALL JOINT WITH CONTROL ON BOTH SIDES, DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK. LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *SLC

VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING SLUGGISH, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FOUND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE LEAKING. *AK THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. *YH

ALLUMINUM RIMS LOSE AIR. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS - TIRE EXPLODES. DEALER SAID THAT CHRYSLER HAS PROBLEM WITH RIMS ON SEBRINGS. MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES TO DATE ARE AROUND $2,000 PLUS AN INCREASE IN AUTO INSURANCE. I WANT CHRYSLER TO RECALL THE ALUMINUM RIMS. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. WE'VE HAD THREE ACCIDENTS IN THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF EXPLODING TIRES IN FREEWAY DRIVING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *AK (TIRESIZE: STANDARD)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: STANDARD )

ALLUMINUM RIMS LOSE AIR. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS - TIRE EXPLODES. DEALER SAID THAT CHRYSLER HAS PROBLEM WITH RIMS ON SEBRINGS. MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES TO DATE ARE AROUND $2,000 PLUS AN INCREASE IN AUTO INSURANCE. I WANT CHRYSLER TO RECALL THE ALUMINUM RIMS. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. WE'VE HAD THREE ACCIDENTS IN THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF EXPLODING TIRES IN FREEWAY DRIVING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. (TIRESIZE: STANDARD)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: STANDARD )

ON 3/18/98, AT 12,757 MILES - FRONT LEFT & RIGHT ROTORS REPLACED, ON 9/15/98, AT 19,501 MILES, FRONT LEFT & RIGHT ROTORS REPLACED, ON 3/4/99 AT 25,628 MILES, ALL ROTORS REPLACED, ON 6/24/99 AT 29,499 MILES, ALL ROTORS RESURFACED, ON 11/11/99 AT 34,121 BRAKE LIGHT ON, LOW FLUID, ON 4/10/00 AT 38,441 MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND ALL ROTORS RESURFACED, ON 11/10/00 AT 44,958 SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPT WITH DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK - CHRYSLER HAS YET TO RECALL THIS VEHICLES BRAKES - THERE ARE 24 BRAKE COMPLAINTS ON 1997 SEBRINGS CURRENTLY FILED WITH NHTSA. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

1997 SEBRING'S RECALLED FOR THIS REASON. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER THEY SAID THIS PARTICULAR CAR DID NOT HAVE A RECALL. WHY, THEN, DID THIS HAPPEN TO MY CAR. I REPORTED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE SECOND TIME, NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THERE WAS 3,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE DEALER TOLD CHRYSLER IT WAS CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT. I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR. *AKPERHAPS, BEFORE I OWNED IT?

WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND PADS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE BRAKES ONLY LAST 3-4 MONTHS THEN THEY GO OUT AND CRUMBLE IN THE HAND OF THE MECHANICS. THERE IS A DEFINATE PROBLEM HERE AND WE WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANTS IN THE CORRECTION OF IT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE GIVEN ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER. THANK YOU.

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED , LEADING TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE (ENGINE SIEZURE). THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED SCHEDUALED MAINT AND DEALER STATES THAT EVERY THING ALWAYS CHECKED OUT. ON 04/01/98 THE CORE PLUGS WERE CHECKED PER REC. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE OXGEN SENSOR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING CORROSION ON THE FRONT ROTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A INDEPENDENT SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER INTERMITTENLY WORK - DEFECT IN CIRCUIT BOARD, THEY ONLY WORK 10% OF TIME.*AK

RATCHET MECHANISM WITHIN THE PASSENGER SIDE NEW DESIGNED SEATBELT HAS FAILED, CAUSING SEATBELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. SEATBELT COMES FROM THE ACTUAL SEAT.*AK

FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES PADS WERE REPORTED PITTED AND EXCESSIVELY WOREN OUT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

CHRYSLER CORPORATION FAILED TO CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR EQUIPMENT. I PAID FOR THE NEW PARTS AND LABOR TO INSTALL THE PARTS. WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL(NHTSA CAMPAIGN #97V081002 VIA INTERNET), I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS ONLY RECALLS ON THE CONVERTIBLE SEBRINGS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE ON GETTING REFUNDED MY MONEY ON PARTS AND LABOR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OF NO CHARGE. I STILL HAVE THE DEALER'S INVOICE/RECEIPT OF THE PARTS AND LABOR.*AK

BRAKES FAILED AT 14000 MI DEALER SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE FIX NOT ME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35- 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN AND MAKE A TURN, AND ONE OF WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BACK LATERAL WENT OUT, IT SNAPPED IN HALF. THE DEFECT MADE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND RUN INTO A DITCH. DEALER REFERRED CONSUMER TO CALL HOTLINE. *AK

WIRING BEHIND LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE RUBBED AGAINST MANIFOLD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FUEL LINE NEAR BY WAS ALSO WEAKENED.*AK

THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING DAMAGING THE ALLOY WHEEL, A GOODYEAR MANAGER STATED THAT THE WHEEL DESIGN ON THE VEHICLE IS FAULTY AND IS TOO LARGE FOR THE CAR. NLM

AT ANY TIME, EITHER WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR OR WHILE DRIVING DIGITAL ODOMETER GOES BLANK AND THE TACHOMETER FALLS TO 0 RPM. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THE ODOMETER HAS WENT BLANK, IT CONTINUES TO COUNT THE MILAGE OF THE CAR.

