2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE WITH THE CHRYSLER 2.7 L ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH LOW MILES, AND HAD MY TENSION ARM GO OUT A FEW MONTHS LATER DUE TO SLUDGE BUILDUP. THIS SECOND INSTANCE CAME UP PRETTY QUICKLY. THE STARTED KNOCKING ON HARD ACCELERATION, THEN 2 DAYS LATER STARTED MISSING BADLY GOING UPHILL ON MY WAY HOME FORM WORK. THE ENGINE DIES ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ROAD IN PORTLAND (GERMANTOWN RD.). THIS IS A VERY STEEP EXTREMELY CURVY ROAD AND I CAME ALL TOO CLOSE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE FIRST TURN WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. MAKING MY WAY DOWN THE REMAINDER OF THE HILL WAS A BIT FRIGHTENING, TO SAY THE LEAST. AFTER GETTING TOWED AND FINDING OUT THE DAMAGE WAS BLOWN BEARINGS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE, IT WAS SUGGESTED I LOOK ONLINE FOR CHRYSLER 2.7 L ENGINE TO FIND THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A DEFECT AND THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR REPAIRED BY CHRYSLER, BUT CHRYSLER CLAIMS THE ENGINE IS FINE, IT'S THE OWNER'S FAULT.

CONSUMER NOTICED A DEEP SCRATCH ON THE WOOD PANELING. (NAR) *LA WHILE LOWERING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP THE VEHICLE'S REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE BRAKES SQUEALED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 12000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BOUNCE FROM 0 - 120 MPH. THE DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. THE RADIO, CD PLAYER AND SPEAKERS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. *NM

TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH SUBJECT VEHICLE, THE FIRST ON 12/27/01. WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHILE SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FOWARD TOWARD A DOUBLE PARKED VEHICLE. AFTER PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKES WHILE PULLING MY BODY UP OFF THE SEAT, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE NEXT MISHAP OCCURRED ON 1/27/02, WHEREIN I WAS TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THE 2001 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LURCHED BUT COULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS BEING THE SECOND TIME, I CALMLY PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. THESE TOO MISHAPS ARE FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS AS ITS OCCUPANTS AND ANY PEDESTRIAN(S) IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE COULD EASILY BE INJURED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK