IllustrationSEAT BELTS CONTINUALLY LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AFTER THIRTY MINUTES, UNABLE TO FIX.
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 reportsDESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IS UNCOVERED ABOVE THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL WHICH CAUSED FLOOR MAT THE BE STUCK RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY.
THE FRONT OF THE CAR DRAGS ON EVERYTHING. NO MATTER HOW SLOW OR HOW CAREFULLY WE DRIVE, IT EITHER DRAGS OR GETS THE FRONT CAUGHT. THE FRONT BUMPER HAS BEEN DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY BROKEN IN SOME PARTS. WE WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REPLACE THE FRONT BUMPER …
Read full complaint
THE FRONT OF THE CAR DRAGS ON EVERYTHING. NO MATTER HOW SLOW OR HOW CAREFULLY WE DRIVE, IT EITHER DRAGS OR GETS THE FRONT CAUGHT. THE FRONT BUMPER HAS BEEN DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY BROKEN IN SOME PARTS. WE WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REPLACE THE FRONT BUMPER PANEL AND FIX THE CAR SO IT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO DRAG.
DUE TO DEFECTIVE PCV VALVE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE BOOT FOR THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND IGNITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR PANEL, CALLED CLADDING, CONTINUES TO COME LOOSE. THE FIRST TIME, I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND HAD TO PULL OVER. THE SIDE PANEL, A VERY LARGE PLASTIC PIECE WHICH EXTENDS THE LENGTH OF THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON BY ONLY ONE PLASTIC CLIP. I TOOK THE PANEL OFF BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT FLY OFF A…
Read full complaint
THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR PANEL, CALLED CLADDING, CONTINUES TO COME LOOSE. THE FIRST TIME, I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND HAD TO PULL OVER. THE SIDE PANEL, A VERY LARGE PLASTIC PIECE WHICH EXTENDS THE LENGTH OF THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON BY ONLY ONE PLASTIC CLIP. I TOOK THE PANEL OFF BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT FLY OFF AND HIT SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE. I WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE PART EVEN CAME IN BECAUSE IT WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS PART IS IN SUCH A HIGH DEMAND BECAUSE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME, I SIMPLY CLOSED MY DOOR AND NOTICED THAT THE SIDE PANEL WAS ONCE AGAIN, BARELY HANGING ON. THE SAME PART IS STILL ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THIS TIME I HAD THE BODY SHOP LOOK AT THE PANEL TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPAIR THE PANEL AND THEY DID HAVE TO REMOVE THE PIECE BECAUSE THE PLASTIC CLIPS ON THIS PIECE WERE ALSO BROKEN.
CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN ROOF LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS. THE SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT IT STILL LEAKS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30-35 MPH,AND VIBRATES EVEN HARDER WHENEVER VEHICLE INCREASES ITS SPEED. VEHICLE WAS IN /OUT DEALER SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO A POINT WHERE RUBBER WAS BURNED PRIOR TO HITTING THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT. THE AUTOMATIC FLOOR SHIFT WAS THEN PLACED INTO REVERSE WHERE THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE, AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN.
THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER STATES DEFECT WITHIN THE RELAY. DRIVING OVER BUMPS WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE, VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, MINOR WORK WAS DONE. ALSO, CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE, PARTS ORDERED, VEHICLE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS.*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