IllustrationTHE SEBRING HAS MULTIPLE STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL DEFECTS WHICH DEVALUE THE CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *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 reportsPASSENGER DOOR PANELS FALLEN OFF MULTIPLE (10+) TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED A SOLUTION. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A TOLL ROAD WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR PANEL DISCONECTED. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY WILL REPAIR IT. *AK
RMPS WILL REV UP, AND ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED STEERING PUMP AND SWITCH. THE DEALER HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED AND LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON BUT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE HAS NOT IMPROVED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKE SYSTEM - CALIPER INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY CAUSING ROTOR AND PAD ON FRONT/DRIVER'S SIDE TO FAIL. REMAINING PADS/ROTORS IN FAIR CONDITION. PLASTIC EXTERIOR DOOR PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE FALLS OFF WILL SPEED ABOVE 45MPH. SUNROOF FAILS TO OPEN OR CLOSE. BATTERY DIED. ANTI-THEFT NOT WORKING
CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN ,DRIVING AT APPROX 5- 10 MPH WHEN CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . ALL DAMAGE WAS DONE FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION,TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE STRIKING OBJECTS. MJS
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. PULLED TO THE SIDE,AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER POPPED OPEN THE HOOD, AND THE SAW THE FIRE. CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE ON HIS OWN. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WNEN CONSUMER DRIVES OVER 15 MPH, VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE. ALSO, WHEN SWITCHING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
AT 300 MILES ALL INSIDE PANELS HAD BE REPLACED. ( THE PANELS HAD WHAT LOOKED LIKE SUN SPOTS IN THEM. BUT AFTER GETTING NEW PANEL'S WHICH HAD THE SAME SPOTS IN THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCTION PROBLEM. ON THE 3RD SET PANELS.) AT 400 MILES DRIVER'S WINDOW TRIM STARTED COMING LOOSE. THE CAR'S INSULATION OR LACK OF IS SO POOR THAT …
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AT 300 MILES ALL INSIDE PANELS HAD BE REPLACED. ( THE PANELS HAD WHAT LOOKED LIKE SUN SPOTS IN THEM. BUT AFTER GETTING NEW PANEL'S WHICH HAD THE SAME SPOTS IN THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCTION PROBLEM. ON THE 3RD SET PANELS.) AT 400 MILES DRIVER'S WINDOW TRIM STARTED COMING LOOSE. THE CAR'S INSULATION OR LACK OF IS SO POOR THAT YOU HEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GRINDING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES THE L/H FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE. BOTH DOOR'S LEAK WHEN IT RAIN'S OR WHEN YOU WASH THE CAR. ON DEC 24, 1998 IT RAINED AND WITH WEATHER DROPING DOWN BELOW FREEZING AND WITH NO ICE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR SHOWING I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR'S ON THE CAR FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. ON DEC 23, 1998 I CALLED DAIMLERCHRSLER MOTORS CORPORTION CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER ( 1-800-992-1997 ) TO FIND OUT CHRYSLER MEANING OF QUALITY. THE ANSWER WAS MITSUBISHI BUILD'S THE SEBRING AND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THERE QUALITY AND THAT WHAT YOU HAVE WARRANTY FOR. *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