IllustrationWHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL WEENT TO FLOOR. DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFT TO PARK TO STOP VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
1998 Chrysler Sebring
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sebring years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring are substantially higher than the model-year median of 132.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sebring 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
Limited mileage data: 62 of 267 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Structure. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports5 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
267 reportsFLOOR MAT RAISED UP UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. THERE IS A BOLT FROM STEERING ON THE BOTTOM TO THE FLOOR. THE BOLT GOT CAUGHT ON THE FLOOR MAT WHICH DIDN'T ALLOW IT TO TURN. *AK
VEHICLE LOST CONTROL FROM HIGH SPEED ON A RURAL AREA ROAD, THE CONSUMER IS DEAD. *AK
WE HAD BEEN TOLD OUR BRAKE-PADS WERE LOW, BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OF YET, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 'SEBRING' OWNERS OF WHOM HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED ON MOR…
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WE HAD BEEN TOLD OUR BRAKE-PADS WERE LOW, BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OF YET, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 'SEBRING' OWNERS OF WHOM HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND HAVE HAD MAJOR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULTS OF THE BRAKES GIVING OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *AK
MY SEAT BELTS LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING THE CAR. THE IS NO SPECIFIC SPEED OR ROAD SURFACE THAT CAUSES THIS. THEY WILL LOCK AND NOT RELEASE UNTIL I OPEN THE DOOR. EACH AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR THIS WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN MY DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED MANY THINGS - EVEN REPLACING THE SEAT BELTS. THIS IS…
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MY SEAT BELTS LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I'M DRIVING THE CAR. THE IS NO SPECIFIC SPEED OR ROAD SURFACE THAT CAUSES THIS. THEY WILL LOCK AND NOT RELEASE UNTIL I OPEN THE DOOR. EACH AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR THIS WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN MY DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED MANY THINGS - EVEN REPLACING THE SEAT BELTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT LOCKS ME AGAINST THE SEAT AND I CANNOT LEAN FORWARD. MANY TIMES A DRIVER NEEDS TO LEARN FORWARD TO LOOK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I'VE CALLED CHRYSLER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. CAN YOU HELP ME? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
TRANSAXLE/DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED. NLM
VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED FROM PARK AT ANY TIME (KEY OR NO KEY) MAY BE SIMILAR TO RECALL NUMBER 98V183000, ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE RECALL DATES/VIN. *AK
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE WHEELS ON THE FRONT OF THIS CAR BEND AT THE RIMS DUE TO THEIR LOW PROFILE AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. THIS CAR DRIVEN FOR CASUAL USE ONLY HAS THE RIMS DENTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO DRIVING ROADS IN WEST VIRGINIA, AND THE TIRE WAS SO NARROW IT WOULD ALWAYS BEND THE RIM. I ASK…
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THE WHEELS ON THE FRONT OF THIS CAR BEND AT THE RIMS DUE TO THEIR LOW PROFILE AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. THIS CAR DRIVEN FOR CASUAL USE ONLY HAS THE RIMS DENTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO DRIVING ROADS IN WEST VIRGINIA, AND THE TIRE WAS SO NARROW IT WOULD ALWAYS BEND THE RIM. I ASKED WHY WASN'T I INFORMED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW. THIS COULD EASILY BREAK THE SEAL CAUSING A PREMATURE BLOW OUT AND A MAJOR WRECK. *AK
THIS WAS REPORTED TO NCDS AND WAS SETTLED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS RESOLVED , NOW WE HAVE WARM WEATHER AGAIN IT HAS STARTED BACK UP. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Official recalls
300V421002 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
98V183000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Aug 6, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
98V045002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 3, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
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
4PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
PE00007 · Door Panel/garnish Separation
Opened Feb 2, 2000 · Closed Jul 18, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
ALLEGED THAT THE PLASTIC GARNISH PANELS MOUNTED ON DOORS DETACH FROM THEIR MOUNTINGS, SOMETIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION
EA99028 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened Sep 10, 1999 · Closed Jul 26, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE99030 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened May 3, 1999 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available