RoadVitals

2005 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
15
Latest Feb 17, 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.
38%
of 39 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chrysler Sebring Convertible submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 electrical

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

ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Feb 17, 2017

MY CAR LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE DO NOT TURN ON HAVE TRIED REPLACING ALL FUSES THE RADIO ALSO WILL NOT COME ON ALSO HAVE TRIED REPLACING FUSES THE RIGHT DOOR DOES NOT LATC AND CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE THE LEFT DOOR ONLY CAN OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHEN TRYING TO TURN AND TRIES TO LOCKED UP BUT I DO HAVE STEERING FLUID IN THERE THE RIGHT BACK BLINKER STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM TIMESSAGE EVEN WITH A NEW BULB THE SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS AND DINGS EVEN WITH SEAT BELTS ON ALSO THE OILAST LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WITH OIL IN IT AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
10955369
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 2014

HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF AND CONTINUES TO SOUND, UNTIL POUNDING ON THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER. DEALER SAYS IT IS A BAD HORN SWITCH WHICH IS INTEGRAL WITH THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS NOT A COVERED PART WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY AND COSTS >$750. THIS WOULD BE VERY UNSAFE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, OR BAD NEIGHBORHOODS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663246
Incident
Nov 26, 2014
Mileage
118,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 16, 2012

THE HORN JUST RANDOMLY GOES OFF. TO GET IT TO STOP I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE WHICH ALSO DISCONNECTS THE AIR BAG. AFTER READING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BY HUNDREDS OF SEBRING OWNERS, I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPLACE THE HORN AND AIR BAG (CHRYSLER MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS ALL ONE UNIT AND TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE OVER $700). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10480784
Incident
Jul 9, 2012
Mileage
49,682 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10474000
Incident
Aug 22, 2012
Mileage
83,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Apr 1, 2012

HORN BLOWS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN USING THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK DOORS BUT HAS HAPPENED WHEN JUST OPENING THE CAR DOOR. CONTINUES TO SOUND FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY WILL STOP IF HOLDING HORN PAD DOWN ON STEERING WHEEL BUT THEN RESUMES WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO REPLICATE. STATES IT IS PROBABLY A FAULTY HORN PAD WHICH IS CONNECTED TO AIR BAG ASSEMBLY SO ALL MUST BE REPLACED. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX! APPARENTLY THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH SEBRINGS FOR THIS YEAR. WHY NOT A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID
10453741
Incident
Feb 12, 2012
Mileage
58,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed May 6, 2011

HORN WILL START WORKING ON IT'S ON AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL FUSE BURNS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS BY REPLACING THE DRIVER AIRBAG SINCE THE HORN PAD IS INSIDE THE AIRBAG ASSY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, A VEHICLE WITHOUT AN HORN WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY A DRIVER HAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SURROUNDING DRIVERS IN CASE THEY GET TOO CLOSE OR TO WARN THEM OF A DANGER A HEAD, THIS MOST CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BY CHRYSLER AVOIDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BAD DESIGN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE DRIVING SEBRINGS WITH NO HORNS (SINCE THEY CAN NOT AFFORD $800 FOR A NEW AIRBAG, WHICH BY THE WAY IS GOING TO BE NO MORE THEN A TEMPORARY SOLUTION SINCE NO CHANGE IN THE DESIGN HAVE BEEN MADE). THAT POSSES AS MUCH AS A THREAT ON ALL OF US WHO SHARE THE ROAD WITH THEM AS IT DOES ON THOSE SEBRINGS OWNERS... I HAVE TO ADMIT I'M SKEPTICAL ABOUT NHTSA MAKING SURE CHRYSLER MAKE THINGS RIGHT, BUT AT LEAST I'LL GIVE IT A TRY. TO SEE HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS IS I SUGGEST YOU GOOGLE "CHRYSLER SEBRING HORN FIX". THANK YOU. P.S THERE WAS NO INCIDENT JUST YET, BUT I HAD TO CHOOSE A DATE OF THE "* APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE:" OR IT WILL NOT LET ME GO TO THE NEXT PAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10399380
Incident
May 6, 2011
Mileage
79,500 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 10, 2010

THE HORN RANDOMLY BEGINS HONKING. IT OCCATIONALLY HAPPENS AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF IT CONTINUES HONKING. IT OCCATIONALLY BEGINS WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE LOCKED DOORS. IT WILL THEN SUDDENLY STOP HONKING, ONLY TO START AGAIN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET IT TO STOP WHILE I'M DRIVING IS TO PUSH HARD ON THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ONE HAND WHILE I STEER WITH THE OTHER HAND. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONTROLS THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG. THE SWITCH COSTS AROUND $500 AND LABOR WILL COST ABOUT $500 MORE. SINCE I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THAT NOW, THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED I REMOVE THE RELAY FOR THE HORN. HE TOLD ME THAT WOULD STOP THE HORN FROM HONKING, BUT ALSO DISABLE THE AIR BAG. SO NOW I AM DRIVING WITHOUT A HORN AND WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. THIS IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369877
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Mileage
63,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Feb 2, 2010