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS LEAKING AND NOT CLOSING PROPERLY, PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKER NOISE AND BRAKES SQUEAL, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY DURING NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR ALL ITEMS. *MJS

REPORTED NOISES TO DEALERSHIP IN RIGHT TIRE AND STEERING WHEEL. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE NOISE GOT WORSE. THEY FINALLY FOUND THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS BROKEN. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER WAS TURNING CORNER AT BUSY INTERSECTION. RIGHT WHEEL TURNED INWARD AND LOCKED. SPUN AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. LUCKLY NO ONE WAS HURT. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THAT THIS TIME IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN. WE INVESTIGATED THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED AND FOUND THAT IT WAS STEERING RACK AGAIN. DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE PART INSTALLED WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF. CONVERTIBLE TOP BLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AFTER THE TOP RAILS OF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER TO CORRECT THE NOISE PROBLEM FROM THE WIND.*AK.ET.

DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. YH

3RD MIRROR FAILURE - IMMPOSSIBLE TO USE AT NIGHT - DANGEROUS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN TOWN INSIDE STEERING WHEEL WAS SQUAEKING REALLY BADLY, MECHANIC SAID FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT HAS GONE BAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER WAS VERY RUDE AND COULD NOT HELP. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL BUTTON INTERMITTENTLY WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE (DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL). DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK *ML

THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE WITHOUT FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, AND ONCE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED FOR THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER NFORMATION. *AK

REPORTED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION LEAKAGES AND A LOOSE WHEEL HUB. DEALER NOTIFIED AND APPOINTMENT RECEIVED. *AK

I HAVE REPLACED 3 WHEELS & 2 TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RIMS BENDING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT.

DEALER WORK ON ALL PROBLEMS/I BELIEVE POHANKA SOLD ME A LEMON CAR AND DEALER WANTS BRAKE ENGINE DOWN AND DON'T WANT TO FIX THEY ORIGINAL START WORKING ON MY CAR. *AK

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE IN USE THE CALIPERS FAILED TO OPEN. VEHICLE WOULD STOP UNTIL NOISE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. WOULD TAKE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES. THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SO FAR. LAST TIME BRAKES JUST GAVE WAY & NEEDED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. ON 5TH SET OF BRAKES. ALSO, REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK/ BOTH FRONT WINDOWS GLASS DISTORTED/REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/REPLACED TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM/REPLACED NOISY FRONT END/REPLACED STARTER, AND REALIGNED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE.

THE LATCH HOOK ON THE INSIDE OF THE LID OF THE CONSOLE IS VERY SHARP & DANGEROUS. DRIVER INADVERTENTLY CUT RIGHT ARM WHILE SHIFTING GEARS OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

IN PASSING A VEHICLE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE AND THE THROTTLE JAMMED IN THE FULL ON POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE RACED TO OVER 7000 RPM. I THEN HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE RACING. THE AUTOMATIC GAS CUT OFF DID NOT APPEAR TO WORK. I ENDED UP IN THE GRASSY MEDIAM TO AVOID HITTING CARS AS I HAD LITTLE BRAKING AND STEERING POWER. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR IT APPEARED TO WORK AND I WAS ABLE TO GET ALMOST HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE PEDAL WAS FULL OPEN AND WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF, THE AUTOMATIC CUT OFF APPARENTLY WORKED AS THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. I AM TOLD THE CABLE WAS SERIOUSLY FRAYED WHICH CAUSED IT TO JAM IN THE OPEN POSITION. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WAS GRATEFUL MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE WERE NOT DRIVING.

TRUNK AND TRUNK LID ASSEMBLY WITH WATERPROOF SEALS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY. SEALS, 3RD TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, SIDE WEATHERSTRIP, DECK LID WEATHER STRIP, TOP WEATHER STRIP HAVE BEEN REPLACED REPEATEDLY. NEW CARPET IN TRUNK, NEW TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED REPEATEDLY. TRUNK CONTINUES TO LEAK. DRAIN HOLES HAVE BEEN CLEARED REPEATEDLY. PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. ANOTHER APPT. IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH. WATER IS STANDING IN TRUNK EVEN WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO RAIN FOR DAYS/WEEKS.

WE HAVE HAD MANY OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE OWNERSHIP. WE MISSED THE TIME LIMIT ON LEMON LAW BY 2,000 MI. AND ARBITRATION SAIS THAT THIS DOES NOT IMPARE OUR DRIVING THE CAR AND THE DEALER SAIS THAT WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT IT IS NOT ENGINE TROUBLE, ALSO YOU HAVE TO EXPECT PROBLEMS WITH A NEW CAR. CHRYSLER HAS NEVER AKNOWLEDGED MY LETTERS.

NO SUMMARY

ON THE DATE MENTIONED, I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE RACED TO ABOUT 60 MPH EVEN WHILE I USED THE BRAKES TO ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I KNEW I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF TO STOP THE CAR.IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO AVOID OTHER CARS AND STOPLIGHTS AS I COULDN'T STOP. THE SHORT USE OF MY BRAKES CAUSED A FIRE AND I PUT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED. NO WARRANTY, MY BIG BILL. I FEEL IT WAS A PART DEFECT AS THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER REPLACE ON IN ALL HIS YEARS. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU.

PLASTIC AROUND GEAR SHIFT.

ENGINE WILL TURN OFF BY ITSELF, COMPLETELY STALLS, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE . DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. BELT IS STUCK IN SAME POSITION & IS NOT USABLE. ALSO, FUEL PUMP IS BROKE, WILL NOT ACCEPT FUEL HOSE THAT PUTS FUEL IN VEHICLE. *AK

WHY WOULD THE TRANSMISSION START TO FAIL AT 58K MILES, NEVER BEFORE HAS THIS HAPPENED WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. *AK

VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHENEVER VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP OR AT A SLOW SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

POWER CONNECTOR DISCONNECTED FROM GLASS SIMILAR TO ODI 536146. *AK