IllustrationFOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS , THERE HAS BEEN A GRADUAL ROAR FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. UPON A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION IT HAS BEEN SUMMIZED AS THE REAR WHEEL HUB BEARING/ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THIS STARTED AT 50K MILES. SINCE THIS IS A SEALED COMPONENT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *NLM
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, ALSO TURNED IN A 360 DEGREE ANGLE, AND BOUNCED OFF OF THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. SCC
THE IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP, AND THE KEY WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TS THE SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO MOVED. SCC
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS SCC
WHILE IN MOTION THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD AND UPWARD. *JG *JB
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING, AND RECENTLY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THE SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT WHEN THE ECT MODULE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION GOES BAD, IT CAUSES THE W…
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I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING, AND RECENTLY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THE SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT WHEN THE ECT MODULE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION GOES BAD, IT CAUSES THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE BAD, DUE TO THE MODULE GOING OUT. MY BOYFRIEND WORKS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE PARTS BUSINESS AND HE TALKED TO A FEW SHOPS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 112K MILES. WE WERE QUOTED 3K TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE CHRYSLER DEALER. TS
CONSUMER STATES WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE THROTTLE CONTROL WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE. PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENLY. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE RIM IS CUTTING THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR AND THE CONSUMER IS FORCE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
FRONT BUMPER GETS CAUGHT ON PARKING STOPS. DESIGN ALLOWS BUMPER TO EASILY SLIDE OVER STOP, BUT GETS CAUGHT WHEN CAR IS BACKING OUT. BOLTS HOLDING BUMPER UNDER AIRDAM BROKEN AND BUMPER MATERIAL TORN AT STRESS POINT. NO REPAIR POSSIBLE. STAYED STABLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THEN DAMAGED SECTION BROKE FREE WITHOUT WARNING. …
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FRONT BUMPER GETS CAUGHT ON PARKING STOPS. DESIGN ALLOWS BUMPER TO EASILY SLIDE OVER STOP, BUT GETS CAUGHT WHEN CAR IS BACKING OUT. BOLTS HOLDING BUMPER UNDER AIRDAM BROKEN AND BUMPER MATERIAL TORN AT STRESS POINT. NO REPAIR POSSIBLE. STAYED STABLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THEN DAMAGED SECTION BROKE FREE WITHOUT WARNING. HAD TO CUT SECTION FROM BUMPER TO AVOID UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. NLM
LEAKAGE OF OILY SUBSTANCE FROM MIRROR. DISTORTION OF MIRROR REFLECTIVE SURFACE. INTERIOR LIGHTS FILLED WITH SUBSTANCE. DAMAGE TO CAR INTERIOR AROUND GEAR SHIFT. DRIPPED ON HAND WHILE SHIFTING TO REVERSE. VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM SKIN. NLM
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