2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

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

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS TIMES, WITH NO OBVIOUS TRIGGERS. SOMETIMES IT'S ON FOR DAYS OR WEEKS, OTHER TIMES IT COMES ON AND GOES OFF EVERY FEW SECONDS, OTHER TIMES IT STAYS OFF FOR MONTHS. TOTALLY BIZARRE. I'M SICK OF IT, BUT I CAN'T TRADE IT IN WITH THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY DOING STUPID STUFF LIKE THAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2003. IT'S A 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 400 TIMES. *NM