Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2002 Chrysler Sebring submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 59 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.
The 25 most recent of 59, in the owner's own words
WHEN UR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN LIKE U TURNED OFF THE KEY. IT ISN'T OVER HEATING AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT KEEPS DOING THIS AND IT HAS A NEW BATTERY . I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WELL AND WELL MAINTAINED. THEN HAD ISSUES STARTING AND SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO BE A SIMILAR ENGINE FAILURE OF THESE MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SLIGHTLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP MALFUNCTION AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HAD CORRODED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE REAR BALL JOINT AND THE FILLER NECK WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *TT *AS
CAR COMPLETELY STALLED WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS EXTREMELY COMMON IN THESE CARS.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
MY WONDERFUL FATHER BROUGHT ME THIS CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI ON 04/17/2014. AFTER MY CHEVY IMPALA/2002 STALLED DUE TO TRANSMISSION/IGNITION SWITCH THE TOTAL COST IS $3100.00. SO MY DAD PAYS CASH FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI. ON 05/03/2014, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND A BARBECUE. IT WAS A VERY NICE DAY OUT. THE CAR STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND THE CAR STALLS AND SLOWS DOWN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SUN MAY 4,2014. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE HAD JUMP TIME AND THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $3000-5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE LOST MY JOB IN HR DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GO WORK. I NOW OWN TO VEHICLES THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE AND CANT EVEN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR SINCE I HAVE LOST MY JOB. IT REALLY UPSETS ME ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. WE THE CONSUMERS SHOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF RELIEF. WE THE CONSUMERS RELY ON THE INTELLIGENCE AND INTEGRITY OF THOSE THAT MANUFACTURE AND MAKE THE ENGINES. I'M ASKING THAT CHRYSLER PAY FOR ME A NEW ENGINE. THAT IS A SMALL AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE FACT I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR. HAD THIS TURNED OUT ANY OTHER WAY SUCH AS A FATALITY. MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT " HEADS WOULD ROLL". I WOULD HATE TO SEE CHRYSLER IN THE SAME "HOT SEAT" THAT GM IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WE WERE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CHRYSLER SEBRING LIMITED 2.7L. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE. OI CHANGES, AIR FILTER, TUNE-UPS, YOU NAME IT. WE MADE SURE TO KEEP THIS CAR UP AND THE ENGINE RUNNING. AT 100752 THE ENGINE BLEW. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF TOWN WE HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT MOVE. AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALERSHIP WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH A USED 2.7L CHRYSLER ENGINE. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE WATER PUMP WENT SO WE REPLACE THAT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE THAT SECOND ENGINE ALSO HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP. THEY REPLACED THE OIL AND FILTER. 2 MONTHS LATER THAT ENGINE BLEW UP AS WELL FROM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP. AT THAT POINT WE DECIDED NOT TO THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD AND DUMPED THE CAR. THIS IS A PRODUCTION DEFECT OF THE 2.7L CHRYSLER ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED IN OUR 2002 SEBRING. WE KEPT UP OUR END OF THE BARGAIN AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY DAMAGES FOR A FAULTY ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED AND DID NOT SOUND WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,677.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
ON JUNE 3 2012 I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE ON THE WAY TO CHURCH. WHEN I LEFT I HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR TO START. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND RETURNED HOME. THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I CALLED AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT IT. WHEN I TOLD THEM THE MAKE, MODEL AND ENGINE SIZE OF MY VEHICLE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TYPE OF ENGINE THAT I HAVE ARE KNOWN FOR FAILING. IT HAS A 2.7L ENGINE WHICH IS KNOWN FOR SLUDGE BUILD UP. I HAD THE OIL CHANGE REGULARLY. I FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING FLUID WITH THE OIL CAUSING IT TO FAIL. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH IS GOING TO COST $3000 INCLUDING LABOR. *TR
DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE ISSUE, MY ENGINE CUT OUT ON ME AND NOW I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND POSSIBLY THE MOTOR. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FULL REPORT BACK YET. *TR
BEARING BLEW NO WARNING HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
A QUIET SQUEALING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OVER A PERIOD OF 3 TO 4 MONTHS GETTING LOUDER LEADING TO TROUBLE STARTING CAR AND FINALLY CAR WOULD NOT START WITH JUMP AND NEW BATTERY. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SIMPLE FROZEN PULLEY EXCEPT FOR THE FACT IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE AIR-CONDITIONER SHAFT. THE PULLEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT REPLACING THE AC UNIT AND SERPENTINE BELT. THIS DESIGN IS APPARENTLY ON MANY CHRYSLER MODELS AND IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX SHOULD AND WHEN IT OCCURS. *TR
2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH 2.7L V6 ENGINE. ENGINE HAS NOT FAILED YET, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I NO LONGER DRIVE CAR FOR FEAR ENGINE WILL SEIZE WHILE I'M DRIVING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING BEGINNING OF AUG. 2009; REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM; MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REPLACING OIL PUMP; AFTER RESEARCHING, DISCOVERED OIL SLUDGE ISSUE, WHICH I AM 100% POSITIVE IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY SEBRING. 87,000 MILES ON CAR; HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES; MORE OFTEN THAN RECOMMENDED BY CHRYSLER. *TR
ON APRIL 30, 2009, MY WELL MAINTAINED 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE IN QUESTION WAS THE DEFECTIVE 2.7 LITRE V6 ENGINE WHICH ARE PRONE TO OIL SLUDGE. A STALLED LAWSUIT CLAIMS AS WELL DO I, 'THE ENGINES WERE DEFECTIVE IN THAT THE ENGINE DESIGN CAUSED THE FORMATION OF ENGINE OIL SLUDGE TO AN UNACCEPTABLE AND IMPROPER DEGREE, THAT THE BUILD-UP OF SUCH OIL SLUDGE RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE HEATING OF THE ENGINE, EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE ENGINE, EXCESSIVE FORMATION OF CARBON DEPOSITS WHICH BLOCKED OIL PASSAGEWAYS AND RESTRICTION OF OIL CIRCULATION IN THE ENGINE, AND RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE''. CHRYSLER CORP AND MY LOCAL DEALER REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE AND DENY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, WHICH IS STALLED DUE TO THE FILING OF CHAPTER 11. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT IS DUE TO THE ENGINE KNOCKING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,775 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING ON A PART TO REPAIR HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS OVER FIVE HUNDRED ORDERS WAITING FOR THE MAPPING SENSOR, WHICH IS THE MASS AIR FLOW PRESSURE SENSOR, THAT ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO START. WITHOUT THIS PART, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STALLS CONSTANTLY. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THREE CRASHES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AFTER IT STALLS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS WITHIN A MINUTE. THE DEALER CANNOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME OF WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DETERMINED THAT A TEAR DOWN HAD TO BE DONE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS ENGINE SLUDGE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $7,800. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ENGINE SLUDGE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN AT AN IDLE. NOW, THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS WORN OUT DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WHEN OIL CHANGES ARE DONE AT CORRECT INTERVALS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE SOUND WOULD INCREASE. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 16,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
FIRST I HAD CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK SO THE PAN OR SOME PART WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THE OIL IS STILL LEAKING OUT OF THAT PAN OR PART? THAT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS INCLUDING CHECKING THE CONSTANT FLICKERING OIL LIGHT WHICH NOW JUST FLICKERS AND I PAY IT NO ATTENTION. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS A COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING, THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START SO I TOOK IT IN THAT WAS 800 SOMETHING BY THE TIME THE CAR WAS GOING AGAIN. THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THE CONNECTER THAT HAS THREE HOSES TO IT WENT BAD AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEN I OPENED IT THE WATER WAS SPRAYING LEAKING AND OF COURSE EMPTY WHICH WAS ANOTHER 300 BUCKS AFTER TOWING PARTS LABOR ETC... THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH I JUST DO MY BEST TO STAY IN THE LANE. ALSO I HAVE FOUND OUT THE WHEEL ARE REALLY REALLY CHEAP AND FLAKING SO MY BRAND NEW TIRES WERE IMMEDIATELY PUNCTURED WHICH I'VE PAID A BUNCH TO KEEP THEM SEALED AND BALANCED AND NOT TO MENTION THE WEAR FROM THE STEERING AND FLATS HAS PRETTY MUCH RUINED THE NEW TIRES. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .