RoadVitals

1996 Chrysler Sebring 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.
41
Latest Nov 7, 2015
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.
12%
of 343 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.
4
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 1996 Chrysler Sebring submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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

The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words

EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2015

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
Engine
Filed Feb 21, 2008

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
BrakesEngineTires & wheels
Filed Jan 15, 2004

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
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

2.4 HEAD GASKET. EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MILEAGE ILLUMINATION. POPPING NOISE FRONT SUSPENSION. RATTLE REAR SUSPENSION, POPING WHEN LFT DOOR GLASS WINDOW PUT UP.LOW FUEL LITE . CAR ONLY HAS 46805 MILES WHEN YOU CAN READ MILEAGE

NHTSA ID
10068722
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Mileage
46,805 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING. IT GOES THRO TONS OF OIL, I KEEP HAVING TO ADD OIL TO THE CAR, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN BREAKING ON IT. NOW IT PERIODICALLY STALLS OUT NON STOP. THERE IS ONLY 85K MILES ON THE CAR AND IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE PUT IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR FOR REPAIRS. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BY CHRYSLER AND I TOOK IT IN FOR THE OIL ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY SAW NO PROBLEM, THAT WARRANTY RAN OUT AND MY EXTENDED ONE KICKED IN AND THEY SAID IT HAD OIL LEAKS AND KEPT 'FIXING' THEM. ONCE THAT WARRANTY RAN OUT THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY TO 'THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING THE OIL, THAT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY'. MEANWHILE I AM LEFT WITH A HORRID CAR THAT WONT RUN. *PH

NHTSA ID
10030498
Incident
Jul 31, 2003
Mileage
29,000 mi
EngineFuel systemVisibility
Filed Apr 25, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, MOSTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND USING ELECTRICAL PART, SUCH AS POWER WINDOWS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8008616
Incident
Jan 15, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2002

ENGINE BLEWOUT AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005071
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED OIL BURNING WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET.*JB

NHTSA ID
8004964
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2002

THIS IS THE FIFTH ENGINE IN THE RALEIGH AREA THAT HAS HAD THIS FAILURE BETWEEN 60000 AND 80000 MILES, IT IS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED WITH THE SIMILAR NEON ENGINE, AND A TECHNICAL BULLETIN HAS BEEN RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ID
757360
Incident
Jan 23, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2001

RADIATOR: THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE PIPES; HOSES; RADIATOR IS RUSTED. EVERY TIME I GET AN OIL CHANGE I MUST GET MY RADIATOR FLUSHED AND THE COOLANT IS COMPLETELY RUST COLOR. IT TAKES ABOUT 6 FLUSHES FOR IT TO BE CLEAR AGAIN. THIS IS ABNORMAL FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 86000 MILES ON IT. I WANT ALL THE HOSES AND RADIATOR REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. CONVERTIBLE TOP: ALL THE SEEMS HAVE COME UNSTITCHED...I'VE HAD TO GLUE THEM WITH SPECIAL GLUE. THE EDGING AROUND THE WINDOWS LEAKS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!

NHTSA ID
751353
Incident
May 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER'S 20 TIMES. CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
892834
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 29, 2001

THE CLIPS WHICH HOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTER PANEL FAILED CAUSING THE PANEL TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID
785014
Incident
Jan 6, 2001
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 27, 2001

FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD WEAROUT EXCESSIVELY. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT/ OUTER TIE ROD END/ SWAY BAR LINK, AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED BY MECHANIC. IN ADDITION, HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WATER AND OIL, AND THEY WERE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
884399
Incident
Oct 13, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 24, 2001

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE, SECOND REPLACEMENT NEEDED WITHIN A YEAR. REPAIRS BEING MADE AT DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
878974
Incident
Mar 12, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 8, 2001

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT 75,000 MILES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
877689
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
EngineSuspension
Filed Nov 21, 2000
Fire reported

CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 33-0270-578. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900625
Incident
Nov 17, 2000
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Nov 6, 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
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
733840
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
731155
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2000

ONGOING OIL LEAKAGE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
863354
Incident
May 3, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2000

CARRIED MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL LEAK--WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC S@TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS-- OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH HEAD GASKET--BOTH TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF THE SAME DESIGNED CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM--THE CAR HAS NEVER RAN HOT--ONE GUY HAD THE SAME MODEL AS MINE COME INTO HIS SHOP ON THE SAME DAY AS MINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
718409
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 4, 2000

ENGINE LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD, ONE YEAR LATER THE LEAK REDEVELOPED. NLM

NHTSA ID
550230
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed Dec 9, 1999

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
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 1999

ENGINE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING. SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AS THE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WAS BEING RE-DESIGNED. FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM PLUS THE NTSA SITE REPORTS THAT CHRYSLER HAS DESIGNED A MULTIPLE LAYER HEAD GASKET TO SOLVE THISPROBLEM. OWNERS SHOULD BE RE-IMBURSED FOR THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
715029
Incident
May 5, 1998
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 1999

EMISSION COMPLAINT RELATED TO POSSIBLE O2(OXYGEN )SENSOR: DEFECT:MY VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEEN EMITTING A SULPHUR SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' HAS REMAINED ON. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP(TO CORRECT RECALL NOTIFICATION 827) THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED I NEEDED A NEW O2(OXYGEN) SENSOR TO CORRECT MY PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST. MOREOVER,THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST WAS THE REASON THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' REMAINED ON. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF CHRYSLER SEBRINGS AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THIS O2(OXYGEN) SENSOR REPLACED. I BELIEVE THE NTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE A POSSIBLE RECALL RELATED TO THE O2(OXYGEN) SENSOR IN THE 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI. *AK

NHTSA ID
714948
Incident
Oct 8, 1999

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

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .