RoadVitals

2003 Chrysler Sebring Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
8
Latest Jul 18, 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.
19%
of 42 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.
0
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chrysler Sebring submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 suspension

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

Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jul 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, HE TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TURNED OUTWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BONJOY WAS FRACTURED IT CAUSED THE AXLE TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,389.

NHTSA ID
10885516
Incident
Jul 17, 2016
Mileage
131,389 mi
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Jun 3, 2015

START CAR, WHEN IN IDLE IT SHUTS OFF WITH IN A FEW SECONDS OF HITTING GAS NOW. IT USE TO IDLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO REV A LITTLE SO IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE BIT TODAY TO BROKE DOWN. LUCKILY IN MY DRIVE WAY THIS TIME INSTEAD OF THE MIDDLE OF ROAD LIKE LAST WEEK. WHY IS MY CAR DOING THIS?

NHTSA ID
10723312
Incident
Jun 3, 2015
Mileage
155,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 13, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TOWARD THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,300.

NHTSA ID
10461672
Incident
Jan 30, 2012
Mileage
115,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 30, 2008

2003 SEBRING REAR MOUNT ASSEMBLY FOR STRUT CRUMBLED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING BANGING NOISE IN REAR PASSENGERS SIDE. WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT THOUSANDS OF REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. WAS TOLD THAT PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS DUE TO MAKING THEM OUT OF STEEL AS THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM ONES WERE BREAKING DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236368
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 2, 2008

BOTH REAR (SUSPENSION) STRUT BRACKETS ON WIFE"S 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING BROKE,CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO RUB INSIDE OF BACK TIRE.. CANNOT REPLACE BECAUSE OF THAT PART BACKORDER IN THE THOUSANDS....WHY? *TR

NHTSA ID
10233076
Incident
Jun 26, 2008
Mileage
63,541 mi
Suspension
Filed May 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING FROM MAINE TO SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS AT 30 MPH, THE REAR STRUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE CONTACT HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE. THE SALES DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE STRUT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VISIBLE AND WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF METAL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CONTACT'S WARRANTY AND SHE HAD TO PAY $130 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,500. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10228694
Incident
May 15, 2008
Mileage
75,500 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 11, 2005

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING LX, I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 21,000 MILES IN MARCH OF 2004, NEARLY NEW RIGHT? SINCE THEN, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF ROTORS AND PADS FOR THE FRONT, 1 SET OF TIRES, PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT, TOTALING OVER $700.00 FOR REPAIRS, THAT I PAID OUT OF MY POCKET. THE FAN KNOB INSIDE THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED OF THE HEATER FAN LABELED 1-4, NOW ONLY WORKS ON 3 AND 4. NOW THE LOWER TIE- ROD END ON PASSENGER SIDE IS BAD OR MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. A NEARBY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS DRY AND NEEDS LUBRICATION BUT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE DUE TO CHRYSLER NOT PUTTING GREASE FITTINGS ON ANY OF THE IMPORTANT AREAS! I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I FOUND IT WOULD COST $850.00 TO FIX. THERE MECHANICS SAY THAT THEY DON'T SEEM LOOSE AND NOTHING IS GOING TO FALL A PART, BUT JUST IN CASE, SINCE YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE TIE-ROD END, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION, SO THEY SUPPOSEDLY HAVE IT ON ORDER. THE DEALER SAYS IF IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER THEY LOOK THE CAR OVER GOOD, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE AND THE WARRANTY WILL COVER THE REST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLES ASSUMING IT WOULD BE A SAFE FAMILY CAR SINCE MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND DUE IN NOVEMBER WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AND HAVE SUNK MORE MONEY IN IT THEN MOST VEHICLES 5 YEARS OR OLDER. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 59,000 MILES ON IT WHICH WHEN I BOUGHT IT I GOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 75,000 MILES. AT THE RATE IT'S GOING, THE CAR WILL LUCKY TO MAKE IT THAT FAR. SAFETY IS MY MAIN CONCERN WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE, AND THIS CAR HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT IT IS A LEMON DUE TO THE FRONT END PROBLEMS AND IS A HAZARD TO MY FAMILY AND I. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132503
Incident
Aug 11, 2005
Mileage
59,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 30, 2005

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN COLD WEATHER CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM PREMATURELY WORE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10117090
Incident
Jan 4, 2005
Mileage
32,000 mi

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

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .