2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

MAJOR HEADACHE HAS BEEN THE RECENT ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF WHAT MAY BE OIL SLUDGE GATHERED IN THE MOTOR. ENGINE SEIZED BRIEFLY UPON SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THEN BEGAN "CLICKING" UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION TO/FROM HIGH RPMS (UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING). CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS BROKEN CONNECTOR ROD AND BEARING IN #2 CYLINDER, WHICH NECESSITATES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED PRICE TAG: $10,000 (MORE THAN VEHICLE'S WORTH). OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE INCLUDED FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG PART THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT; PERSISTENT DIMMING/FLICKERING OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS; MULTIPLE BATTERY AND HEADLIGHT BURNOUTS; EMISSION LEAKS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS REQUIRING TWO SEPARATE REPAIRS; AND CD PLAYER SKIPPING, REQUIRING (ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER) A COMPLETELY NEW STEREO SYSTEM. SPEAKERS ARE SOMEWHAT SHOT AND THE DRIVER-SIDE SUNVISOR CLIP BROKE UNDER SLIGHT PRESSURE. *TR

DRIVING ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 6, 2007 AND MY CAR'S OIL CAME ON, WHICH IT HAS IN THE PAST AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR'S ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SMOKE. WHEN I OPENED THE ENGINE THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. AND THERE WAS NO LEAK. WHEN I GOT THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS GONE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION ONE YEAR AGO. I MAINTAINED THE CAR, CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY, AND PUT 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE IT THREW A ROD. I HAD CHANGED THE OIL 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THE CAR HAS UNDER 100,000 MILES TOTAL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $8000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THEY WILL ONLY GIVE ME $1000 ON A TRADE, LEAVING ME IN TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUITY (-$6400) TO AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEY ARE UNYIELDING IN EVERY ASPECT AND REFUSE TO HELP ME GET INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TO REPAIR WHAT IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH RESEARCH TO LEARN THESE ENGINES ARE JUNK. NOW I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AND STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. THEY ARE FORCING ME INTO A REPO SITUATION, WHICH WILL ABSOLUTELY RUIN MY CREDIT. NOT TO MENTION, I CANNOT GET INTO ANOTHER CAR WITH THAT ONE STILL IN FINANCING. SINCE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ANOTHER SHOP, THEY BLAMED THE SHOP AND SAID THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG. FUNNY, THE SAME SHOP AND SAME GUY HAS BEEN CHANGING MY OIL FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I COULD NOT SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! AND STILL, I HAVE NO VEHICLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAITED FIVE MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FLUIDS BACKED UP INTO THE ENGINE. THE ROADS WERE WET DUE TO RAIN, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO WATER FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO ADDITIONAL FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. *AK

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON JUNE 28TH THE CAR BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE WILDLY. MY ENGINE JUST BLEW, I HAD OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND WORKING TO FIND ME A NEW ENGINE, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR BLOWING AND THEY USUALLY GO AT 50,000 MILES. AT LEAST I GOT 70,000. IT IS SITTING IN HIS SHOP RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T PAY FOR IT. THIS CAR COST $30,000. NEW. I LEASED IT NOW IT WILL COST $36,000. AND I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT COME DECEMBER! *JB