1996 Chrysler Sebring Owner Complaints

I was driving my car & listening to music. All of a sudden my passenger side dash speaker started smoking, then was shooting fire. I had a Bubbler drink & splashed it across the dash onto the speaker. It was scary, as I thought my engine might blow up. I took it to the shop, but they were so busy, it sat for a week, & I finally said forget it(I would have been too costly) & I needed my vehicle to get to work. Many things failed after that; gas gauge; speedometer needle; right turn signal; & radio.Other things but just can’t remember at the moment.

NHTSA ID

11491258

Incident

Jul 21, 2022

I was driving on the highway; all of a sudden my right dash speaker started on fire. I had a Bubbler in my vehicle, so I used that to put it out. Since then, my radio no longer works, nor does mileage show & gas gauge fluctuates, & cannot tell when it is actually empty.

NHTSA ID

11470156

Incident

May 20, 2022

AIR BAG COMES ON AND THE ALL DIALS ON THE DASHBOARD GO BLANK.

NHTSA ID

11271320

Incident

Mar 8, 2018

Mileage

99,500 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING THEN THE GAGES ON THE DASHBOARD STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES JUST THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT GOES AND THE DIALS STILL WORK. WHEN THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF USUALLY THE DIALS COME BACK WITHIN 10 MINITES OR 5 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11265367

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

49,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR TO GET DIAGNOSTIC FOR SMOG. THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO SMOG SMART EXPLAIN THEY HAVE DISMATELED MY CAR CLAIMING ENGINE, COOLANT, AND TIMING BELT. THEY HAVE REMOVED PARTS AND CLAIM THEY CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND ITS COMPANY STATES ITS REPAIRS IS NOT WORTH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE CLAIM, THE COOLANT CLAIM AND TIMING BELT THEY HAVE MADE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURE. THE ENGINE CHECKED FINE BEFORE DROPPING THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WOULD STOP DUE TO HEATING THE FUEL RUNNING SINCE THE CAR HAD BEEN A NON OP FOR 3 YEARS ANDREASON FOR SMOG. THE CAR WAS DELIBERATLEY DISMANTELED CAN I GET ITS INFORMATION OF THE CLAIM THE SMOG MART 7070STOCKTON SACRAMENTO CA 95820 IS MAKING SO I CAN SETTLE WITH THE SHERIFFS IN THERE DISTRUCTION OF MY PROEPRTY WITHOUT INVOICE SIGNATURE TO REMOVE ANY PARTYS ON MY CAR EXCEPT ORDERED TO RUN DIAGNOSITCIS.

NHTSA ID

10789032

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

168,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10679492

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

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

TRANS CABLE BROKE CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503506

Incident

Mar 15, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. SHE FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED BY PUTTING IT IN PARK, USING THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10357047

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

200,000 mi

1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. WHILE THE DRIVER PULLED OFF TO THE RIGHT BERM, THE WHEEL CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0734-90.

NHTSA ID

10284362

Incident

Aug 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS RELEASED DEBRIS THAT BEGAN BURNING HER FACE. THERE WAS ALSO A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE AS IF CHEMICALS WERE BEING RELEASED FROM THE AIR BAGS. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND A PHYSICIAN STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED WITH ANY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10255983

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN IMMEDIATELY STALLED. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR AND THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE FAILED AN EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO SMOG. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAD A SECOND EMISSIONS TEST AND FAILED AGAIN DUE TO SMOG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,083.

NHTSA ID

10218810

Incident

Mar 7, 2006

Mileage

167,000 mi

MY 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE DASH STEREO SPEAKERS MID 10/05 .. SCREECHING NOISES CAME FROM MY SPEAKERS AND THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THEM. I TURNED OFF THE STEREO AND SOON AFTER WENT TO MY MECHANIC. WHEN THEY TURNED MY STEREO ON SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH SPEAKERS AGAIN. I ASKED THEM TO PULL THE FUSE SO THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. ON 2/16/06 I CALLED CHRYSLER. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THEM DATED 2/21/06 STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE TIME OR MILEAGE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. ON RECALL SIGHTS I HAVE FOUND WHERE THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN SLIGHTLY NEWER MODELS. THIS COULD HAVE ENDED IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO MYSELF AND MY TWO NIECES THAT I WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THAT MORNING. I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP ME HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND I'VE ALSO HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND TIMING BELT. I AWAIT YOUR REPLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186678

Incident

Oct 14, 2005

Mileage

118,000 mi

LOWER LATERAL ARM BROKE ON OUR 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR UNDER RECALL. THIS IS THE 3RD MAJOR FAILURE AND INCONVENIENCE OF THIS PART. THE LAST FAILURE WAS 8 MOTHS AGO. THERE IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AS WELL AS A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179050

Incident

Jan 18, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON FOR APPROX 30 SECONDS AND THEN GOES OFF. ON 10/12/06 I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT CAME ON AND OFF AND THEN REMAINED ON. I IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONED THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (LIVONIA CHRYSLER JEEP, MICHIGAN) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN. THE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE TECHNICIAN HOOKED UP A HAND HELD DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND A "PASSENGER SQUIB OPEN" CODE CAME UP. I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL STATING THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND THERE WERE FOUR STORED INACTIVE CODES. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE WERE NO ACTIVE CODES, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. I INQUIRED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD MY AIRBAGS WORK IF IN AN ACCIDENT OR COULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. THE REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT ADVISE ME. I STRESSED MY CONCERN BUT WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND TO BRING IT BACK IN. WELL, THAT IS WHAT I DID THIS LAST TIME. I MUST ADMIT THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY NICE AND TRIED TO HELP, BUT HONESTLY DID NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS. ON 10/16/06 I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. NO LIGHT WAS ON. ON 10/17/06 I TELEPHONE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY'S, AND AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND WITH NO ANSWERS. I RELY ON THE EXPERTS AT DEALERSHIP AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE TROUBLE CODES AND NOT BE ABLE TO ADVISE IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. PLEASE HELP! I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT EVENTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS A 1996, THERE ARE ONLY 18,396 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171045

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

18,396 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FLIPPED SIDEWAYS, THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT SHEERED OFF THE OIL FILTER AND KNOCKED IT FROM THE MANIFOLD. THIS OCCURRED ON AN ICY ROAD DURING NORMAL BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID

10149901

Incident

Feb 4, 2006

Mileage

107,000 mi

DT: JUNE 30 2005 THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH. THERE WAS A NOISE, SPARKS WERE FLYING, AND THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND BOUNCED OFF A CURVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY INSPECTED IN MAY AND NO PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF IT. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THERE WAS A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE BALL JOINT. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING REPAIR WORK DONE. CHRYSLER IS WILLING TO PAY THE REPAIRS. THE BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10128557

Incident

Jun 30, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V421002; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND RESULTED IN THE WHEEL TURNING SIDEWAYS. AS A RESULT THE DRIVEER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND UNDER CARRIAGE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. *SB *NM

NHTSA ID

10105478

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

Mileage

76,000 mi

1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING HAS PROBLEMS WITH ROOF LEAKING, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER/PARK INTERLOCK WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO HIT NINE CARS AND BE EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PARK /NEUTRAL START SWITCH BEING FAULTY. THE CONSUMER WANTS DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COMPENSATE HER FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10119012

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN 1999. NHTSA'S RECALL # 99V066003. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, THEY DID NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE, THEY ONLY INSPECTED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WHERE FINE. RECENTLY, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WHERE HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. HE AGAIN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE BALL JOINTS AND NOT THE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105534

Incident

Dec 11, 2004

THE VEHICLE'S RH TIE ROD WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND PITTED. AS A RESULT THE TIE ROD FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH TIE RODS REPLACED. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101356

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

71,800 mi

PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS ON 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN DEC 1997 AND THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND ELECTED TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE ONLY UNDER RECALL #750. IN NOV 2002 THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY FELL APART WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091682

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK LID OPENED AND DROPPED ON HIS HEAD AND CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. *AK THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY OPEN AT ALL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10081683

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

Mileage

53,901 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE SEAT BELTS WOULD RETRACT BACK INTO THE SEAT AND FAILED TO COME BACK OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE SEAT BELTS IN ORDER TO CLICK THEM IN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT BELTS HAD NO LIFE TIME WARRANTY. *AK THE MECHANISM RESETS ITSELF OVERNIGHT SO THE SEATBELTS WERE USABLE IN THE MORNING, BUT DRIVING OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE WOULD LOCK THEM AGAIN. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10079604

Incident

Jun 21, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. THIS INDICATES A FAILURE IN THE AIR BAG THAT COULD RESULT IN PREMATURE OR NONE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10080260

Incident

Jun 28, 2004

Mileage

91,400 mi