IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK NOR WILL IT RETRACT. *AK...NEITHER REAR BELT LOCKS WHEN GIVEN AHAND PULL.*AK
1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
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
10–25K
725–50K
1050–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
33 reports with mileage · 19 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.
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. 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.
3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
52 reportsCONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. IN THE LAST 4 YEARS CONSUMER REPLACED THE KEY CYLINDER 4 TIMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES, AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS CUSTOMER CARE COMPLAINT FILE WAS CLOSED. THEY WILL NOT HELP CONSUMER. *AK
THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME FOGGY AND LEAKED A SOLVENT THAT DISSOLVED THE PLASTIC ON THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT COVER, THE MIRROR WAS REPLACED AND NOW AFTER 2 YEARS IN SERVICE THE REPLACEMENT MIRROR IS FOGGING. CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMERSERVICE RESPONDS THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT T…
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THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME FOGGY AND LEAKED A SOLVENT THAT DISSOLVED THE PLASTIC ON THE CONSOLE MOUNTED SHIFT COVER, THE MIRROR WAS REPLACED AND NOW AFTER 2 YEARS IN SERVICE THE REPLACEMENT MIRROR IS FOGGING. CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMERSERVICE RESPONDS THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REPLACE IT. I VIEW THIS ITEM AS A SAFETY CONCERN. HE ONLY ITEM AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE COSTS $300.00 FOR THE PART AND INSTALLATION. S A SAFETY ITEM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SHOULD BE FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
RECALL 04V021000/FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHIFTING PROBLEM SINCE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. *AK
ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR IN THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK THE BCM SHORTED. *SC *JB
ALL FOUR RIMS ARE CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE AIR IN RIGHT FRONT TIRE EVERY MORNING, LEFT FRONT TIRE ONCE A WEEK, AND BOTH REAR TIRES EVERY 3-4 WEEKS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE UNLOADING THE VEHICLE TRUNK LID FELL DOWN . *AK THE COMPONENT HIT THE CONSUMER SHARPLY ON THE WRIST AND HIS WIFE ON THE HEAD. *SC
RIGHT TIE ROD END BROKE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING, WITH RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NOT STEERING WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER EXITING A HIGH SPEED EXPRESSWAY. CAR IS WELL CARED FOR, NOT ABUSED, AND HAS ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT.*AK
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO A FLOOR MOUNTED SHIFTER AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES ON 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING. *MR RECALL# 04V021000. *SC *JB
THE CLOTH TOPS ON THE SEBRING CONVERTIBLE IS IN MY OPINION DEFECTIVE AND A HAZARD. THE THREAD HOLDING THE TOP TOGETHER, AND THE GLUE HOLDING THE BACK, GLASS WINDOW, DISINTEGRATE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALTHOUGH MY WINDOW IS STILL O.K., THE THREADS ON MY CLOTH TOP HAVE ALMOST ALL DISINTEGRATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS.…
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THE CLOTH TOPS ON THE SEBRING CONVERTIBLE IS IN MY OPINION DEFECTIVE AND A HAZARD. THE THREAD HOLDING THE TOP TOGETHER, AND THE GLUE HOLDING THE BACK, GLASS WINDOW, DISINTEGRATE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ALTHOUGH MY WINDOW IS STILL O.K., THE THREADS ON MY CLOTH TOP HAVE ALMOST ALL DISINTEGRATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS. *AKORIGINALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY CAR, BUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I WATCHED A REPORT ON A LOCAL TV STATION ABOUT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A COSMETIC PROBLEM, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CLOTH TOP OR THE BACK WINDOW BECOME DISLODGED WHILE DRIVING.
Official recalls
104V021000 · 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
1EA03011 · 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.