RoadVitals

2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Oct 4, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
31%
of 62 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 4, 2017

HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. THEN AT GAS STATION WOULDNT START AT ALL, HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AND THAT MECHANIC TAPPED ON GAS TANK AND IT STARTED AND SAID FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE SO I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE THE NEW FUEL PUMP HAD A WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH FUEL PUMP BUT FOUND PROBLEM WIRH #2 SELINOID AND THEY REPLACED IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THS CAR WAS DRIVING FINE BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT STARTED RIGHT UP. SO I TURNED IT OFF AND ON A COUPLE TIMES THEN THE ENGINE SURGED THEN HESTITATED THEN DIED. IT DID IT TWICE AFTER STARTING IT THEN TURNING ITVON ABOUT 5 TIMES TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2017. I HAD BOTH STRUT MOUNTS FIXED, FUEL PUMP, AN AIR VALVE FROM COOLANT DO NOT REMEMBER EXACT NAME, #2 SELINOID NOW THIS PROBLEM. I STILL OWE ON THIS CAR AND ITS NOT RELIABLE AND SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND WRECK.

NHTSA ID
11031652
Incident
Oct 3, 2017
Engine
Filed Nov 8, 2016

THE HEADGASKET HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR YEARS.

NHTSA ID
10925088
Incident
Apr 11, 2016
Mileage
84,765 mi
Engine
Filed May 3, 2014

I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND A LOT OF STRESS CRACKS IN THE OIL PAN WHICH IS ALUMINUM TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEIZE OR CATCH ON FIRE THE EXHAUST PIE IS UNDER ONE OF THE CRACKS AND AS THE CAR GOT HOT THAT CRACK EXPANDED. THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE IN THE PAN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586362
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
108,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2013

2004 2.7L CHRYSLER SEBRING GTC CONVERTIBLE V-6 ENGINE SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE AT 107,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STARTED TO BUCK, SURGE, AND MAKE A SERIOUS KNOCKING SOUND, WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR STALLED IN IT'S TRACKS, UNABLE TO RUN AGAIN. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AWAY. MECHANIC STATED ENGINE WAS RUINED DUE TO COOLANT ENTERING THE INTERNALS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498352
Incident
Feb 14, 2013
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,500.

NHTSA ID
10451205
Incident
Oct 1, 2006
Mileage
15,500 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2011

PURCHASED 2004 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE MEMORIAL WEEKEND 2011. DURING DELIVERY FROM UTAH AUTO GALLERY OIL LIGHT FLICKERED. DEALER CHEATED OIL AND SAID WAS ION. OIL CHANGE IN JULY WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. VEHICLE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY I80, OUT SIDE OF SALT LAKE CITY. DISCOVERED VIA INTERNET THAT 2.7 ENGINES DEFECTIVE. DEALER NOT RETURNING CALL. RESEARCH SAYS THE SIGN THAT THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO SEIZE IS THE FLICKER OF THE OIL LIGHT. VEHICLE SOLD WITH THE POTENTIAL OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH HAPPENED A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER VEHICLE SOLD. CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 922 MILES SINCE PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10418460
Incident
Aug 9, 2011
Mileage
95,678 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2010

CHRYSLER 2.7 L V6 ENGINE PRONE TO SLUDGE AND FAILURE, DESPITE CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369164
Incident
Dec 3, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2010

THE ENGINE ON MY 2004 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE GTS BLEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN I 95 TOWARD MIAMI GOING 75 MPH. I LOST ALL CONTROL AND POWER TO VEHICLE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF EXIT 129 IN FT PIERCE TO A GAS STATION. ONLY TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND THAT IT WAS A VERY KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10360946
Incident
Sep 27, 2010
Mileage
61,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2010

2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING LIMITED. OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE LED TO ENGINE FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES. THIS CAR WAS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED, INCLUDING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. MY MOTHER WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SHE HAD JUST HAD DENTAL SURGERY THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS RECOVERING FROM A SEVERE INFECTION. SHE HAD TO SIT IN 98 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR MANY HOURS AFTER HAVING TO PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT. THE CAR WAS ALMOST HIT BY OTHER CARS AS SHE PUSHED IT AND SHE SUFFERED HEAT EXHAUSTION AND OTHER PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE CAR AS IT WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346788
Incident
Jul 23, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 17, 2010

CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED IT NEEDS NEW BATTERY AND TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS AND ALSO REQUESTED OIL CHANGE. DEALER CALLED BACK STATED ENGINE HAS SLUDGE, ENGINE"VERY VERY BAD" , MAKING KNOCKING NOISE,"MAY NEED NEW ENGINE." I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE SAME CHRYSLER DEALER 2 YRS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10311573
Incident
Feb 6, 2010
Mileage
41,355 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2009

I PURCHASED A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE ON DECEMBER 25, 2008. THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER ANOTHER 1 MONTH OR SO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. PER THE DEALER I ONLY HAD 3 MONTHS OF WARRANTY THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASED THE PERSON WHO SOLD THE CAR TO ME STATED I HAD 1 YEAR OF WARRANTY AND IT TURNED OUT I ONLY HAD 3 MONTHS OF WARRANTY. I OF COURSE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SAID IN THE BEGINNING AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE. AFTER THAT DAY I WENT BACK HOME AND DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY HAD CLOSED THE DEALER PER THEY WERE ALREADY OUT OF BUSINESS. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AFTER THAT. ON AUGUST 2, 2009 MY CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED A NEW ENGINE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED PER THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT OF NO WHERE. I HAD 3 OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT MY CAR AND THEY ALSO STATED A NEW ENGINE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN. SO NOW IM STUCK WITH MY CAR LOAN IN WHICH I STILL OWE ABOUT $6000 AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW PER IT COST TOO MUCH TO REPLACE. WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THIS CASE? PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295228
Incident
Aug 2, 2009
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2009

THE CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED A NEW ENGINE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED PER THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I HAD 3 OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AY THE CAR AND THEY ALSO STATED A NEW ENGINE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295224
Incident
Aug 2, 2009
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2009

2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WITH 2.7L, 6 CYL ENGINE. ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN MICHIGAN; WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE RADIATOR WAS STEAMING/BOILING. NO WARNING, NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS, NO OIL PRESSURE OR TEMPERATURE WARNINGS. HAD CAR TOWED TO MICHIGAN DEALER, THEY COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO MOVE; SAID I NEEDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT. CHRYSLER WOULDN'T HONOR ANY WARRANTIES BECAUSE CAR WAS JUST OVER 70K MILES (WARRANTY TO 70K). ALSO, DEALER I TOWED THE CAR TO HAD JUST LOST THEIR CHRYSLER FRANCHISE 3 DAYS EARLIER AS DID THE DEALER I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR FROM; CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO THESE DEALERS ANYMORE ABOUT THE CAR, I WAS ON MY OWN. I FOUND NUMEROUS WEBSITES SHOWING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ENGINE THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE. THERE'S BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN NJ REGARDING THIS ENGINE FAILURE BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE THAT I CAN PARTICIPATE IN YET. I SURRENDERED THE CAR TO CHRYSLER AS I WASN'T READY TO PAY OVER $8000 FOR A NEW ENGINE (MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH). *TR

NHTSA ID
10281327
Incident
Jun 13, 2009
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 16, 2009

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE CAR STOPPED, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE BATTERY WAS FINE BECAUSE THE RADIO AND HEAD LIGHTS WERE WORKING, I KNEW HAD OIL, MY HUSBAND CAME OUT AND TRIED TO JUMP START IT BUT HAD NO LUCK, HAD IT TOWED TO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. I HAD NO WARNING SIGN THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE AND THAT IT LOOK PRETTY CLEAN AS WELL. THEY TOLD ME A NEED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $5500 FOR A USED ONE WITH A 6 MO. PARTS ONLY WARRANTY OR A FACTORY RECONDITIONED ONE AT A COST OF $7200. I CAN NOT AFFORD EITHER, AND STILL OWE APROX $6500 ON MY CAR LOAN. I FOUND A WEB SITE CALLED AUTO BEEF AND WITH LITTLE SURPRISE THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FAULTY PRODUCT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR A CAR I CANNOT USE OR INVEST ALMOST $7200 PLUS TAX ON A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH THAT MUCH TO PUT INTO IT ANOTHER $7200.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262002
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2008

OIL SLUDGE IN MY LOWER ENGINE. CHRYSLER 2.7 V6 ENGINE. I AM BEING TOLD I NEED TO PAY $8000.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE IN MY 2004 SEBRING WITH ONLY 48,XXX MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247624
Incident
Oct 15, 2008
Mileage
48,250 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 2008

TICKING OF THE ENGINE, NO SLUDGE FOUND AS OF TODAY. STALLING AT LIGHTS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243086
Incident
Sep 1, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2008

VEHICLE HAS DIED FOR NO REASON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEN RECENTLY STARTED KNOCKING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED WITH SLUDGE. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE DONE A FEW OF THE OIL CHANGES OURSELVES, AND HAD SOME DONE AT AUTO SERVICES OTHER THAN CHRYSLER SO THEY DO NOT WISH TO WARRANTY THE ENGINE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM I DISCOVERED AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND CHRYSLER IS TRYING NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BY CLAIMING THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED CORRECTLY BY THE OWNER, AND OR, THE SERVICE COMPANIES OTHER THAN CHRYSLER. I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR A CAR THAT DOES NOT RUN, AND I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE FOR A CAR THAT IS A 2004 MODEL, OR ANY YEAR MODEL FOR THAT MATTER. A $20,000 VEHICLE SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 OR 5 YEARS. 20,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235775
Incident
Jul 21, 2008
Mileage
38,500 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Feb 10, 2008

2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE 2.7 LITER ENGINE FAILURE. THIS ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING LUCKILY IT I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH AND I HAD TIME TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND NO DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE CAR THROUGHOUT THE THREE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. I AM A SINGLE PARENT WHO IS WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW BUT PAYING $350.00 A MONTH ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR ON A REGULAR BASIS AND CHRYSLER HAS DENIED THE CLAIM EVEN THOUGH EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. I HAVE TO INVEST ALMOST $5,000.00 IN A CAR THIS MONTH THAT BLUE BOOKS AT MAYBE $8,000.00. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER AGAIN AND WANT ANYONE THAT IS CONSIDERING ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS TO RECONSIDER. THIS ISSUE CAN CRUSH YOU FINANCIALLY I HAD TO DECIDE WEATHER TO LET THEM REPO THE CAR AND DEVASTATE ME FINANCIALLY OR TO JUST SAVE ALL OF MY EXTRA MONEY TO MAKE THE REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN THE MOST FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING EVENT IN MY LIFE. I SERVICED THIS CAR REGULARLY THROUGH INDIVIDUALS AND SOMETIMES JIFFYLUBE BUT IT STILL WAS MAINTAINED. REGARDLESS THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT AND ANY VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE. I TRUSTED THIS CAR WOULD AT LEAST LAST ME THROUGH MY LOAN. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE ON CHRYSLERS PART FOR NOT TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE CARS HOW COULD THEY ABUSE THE PUBLIC IN THIS WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217598
Incident
Nov 27, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2007

AT 30,987 MILES, MY 2004 CHRYSLER CONVERTIBLE 2.7L V6 ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE OF INTERSTATE RT 95 IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I HAD JUST LEFT PHILA. CITY AND WAS DRIVING ONLY 5-10 MINS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT OR OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR JUST DIED. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AND I COULD COAST SAFELY OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. ENDED UP AFTER TOWING TO LOCAL SHOP OF PEPBOYS AND THEN AGAIN TO A 5-STAR CHRYSLER DEALER, THE ENGINE WAS DIAGNOSED AS FREEZING UP DUE TO SLUDGE IN OIL. HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE ENGINE AT COST OF $4,855 ON A VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW CAR. WARRANTY COVERAGE DENIED SINCE I COULD NOT PROVIDE PROOF OF OIL CHANGES THROUGH RECEIPTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186947
Incident
Jan 28, 2007
Mileage
30,987 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .