1996 Chrysler Sebring Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE BRAKE CHAMBER, BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES, AND THE ADJUSTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10631677

Incident

Jun 3, 2014

ON THE ENGINE I HAD THE PULLEY ON THE TIMING BELT COME APART AND JUST LAST MONTH I HAD THE HEAD GASKET START TO LEAK FROM THE BACK. TIMING BELT 28,000 HEAD GASKET 37,500. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES THAT WHERE ON THE CAR. ALL BY 29,000 MILES--SOME EARLIER AND THEN LATER. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACES AT THE SAME TIME AS THE TIMING BELT PULLEY. I KNEW THEY NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THEM REPLACED WHEN THE TIMEING BELT WENT OUT. IT IS A 1996 BUT I ONLY HAVE 37,500 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10069961

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT 40 MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATES, VEHICLE SWERVES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THERE IS A SHORT IN THE LEFT FRONT SOLENOID CIRCUIT. TS

NHTSA ID

10001625

Mileage

77,700 mi

CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, SHE IS NOW ON HER FOURTH SET.*JB

NHTSA ID

564241

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT END WILL VIBRATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000946

Incident

Dec 18, 2001

CABLE CONNECTING GAS PEDAL TO ENGINE FRAYED AND STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WAS TRAVELING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT FULL SPEED TWO TIMES. THE FIRST TIME REPEATED STOMPING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL AND THROWING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL UNJAMMED IT AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE SECOND TIME ALSO IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THESE EFFORTS DID NOT HELP. I WOVE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC UNTIL I GOT TO AN OFF RAMP, AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION AT THE OFF RAMP AND ONTO A SIDESTREET WHERE I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND LANDED IT LIKE AN AIRPLANE ON A LANDING STRIP WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING AND THE ENGINE SCREAMING AND THE CAR GLIDED TO A STOP. WAS TOLD THE CABLE HAD UNWOUND LIKE A FRAYED PIECE OF ROPE AND STUCK INSIDE THE CABLE CONNECTING THE PEDAL TO THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

755699

Incident

Nov 8, 2001

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR LOOKS VERY NICE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT HAS MANY ISSUES ON THE INSIDE. THIS CAR HAS COST ME A FORTUNE SINCE MY WARRANTY WENT OUT AT 75,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES, ROTORS, AND DRUMS ALMOST EVERY YEAR. THIS IS VERY COSTLY (OVER $350 EVERY TIME). MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME TWICE, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE OTHER WITHOUT A WARRANTY. I SPENT OVER $1,000 FOR REPAIRS TO REPLACE A GASKET, O-RING, AND TRANSMISSION PUMP. MY O2 SENSOR FAILED TWICE. WHEN I TRY TO ADJUST MY MIRRORS WITH THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER SIDE, THE MIRRORS WON'T RESPOND AT ALL. I CONSTANTLY HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE ADVISORS AT THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT CHRYSLER CARS SOUNDS LIKE THAT. THAT'S NORMAL. ALL THE TINGS I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE EXPERIECED. IN MY OPINION, THIS CAR WILL PUT YOU IN A BAD FINANCIAL SITUATION. IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. I TRADED MINE FOR A MORE RELIABLE CAR (A GERMAN CAR).*AK

NHTSA ID

755570

Incident

Oct 11, 2001

FRONT DISC ROTORS WARP WITHIN 3,000 MILES OF REPAIR CAUSING POOR BRAKING CONTROL AT 40+ MPH. CAUSED BY BAD BRAKE DESIGN. ALSO ABS MODULE FAILED AT 90,000 MILES , LEAVING NO ABS IMPLEMENTATION ON VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

747021

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

3RD BRAKE LIGHT ON SPOILER STOPPED WORKING, SPOILER COVERS OTHER BRAKE LIGHT ON VEHICLE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS VEHICLE INSPECTION WITHOUT LIGHT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

883219

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS MODULATOR 2 TIMES AND IT HAS ONLY LASTED FOR 2 YEARS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

874607

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. BRAKES DO NOT WORK, THEY GRIND AND THE PADS KEEP WEARING AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED, DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CALIPERS. WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE DUE TO SUNROOF BEING CUT TOO SHORT DURING RECALL 99I004, CONSUMER FEELS THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKING DUE TO A RUSTED FUSE. SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. WINDOWS STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY. MIRRORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER RECALL 97V015. VEHICLE GETS POOR GAS MILEAGE, DEALER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BURNT AND FOULED, SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE BREAKING DOWN AND ARCING IN TUBES CAUSING A BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

874510

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS AND IT STILL MAKES A METALLIC SOUND LIKE SOMETHING IS GRINDING WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE ODOMETER AND RPM GAUGE WORK INTERMITTANTLY AT BEST PROBABLY SOME KIND OF A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM, WHEN YOU START UP THE CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR COMES ON, THE WINDOW DOESN'T GO UP OR DOWN BUT THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF THAT DOOR, SOMETIMES THE POWERE BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS DON'T FUNCTION RIGHT AWAY, YOU HAVE TO TAP ON THE BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES FOR IT TO WORK. THE CONNECTION FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST CAME APART WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE WINDOW

NHTSA ID

734467

ROTORS FOR THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE WORN TO THE POINT BELOW SPECIFICATIONS AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. PADS ARE NORMAL. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS. A MIDUS BRAKE SHOP COMMENTED THAT CHRYSLER MAKES ROTORS THIN TO BEGIN WITH ,AND ITS NOT UNCOMMON FOR PREMATURE FAILURE OF ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

871284

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF ROTORS AND PADS WITHIN EVERY THREE MONTHS. ROTORS WOULD BE TURNED OR REPLACED, ALONGS WITH REPLACING BRAKES PADS. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. DEALER REPLACED/REPAIRED ROTORS AND PADS ON THE FRIST TWO OCCASIONS. ALL EXPENSES WENT TO THE CONSUMER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

864193

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-201) ARM BALL JOINT FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

551985

Incident

Sep 23, 1997

AFTER REPLACING HEAD GASKET, I NOW HAVE RUST DEPOSITS IN THE RADIATOR FLUID. THE WINDOW IN BACK FALLS WITH A THUMP WHEN PUT DOWN, AND THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEAK. MY DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND THAT HE HAD A WHOLE PARKING LOT WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

715854

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN HILL THROTTLE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO NOT RETURN TO IDLE AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT INTO LOW GEAR AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

852632

Incident

Nov 4, 1999

THE VEHICLE HAD REMAINED STUCK ON CRUISE CONTROL. IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING. HAD APPLIED BRAKES; VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. RELAXED ON BRAKES & VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN. HAD WORN BRAKES OUT. AT SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED VEHICLE OFF & DISENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL. RESTARTED VEHICLE & HAD NO BRAKES. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

849750

Incident

Sep 12, 1999

THE BRAKES WOULD KEEP LOCKING UP WHENEVER THEY ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. BEEN TO DEALER & ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, PROBLEM HAD STARTED OVER AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

848285

ROTORS KEEP WRAPPING ABOUT EVERY 5,000 TO 6,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

709832

Incident

May 2, 1997

ABS BRAKES AREN'T WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

843816

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS PUT 7 SETS OF ROTORS ON VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

841183

Incident

Jun 24, 1999

WHEN WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, EITHER FRONT OR BACK WINDOW WILL GET CAUGHT BEHIND THE OTHER, NOT ALLOWING THE OCCUPANTS TO EXIT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WINDOWS LEAK, BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THEY CATCH, ELECTRIC MIRRORS INOPERATIVE, WATER STANDING IN THE DRIVERS REAR TAILLIGHT COVER, ALARM SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID

841153

WHILE DRIVING FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE,CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF PRIOR TO RECALL 97V201. ALSO, BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

836112

Incident

Mar 16, 1999

LETTER SENT TO CHRYSLER WITH ALL DETAILS (FILE NUMBER 5441396)(COPY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST). I BRAKED, CAR STOPPED MOMENTARILY, THEN STARTED TO SLIDE AS THOUGH ON ICE. BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR & I WAS STILL APPLYING PRESSURE AS THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD. FIRST TIME JUST WENT THRU STOP SIGN. SECOND TIME (10 MINUTES LATER), I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HIT A CAR. ESTIMATED DAMAGE GIVEN WAS ONLY TO THEIR CAR. DID NOT ESTIMATE MINE. CHRYSLER'S INDEPENDENT ADVISOR SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CHECKED BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANY MORE. TERRIFIED TO DRIVE CAR AGAIN. TRADED IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND. THEY CONSIDERED THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE IN THE TRADE-IN PRICE. I HOPE NOBODY GETS KILLED NEXT TIME. CONSIDERING THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 96 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD LOOK HARDER FOR THE CAUSE OF THIS DOUBLE BRAKE FAILURE. MAYBE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND JUST DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS ONE.

NHTSA ID

706597

Incident

Jan 27, 1999