2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Engine Problems

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2010 WITH 69,000. IT WAS GREAT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN...HOSES, WATER PUMP, TENSIONERS, A LOT OF TENSIONERS, DRIVE CHAIN, SENSOR FOR SOME TIMING ISSUE, THERMOSTAT, FUEL PUMP, A BOLT THAT SHEARED OFF THE OIL PAN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, WITH THE CODED FOR GAS CAP. NO MATTER HOW MANY GAS CAPS (5). IT LEAKED OIL FROM DIFFERENT PLACES. GET ONE SEAL REPLACED , IT WOULD LEAK FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. TOWED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. LAST TIME IT WAS 100 DEGREES, IT STARTED MISSING, SMOKING. IT ENDED UP BEING THE BATTERY, BUT I WAS WAY TOO PARANOID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY MORE. TOO MUCH MONEY AND STRESS. NOT SURE I EVER WANT TO OWN ANOTHER CHRYSLER. I TRADED IT IN AND I AM SORRY FOR THE NEXT PERSON THAT OWNS IT. THESE ISSUES STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000. TRADED IN AT 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10903051

Incident

Aug 17, 2016

OIL LIGHT COMES ON A LOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN STOPPED, CAR SMELLS BADLY OF OIL BURNING AND SMOKES A LOT, SCARY WHEN DRIVING, ALSO AIR AND HEAT ONLY WORK ON HIGH VERY ANNOYING I WOULD NEVER BUY A CHRYSLER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651042

Incident

Oct 29, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE HORN DOESN'T WORK , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON, AIRBAGS LIGHT ON CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ... MY CAR WONT BE ABLE TO PASS THE EMISSION TEST... AC COMPRESSOR DOESN'T WORK . *TR

NHTSA ID

10522173

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

76,000 mi

IN APRIL 2011, WE PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION (WITH 2.7 ENGINE) FROM A PRIVITE OWNER. IN JANUARY 2013 IT WAS TOWED TO NAPLETON CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN KISSIMMEE. THEY STILL HAVE OUR VEHICLE. WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM GOLD KEY FOR $2695.00 WHICH IS STILL IN EFFECT, BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE ENGINE DUE TO THE SLUDGE BUILD UP. THIS CAR WAS ONLY USED FOR LEISURE AND WE PUT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. ALSO, WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED USING SYNTHETIC. MY HUSBAND IS ON DISABILITY AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501062

Incident

Jan 14, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ENGINE GAVE OUT AND I GOT STUCK ON SHOULDER, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND MY MECHANIC SAID MY ENGINE SEIZED. I HAVE MY CARE SERVICED REGULARLY AND DID NOT KNOW OF THIS ENGINE/OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE OR TO BUY A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10455025

Incident

Apr 6, 2012

Mileage

118,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT FOLLOWS OTHERS THAT OWN THE SEBRING CONV. AND THE SLUDGE BUILDUP,.I ALSO DO REG. MAINT. ON THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE AN ENGINE THAT HAS SEIZED & FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A PILEUP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, NOT ONLY ON THIS SITE BUT SEVERAL OTHERS, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS BEING BROUGHT AGAINST CHRYSLER ON THE 2.7LTR ENGINE FOR THIS FACT. THE OIL LIGHT KEPT FLICKERING TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, LEVELS CORRECT, IT WOULD GO OUT FOR A WHILE AND THEN BOOM. THIS WOULD GO ON LIKE EVERY 3 MONTHS OR SO SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR .NEVER AGAIN CHRYSLER. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH FOR YOU TO ORDER A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES??? *TR

NHTSA ID

10437993

Incident

May 12, 2010

Mileage

104,244 mi

ENGINE DIED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WE KEPT THE CAR IN GOOD CONDITION AND PERFORMED MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. *TT

NHTSA ID

10427682

Incident

Sep 27, 2011

Mileage

93,546 mi

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, WITH 56K MILES, WITH A BLOWN ENGINE, ROD THRU IT DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. OIL WAS CHANGED ON THE CAR EVERY 4 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386705

Incident

Feb 24, 2011

Mileage

56,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I CHANGE THE OIL, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS LIKE I DO TO ALL CARS I BUY. ABOUT 2 DAYS AGO THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR. CHANGED THE SENSOR BUT THE LIGHT STILL TURNED ON. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP & AFTER A BETTER INSPECTION HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE OIL PUMP. TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I GET IT FIXED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1000 TO REPLACE IT. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE AFTER A SEARCH ONLINE I CAN SEE I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384229

Incident

Feb 21, 2011

Mileage

144,000 mi

ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369270

Incident

Oct 6, 2002

Mileage

113,000 mi

I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH, I BOUGHT IT FROM MY MOTHER. THE OIL WAS CHANGED RIGHT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND I HAVEN'T DRIVING MORE THAN 3000 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 22ND, 2010 MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN I STARTED IT UP AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT, THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT AT EVERY STOP LIGHT. THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND I HAD AAA COME TOW IT TO THEIR AUTO SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE CAR. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES IN CHRYSLERS AND DODGES. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ESPECIALLY SINCE I JUST PAID MONEY FOR THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO! I AM SO UPSET! *TR

NHTSA ID

10362103

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR A QUICK CHECKUP. MY MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 50,000 ORIGINAL MILES LOOKS LIKE IT IS FROM A VEHICLE WITH 150,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILDUP. I AM AFRAID TO PURCHASE A USED ENGINE (WHICH IS HARD TO FIND TO BEGIN WITH) BECAUSE IT MAY FAIL BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FROM SLUDGE AND ALSO THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM I HAVE DISCOVERED AFTER MUCH RESEARCH OF THE 2.7L ENGINE ON THE INTERNET. INSTEAD I HAVE TO PAY OVER $5000.00 TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED IN MY USED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314562

