RoadVitals

1998 Chrysler Sebring Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
35
Latest Jan 7, 2004
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.
13%
of 267 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.
3
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chrysler Sebring submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 7, 2004

TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE. BRAKES SHAKE AND SHUDDER AND BARELY STOP THE CAR. TRANSMISSION HUMSS AND SHIFTS BADLY

NHTSA ID
10052585
Incident
Jan 7, 2004
Mileage
46,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 2002

CALLED DEALER 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASE COMPLAINING OF BRAKE NOISE. HAVE REPLACED BRAKES 6 TIMES IN LESS THAN 40,000. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. TOOK TO OUTSIDE SHOP, HAD TO REPLACE FOR 7TH TIME. WE CAN NOT SELL VEHICLE, AND WORRY ABOUT SON DRIVING.WANT CAR REPLACED, DEALER WON'T BUDGE.*AK

NHTSA ID
765554
Incident
Sep 22, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 2002

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE PAD WEAR, 6 SETS IN 2 YEARS. DEALER ALSO REPLACED FRONT ROTORS ONCE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013332
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 9, 2002

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AT A FAIRLY HIGH SPEED WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES; BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8009515
Incident
Mar 8, 1998
Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 2002

WHILE BACKING OUT BRAKES BROKE OFF FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING BRAKES TO FALL ONTO GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
8006887
Incident
Feb 25, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 29, 2001

A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS WHENEVER YOU INCREASE SPEED, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES TWICE, AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE TIRES GOING FLAT. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHENEVER COMING TO A STOP AND THEY CONSTANTLY SQUEAL. I HAVE WENT TO THE MECHANICS FOR ALL OF THIS LISTED COMPLAINTS AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY BRAKES PULSATING WAS SAID TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE KIND OF BRAKES THAT CHRYSLER PUTS ON THERE VEHICLES A SEMI METALLIC TYPE. MY FRONT WHEELS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE ABOUT TO FLY OFF. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
752714
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 24, 2001

ROTORS CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED OR TURNED; VIBRATION BAD; NOW DEALER BLAMING IT ON WEAK WHEELS. *AK

NHTSA ID
742953
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 20, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 OR 55 REAR ENDED A CAR. HAD SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
883551
Incident
Oct 25, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 2000

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BRAKES FAILED. AT FIRST INCIDENT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
869579
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 31, 2000

SIDE MOLDING FELL OFF ON THE FREEWAY. BRAKES VIBRATED. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. RIMS HAVE BENT SEVERAL TIMES. FRONT END WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. ENGINE DIED BECUASE SERPENTINE TIME BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE. DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL SQUEALED. DEALER COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
869247
Incident
Aug 29, 2000
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Jul 28, 2000

DOOR CLADDING FALLING OFF / BRAKE ROTORS WARP EASILY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726155
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2000
Crash reported

THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT CAUSING ME TO BRAKE QUICKLY. THE BRAKES WERE TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE AND FAILED DESPITE MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM TO BRAKE SAFELY.*AK

NHTSA ID
723924
Incident
Jun 7, 2000
Brakes
Filed Apr 19, 2000

BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN PUSHING BRAKES, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DUBLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
860593
Incident
Jun 19, 1998
Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2000

THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE STARTING "SQUEALING" AND WE TOOK IT TO MIDAS FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS. MIDAS SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS A CHRYSLER DEFECT AND THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO CHRYSLER. THE MIDAS MECHANIC SAID THAT OUR SEBRING CONV. WAS THE THIRD ONE HE'S SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM. ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO THE SENSOR, CAUSING THE SQUELLING, THAT WAS BECAUSE THE ROTOR HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS IN IT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT AND FRICTION. HE SAID YOU NORMALLY ONLY SEE THIS PROBLEM IN CARS WITH WELL OVER 100,000 MILES ON THEM. CHRYSLER SAYS IT'S PROBABLY THE "CALIPER" THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/FIXED. WE'RE WAITING FOR REPAIR. LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH "BRAKE" PROBLEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I WOULD HATE FOR A FAMILY LIKE MINE(I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN) TO BE INJURED BECAUSE THEIR BRAKES FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
711113
Incident
Sep 3, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT FELT PEDAL PULSATING, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS, WHICH WERE REPLACED, AND THE NEW ROTORS BECAME WARPED AS WELL. *ML

NHTSA ID
859628
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2000

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE EXCESSIVELY WARPING WHICH IS CAUSING SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
859002
Brakes
Filed Jan 20, 2000

FRONT BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AS CAR WAS PROCEEDING INTO AN INTERSECTION. DRIVERS SIDE PADS AND ROTOR SHOWED EXTREME WEAR WHILE PASSENGER SIDE SHOWED LITTLE WEAR TO PADS OR ROTOR.

NHTSA ID
717593
Incident
Jan 13, 2000
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 1999

MY BRAKE "DUMMY LIGHT" CAME ON SO I TOOK IT INTO A CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $450 TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED. MY FAIRLY NEW CAR ONLY HAS 27,300 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT NEED THIS DONE SO EARLY. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/MAKE OF CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER HAS TOLD THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, NOT TURNED. BUT SINCE, THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED SO EARLY, IT SHOULD BE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
716336
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 23, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A T APPROX 30-40 MPH, GOT READY TO SLOW DOWN , AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 4 OR 5. HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
848555
Incident
Sep 10, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 20, 1999
Crash reported

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE LINKAGE CAUSED VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO SPEEDS OF 50 MPH WHILE IN REVERSE, DRIVER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HITTING A BUILDING. *AK

NHTSA ID
847996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 8, 1999

ELECTRICAL. HORN. BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
609803
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 1999

WE HAD BEEN TOLD OUR BRAKE-PADS WERE LOW, BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OF YET, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 'SEBRING' OWNERS OF WHOM HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND HAVE HAD MAJOR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULTS OF THE BRAKES GIVING OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
708739
Incident
Jul 15, 1999
Body & structureBrakesSteering+1 more
Filed Jun 1, 1999

BRAKE SYSTEM - CALIPER INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY CAUSING ROTOR AND PAD ON FRONT/DRIVER'S SIDE TO FAIL. REMAINING PADS/ROTORS IN FAIR CONDITION. PLASTIC EXTERIOR DOOR PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE FALLS OFF WILL SPEED ABOVE 45MPH. SUNROOF FAILS TO OPEN OR CLOSE. BATTERY DIED. ANTI-THEFT NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID
707082
Incident
May 29, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Mar 29, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WNEN CONSUMER DRIVES OVER 15 MPH, VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE. ALSO, WHEN SWITCHING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
836232
Incident
Oct 14, 1998
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Mar 20, 1999

AT 300 MILES ALL INSIDE PANELS HAD BE REPLACED. ( THE PANELS HAD WHAT LOOKED LIKE SUN SPOTS IN THEM. BUT AFTER GETTING NEW PANEL'S WHICH HAD THE SAME SPOTS IN THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCTION PROBLEM. ON THE 3RD SET PANELS.) AT 400 MILES DRIVER'S WINDOW TRIM STARTED COMING LOOSE. THE CAR'S INSULATION OR LACK OF IS SO POOR THAT YOU HEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GRINDING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES THE L/H FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE. BOTH DOOR'S LEAK WHEN IT RAIN'S OR WHEN YOU WASH THE CAR. ON DEC 24, 1998 IT RAINED AND WITH WEATHER DROPING DOWN BELOW FREEZING AND WITH NO ICE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR SHOWING I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR'S ON THE CAR FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. ON DEC 23, 1998 I CALLED DAIMLERCHRSLER MOTORS CORPORTION CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER ( 1-800-992-1997 ) TO FIND OUT CHRYSLER MEANING OF QUALITY. THE ANSWER WAS MITSUBISHI BUILD'S THE SEBRING AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THERE QUALITY AND THAT WHAT YOU HAVE WARRANTY FOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
704680
Incident
Dec 1, 1998

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 sources

Data on this page last refreshed .