IllustrationDRIVING DOWN ROAD, AROUND 10 MILES A HOUR, THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT CLUNK ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. GOT OUT TO CHECK, AND THE ENTIRE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ON WAS LAYING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE RIM.
1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
50–25K
1025–50K
1450–75K
1075–100K
14100–150K
7150K+
60 reports with mileage · 32 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports
Suspension complaints
10 reportsCAR SHAKES AT 75 MILES PER HOUR..FROM THE FRONT END.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/3/2017*CN
I HAVE A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING WHICH HAS HAD THE BALL JOINT COME OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE OF THE FRONT 2 WHEELS ABOUT 6 MONTHS APART. THIS HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE REPAIRED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY BECAUSE THIS LAST TIME I WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM GETTING ON T…
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I HAVE A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING WHICH HAS HAD THE BALL JOINT COME OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE OF THE FRONT 2 WHEELS ABOUT 6 MONTHS APART. THIS HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE REPAIRED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY BECAUSE THIS LAST TIME I WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WONDER ABOUT RECALLS AND IF I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE TOW TO MY HOME WAS $106, THE TOW TO THE MECHANIC WAS $65 AND THE MECHANIC BILL WAS $303. THIS IS JUST THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AND I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR BOTH. DOCUMENTS OF THESE CHARGES CAN DEFINITELY BE PROVIDED IF NEEDED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, NOT JUST MY OWN CAR BUT ANYONE ELSE THAT MAY BE DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW EITHER WAY. THANK YOU. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILURE. WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY WIFE'S 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED. THIS CAR AT THE TIME HAD LESS THAN 61,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR THE DAY BEFORE. THE CAR WAS SAFETY CHECKED BY THE DEALERS…
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FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILURE. WHILE TURNING RIGHT INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY WIFE'S 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED. THIS CAR AT THE TIME HAD LESS THAN 61,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR THE DAY BEFORE. THE CAR WAS SAFETY CHECKED BY THE DEALERS MECHANIC BEFORE THE SALE WITH NO ISSUES NOTED THAT WERE NOT REPAIRED. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH A SEARCH OF THE NHTSA DATABASE THAT THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURES AND A SAFETY RECALL ON THE COUPE MODEL OF THE SEBRING FOR THIS FAILURE. I WOULD SAY GIVEN THE MILEAGE ON THIS USED CAR THAT A SIMILAR RECALL IS WARRANTED SINCE THIS CAR EXHIBITS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE WITH LITTLE WARNING OF A PROBLEM EXISTING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURE DUE TO A CLEARLY FAULTY DESIGN. FORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE NO ONE WAS INJURED NOR WAS DAMAGE DONE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CAR. *TR
DEALING WITH THIS NOISE IN MY FRONT END FOR 4-5 YEARS MAYBE EVEN LONGER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED 60 FEET. THE CUR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED 60 FEET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
WHILE MOVING FROM A PARKING SPACE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. AT THE SAME TIME DRIVER'S SIDE SNAPPED OFF. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2003, ODI#10040201 WITH THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSARECALL 00-V-421-002: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING V…
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NHTSARECALL 00-V-421-002: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40 MPH LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT SEPARATED. *AK
WHEN FIRST TAKING OFF VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
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
2EA03011 · 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.
RQ03005 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Apr 8, 2003 · Closed Jul 16, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THREE OF THE MANFACTURER COMPLAINTS AND TWO OF THE MANUFACTURER CRASHES REPORTED ABOVE WERE DUPLICATES OF ODI REPORTS.THE MAJORITY OF CRASHES OCCURRED AFTER OPERATORS PARKED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ENGAGING PARK GEAR POSITION; A NON-FUNCTIONAL IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO PREVENT KEY REMOVAL BEFORE THE OPERATORS EXITED THE VEHICLE.MOST OF THE CRASHES WERE MINOR AND INVOLVED MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE.FOUR OF THE INJURY INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN UNATTENDED CHILDREN MOVED THE GEARSHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, ONE INJURY OCCURRED WHEN THE OPERATOR WAS STRUCK BY A ROLL-AWAY VEHICLE AFTER PARKING AND EXITING.ALL INJURIES WERE RELATIVELY MINOR.A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE INTERLOCK PIN THAT RIDES IN THE INTERLOCK LEVER SLOT WITHIN THE SHIFT MECHANISM.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WILL BE OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES.