Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
425–50K
650–75K
675–100K
9100–150K
1150K+
27 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
68 reports
126,900 miles · Jun 28, 2005
Power Train
DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V021000. CHECKED VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER FOUND THAT VEHICLE DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ONCE CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM DEALER FOUND THAT VEHICLE WOULD STILL COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN, AND …
Read full complaint
DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V021000. CHECKED VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER FOUND THAT VEHICLE DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ONCE CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM DEALER FOUND THAT VEHICLE WOULD STILL COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A CABLE TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, DEALER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. HOWEVER, IF DEALER FELT THAT RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED THAN DEALER COULD BE CHARGED CO A $35 INSPECTION FEE, AND THEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR IF CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE IT DONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10126915
60,000 miles · Jun 23, 2005
Air BagsFireInjury
DT:CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE WHILE IN CARPORT. HE PUT THE CAR REVERSE MOVED ABOUT 1 FOOT AND THE DASH BLEW UP. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS SO LOUD THAT NEIGHBORS HEARD IT FROM INSIDE THEIR HOUSES AND CAME RUNNING OUT. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SMOKE BELLOWED OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PARTS OF THE CAR WERE BLO…
Read full complaint
DT:CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE WHILE IN CARPORT. HE PUT THE CAR REVERSE MOVED ABOUT 1 FOOT AND THE DASH BLEW UP. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS SO LOUD THAT NEIGHBORS HEARD IT FROM INSIDE THEIR HOUSES AND CAME RUNNING OUT. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SMOKE BELLOWED OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PARTS OF THE CAR WERE BLOWN ALL OVER THE INTERIOR. CONSUMER SAYS INCIDENT WAS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT HE HAD BEEN CAR BOMBED. CONSUMER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL CONTACT TO VEHICLE TO CAUSE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SAYS THERE ARE OTHER WITNESSES AVAILABLE. CONSUMER SAYS INVESTIGATOR THAT LOOKED AT VEHICLE TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE HAD INVESTIGATED 3 OTHER SUCH INSTANCES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10126411
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2005
StructureInjury
TRUNK SPRINGS FOR TRUNK LID NO LONGER WORK. HAVE TO HOLD TRUNK OPEN MANUALLY. SPRINGS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF CHANGES CHRYSLER HAS MADE SO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE SPRINGS REWELDED. TRUNK LID HAS HIT ME IN HEAD ON OCCASION.WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR REWELDING BECAUSE OF YOUR CHANGES ON SOMETHING SO SIMPLE
NHTSA ODI #10124420
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005
StructureVisibility
CONVERTIBLE TOP FRAYED AT EDGES AND BACK GLASS WINDOW WAS BECOMING LOOSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10118055
90,000 miles · Mar 28, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF SHIFT, AND THE IGNITION LOCKED. DEALER STATED THEY HAD DONE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116974
130,000 miles · Mar 11, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WILL FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115017
80,000 miles · Feb 8, 2005
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE, AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111142
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2004
Exterior Lighting
(1) HEADLAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING SUFFICIENTLY. (2) THE MATERIAL USED IN THE LENSES FOR THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ON MY 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAVE YELLOWED AND FOGGED OVER TO THE POINT THAT THE ILLUMINATION FACTOR HAS DECREASED TO A TOTALLY UNSAFE LEVEL FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS COULD RESULT IN FAILURE TO SEE HAZARDS IN TI…
Read full complaint
(1) HEADLAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING SUFFICIENTLY. (2) THE MATERIAL USED IN THE LENSES FOR THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ON MY 1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAVE YELLOWED AND FOGGED OVER TO THE POINT THAT THE ILLUMINATION FACTOR HAS DECREASED TO A TOTALLY UNSAFE LEVEL FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS COULD RESULT IN FAILURE TO SEE HAZARDS IN TIME TO CIRCUMVENT. (3) NOTIFIED DAIMLER CHRYSLER OF THIS CONDITION AND IT'S SAFETY IMPACT. THIS CONDITION SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A MAJOR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SUCH AS THE HEADLAMPS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS BASICALLY THAT THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS AT MY EXPENSE. THE CURRENT COST FOR A SINGLE HEADLAMP IS $335.00 EA. I HAVE THE EMAIL CORRESPONDANCES THAT WE HAVE SENT TO EACH OTHER IF YOU NEED THEM. AS OF NOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR NIGHT TIME OPERATION. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND ALMOST $700.00 TO REPLACE THESE HEADLAMPS. THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10098519
30,000 miles · Oct 19, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
FOR ABOUT A YEAR I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER ON MY JXI. SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 AND 1997 'S AND THAT I NEED A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD AT A COST OF OVER $700.00. NOT REPLACED YET.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10096038
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
FUEL INDICATOR, TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER OPERATE PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY (TACH & ODO ARE MORE FREQUENTLY INOPERATIVE THAN OPERATIVE) USUALLY TACH IS AT 0 AND ODO DOES NOT INDICATE ANY NUMBERS. FUEL GAUGE USUALLY OPERATES, BUT DROPS SUDDENLY.*AK
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
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 INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
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 INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
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 INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration