Model year record

1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible recalls & problems

The 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible has 3 safety recalls and 68 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (15 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints68filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionDec 27, 2010

Front › Control arm › Lower arm

Recall 10E05900022,689 vehicles

Problem: FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.
Risk: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.

SuspensionOct 9, 2009

Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint

Recall 09E0560005,787 vehicles

Problem: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Fix: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.

Power trainJan 13, 2004

Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift

Recall 04V0210002,315,768 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Risk: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Sebring Convertible

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sebring Convertible

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring; Horn	15	1	2	1	80,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCables; Accelerator pedal	11	3	0	2	86,269 mi
StructureBody › Roof and pillars; Body	9	1	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift	8	1	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint; Front › Control arm › Lower arm	8	1	0	1	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	7	0	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly; Linkages	7	0	0	0	70,000 mi
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	6	2	0	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	5	2	0	0	—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices; Glass, side/rear	3	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	3	0	1	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	3	1	0	0	80,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING
Jul 28, 2018
Electrical system
I JUST SPENT 12.95 ON GETTING A CAR HISTORY REPORT BECAUSE MY TITLE SAYS THE CAR IS A RECONSTRUCTED,TOTALED TITLE,BUT RECEIVING YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND TITLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT ISN'T A RECONSTRUCTED CAR????I'M CONFUSED ...WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY FOR..THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,IT'S THERE DECEASED MOM'S CAR..I'M WRITING YOU AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SITE,EITHER I GET THE RIGHT REPORT SINCE I'M HOLDING THE TITLE IN MY HAND THAT SAYS OPPOSITE OF YOUR FINDINGS,OR MY MONEY BACK? I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS RECONSTRUCTED TOTALED TITLE YOUR SITE DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GET AHOLD OF YOUR SCAM ,WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN TOOK FOR THERE…
Feb 8, 2015 · 63,900 miles
Service brakes
BRAKES FAILED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT HARD WHILE HWY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING QUICKLY. IF I HADN'T PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE QUICKLY, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *LN
Sep 8, 2013 · 42,500 miles
Seat belts
I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI AND THE SEATBELTS "LOCK" IN THE RETRACTED STAGE AT VARIOUS TIMES. BOTH BELTS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED NEW SEAT BELTS BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BOTH BELTS WENT BAD AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, AND THAT THE RELEASE AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THE SEBRING. *TR
Oct 29, 2010 · 117,000 miles
Exterior lighting
THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN IT RAINS. I TRAVELED ONE AND A HALF HOURS IN A STORM. THE WATER ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WHERE I HAD CLOTHES IN A SMALL PILE..THEY WERE LITERALLY FLOATING FROM SO MUCH WATER THAT WAS POURING IN. AT ANY TIME THAT I HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT THE WATER WOULD THEN COME TO THE FRONT IN A HUGE WAVE OF WATER. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? *TR
May 18, 2010
Service brakes, air
WELL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BACK WINDOW WAS FULLY OUT, ALSO WHEN IM DRIVING IT SEEMS AS THO IM GOING SLOWER THAN WHAT MY SPEEDOMITER SAYS. THE ALARM DOESNT WORK AT ALL. MY BREAKS BONT FULLY BREAK ON TIME SO I HAVE TO STOP EARLYER THAN USUAL.ALSO ONE DAY I WAS IN THE CAR AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK SLOWLY ALSO THE STERING WHEEL LOCKED.ALSO WHEN I PUT GAS IN IT , IT SAYS ITS HALF EMPTY FAST WHEN I ONLY DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER,BUT WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE THE MEETER GOES UP.
Mar 22, 2010
Steering
RECALL #750 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ALLEGED REPAIRED 02-10-98. THIS IS A NEW (10-08-09) RECALL. DUE TO MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, IT WAS ASKED IF THE NUMBERS OF THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS NUMBERS COULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF ORIGINAL CHRYSLER OR AFTERMARKET QUALITY PARTS WERE USED. THOUGH THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, LOSS OF STEERING, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED I'D NEED TO CHECK THE ORIGINAL REPAIR ORDER (02-10-98). THE ORIGINAL OWNER IS DECEASED. SO I GUESS I SHOULD CRAWL UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK FOR WHEREVER THESE PARTS ARE, LET ALONE THE NUMBERS, OR PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THEM, OR JUST HOPE CHRYSLER HAD AND USED THEIR OWN PARTS. *TR
Oct 8, 2009
Electrical system
THE ODOMETER AND RPM GAUGE WORK INTERMITTENTLY LIKE IN COMPLAINT 10061946. THOUGH THE FUSES LOOK GOOD, THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM FLASH DO NOT WORK NOW SINCE THE ABOVE HAS BEEN OCCURRED. *TR
Sep 1, 2009

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCKClosedLed to recall 04V021000
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE…
EA03011 · opened Jul 17, 2003 · closed Jan 30, 2004