Model year record

1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible recalls & problems

The 1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible has 3 safety recalls and 52 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (9 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints52filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported 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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift; Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch	9	2	1	1	126,740 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint	9	1	0	0	120,000 mi
SteeringRack and pinion; Linkages	8	1	1	1	88,900 mi
StructureBody › Roof and pillars; Body › Trunk lid	7	0	0	2	62,500 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Wiring › Interior/under dash	6	0	0	0	57,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	4	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Rear/other	3	0	0	0	47,000 mi
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Interior; Glass, side/rear	3	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Air bags	2	0	0	1	—
Parking brakeConventional › Mechanical	1	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	1	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Power train
1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK RECALL REPAIR HISTORY. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW, IF THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED PROPERLY, DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2005. *JB
Feb 1, 2017
Suspension
I WENT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT 3 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT ONE IN HE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A USED ONE IN THERE. TWO MONTHS LATER THAT TRANMISSION WENT OUT AND IT GOT REPLACED. WELL THIS BRINGS US TO PRESENT DAY WHERE I'M GETTING IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. THEY TELL ME THAT THE REAR BALL JOINTS ARE OUT AND IT'LL COST $1200 TO FIX IT. I'M LIKE THAT'S NOT WORTH IT. I THEN FIND OUT THAT THIS IS RECALLED. *JS
Jun 1, 2012 · 120,000 miles
Engine
I HAVE THIS CAR FROM 2011, I WENT TO THE DEALER ON BAKERSFIELD CA, TO PROGRAM THE ALARM PAGER, THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART BECAUSE HAVE A RECALL, AFTER THAT DAY MY CAR START TO STOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF, I CHANGE THE SPEED SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CRAMCHACK SENSOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE MAP SENSOR, THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER, ALL THE RELAYS, THE CAR WORKS FOR A LITTLE AND START TO STOP SUDDENLY, ANYWHERE. SOME TIMES I GO TO THE STORE TO BUY GROCERIES, HE START TO SHAKE FROM THE SUSPENSION, AND THE CAR STOP 2 OR 3 TIMES, ON ONE TRIP. ON AUGUST 15 I WENT TO BAKERSFIELD TO SEE MY DOCTOR BECAUSE I'M PERMANENTLY DISABLE, AND THE CAR STOP ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OF…
Aug 15, 2013 · 222,000 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,337.
May 3, 2013 · 59,337 miles
SuspensionCrash
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED DOWN MY STREET GOING ONLY 5 MPH AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. *TR
Mar 13, 2013 · 140,000 miles
Air bags1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
Aug 4, 2012 · 169,000 miles
Suspension
I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD METAL ON CEMENT NOISE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT OUT OF CAR AND SEEN BALL JOINT CRACKED AND TIRE OFF CAR. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON GROUND IN FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE FIXED. CAR DROVE SMOOTH OTHERWISE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT TO JUST SNAP. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T GOING FASTER OR NOTHING WAS IN MY WAY AND DIDN'T CRASH! IT WAS THE SCARIEST CAR "ACCIDENT" I EVER HAD. NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN TO ME IN A CAR THAT HAD NO SIGNS OF NEEDING TO BE FIXED. *TR
Mar 16, 2012
Electrical system
MY ALARM KEEPS GOING OFF!!! A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP. IT STARTED BY HONKING REPEATEDLY THEN A VERY LONG ANNOYING HONK. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP, THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I AM NOW DESPERATE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED; I WAS AT A GAS STATION THE OTHER DAY, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THE ALARM STILL SOUNDING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A WAY OF DISCONNECTING MY BATTERY TO MAKE IT STOP. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL! I RECENTLY BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME REGARDING THIS…
Sep 1, 2011 · 130,000 miles

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