1997 Chrysler Sebring Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic light, he was rear-ended by a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the driver claimed that the brakes had failed on his vehicle and he was unable to stop. The contact stated that he sustained back and neck injuries but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was informed that the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was a total loss by the other driver’s insurance company. The contact stated that both vehicles were towed to collision repair centers. The contact stated that his vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage of both vehicles were unknown.

NHTSA ID

11490262

Incident

Oct 7, 2022

FIRE IN RIGHT FRONT DASH AREA( PASSENGER SIDE) TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIR BAG. BROKE/MELTED FRONT WINDOW/WIPER BLADE, BURNED A 12" SQUARE HOLE IN THE DASH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER SMELT SOMETHING BURNING--NO SIGNS OF SMOKE, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED OVER NIGHT. THE DAMAGE WAS NOTICED THE NEXT MORNING.

NHTSA ID

10811276

Incident

Dec 17, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RELEASE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 07/14/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10786408

Incident

Oct 25, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION). WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS BENT INWARDS TOWARDS THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

NHTSA ID

10691175

Incident

Dec 25, 2014

Mileage

208,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I DID NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS SLIGHTLY EJECTED. I HAVE GONE TO AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS AND EVEN A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, AND BOTH INFORM ME THAT THE AIRBAGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR CAR ARE NO LONGER MADE. I NEED HELP ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683688

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502659

Incident

Feb 27, 2013

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO SPIN SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10498178

Incident

Feb 14, 2013

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION. IN DOING SO, HE UNKNOWINGLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. UPON IMPACT, THE REAR WINDOWS WERE BLOWN OUT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE FURTHER AND UPON DOING SO, FOUND IT UNUSUAL THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF FRONT-END DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10319218

Incident

Aug 8, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE MALFUNCTION DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED. THE SHOULDER AND LAP BELT CAN NOT BE WORN BY THE OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS AND THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. BOTH THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 152,200.

NHTSA ID

10266532

Incident

Apr 21, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE OCCUPANTS ARE INSUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT TIMING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $150. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ID

10251325

Incident

Oct 15, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPAIRED IN 1998 ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V201000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421002 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) IN 2000. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, IT IS IN THE SYSTEM AS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. HE BELIEVES THAT THE REPAIR WAS NEVER PERFORMED, BUT WAS DOCUMENTED AS COMPLETED IN ORDER TO GET PAID BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10248274

Incident

Nov 9, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED. THE SEAT BELTS ARE CURRENTLY IN A LOCKED POSITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10237356

Incident

Jan 15, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI, WHEN I BEGAN GETTING LIGHT-HEADED, AND KNEW THAT I WAS ABOUT TO PASS OUT. I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY, AND THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER WAS TURNING INTO THE LOT (BECAUSE I INDEED DID PASS OUT, DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION). MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, I STRUCK A RAISED CONCRETE SIDEWALK (AT A STORE FRONT) THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 12 INCHES HIGH, THEN STRUCK THE BRICK WALL AND STORE FRONT WINDOW, ENTERED THE BUILDING AND STRUCK DISPLAY CASES, FURNITURE, ETC. UPON ENTERING THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME TO, I WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, AND THE AIRBAGS (NEITHER ONE) HAD DEPLOYED. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 FROM MY CELL PHONE TO SUMMON POLICE, FIRE & EMS. THE INVESTIGATORS FROM THE LOCAL POLICE INDICATED THAT WHEN I PASSED OUT MY FOOT HAD TO HAVE HIT THE VEHICLES ACCELERATOR TO CAUSE ME TO TRAVEL THE DISTANCE, HIT THE SIDEWALK, AND CONTINUE INTO THE STRUCTURE (BUILDING). I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY FEATURES (AIR BAGS) DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10204231

Incident

Aug 8, 2007

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT 15 MPH, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE 2ND OF 2 SMALL DIPS, THE FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE ON THE 1997 SEBRING AND THE CAR STOPPED. WE GOT OUT, SAW FRONT WHEEL TURNED OUT AT SHARP ANGLE, THE RIGHT FRONT OF CAR DROPPED. SHERIDAN POLICE DROVE BY,WE MADE AN ACCIDENT REPORT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED 2 BLOCKS, THE INS. CO. WAS CALLED WE CONTACTED PHIL LONG CHRYSLER IN LITTLETON CO. TO FIND PRICE ON THE PART. THEY ASKED FOR VIN NUMBER AND DETERMINED THERE WAS RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. THEY SAID CAR WAS FIXED ONCE UNDER RECALL, THEY WANTED TO SEE IT. WE HAD IT TOWED THERE. BERNIE SAID THEY WOULD AT LEAST FIX THE BALL JOINT. THEY ESTIMATED THE DAMAGE AND CALLED DISTRICT REP TO COME SEE THE CAR. WE WERE CALLED AND TOLD DISTRICT REP SAID NO, THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR UNDER THE RECALL. WE ALSO OWED THEM $100 (DIAGNOSTICS).WE WERE TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER, SCOTT VANSICKLE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR WAS 10 YEARS OLD, HAD 160,000 MILES. [RECALLED PART WAS FIXED AT 20,000 MILES IN 1998.] DECISION WAS MADE BY THE DISTRICT REP. AND, BESIDES, THOSE PARTS WEAR OUT. I ASKED FOR NAME AND NUMBER OF DISTRICT REP - CHRIS G. AT 1-800-992-1997. I CALLED, WAS TOLD BY ALEX, AFTER MUCH REFERRAL WITH HIS SUPERVISOR, THAT CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH DISTRICT REP, CHRIS G, HE SAID HE WAS NOT AT THAT NUMBER, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A DISTRICT REP THERE, I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH DEALER FOR THAT. I ASKED HIM FOR HIS NAME, ALEX, AND SUPERVISOR'S NAME,RYAN.CHRYSLER'S REP, ( CHRIS G.) HAS OFFERED TO DO ABSOLUTELEY NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM AND IS UNWILLLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW AND NOONE WAS HURT.THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THE 3 OF US COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT CHRYSLER CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULT OF THIS PART.

