IllustrationWHEN COMING TO A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT. GEAR WILL GO FROM DRIVE TO THIRD GEAR BY ITSELF, WITHOUT MOVING IT BY HAND.DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE,AND IT HELPS TO PROTECT TRANSMISSION. *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 reportsCALIPER BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY PUT INTO THE BRAKES FROM THE FACTORY. THEY WERE NOT BOLTED IN ALL THE WAY, CAUSING ONE TO BE SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY AND THE OTHER ONE BENT INTO AN "S" SHAPE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT BRAKES ARE UNDER A 13,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY CAR HAS 16,000 MILES, DEALERSHIP DID NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. CAR WA…
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CALIPER BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY PUT INTO THE BRAKES FROM THE FACTORY. THEY WERE NOT BOLTED IN ALL THE WAY, CAUSING ONE TO BE SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY AND THE OTHER ONE BENT INTO AN "S" SHAPE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT BRAKES ARE UNDER A 13,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY CAR HAS 16,000 MILES, DEALERSHIP DID NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. CAR WAS TAKEN & REPAIRED AT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP. *AK
PURCHASED A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING JULY 1998. HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITHIN A FEW WEEK PERIOD THAT THE DEALER TOOK IT BACK, AND GAVE ME ANOTHER ONE IN AUGUST 1998. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE 2ND SEBRING DEVELOPED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS PRIMARILY ON LEFT SIDE, A LOUD METALIC RAT-A-TAT-TAT SOUND COMING FROM WHEEL…
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PURCHASED A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING JULY 1998. HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITHIN A FEW WEEK PERIOD THAT THE DEALER TOOK IT BACK, AND GAVE ME ANOTHER ONE IN AUGUST 1998. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE 2ND SEBRING DEVELOPED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS PRIMARILY ON LEFT SIDE, A LOUD METALIC RAT-A-TAT-TAT SOUND COMING FROM WHEELS. ALSO, INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE LEFT. SAME RESULTS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK
CAR IS FALLING APART, UNSAFE TO DRIVE, CAN'T SEE OUT OF IT DUE TO ICING AND OTHER PROBLEMS TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
BRAKE CALIPER FAILED. YH
POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE AND RETURN POWER STEERING LINES FAILED. YH
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC
SUN VISOR FAILED.
BATTERY FAILED.
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