RoadVitals

1999 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.
11
Latest Oct 3, 2016
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.
6%
of 172 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1999 Chrysler Sebring submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REQUESTED REIMURSEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10911139
Incident
Sep 24, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 15, 2009
Fire reported

UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS,THE SPARKS PLUG WIRES FOR THE 3 REAR CYLINDERS ARE ROUTED IN A MANNER THAT PUTS THEM ON TOP OF THE FUEL RAIL,IN THE ODD OCCURRENCE THE SPARKS PLUG WIRES FAIL THEY CAN SEND A SHOCK OF ELECTRICITY AT THE FUEL RAIL CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT THE IGNITION AND CAUSING A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10288603
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2008

CAR HAD BEEN CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE VERY BUSY DIVIDED HIGHWAY ABOUT 55 MPH, CAR SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THEN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO TURN AND CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC THROUGH MEDIAN TURN-OFF, CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LUCKILY A FRIEND CAME BY AND PUSHED CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TO A SAFE AREA. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES AND CAR RESTARTED. I GOT THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT. I WILL BE HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I HAVE LOOKED UP INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN 1996-1999 SEBRINGS. MOST OWNERS HAVE PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. SOME OWNERS NEVER COULD GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. FROM THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE GATHERED, IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR OR THE EGC SENSOR. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ITEM AS THE VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING. IT IS JUST BY LUCK THAT THE CAR RESTARTED WHILE DRIVING AND DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IN THE MEDIAN. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 107,000 MILES AND I EXPECT THINGS TO GO WRONG WITH IT MECHANICALLY, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS A NORMAL MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, NOR DO I WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY REPAIRING THINGS THAT DO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT PLUGS,FUEL PUMPS, SENSORS, ETC. HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED UNTIL PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. I FEEL CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247397
Incident
Oct 31, 2008
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO THAT OF A TIRE FAILURE AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GAS STATION. THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THERE WERE METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE OIL PAN. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED REFERENCE NUMBER 16870242 AND STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE IS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS NO WARRANTY, THEY COULD NOT BE OF ASSISTANCE. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID
10207224
Incident
Oct 22, 2007
Mileage
86,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Sep 17, 2007

WHERE DO I BEGIN? I PURCHASED THIS 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI USED IN 2006. IT HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT, BUT APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE FINE, SO I BOUGHT THE CAR. SILLY ME! AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, I'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 DISTRIBUTORS PUT ON, CONSTANT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND VEHICLE DYING OUT. I ALSO HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND NOW THE RADIATOR FAN IS GOING OUT AND MAKING A LOUD TERRIBLE NOISE. I CANNOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH WITHOUT THE CAR CUTTING OFF AND IT WILL BE PAID FOR IN ABOUT 8 MONTHS. TALKING WISHFUL THINKING!?? THE RIMS BEND EASY, THE AIR ALWAYS LEAKS FROM MY TIRES AND NOW THERE'S ALSO A BAD OIL LEAK. CHRYSLER MAKES A BEAUTIFUL CAR, BUT IT'S A PIECE OF JUNK AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I SEE! CHRYSLER'S SHOULD BE LEASED SO THAT WAY YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING STUCK WITH IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10203280
Incident
Aug 3, 2007
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Feb 9, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(00V421002) LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DRIVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. CHRYSLER SERVICE MANAGER FAULKNER. *JB THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. PER INSPECTION, THE STEERING WAS FOUND DAMAGED. REFER TO RECALL#01I012000. *SC

NHTSA ID
10107494
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, RPMS WENT TO RED, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 25-30 MPH. DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, AT THIS TIME VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC FOUND METAL FLAKES IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, TRANSMISSON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002015
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Nov 16, 2001

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN STOPPING/ WANTS TO STALL. ALSO, VEHICLE IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
899216
Incident
Apr 15, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2001

WHILE DRIVING FLYWHEEL BROKE COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
896910
AirbagsBody & structureEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 20, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ON ICY ROAD CONDITION VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND LANDED FACING WEST, WHEN A 18 WHEELER HIT CONSUMER AT ABOUT 65 MPH, AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK THE AIR BAGS FAILED ON HEAD COLLISION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE HAD OVER HEATED AND WOULD NOT START. DOOR WON'T OPEN DUE TO POWER LOCKS FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID
883569
Incident
Feb 9, 2001
AirbagsEngine
Filed Feb 22, 2000
Crash reportedFire reported

WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, THERE WAS NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857335
Incident
Feb 4, 2000

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .