2008 Chrysler Sebring Problems

On December 15, 2025, while driving my 2008 Chrysler Sebring in Indianapolis, Indiana, I noticed smoke coming from the driver’s side near the battery. Shortly afterward, the car completely stopped responding — the brakes and steering were unresponsive — and the vehicle caught fire in that area. I exited the car safely, and the fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but I suspect a battery or electrical component failure. No warning lights appeared prior to the incident, except for the smoke I noticed. The incident has not yet been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, or insurance representative. If inspection is needed, the affected parts can be examined in the tow lot, but much of the vehicle has been destroyed, and there is very little left of the car due to the fire. The safety of myself and others was at risk due to the sudden loss of braking and steering control, as well as the vehicle catching fire while on the road. The problem has not been reproduced, and I am reporting it to ensure the incident is recorded for safety monitoring and potential investigation.

The car loss compression in the middle of driving. Try to crank it but it drains the battery. Also, I bought the car a year the buy here pay here company ripped out the lemon law page for Tennessee but kept the other pages in.

The car loss compression in the middle of driving. Try to crank it but it drains the battery. Also, I bought the car a year the buy here pay here company ripped out the lemon law page for Tennessee but kept the other pages in.

Engine frequently stalls while driving. I've had my car shut off while I'm driving many times, the steering wheel and brakes lock up and it makes it hard to get off the street to safety. This happens a LOT. It is very dangerous and scary. I get anxiety everytime I drive because I'm scared of it happening again. My car once turned off in the middle of a busy intersection while trying to turn. It came on after about 45 seconds but it was terrifying. Battery often dies (just replaced it). Horn would go off randomly without stopping for a long time. I had to disconnect the horn (on both sides) because it would keep randomly going off with no way to stop it. Cruise control stopped working one day. Sometimes it comes up when I press cruise control but it turns off when I try setting a speed. Drivers window broke inside, I think something snapped inside the door. I've had it replaced 3 times but it keeps breaking. A/C makes an awful grinding noise sometimes, but it goes away if I turn the A/C off then back on. Also with the A/C, a door or something inside the dash will get stuck every so often and it makes a LOUD clicking like noise but it goes away after about 20 seconds (something to do with the actuator?). Brake light will come on sometimes when I stop. It goes away shortly after I start driving again. ABS light has been on my dash for a few months now. Most of these issues have been happening for over a year now. Most of this shows up under a recall from 2008, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING. It doesn't show up under my VIN number but I'm having the same exact problems.

I have a 2008 Chrysler Sebring Sedan. The radiator is leaking fluid that splashes all over the wires causing a burning smell. I later found out that this is caused by an electrical issue with the sensors. Similarly my tire pressure sensors are fried. These issues have eroded wires causing my A/C and Cruise Control systems to malfunction. My power windows have issues sometimes I can't get them to roll up or down. My internal lights in my car flickering on and off. The mess from the radiator is also causing my engine to overheat. I am now having issues with oil pan leaks as a result of too much pressure from the engine. I see that only certain VINS were added to the recall list. I strongly suggest that NHTSA add other VINS to the recall list, especially mine, since I'm having those exact same issues. I see that there are complaints about this year make and model as recent as last year. Why hasn't the recall list been updated? Please update the recall list. Please and thank you!!

Engine frequently stalls while driving. I've had my car shut off while I'm driving many times, the steering wheel and brakes lock up and it makes it hard to get off the street to safety. This happens a LOT. It is very dangerous and scary. I get anxiety everytime I drive because I'm scared of it happening again. My car once turned off in the middle of a busy intersection while trying to turn. It came on after about 45 seconds but it was terrifying. Battery often dies (just replaced it). Horn would go off randomly without stopping for a long time. I had to disconnect the horn (on both sides) because it would keep randomly going off with no way to stop it. Cruise control stopped working one day. Sometimes it comes up when I press cruise control but it turns off when I try setting a speed. Drivers window broke inside, I think something snapped inside the door. I've had it replaced 3 times but it keeps breaking. A/C makes an awful grinding noise sometimes, but it goes away if I turn the A/C off then back on. Also with the A/C, a door or something inside the dash will get stuck every so often and it makes a LOUD clicking like noise but it goes away after about 20 seconds (something to do with the actuator?). Brake light will come on sometimes when I stop. It goes away shortly after I start driving again. ABS light has been on my dash for a few months now. Most of these issues have been happening for over a year now. Most of this shows up under a recall from 2008, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING. It doesn't show up under my VIN number but I'm having the same exact problems.

I have a 2008 Chrysler Sebring Sedan. The radiator is leaking fluid that splashes all over the wires causing a burning smell. I later found out that this is caused by an electrical issue with the sensors. Similarly my tire pressure sensors are fried. These issues have eroded wires causing my A/C and Cruise Control systems to malfunction. My power windows have issues sometimes I can't get them to roll up or down. My internal lights in my car flickering on and off. The mess from the radiator is also causing my engine to overheat. I am now having issues with oil pan leaks as a result of too much pressure from the engine. I see that only certain VINS were added to the recall list. I strongly suggest that NHTSA add other VINS to the recall list, especially mine, since I'm having those exact same issues. I see that there are complaints about this year make and model as recent as last year. Why hasn't the recall list been updated? Please update the recall list. Please and thank you!!

The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the transmission was shifted to park(P), but after releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle rolled forward. The contact then noticed that the instrument panel indicated that the transmission was in drive(D). The contact depressed the brake pedal again, but after releasing the brake pedal, the failure recurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact applied the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling and was able to park the vehicle; however, the transmission later became stuck in park (P). The contact used a code reader and retrieved DTC: P2004, P0700, and P0562. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

No incident as of yet my air bag light on a ND there is ticking from the passenger side of the compartment glove box and the drivers seat moves when coming to a stop

Ticking noise coming from passengers compartment glove box seat belt light on and seat moves when come to a stop and driver side door handle just came off on the passenger side can't open the door from outside of vehicle there should be recall for this

The car loss compression in the middle of driving. Try to crank it but it drains the battery. Also, I bought the car a year the buy here pay here company ripped out the lemon law page for Tennessee but kept the other pages in.

AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT LOSS OF POWER WILL OCCUR AND MOTOR WILL SHUT OFF. ANYTIME ON THE FREEWAY OR PARKED. OCCASIONALLY AT RANDOM INTERVALS CAR WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START IT WILL TURN OVER APPROPRIATELY.

While driving down the road the Lexus it locks the steering wheel to keep it from moving at all broke almost causing me to have an accident when making the turn it will not pass safety inspection now because of the broken piece inside the steering column that’s where I was going to get it the safety inspection for our state when it broke. I’m not sure exactly what it broke but this is a safety issue. I uploaded a picture but a video would probably be better but I couldn’t send it attach that I can send you one if you would like please respond to me and let me know

WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD UNTIL I BRING THE STEERING BACK INTO REGULAR POSITION. THE SEAT BELT SIGN GOES OFF CONTINUALLY AFTER I'M BUCKLED UP, CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE CAR IS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, CAR JUMPS WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT.

2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING IS STUCK IN PARK. GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY. CAME OUT THIS MORNING STARTED MY CAR AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK. CAR IS TAKEN WELL CAR OF. WAITING FOR A TOW TO GET REPAIRED. *KB

CAR IS STUCK IN PARK. GEAR SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE. WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY WHEN I PARKED IT. GOT UP TO GO TO WORK THIS MORNING AND SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. CAR ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT AND IS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. *TR

See attached document for complaint.

AIR BAG LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKING MECHANIZISM FAILING

Brakes stopped working while in drive

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WAS CORROSION IN THE TRUNK AND AROUND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ISSUE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND THE BRAKES ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE THROTTLE ISSUE HAS PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I was on my way to work. All the warning light appeared on my dash. Then all the warning light, radio, speedometer gage and all head light and tail lights went out. I was driving in the dark. My engine bogged down no power. I was barley moving. I replaced the battery no difference. I replaced the alternator worked for 3 minutes and then the car was back to the same as before. I contacted a nearby mechanic facility they told me that it was most definitely the fuse panel under the hood. That's its not a recall but a lawsuit replacement. I notified the manufacturer and they told me my Vin number was not under recall. I'm confused on what to do not. I'm in no way able to purchase a new vehicle at this time. Nor spend hundreds or thousands in repairs. Please help.

THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF WOULD OPEN WITH PAUSING. THE TRUNK WAS STUCK OPEN NOT CLOSING BUT YOU COULD HEAR MOTOR. NOW TRUNK CLOSED AND STAY CLOSED WITH NO MOTOR SOUND. CONVERTIBLE TOP ISN'T OPENING BUT WHEN CAR DRIVES AT 30MPH THE ROOF FLIES OPEN. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING,CAUSING UNABLE TO SEE MPH OR ANYTHING. I CAN NOT DRIVE DUE TO FEAR OF BEING IN A ACCIDENT OR CAUSING ONE SINCE THE CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE ROOF WILL FALL OFF ON ROUTINE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH SPEED LIMITS THE CAR CAN'T EXCEED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE PRIMEWELL TIRES, SIZE: 215/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONSTANTLY PLACED AIR IN THE TIRES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. *TR

WHILE ADDING AIR TO A CUSTOMER'S TIRE, THE TPMS/VALVE STEM SNAPPED. ALL AIR PRESSURE WAS LOST IN THE TIRE.

No incident as of yet my air bag light on a ND there is ticking from the passenger side of the compartment glove box and the drivers seat moves when coming to a stop

Ticking noise coming from passengers compartment glove box seat belt light on and seat moves when come to a stop and driver side door handle just came off on the passenger side can't open the door from outside of vehicle there should be recall for this

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE POWER SEAT INOPERABLE; CIG LIGHTER/ELECTRIC PORT INOPERABLE; RANDOM ALARM SOUNDING; POWER TOP SHOWS TOP WITH TRUNK INOPERABLE.

WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD UNTIL I BRING THE STEERING BACK INTO REGULAR POSITION. THE SEAT BELT SIGN GOES OFF CONTINUALLY AFTER I'M BUCKLED UP, CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE CAR IS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, CAR JUMPS WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT.

3 SEPERATE BUT RELATED EVENTS. MY HORN BEGAN HONKING AT RANDOM TIMES, EVENTUALLY I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF WHILE IN MY PARKING GARAGE AT WORK. ENDED UP REMOVING BATTERY CONNECTION TO STOP THE HONKING. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I DISCONNECTED THE HORNS. MY WIPERS RANDOMLY DO NOT WORK. I'VE HAD TO RELY ON RAINX. SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND OTHER TIMES I CANT TURN THEM OFF. THEY SOMETIMES STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. LAST ISSUE WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. STRANGE THING WAS IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. BUT 10 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BASED ON THESE 3 THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN THE LAST MONTH I THINK IT IS PART OF THE TIPM MODULE. MANY COMPLAINTS AND THIS ITEM IS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AND A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE IN THE SAME YEAR RANGE AS MY VEHICLE.

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2015, OWNER TOLD US THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK BUT HE HAD THE MOTOR AND WE INSTALLED THE WIPER MOTOR. THIS DID NOT WORK. SO WE RESEARCHED THIS VECHICLE FOR RECALLS AND WE FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIPM PART BUT WAS NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL. THIS PART COST US $650.00 AND THE WIPERS NOW DO WORK BUT THERE IS A NOISE THAT IS STILL THERE AND SOME OF THE CAUTION LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT. THE CAR WORKS BUT DO NOT GO THAT FAR IN IT DUE TO THE REVIEWS WE HAD READ ABOUT THIS TIPM PART AND THE ENGINE MAY STOP WORKING.

See attached document for complaint.

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER-SUB FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED OUT, CAR HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT, WAS GARAGE KEPT A LOT, CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND SUB FRAME IS ONLY THING RUSTED OUT, PARTS AROUND IT LOOKS NEW, LOOK AT PICTURE, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR IT,NEVER SEEN ANYTHING RUST LIKE THIS,VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING LIKE THIS

VALVE STEM CAME OFF WHEEL. THESE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A SENSOR. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS NOT DRIVING. TIRE IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED. IT HAPPENED AT THE CAR WASH WHILE BEING DRIED WITH A TOWEL.

I REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2011 AFTER I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. ON SEPTEMBER 03, 2011, I WAS DRIVING ON SOUTH I-43 FREEWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE, MY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO STEERING FAILURE. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR, MY STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE ITSELF. I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT HIT MY CAR ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE BY THE REAR LOWER SIDE PANEL. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY CAR SLAMMED UP AGAINST THE CONCRETE WALL BARRIER ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE OF MY CAR. I HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS, AIRBAGS IN MY SEATS, UNDERNEATH MY DASH, IN MY STEERING WHEEL, ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, AND IN ALL FOUR WINDOW SEALS OF MY CAR AND NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I HAVE ADR SYSTEM IN MY CAR THAT SUPPOSEDLY CAN RECORD SECONDS OF ACTIVITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT INFORMATION? I AM STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY CARE THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS; CONTINUING REPLACING TIE ROD AND THE STABILIZER BAR LOOSE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED FIRST HAVING PROBLEMS TRYING TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CRANK THE CAR AND AT TIMES FEARING THAT I MIGHT BREAK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HAVING TO REALLY WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE SWITCH TO TURN OVER. PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY REVEALED A LOT OF RUSTY OLD LOOKING PARTS UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHEN IN FACT THE MOTOR OF THE CAR STILL LOOKS NEW. MY CAR WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH A LITTLE OVER 17,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN OCTOBER 2010. WHEN I REPORTED THESE ALL OF THESE THINGS IN SEPTEMBER 2011, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON MY CAR AND I DOUBT IF THIS CAR HAS ANY AIRBAGS IN IT. I LEARNED AFTER, I HAD THE ACCIDENT IN MY CAR, THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED AND HAD POSSIBLE FRAME DAMAGE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATED, THE SEAT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HOT. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND THE SEAT COOLED DOWN. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER COAT WAS BURNED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL BURNT SPOTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WERE AN INSPECTOR FROM CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEAT DAMAGE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 04/12/17 LJ UPDATED 06/23/17*LJ ...UPDATED 07/20/17 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATED FOR HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED 07/25/2017*JS UPDATED 08/08/2017*JS