NHTSA ID

10202009

Incident

Aug 27, 2007

Mileage

161,325 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING THE CAR FELT AS IF FELL OUT OF CAR AND TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN NOTHERN NEW JERSEY AND COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO BE TOWED BACK TO PHILADELPHIA. THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE WERE NO WORNIGN SIGNS AND THE CAR ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 76,000 MILES ON IT. MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE PASSENGERS WERE VERY MUCH IN DANGER SINCE WE WERE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146060

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

76,000 mi

DT: THE SEAT BELTS ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE STRAP WILL GET STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR, IT WILL NOT MOVE. MOST OF THE TIME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IT HARDLY EVER WORKS. THIS STARTED ON AUGUST 24, 2004. CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE TO FIX IT. *AK THE CONSUMER THINKS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10134036

Incident

Aug 24, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, 967 ISSUED ON MAY 16, 2001. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS RECALL REPAIRS WERE NEVER DONE. ON JUNE 23, 2005 SHE WAS TRAVELING, THROUGH SAINT CLARESHORES, MICHIGAN ON I94, GOT OFF AT EXIT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN AND VEHICLE CAME TO A DEAD STOP. RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT INTO WHEEL WELL, WHICH DID A LOT OF BODY DAMAGE. FROM THERE MECHANIC HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE AT WATERFORD AUTO, IN WATERFORD, MICHIGAN. MECHANIC THEN CALLED CHRYSLER TO FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 967 ON PART THAT BROKE. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE, HER EX-HUSBAND RECEIVED THE NOTICE. MECHANIC HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO CLARKSTON CHRYSLER 8105 BIG LAKE ROAD, PO BOX 1015, CLARKSTON, MICHIGAN 48347. DEALER LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THEY NEEDED AN INVESTIGATOR FROM CHRYSLER TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. INVESTIGATOR CAME OUT ON JULY 6, 2005. CONSUMER HEARD FROM MANUFACTURER ON JULY 19, 2005. THEY DENIED RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PART HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY SOMEONE ELSE. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT HAVE A RECORD OF IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10129356

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

ON APRIL 23, 2005, MY SON WAS TRAVELING TO WORK, ABOUT 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE 210 FREEWAY. AT SOME POINT, HIS LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. HIS CAR LOST CONTROL AND SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE, ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND HEAD ON INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. HIS CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN IN THE SAME DIRRECTION AND IMPACTED AGAIN AT THE RIGHT REAR QUARTERPANEL, AND THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER. MY SON GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND THE CHP ARRIVED WITHIN TEN MINUTES TO HAVE HIS CAR TOWED. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN. THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO THE SALVAGE YARD. TWO WEEKS LATER I GOT A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER SAYING THAT THEIR RECALLED UPPER BALL JOINT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRASH. I HAD A MECHANIC EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, HE HAD IT LIFTED UP WITH A FORKLIFT, AND SHOWED ME THE RACK AND PINION THAT WAS DANGLING DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE SAID THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRAIGE, THE BROKEN STEERING WAS WHAT CAUSED MY SON'S CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, AND CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN, INJURING HIM, AND THREATENING THE OTHER COMMUTERS.

NHTSA ID

10121428

Incident

Apr 23, 2005

Mileage

81,350 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A GARAGE , IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE HOME AND WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115820

Incident

Mar 24, 2005

THE BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATING AND WERE MAKING NOISE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS, AND WHILE PULLING OUT THE BRAKES FAILED ONCE AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AGAIN, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115014

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

WHILE PULLING INSIDE THE PARKING LOT VEHICLE COLLASPSED TO THE GROUND. DRIVER NOTICED THAT RIGHT SIDE COLLASPED,BUT THE LEFT SIDE WAS NORMAL. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE, AND THEN CONTACTED A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111497

Incident

Feb 14, 2005

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN.DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH A EXHAUST MANIFOLD- STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN! DRIVING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON BUSY HIGHWAYS THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10104859

Incident

Nov 14, 2004

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP SINCE THE CAR HIT AROUND 57,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE KEEPS RACING AND THE SPEED DOESN'T KEEP UP. THE CAR NOW HAS 87,000 MILES ON IT AND IS SLIPPING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104306

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

60 mi

1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI 6 CYL. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 69,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED $1,808.00. ENGINE FAILED 86,000 MILES $2,500. HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALUMINUM WHEELS EASILY DAMAGED REPLACED ALL 4. I WOULD NEVER IN LIFE BY ANOTHER CHRYSLER. WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE A FREE ONE! BOUGHT IN 1997 AS A DEMO. PROBLEMS SINCE 1 WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. I DON'T LOOK THEIR DIRECTION WHEN PASSING DEALERSHIPS. HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY FOR 3 YEARS PRIOR TO SEBRING. NO MAINTENANCE ISSUES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098664

Incident

Aug 8, 2001

Mileage

69,000 mi

THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED BUT THE UNSAFE PART ABOUT THIS CAR IS THAT EVERONE OF THE LUGS:NUTS ON THE WHEELS WERE NOT THE CORRECT LUGS:NUTS FOR THE CAR AND THEREFORE MY WHEELS WERE NOT ON MY CAR SECURELY. I HAVE MADE ROAD TRIPS TO FLORIDA AND ALABAMA WITH MY CAR BEING VERY UNSAFE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093656

Incident

Jul 20, 2004