← New search

1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 72.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Sebring Convertible years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

44 reports with mileage · 33 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V021000, ON MARCH 15, 2005. SHE HAD CALLED DEALER TO ARRANGE FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AT HER CONVENIENCE. THE RECALL WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED. ON MAY 7, 2005 SHE WAS PICKING HER DAUGHTER AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT WENT DOWN A SMALL HILL IN A PARKING LOT…

Read full complaint

DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V021000, ON MARCH 15, 2005. SHE HAD CALLED DEALER TO ARRANGE FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AT HER CONVENIENCE. THE RECALL WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED. ON MAY 7, 2005 SHE WAS PICKING HER DAUGHTER AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT WENT DOWN A SMALL HILL IN A PARKING LOT AND TRAVELED AT LEAST 200-300 FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHETHER THE BRAKES WORKED AT THAT TIME. THERE WAS A TELEPHONE POLE THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGERS. THE PASSENGERS HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND HER KNEES HIT THE DASH BOARD. THE DRIVER'S RIGHT ROTOR CUFF AND NECK WERE INJURED. THERE WAS $8700 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A INSPECTOR FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER INSPECTED VEHICLE ON MAY 12, 2005 AT 2 PM. HE NEVER SPOKE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPORT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10129381

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK, VEHICLE REVVED, AND DID NOT STOP, VEHICLE OVER ACCELERATED, CAUSING IT TO RAM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AK

NHTSA ODI #10124434

77 miles · Mar 21, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVER & VEHICLE LEAVING TOLL PLAZA ON THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY, HEADED SOUTH TOWARDS I-635, ABOUT 6 PM ON INCIDENT DATE. DRIVER ACCELERATED OUT OF THE TOLL BOOTH, UP TO ABOUT 40-45 MPH, AND FELT A SURGE IN ACCELERATION. ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE SPEED BY TAKING FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THERE WAS NO REDUCTION IN SPEED. APPLIED B…

Read full complaint

DRIVER & VEHICLE LEAVING TOLL PLAZA ON THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY, HEADED SOUTH TOWARDS I-635, ABOUT 6 PM ON INCIDENT DATE. DRIVER ACCELERATED OUT OF THE TOLL BOOTH, UP TO ABOUT 40-45 MPH, AND FELT A SURGE IN ACCELERATION. ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE SPEED BY TAKING FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THERE WAS NO REDUCTION IN SPEED. APPLIED BRAKE, BUT STILL NO REDUCTION IN SPEED. PULLED HAND BRAKE, NO REDUCTION. THE ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO BE STUCK OR HUNG UP. FINALLY THOUGHT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND AT SOME POINT THE ACCELERATOR FINALLY "LET GO." WAS ABLE TO EXIT FROM THE TOLLWAY. ON 635 ACCESS ROAD, ATTEMPTED ACCELERATION AGAIN, AND AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR SEEMED TO "STICK" AT ABOUT 15 MPH. BACKED OFF, AND MADE WAY SLOWLY TO A NISSAN AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP OFF 635 IN NORTH DALLAS. THERE, A SERVICE REP LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS BADLY FRAYED. AS THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FURTHER, CALLED FOR A TOW AND HAD CAR TOWED TO CHRYSLER DEALER IN GRAPEVINE, TX. THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE TO DECELLERATE ON A BUSY AND FAST-MOVING TOLLWAY AT RUSH HOUR COULD HAVE BEEN CATATROPHIC, BUT DUE TO LUCK OR GRACE, THERE WAS NO COLLISION. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SUFFERED MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ANGUISH, STRESS, AND FRANK TERROR DURING THE EVENT. THIS CAR HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO A RECALL ISSUED IN AUGUST 2002, AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE DEFECT AT THE DEALER IN GRAPEVINE. HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED ANYWAY. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT THE DEFECT REPAIR WAS ALSO FAULTY, OR THE DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE WERE MOST LIKELY IMPACTED: BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10114416

138,490 miles · Feb 22, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. OWNER WAS DRIVING TO AN INTERSECTION. UPON APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. ALTHOUGH, THE DRIVER HAD THERE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112856

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED AND WHEN IT DID ARRIVE THE CONSUMER WOULD GET A CALL, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL THE DEALER BACK AND FOUND OUT THE PART HAD ARRIVED, BUT NO ONE CALLED TO LET THE CONSU…

Read full complaint

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE THROTTLE CABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED AND WHEN IT DID ARRIVE THE CONSUMER WOULD GET A CALL, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL THE DEALER BACK AND FOUND OUT THE PART HAD ARRIVED, BUT NO ONE CALLED TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW. THE DEALER STATED SOMEONE WOULD COME TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME, HOWEVER NO ONE EVER CALLED TO CONFIRM. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10037722

80,857 miles · Aug 19, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. HAD TO SWERVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO TURN CAR BACK ON, AND THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. NOTE: LUCKILY HAD NOT GOT ON THE MAJOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FREEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, AND REPAIR WAS D…

Read full complaint

CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. HAD TO SWERVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. TRIED TO TURN CAR BACK ON, AND THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. NOTE: LUCKILY HAD NOT GOT ON THE MAJOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FREEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, AND REPAIR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HIGH IDLE, REPLACED IDLE, AIR CONTROL MOTOR. TOTAL COST (NOT INCLUDING TOW) $186.82.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033147

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL B22/THROTTLE CABLE: DEALER, DESERT DODGE IN LAS VEGA, NV. PHONE# 702/221-000 IS UNABLE TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018093

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CRUISE CONTROL APPLICATION DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW THE COMANDS AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 66 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL. (1) THE CRUISE WILL NOT REGULARLY SET A DESIRED SPEED, UNLESS THE CANCEL BUTTON IS PRESSED FOLLOWING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. (2) AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DE-ACTIVATE A SPEED SETTING, THE RESUME BUTTO…

Read full complaint

THE CRUISE CONTROL APPLICATION DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW THE COMANDS AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 66 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL. (1) THE CRUISE WILL NOT REGULARLY SET A DESIRED SPEED, UNLESS THE CANCEL BUTTON IS PRESSED FOLLOWING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. (2) AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DE-ACTIVATE A SPEED SETTING, THE RESUME BUTTON IGNORS THE PRIOR SETTING SPEED AND CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. (3) WHILE PRESSING AND HOLDING THE SET/COAST BUTTON, THE SPEED ACCELERATES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736741

Official recalls

1

04V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Jan 13, 2004

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.