'ALL COMPUTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS PERIODICALLY, SPORADICALLY SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY: ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURE 'I AM TRAPPED, LOCKED IN MY CAR WITH NO SAFETY, DASH, WINDOW OR TEMPERATURE CONTROLS 'AT NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT 'STEERING/UPPER CONTROL ARM APPEARS TO BE CRACKED 'TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT, IT SLAMS INTO GEAR AT TEN MILES PER HOUR OR 50 MILES P/H 'SOMETHING IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS SNAPPING LOUDLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, SOMETHING IN STEERING COLUMN 'DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS: THE FRONT AND REAR LOUDLY CREAK AND GROAN 'AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY STAYS ON'THEN OFF'THEN ON AGAIN 'ENGINE LIGHT SPORADICALLY COMES ON'THEN OFF'THEN ON AGAIN 'RUNS LIKE A TRUCK, CHUGS, RATTLES 'CYLINDER ONE MISFIRE AT 45K. THESE ARE PLATINUM PLUGS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE CHANGING UNTIL 100K 'COOLANT HOUSING CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT GAUGE TO APPROACH RED ZONE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNER OF RECALL ITEM. MY COST: $200 'DRIVER'S WINDOW SHUDDERS WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303807
Incident
Nov 4, 2005
Mileage
188 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2009

[ 2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING] I SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. THE CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS BURNT UP. ABOUT 3000 IN DAMAGES..... *TR

NHTSA ID
10297381
Incident
Aug 18, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2009

THE HORN ON MY 2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING GTC CONVERTIBLE STARTED HONKING INTERMITTENTLY SIX TIMES DURING THE PAST 2 MONTHS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AT LEAST TO ME, THAT WHEN THE HORN STARTS HONKING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY THAT NOT ONLY AM I DISTRACTED TRYING TO SHUT THE THING UP BUT EVERYONE AROUND ME IS ALARMED BECAUSE A HONKING HORN SIGNALS DANGER. I HAVE TAKEN OUT THE FUSE FOR THE HORN, SO NOW I DO NOT HAVE A HORN BUT THAT IS PREFERABLE TO REPAIRING THE PROBLEM OR HAVING A HORN. I READ ON THE INTERNET OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS NO ONE IS REALLY SURE HOW TO HANDLE IT AS THERE WERE DIFFERENT 'FIXES' AND SOME DIDN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283302
Incident
Jul 17, 2009
Mileage
33,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsTransmission
Filed Sep 5, 2008

PURCHASED 2005 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE IN EARLY 2006 WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT. WAS PUSHED INTO AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. CAR CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING, WAS A WIRING ISSUE, HAD TO HAVE STEERING WHEEL TORE APART AND REPAIRED. DEALER COST $374. INTERIOR LIGHTS IN CAR FLICKER AND CONTINUE TO FLICKER. CAR GOES INTO GEAR HARD SOMETIMES, LIKE A CLUNK. NO THE BLOWER MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE HAS WENT OUT AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS VEHICLE FOR BLOWERS IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM THAT ONLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN. HOW NICE OF CHRYSLER TO KNOW THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING WITH THIS VEHICLE. SIGNED A VERY UPSET CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241078
Incident
Aug 15, 2008
Mileage
84,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalTransmission
Filed May 7, 2008

MY HORN HAS STARTED GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. IT WILL NOT WORK WHEN I PRESS ON IT, BUT WILL SOUND ITSELF AT ANY TIME DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT. THE LIGHTS ON MY STEREO HAVE BEEN FLICKERING, AND THE COMPONENTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL (SUCH AS THE STEREO VOLUME AND CRUST CONTROL) WILL TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF OR UP AND DOWN. THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO GEARS LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR THIS MONTH, AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. WHEN I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT, I AM TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR THE HORN TO SOUND OFF LIKE IT DOES, AND FOR THE STEREO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE VOLUME UP OR DOWN WITHOUT ANYONE PRESSING ON THE BUTTONS LIKE THEY DO. I READ ANOTHER PERSONS REPORT ABOUT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM THAT IS VERY SIMILAR TO MY PROBLEMS, AND I FEEL LIKE THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS CAR WOULD END UP WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10226879
Incident
May 3, 2008
Mileage
45,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 21, 2008

HORN GOES OFF WHEN DOOR IS OPENED, OR WHEN DRIVING . HAVE TO BEAT THE HORN TO TURN THIS OFF. I SMELL AN HOT ELECTRONIC SMELL. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225214
Incident
Apr 16, 2008
Electrical
Filed Jul 3, 2007

THE HORN WILL NOT STOP BLOWING, I WILL BE DRIVING & THE HORN WILL GO OFF UNTIL I BEAT THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN IT OFF, IT HAS SCARED SEVERAL DRIVERS & UPSET SEVERAL DRIVERS AS WELL. IT ALSO WENT JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WAKING UP THE NEIGHBORS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP & AM BEING TOLD IT IS SOMETHING WITHIN THE AIRBAG & NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, @ MY COST NOT COVERED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING. IT IS A COSTLY PROCEDURE & SOMETHING I CAN NOT AFFORD, THIS IS A SOMEWHAT NEW CAR, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACURING ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10195229
Incident
Jun 22, 2007
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 24, 2007

WHEN DRIVING MY 2005 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONV/GT THE HORN STARTED BLOWING. I HAD TO REPEATEDLY PUNCH THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL IT STOPPED. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASTHE AIR BAG, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY WANT $750. 00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO HORN, EXCEPT WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK, AND NO AIRBAG IN A GRAY 2-DOOR CONVERTIBLE - SCARY. THE CARWAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186069
Incident
Mar 24, 2007
Mileage
35,000 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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .