U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Chrysler SEBRING problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

210 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

64,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 139 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 210 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	24	11.4%
Steering behavior	23	11.0%
Transmission and shifting	20	9.5%
Engine operation	15	7.1%
Electrical and battery issues	6	2.9%
Fuel system concerns	5	2.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Suspension

Suspension:Rear

Air Bags

Engine

Steering

Engine And Engine Cooling: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Suspension: 14; Suspension:Rear: 12; Air Bags: 11; Engine: 11; Steering: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 6

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 71 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2002: 21; 2003: 16; 2004: 16; 2005: 31; 2006: 32; 2007: 25; 2008: 13; 2009: 12; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 7; 2014: 7; 2015: 6; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003686 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE 25MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 25MPH TO 100MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES EVERY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING TO REDUCE HER SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003686 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007718 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)

THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEEMS INADEQUATE. HARD APPLICATON ON A VERY COLD AND WET ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOES NOT RESULT IN BRAKE LOCK UP. I UNDERSTAND LOCK UP IS BAD, BUT CERTAINLY THE CAR SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH BRAKING POWER TO LOCK THE BRAKES UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10027281 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN MAKE SNOISE EITHER WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, DEALER HAS INSPECTED 3 TIMES, AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027281 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10098651 · 2004-11-11 (November 11, 2004)

AIRBAG/CLOCK SPRING BROKE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS FAILURE MADE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND THE STEERING TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND WHILE TURNING. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN AS SOON AS I COULD. THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY ON IT'S OWN OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A COLLISION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #0801001 AND #1900702 PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE CAR WHICH I PUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098651 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000611 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, TRANSMISSION JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN GOING INTO 1ST GEAR. WHEN DRIVING 45 TO 55 MPH, WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THERE IS A THUMP IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. NOT CONSISTLENTLY, BUT ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCERN.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000611 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003171 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)

I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI AND EVERYTIME WE REACH ABOUT THE SPEED OF 50-65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SOUNDS LIKE THE OLD BAT MOBILE. IT WHINES AND HAS A REAL LOUD WIND WHISTLE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE? I HAVE CONNECTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL SOUNDS. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND RECIEVED THE SAME RESPONSE. WE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WOULD MAKE A CAR THAT HAS A BAD WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE TR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010047 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN DRIVING 45-50 MPH, CONSUMER WOULD TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS AND VEHICLE MADE A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010047 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096899 · 2004-10-14 (October 14, 2004)

THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER RESET THE TIMER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE OTHER 4 TIMES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096899 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10132085 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)

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 VEH…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132085 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10139102 · 2005-10-08 (October 8, 2005)

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, TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,665 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139102 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10149922 · 2006-02-09 (February 9, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE GAS FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND GAS SPRAYING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE A GASOLINE LINE NEAR THE GAS TANK WAS OBSERVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 22,522 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10383942 · 2011-02-22 (February 22, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FUEL RAILING AND HE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS RECALL 03V443000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) FOR THE 2003 MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383942 at NHTSA ↗