SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 52 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, most frequently naming the suspension, steering and body & structure categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 47 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 5 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 7 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 10 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 11 |
| Jun 2003 | 3 | 14 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 15 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 17 |
| May 2004 | 3 | 20 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 22 |
| Jul 2004 | 2 | 24 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 25 |
| Sep 2004 | 3 | 28 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 29 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 30 |
| Jan 2005 | 2 | 32 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 33 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 34 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 35 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 37 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 38 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 39 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 40 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 41 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 42 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 43 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 44 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 46 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 47 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 48 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 49 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 50 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 51 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 52 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Suspension915.5%
- Steering813.8%
- Body & structure712.1%
- Brakes58.6%
- Electrical58.6%
- Transmission58.6%
- Powertrain (other)46.9%
- Seat belts35.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK RECALL REPAIR HISTORY. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW, IF THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED PROPERLY, DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2005. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10948248
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2017
I WENT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT 3 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT ONE IN HE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A USED ONE IN THERE. TWO MONTHS LATER THAT TRANMISSION WENT OUT AND IT GOT REPLACED. WELL THIS BRINGS US TO PRESENT DAY WHERE I'M GETTING IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. THEY TELL ME THAT THE REAR BALL JOINTS ARE OUT AND IT'LL COST $1200 TO FIX IT. I'M LIKE THAT'S NOT WORTH IT. I THEN FIND OUT THAT THIS IS RECALLED. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 10538266
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2012
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
I HAVE THIS CAR FROM 2011, I WENT TO THE DEALER ON BAKERSFIELD CA, TO PROGRAM THE ALARM PAGER, THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART BECAUSE HAVE A RECALL, AFTER THAT DAY MY CAR START TO STOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF, I CHANGE THE SPEED SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CRAMCHACK SENSOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE MAP SENSOR, THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER, ALL THE RELAYS, THE CAR WORKS FOR A LITTLE AND START TO STOP SUDDENLY, ANYWHERE. SOME TIMES I GO TO THE STORE TO BUY GROCERIES, HE START TO SHAKE FROM THE SUSPENSION, AND THE CAR STOP 2 OR 3 TIMES, ON ONE TRIP. ON AUGUST 15 I WENT TO BAKERSFIELD TO SEE MY DOCTOR BECAUSE I'M PERMANENTLY DISABLE, AND THE CAR STOP ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OF 65 MILES, I LET THE CAR FOR A WILE RESTING AND AFTER THAT HE START AGAIN, WHEN I GO OUT ON UNION EXIT THE CAR STOP AGAIN, TODAY I WENT TO THE MARKET AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE CAR ALL THE WAY TO MY HOME. THIS CLASS OF CARS GAVE TROUBLE TO EVERY BODY WHO HAD ONE OF THIS MAKE. NEED HELP TO SEE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10535989
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2013
- Mileage
- 222,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,337.
- NHTSA ID
- 10510812
- Incident
- May 3, 2013
- Mileage
- 59,337 mi
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED DOWN MY STREET GOING ONLY 5 MPH AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10502735
- Incident
- Mar 13, 2013
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10474055
- Incident
- Aug 4, 2012
- Mileage
- 169,000 mi
I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD METAL ON CEMENT NOISE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT OUT OF CAR AND SEEN BALL JOINT CRACKED AND TIRE OFF CAR. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON GROUND IN FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE FIXED. CAR DROVE SMOOTH OTHERWISE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT TO JUST SNAP. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T GOING FASTER OR NOTHING WAS IN MY WAY AND DIDN'T CRASH! IT WAS THE SCARIEST CAR "ACCIDENT" I EVER HAD. NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN TO ME IN A CAR THAT HAD NO SIGNS OF NEEDING TO BE FIXED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10452106
- Incident
- Mar 16, 2012
MY ALARM KEEPS GOING OFF!!! A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP. IT STARTED BY HONKING REPEATEDLY THEN A VERY LONG ANNOYING HONK. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP, THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I AM NOW DESPERATE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED; I WAS AT A GAS STATION THE OTHER DAY, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THE ALARM STILL SOUNDING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A WAY OF DISCONNECTING MY BATTERY TO MAKE IT STOP. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL! I RECENTLY BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE? THIS WEBSITE DISPLAYS MANY PEOPLES CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHRYSLER/SEBRING/2006/ELECTRICAL/HORN_GOES_OFF_BY_ITSELF.SHTML. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10438161
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2011
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
EQUIPMENT
Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
STRUCTURE
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.