Incident

Aug 28, 2009

Mileage

54,974 mi

CAR TAKES FOREVER FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM UP, SOMETIMES STALLING & HARD TO START. THE HEATER MOST OF THE TIME DOES NOT WORK IN MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI, IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THE SEAT HEATER WORKS, HOWEVER IT HAS A LOUD NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN OPERATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261087

Incident

Nov 16, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

THIS WAS A PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE WHICH HAD SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE AT JUST OVER 55,000 MILES. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. LIKE MANY OTHER REGISTERED COMPLAINTS (ON THIS SITE AND OTHER SITES), INVESTIGATION REVEALED OIL SLUDGE AND EXCESS OIL BURNOFF WHICH LED TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS QUOTED A MINIMUM OF $3500 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT, THOUGH RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE ENGINE FOR THE VEHICLE IS FLAWED (THOUGH CHRYSLER HAS APPARENTLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS ONGOING ISSUES WITH OIL SLUDGE AND ENGINE FAILURE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10259114

Incident

Feb 12, 2009

Mileage

55,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE EXITING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF $3,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO RESTART THE ENGINE BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY A JUMP TIMING AND FAULTY PARTS. THERE WERE NO CRASHES, INJURIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

10252852

Incident

Dec 23, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

SLUDGE IN ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE NEES NEW ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251503

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN SPECULATED THAT THE OIL PUMP LOCKED UP, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $4,700. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10249414

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE, 2.7 LITER CHRYSLER NO WARNING LIGHTS LEADING UP TO INEVITABLE ENGINE FAILURE. 10/27/08, 6:30 P.M. HEATER ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING. 10/28, 2 MILES INTO A.M. COMMUTE; STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, TURNED RIGHT ONCE TRAFFIC CLEAR. UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE HESITATES, NEARLY CAUSING DRIVER BEHIND TO REAR END ME. PULLED OFF STREET TO CHECK THAT CAR WAS RUNNING OK, SEEMED FINE. 9 MILES INTO COMMUTE. OIL LIGHT FLICKERS, PULLED INTO GAS STATION WITHIN 4 BLOCKS, SCARED ENGINE WOULD LOCK UP OR BLOW. CHECKED OIL, DRY DIPSTICK! PURCHASED 2 QUARTS, ADDED 1 & BARELY REGISTERED ON DIPSTICK. ADDED 2ND, NOW REGISTERED OVER FILLED (OIL IN ENGINE WAS HELD BACK DUE TO SLUDGE, & RELEASED WHILE ADDING NEW OIL?). OIL LIGHT STOPS FLICKERING & IS OFF. 1 MORE MILE TO WORK. ENGINE HESITATED A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING A.M. & P.M. COMMUTES. 9:58 P.M., 11 MILES INTO P.M. COMMUTE STOP AT GAS STATION, CHECK OIL. BEFORE OPENING HOOD, NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ODOR, COULDN'T TELL IF COMING FROM MY CAR OR OTHERS NEARBY. OIL STILL REGISTERED ON DIPSTICK AS OVERFILLED. NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE NEAR MID FRONT OF CAR, PASSENGER SIDE, COULD NOT FIND EXACT LOCATION. PURCHASED COOLANT JUST IN CASE. FINAL 2 MILES OF COMMUTE, TEMP GAUGE REGISTERED HIGHER THAN NORMAL. 10/29, 8:00 A.M. TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DRIP MARKS ON DRIVEWAY FROM EVENING BEFORE. ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE, INFORMED ME THEY WERE NO LONGER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP/SERVICE AS OF OCT. 1, (SIGN OUTSIDE & CARS IN THE LOT HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN AWAY). DIAGNOSIS: REPLACE WATER PUMP, OIL, AC & POWER STEERING BELTS, OIL SENDING UNIT, TIMING CHAIN & GEARS, TENSIONERS & UPPER CONNECTORS. ESTIMATE: $1,548. 2ND OPINION: REPLACE WATER PUMP, VALVE COVER GASKET, THERMOSTAT, BELTS, & OIL FOR $1,371. ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING TIMING CHAIN, TOTAL $2,500. HOWEVER, THE SHOP HAD 15-YEAR FORMER CHRYSLER SERVICE VETERAN ON STAFF WHO SUGGESTED I NOT MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE SOON, AND I'D BE WASTING MONEY. STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247193

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

90,500 mi

A FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED IN THE CAR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CAR RAN BAD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER ADVISED IT WAS ONLY OIL SLUDGE AND IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246943

Incident

Aug 27, 2008

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE BRAKING AND ACCELERATING. THE NOISE PERSISTED FOR THREE DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY, WHILE BRAKING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, SHE HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. LATER THE SAME DAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE MAP SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE OXYGEN IN THE FUEL INJECTION WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING DAY; HOWEVER, SHE WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THIS MEANT THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,500. UPDATED 10/30/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT VARIOUS TIMES. UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10243212

Incident

Jul 30, 2008

Mileage

52,500 mi

THE ENGINE DIED. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, NO COMPRESSION, ENGINE SHOT. 63,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242508

Incident

Sep 11, 2008

Mileage

63,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10236404

Incident

Jul 30, 2008

Mileage

117,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10230570

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

103,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10226609

Incident

Apr 8, 2008

Mileage

75,600 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10222535

Incident

Mar 19, 2008

Mileage

72,500 mi