1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Electrical Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10358919

Incident

Jul 13, 2010

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.

NHTSA ID

10330340

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10289446

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10238568

Incident

Jan 28, 1998

Mileage

24,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10237263

Incident

Aug 6, 2008

Mileage

56,877 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10231908

Incident

May 16, 2008

Mileage

117,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10155236

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

1) THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE SECURELY (DOORS AND WINDOWS CLOSED PROPERLY, TOP CLOSED PROPERLY, IGNITION LOCKED AND NO KEYS IN THE CAR). 2) AFTER A RAIN, I HAPPENED TO WALK BY THE CAR AND HEARD IT MAKING LOUD STRANGE NOISES THAT SOUNDED LIKE SPEAKER AMPLIFIED ELECTRICAL ARCING. THE NOISE SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE (NO APPARENT POINT SOURCE). SUSPECTING SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I BEGAN PULLING FUSES WITH NO EFFECT ON STOPPING THE NOISE. I BEGAN SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING AND DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY. THE NOISES STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND THE BURNING SMELL DISSAPATED. 3) THE DEALER ADVISES THAT THERE IS A DRAIN IN THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF THE CAR THAT IS NOT WORKING AND CAUSES WATER TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE IS AN AMPLFIER UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE INFINITY SOUND SYSTEM THAT WATER HAD ENTERED INTO. DEALER ADVISES THAT THE FAILED PART MUST BE RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND THAT FURTHER DAMAGE CANNOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT PART IS INSTALLED. THERE ARE TWO DESIGN DEFECTS IN THIS CAR, ONE OF WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE FIRST DEFECT IS THE REAR QUARTER PANEL DRAINS THAT CAN STOP WORKING AND FLOOD THE CAR RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.THE OWNER IS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT OR HOW TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND DESIGN DEFECT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. AN AMPLIFIER UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS NO FUSE PROTECTION WHATSOEVER. IF I HAD NOT HAPPENED BY THE CAR WHEN I DID, AND HAD NOT DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY, THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO CATCH FIRE (I SMELLED BURNING!). THIS AMPLIFIER CAN MALFUNCTION ELECTRICALLY AND START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICAL INTERUPT PROTECTION AVAILABLE. HAD I NOT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WHEN I DID THIS CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS LACK OF ANY SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION.

NHTSA ID

10134100

Incident

Aug 17, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH FOR THE TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY THE CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND HIT A POLE. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, AND THE BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE CAR, THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. CONSUMER HAD TO CALL HIM BACK FROM CHRYSLER AFTER HE CAME AND LOOKED AT THE CAR. CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR SENT A LETTER TO THE CONSUMER STATING THAT THE INCIDENT DID NOT LOOK LIKE IT WAS A RESULT OF THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10123912

Incident

May 7, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR ON EBAY THREE YEARS AGO. NO RECORD OF ACCIDENT BUT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN WHEN CAR PARKED OUTSIDE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STARTS AND DIES SEVERAL TIMES, THEN WONT'T START FOR ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO A DAY OR TWO. NO DEALER ABLE TO FIND PROB. OR GET IT TO THROW A CODE. PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR LAST YEAR WHEN WE MOVED TO CA AND PARKED CAR IN GARAGE. THEN IT RETURNED ONCE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND SOURCE OF PROB. OR GET IT TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. FINALLY GOT ONE COMPUTER REPLACED. BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND IT HAS REPEATED THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES. NOW IT IS TURNING ON THE SECURITY LIGHT AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, THEN, SUDDENLY, WHILE I AM DRIVING, THE GUAGES QUIT WORKING. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST OR HOW FAR I AM GOING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS MONTH, BOTH TIMES WHEN WE WERE ON A LONG TRIP. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REAL CORRELATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM THAT WE CAN FIND OTHER THAN POSSIBLE MOISTURE RELATIONSHIP. HAD TO DRIVE FROM LAKE TAHOE TO ORANGE COUNTY WITH NO SPEEDOMETER TWO WEEKS AGO. IT HAD RAINED HEAVILY AND THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE. THEN IT MAGICALLY "MENDED ITSELF" DURING THE WEEK AND WE TOOK IT FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO PALM SPRINGS ON MAY 21ST. THE GUAGES WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER WE LEFT HOME AND CAME ON "MAGICALLY" AFTER WE PURCHASED GAS IN PALM SPRINGS. DATE LISTED BELOW IS MOST RECENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. HAS BEEN TO DEALERS IN ALABAMA AND ORANGE COUNTY. I REALLY CAN'T SAY HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED, BUT PROBABLY AROUND 30.

NHTSA ID

10122265

Incident

May 21, 2005

Mileage

44,175 mi

WHILE DRIVING HORN FAILED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 2004. DEALERSHIP FIXED IT, BUT THREE DAYS LATER HORN FAILED AGAIN. TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE HORN, AND STATED THERE WAS SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE FRONT AIR BAGS. TO FIX THE HORN DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG MECHANISM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1,700. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091671

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN CAR HAS TOTALLY FAILED. NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WORKS PROPERLY ANYMORE. THE BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT A COST OF $300 PLUS OVER $6,000 IN VARIOUS REPAIRS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047444

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

IN SHORT, MY '97 SEBRING CONVT. (86,000 MI) IS ON ITS 3RD STARTER, NEEDS A NEW FUEL GAUGE & SWITCH TO LIGHT FOG LAMPS (PROBLEM FOR VA. SAFETY INSP.). ALSO TACH, SPEEDOMETER, & OTHER GAUGES HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING TEMPORAILY WHILE CAR IS MOVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023647

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

75,500 mi

THIS CAR IS GARBAGE! I HAVE HAD WATER LEAKS, HAD TO REPLACE COMPLETE FABRIC INTERIOR! THE BATTERY LIGHT NOW REFUSES TO GO OFF ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES IN A YEAR, HAVE REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. NOT ONE SHOP, ALONG WITH A DEALER, CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR TOLD ME IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HIM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE SEAT BELT, DRIVERS SIDE. IT NO LONGER CONNECTS TOGETHER. DEALER WHO SOLD ME CAR STATED THE CAR WAS A 6 CYLINDER AS DOES MY TITLE, FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT CAR IS ONLY 4 CYLINDER. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018708

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE SUBJECT COMPUTER AT A COST TO ME OF $300. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A "GOOD WILL" EXTENSION OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTEE. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD THIS COMPUTER FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

726269