2002 Chrysler Sebring Suspension Problems

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FOLLOW UP ON MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES CASE . *AS *TR

NHTSA ID

11132608

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

BALL JOINTS BROKE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT.

NHTSA ID

10969889

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10852219

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING . IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE FUMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10774483

Incident

Sep 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE SCREEN ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10744391

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

133,000 mi

ON MAY 17,2010 WHILE DRIVING TO COLLEGE, I NOTICED A LOUD WHINING ROUGH SOUND, AND EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IT WOULD SOUND LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE COMING FROM MY TIRES. BEFORE, I COULD STOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL MY SEBRING OVER CORRECTED AND ENTERED A COUNTERCLOCKWISE SPIN. I CROSSED 5 BUSY LANES BEFORE STRIKING A DITCH. MY CAR STOPPED OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC!!! JULY OF 2013 I HAD MY LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND BALL JOINTS REPLACED. AND AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 14,2014 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE SHOP AGAIN FOR LOWER BALL JOINT DISCONNECT AND REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AND AGAIN THIS YEAR FEBRUARY 24, 2015 FOR THE EXACT SAME THING; REPLACEMENT OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS CAR IS VERY HAZARD I WAS BLESSED THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN 2010 WHEN I HAD MY ACCIDENT! EVERY TIME; I DRIVE THIS CAR I AM SO FRANTIC OF KNOWING AROUND THE TIME I AM GOING TO HEAR THAT SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING AND SOUNDING LIKE LOOSE BOLTS COMING FROM THE TIRE. MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER THIS YEAR, MADE THE REMARK;" MAMA I HEAR THAT RATTLING SOUND AGAIN!" PLEASE SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE; DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE COSTLY REPAIRS ON THE CHRYSLER SEBRING 2002 CARS. THE ECONOMY IS NOT CHEAP TO LIVE IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FIXING THE SAME REPAIRS YEAR AFTER YEAR ON THE ONLY VEHICLE YOU HAVE. AND YES, I DO HAVE ALL RECEIPTS ON REPAIRS AND ACCIDENT REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF HELPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10736068

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

85,237 mi

I DROVE INTO A GAS STATION AND AS I PULLED IN THE TIRE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS FLAT I CHECKED IT AND IT LOOKED FINE.I TRIED TO DRIVE OF AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL DID NOT MOVE.I REMOVED THE TIRE IN THE PARKING LOT TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, I COULDN'T SEE ANY VISUAL ISSUES. AS I BACKED OUT TO TRY AND DRIVE THE CAR THE BALLJOINT CAME OUT. I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR TOWED FROM NEW JERSEY BACK TO MY TOWN IN NY FOR $110 AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT HAD TO PAY TO GET TOWED AGAIN TO A MECHANIC AND WITH THE REPAIR FEES ENDED UP SPENDING $500 FOR REPAIRS. ALSO MY OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. EVEN CAME ON AS SOON AFTER I GOT AN OIL CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694695

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

I KNEW ABOUT AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CONTROL ARMS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR, YET WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED MY VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY RECALLS. SOON AFTER, MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE AND THE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641369

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

MY FRONT END CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT COLLAPSED, CAUSING OTHER PARTS TO BE DAMAGED. EVER SINCE THIS HAS HAPPEN MY CHRYSLER HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DID TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT TO MY DISMAY NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT MY CAR THE CHRYSLER SEBRING ALWAYS HAVE MAJOR FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES. SINCE THIS IS THE CASE, I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEMS ON THESE MAKES AND MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, HOWEVER I DO NOT. I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY FRIVOLOUS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT CHRYSLER CAN CORRECT THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566692

Incident

Apr 2, 2011

Mileage

106,559 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO CAVE INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10516008

Incident

Jun 10, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE STEERING IS TIGHT 80% OF THE TIME. I FOUND OUT I HAD BAD STRUTS AFTER PUTTING IT ON A LIFT WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10504915

Incident

Mar 29, 2013

ON FEBRUARY 10,2012 I JUST GOT OFF THE EXPRESS WAY AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND UP FRONT. I GOT OUT TO LOOK AND FOUND THAT MY WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CONTROL ARM BROKE. I HAD TO PAY $450 TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464744

Incident

Feb 10, 2012

Mileage

142,349 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL POP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THEN COLLAPSED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, INDEPENDENTLY STEERING RIGHT. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE THREE PERSONS REPORTED INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIELD INSPECTOR WAS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THEY DID NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OR THE CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 05/16/11 *BF UPDATED 2/8/12 *CN

NHTSA ID

10395895

Incident

Mar 12, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL SEEMED TO CAVE IN. THE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND FOLDED INWARD. SHE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES THE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT WERE BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL 09E056000, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10292742

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

96,000 mi

IN MAY, WHILE DRIVING MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING BROKE. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD IT FIXED AND HAD TO LEAVE IT AS THE DEALERSHIP (GOLLING CHRYSLER) ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE WITH THE BROKEN STRUT MOUNT. ON 06/29/08, MY DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT BROKE. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP (CLARKSTON CHRYSLER) STATED THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PART AND THEY HAD TO BE REENGINEERED. SO, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE 06/29/08. MY CAR ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES BUT IT IS PARKED AND UNUSABLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS A BACKLOG OF 10,000 PARTS ON ORDER. CHRYSLER CALLED TO STATE THAT THEY ESTIMATE THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE IN ON AUGUST 11TH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD - OR AT LEAST THAT WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AND I CANT IMAGINE THAT VERY MANY PEOPLE CAN SHELVE THEIR CAR FOR 6 WEEKS AND INSTEAD - LIKE ME, HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THERE CAR ON OCCASION. I WAS ABLE TO BURROW SOMEONE'S VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE STILL TIMES WHEN I DID HAVE TO DRIVE MY SEBRING WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WASN'T AVAILABLE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT OF THOSE 65000 MILES, WELL OVER 99 % WERE ON HIGHWAY AND PAVED ROADS. THERE ARE NO DIRT ROADS IN THE AREA AND IT IS RARE THAT I EVER DRIVE ON ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235078

Incident

Jun 29, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

ON JULY 10TH,2008 I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING 4DR SEDAN. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT HAD FALLEN FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. I TOOK THE CAR ON JULY 11TH TO GET IT FIXED. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE BRACKET REQUIRED (4879072AD) IS ON EXTREME BACKORDER AND IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I CALLED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SEARCHING FOR THIS PART. IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALERS. THERE IS NO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT. ALL DEALERS EVERYWHERE ARE OUT AND HAVE ORDERS PLACED ON CHRYSLER BUT NEVER GET THE PARTS. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER BEING PERSISTENT, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 10,200 ON BACKORDER IN THE US AS OF 7/17. ASSUMING 2 PER CAR AND SOME DEALER "SAFETY STOCK", THIS COULD ADD UP TO 4000 CARS WHICH ARE NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE PARTS AVAILABILITY OR ARE BEING DRIVEN UNSAFE. EVERY CHRYSLER PARTS DEALER I CALLED SAID THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF WITHOUT THE STRUT ATTACHED. IT ALSO CAUSES DAMAGE TO TIRES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. I CHECKED WITH JUNK YARDS HOPING TO FIND A SET. I DID FIND THEM AND THEY ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MINE. IF THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK IS PULLED BACK YOU WILL SEE WHITE DUST AND CORROSION EVERYWHERE. I HEARD FROM A DEALER THAT THE PARTS COME FROM MEXICO AND THE PLANT IS ON STRIKE, THERE HAVE BEEN CARS SITTING AND WAITING FOR THIS PART FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS, BEST CASE I CAN GET PARTS IN 1 MONTH. FROM A PARTS, SAFETY AND AWARENESS STANDPOINT, CHRYSLER HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. UNACCEPTABLE. I AM OUT CAR RENTAL FEES AND HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR DAYS! THEY COULD AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! I AM CERTAIN THEY KNOW OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234800

Incident

Jul 10, 2008

Mileage

88,189 mi

JULY 1 DRIVING ON BLUEWATER BRIDGE RIGHT REAR STRUT SNAPPED OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE IN ST. THOMAS ONTARIO THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT SNAPPED OFF. BOTH OF THEM HAD ROTTED RIGHT OFF. REPLACED WITH RECONDITIONED STRUTS - $500.00 + TOWING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234498

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

WAS DRIVING HOME AND HEAR LOUD NOISE GOT OUT AND CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE STRUT BRACKET HAD BROKEN ON THE REAR OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEABRING. I GOT HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW ONE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER AND THAT THERE WAS AROUND 8000 ON BACKORDER SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND ASKED WHY THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THIS PART YET WITH 8000 PARTS NEEDED THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OF THESE PARTS IN THE USA. NOW WHY IS THIS? THIS PART IS KNOWN TO GO BAD THEY TOLD ME. THEN WHY CAN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL AND GET THESE PARTS MADE SO THESE CARS CAN BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10233846

Incident

Jul 9, 2008

Mileage

90,049 mi

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH BROKEN BALL JOINT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND ALMOST KILLED HIM. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SHE SHOULD FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10228490

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS BROKE. MADE OF ALLUM. WHY? CORROSION WILL HAPPEN IF YOU INSTALL ALLUM NEXT TO SHEET METAL, ALSO THEY WERE NOT PAINTED. THE NEW ONES ARE AT LEAST PAINTED. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE VERY SMART TO HAVE ALLUM. MOUNTS AND UNPROTECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197152

Incident

Jul 18, 2007

Mileage

69,200 mi

RIGHT REAR TOP STRUT MOUNT BECAME NOISY/CREAKING/THUMPS) DURING THE WINTER. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING HOME WE HEARD EXCESSIVE NOISE/CREAKING/THUMPING FROM RIGHT REAR. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE NEXT DAY NOISE WAS EVEN LOUDER. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE SHOCK HAD DROPPED THROUGH THE MOUNT AND WERE WEDGED IN THE COIL. TEMPORARILY PUSHED IT BACK UP, PURCHASED A NEW MOUNT FROM DEALER WHICH WAS INSTALLED. OLD MOUNT, ALUMINUM), HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. NOW THE LEFT SIDE WAS GETTING LOUDER. WILL REPLACE BEFORE SHOCK DAMAGE AS WELL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193405

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

105,800 mi

DRIVING 5 MILE P/HR (LUCKILY) UPPER CONTROL / ARM BAL JOINT, LEFT REAR, CRACKED, SEPARATED...TIRE FELL OFF TBD (PROBABLY REPLACE BOTH PARTS OR MORE DEPENDING ON EXTENT OF RESIDUAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10191696

Incident

May 24, 2007

Mileage

56,945 mi

LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM REAR. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT BOTH BOTH STRUTS AND SHOCKS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED $600.00 . *AK

NHTSA ID

10190845

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

UPON ROTATING TIRES ON JAN 2, 2007, I NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI. HAD THESE MOUNTS NOT BEEN REPLACED IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS AS THE SPRINGS WOULD HAVE LET LOOSE THROUGH THE EXTERNAL WHEEL WELL AND ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS BODILY INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS. FAILURE OF THESE PARTS ALSO COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE A DEGRADED RESPONSE IN HANDLING. I PURCHASED 2 NEW (MODIFIED BY MANUFACTURE) STRUT MOUNTS AND INSTALLED THEM. THE STRUT MOUNTS COST WERE MINIMAL. REAR STRUT MOUNTS ARE SEVERELY CORRODED, CRACKED AND BROKEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178017

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

45,771 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND FELL APART. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE.

NHTSA ID

10168729

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi