2002 Chrysler Sebring

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, ALSO THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO GIVE AN ACCURATE READING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY WONDERFUL FATHER BROUGHT ME THIS CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI ON 04/17/2014. AFTER MY CHEVY IMPALA/2002 STALLED DUE TO TRANSMISSION/IGNITION SWITCH THE TOTAL COST IS $3100.00. SO MY DAD PAYS CASH FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI. ON 05/03/2014, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND A BARBECUE. IT WAS A VERY NICE DAY OUT. THE CAR STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND THE CAR STALLS AND SLOWS DOWN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SUN MAY 4,2014. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE HAD JUMP TIME AND THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $3000-5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE LOST MY JOB IN HR DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GO WORK. I NOW OWN TO VEHICLES THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE AND CANT EVEN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR SINCE I HAVE LOST MY JOB. IT REALLY UPSETS ME ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. WE THE CONSUMERS SHOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF RELIEF. WE THE CONSUMERS RELY ON THE INTELLIGENCE AND INTEGRITY OF THOSE THAT MANUFACTURE AND MAKE THE ENGINES. I'M ASKING THAT CHRYSLER PAY FOR ME A NEW ENGINE. THAT IS A SMALL AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE FACT I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR. HAD THIS TURNED OUT ANY OTHER WAY SUCH AS A FATALITY. MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT " HEADS WOULD ROLL". I WOULD HATE TO SEE CHRYSLER IN THE SAME "HOT SEAT" THAT GM IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED AND DID NOT SOUND WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,677.

PROBLEM # 1 - STARTED AS INTERMITTENT / NOW CONSTANT. SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY "WACKY". EARLIER IN NOV. 2008, EXHIBITED A PROBLEM THAT I FIRST SAW TWO WINTERS AGO. IN DEC 2006, HAD THE SAME SYMPTOM - SPEEDOMETER GOING WILD. IN THE REPAIR SHOP, THE REP REPLACED INNER & OUTER SPEED SENSORS BASED ON CODES HE SAW FROM COMPUTER. PROBLEM NOT SEEN SINCE 12/06 UNTIL RECENTLY. IN EARLY OCT 2008, ONLY ABOUT THREE BRIEF INSTANCES. NOW THE WACKY SPEEDOMETER IS FREQUENT / CONSTANT. GOING ALONG AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLIPS TO 10 MPH (PRESUMABLY THE CAR IS STILL REALLY TRAVELING ALONG AT 55 MPH). IN FRACTION OF A SECOND THE NEEDLE SWINGS BACK UP TO 60 MPH, THEN DOWN TO 20 MPH, THEN UP TO 70 MPH, THEN DOWN AGAIN TO 5 MPH... I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL GARAGE. GARAGE TECH REPLACED BOTH INNER & OUTER TRANSMISSION SENSORS ON 12/5/2008 -BASED ON COMPUTER CODES, AND RESET ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT. SINCE REPLACING BOTH SPEED SENSORS THE ?WILD SPEEDOMETER? PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS; SWING OF THE NEEDLE IS JUST A LITTLE LESS, ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON (CONSTANTLY) AFTER HAVING SPEEDOMETER SWING WILDLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. PROBLEM # 2 - POSSIBLY RELATED (OR NOT) - AT LOWER SPEEDS (5-30 MPH), THE CAR TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO RESPOND FINE (OTHER THAN THE WILD SPEEDOMETER ISSUE). I MEAN THAT IS THE CAR REGISTERS 1000-2000 RPM, SOUNDS LIKE ENGINE IS RUNNING WELL. CAR SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME AT 50-60 MPH, THEN SLOWING TO EXIT (DOWN OR UP A RAMP) WHEN SPEED IS SLOWED TO AROUND 20 MPH, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEAR (SMALL BUCK CAN BE FELT); THEN CAR SEEMS TO STAY IN LOW-GEAR. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE CAR BUT WHEN THE SPEED IS AROUND 30 MPH, THE RPM IS OVER 3000, CAN HEAR THE ENGINE STRAINING. I PULL OVER, TURN-OFF ENGINE, SIT A MINUTE, RESTART CAR, IT IS OK ONCE AGAIN TO DRIVE. IT CAN GO OVER 30 MPH OR HIGHER AND MAINTAIN AROUND 2000 RPM (UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED TO 20 MPH (CYCLE CONTINUES). *TR

FIRST I HAD CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK SO THE PAN OR SOME PART WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THE OIL IS STILL LEAKING OUT OF THAT PAN OR PART? THAT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS INCLUDING CHECKING THE CONSTANT FLICKERING OIL LIGHT WHICH NOW JUST FLICKERS AND I PAY IT NO ATTENTION. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS A COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING, THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START SO I TOOK IT IN THAT WAS 800 SOMETHING BY THE TIME THE CAR WAS GOING AGAIN. THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THE CONNECTER THAT HAS THREE HOSES TO IT WENT BAD AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEN I OPENED IT THE WATER WAS SPRAYING LEAKING AND OF COURSE EMPTY WHICH WAS ANOTHER 300 BUCKS AFTER TOWING PARTS LABOR ETC... THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH I JUST DO MY BEST TO STAY IN THE LANE. ALSO I HAVE FOUND OUT THE WHEEL ARE REALLY REALLY CHEAP AND FLAKING SO MY BRAND NEW TIRES WERE IMMEDIATELY PUNCTURED WHICH I'VE PAID A BUNCH TO KEEP THEM SEALED AND BALANCED AND NOT TO MENTION THE WEAR FROM THE STEERING AND FLATS HAS PRETTY MUCH RUINED THE NEW TIRES. *TR

PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, CAR IS IN DRIVEWAY IN PARK,THE IDLE WILL GO UP A LITTLE , BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO UP TO 80-100 KM WILL SITTING STILL. IF YOU GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS IN PARK THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO 240 KM AGAIN WHILE IN PARK AND NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD IT THE VEHICLE RESCANNED,BUT THE ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY..I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND THE PUT ALMOST 200 KM ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAT ENOUGH TIMES, BUT WHEN IT WENT INTO SERVICE TO GET CHECKED OUT THEY COULD NOT SOLVE OR GET THE CAR TO DO THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING ,AND OUR CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THERE WILL BE A COSTLY BILL. I AM ALSO CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. *AK

IN 12/2001 I PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI AND DISCOVERED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINKED. I REPORTED TO THE DEALER, WHO NEGLECTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON APRIL 26, 2007 THE RADIO INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED OPERATING AND BEGAN TO BLINK EVEN WHILE TURNING OFF AND/OR NOT OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 05/18/07 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR, AND AS IT TURNED OUT THE RADIO WAS CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO BLINK. ONCE THE RADIO WAS REPLACED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER BLINKED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO WAS ELECTRONICALLY BACK FEEDING INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS , CAUSING THE RADIO AND EVERYTHING IT BACK FEED INTO TO BECOME CHARGED BY THE BATTERY AND ON CONSTANTLY. THIS WAS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THIS WAS A PROBLEM CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF BY ISSUANCE OF THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #08-026-01 DATED 12/14/01 FOR 2001-2002 SEBRING/SEBRING CONVERTIBLE/STRATUS AND 2002 LIBERTY. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED. OTHER THAN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINKING, THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DID NOT BECOME EVIDENT UNTIL APRIL 26, 2007. I WAS LEFT TO PAY FOR FACTORY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. IT TOOK THIS PROBLEM 5 YEARS TO SURFACE, BUT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AS WELL AS CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH BY FIRE. PLEASE HELP ME AND ANYONE ELSE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES.*AK

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONV. EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE SHUT-OFF. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, TESTED, BUT NO REPEAT OF SYMPTOMS. OWNER REQUESTED CHRYSLER REPAIR PERSONNEL ACTUALLY DRIVE CAR. UPON DOING SO, ALL SYMPTOMS APPEARED WITH TOTAL LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND NON-STARTING ENGINE. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. DEALER (HARBOR CHRYSLER, VENTURA, CA) HAD CAR FOR 18 DAYS. CAR RELEASED IN NON-REPAIRED CONDITION. UPON PICKING-UP THE CAR, THE OWNER ATTACHED WRITTEN STATEMENT OF CONCERN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE SAFETY OF OPERATING A VEHICLE THAT CAN SUDDENLY STOP OPERATING WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SYSTEMS INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNALS, FLASHERS, WIPERS, AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SENSORS, HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS, ETC., AS WELL AS A NON-RUNNING/NON STARTABLE ENGINE. CHRYSLER DEALER ADVISED OWNER TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FAILING COMPONENT(S) EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE, AT WHICH TIME THE PROBLEM COULD BE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED. THIS TRANSLATES INTO AN OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE OWNER TO OPERATE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO HELP THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS EFFECTIVELY UNUSABLE, AS STRONG SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUES CONTINUE TO CONCERN DR. ROLFF, THE OWNER/DRIVER. *JB

DT: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE ANTENNA. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. SHE DID NOT KNOW IF SHE SHOULD GET IT FIXED OR LEAVE IT AS IT IS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. BUT CONSUME R WANTED TO KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID HE WILL TURN IN HIS REPORT AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL GET BACK TO HER WITHIN A WEEK. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT CALLED HER BACK YET. THE OPINION OF THOSE THAT LOOKED AT VEHICLE SAID IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK