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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Chrysler SEBRING problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

42 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

59,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 42 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior614.3%
Transmission and shifting37.1%
Steering behavior37.1%
Engine operation12.4%

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.

Air Bags
7
Electrical System
3
Engine
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Structure:Body
3
Suspension
3
Suspension:Rear
3
Wheels
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags7
Electrical System3
Engine3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure:Body3
Suspension3
Suspension:Rear3
Wheels3

Air Bags: 7; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Suspension: 3; Suspension:Rear: 3; Wheels: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 9 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.

2003
8
2004
1
2005
9
2007
3
2008
6
2009
3
2012
1
2013
3
2014
1
2015
4
2016
1
2017
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20038
20041
20059
20073
20086
20093
20121
20133
20141
20154
20161
20171
20211

2003: 8; 2004: 1; 2005: 9; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10003146 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING ON NOV 11, 2002. ON DEC. 26, 2003 I WAS DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 0730. MY CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT, LIKE A MAGNET WAS PULLING . I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STAIRING, I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY DOWN SHIFTING THE GEARS. THE ONLY THING THAT BROUGHT THAT CAR TO A STOP WAS THE CURVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE CURVE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NASTY. MY INSURANCE STATED, "THERE WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE IN THE RACK AND THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY CAUSED BY COLLISION. THIS BREAK CAUSED THE COLLISON. …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003146 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042046 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER WHICH CAUSED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION. ALSO, DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHEN TAPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042046 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10132039 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)

DT: 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CAR IS A 4 CYCLE AUTOMATIC WITH AIR CONDITIONER AND CRUSE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING UP A 6% GRADE, AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE HILL TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED 15-20 MILES FASTER THAN WHAT THE CRUISE WAS SET AT. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST BE MET FOR THE CRUISE TO FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132039 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10239239 · 2008-08-21 (August 21, 2008)

I OWN A 2003 SEBRING LX MODEL, WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING IT, I WAS TURNING UP INTO A DRIVEWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD POP, THE CLOCK SPRING WENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239239 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10261801 · 2009-03-14 (March 14, 2009)

PROBLEM: SMELLING GAS FUMES WHILE STARTING THE CAR. ENGINE FAILURE TO START. FAILURE IS DAILY. MY WIFE AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, EXCEPT NEEDING A NEW GAS CAP. SINCE THEN, OUR LOCAL DEALER HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I AM CONCERNED THAT OUR CAR WILL RESULT IN WORST CASE SCENARIO RESULTS, LIKE AN EXPLOSION WHILE STARTING THE CAR. OUR CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2003, IN 2009 THE CARS CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE, SMELLING MORE FUEL FUMES. I AM NOT SURE WHAT …

Owner-reported narrative. 57,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261801 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10114004 · 2005-03-12 (March 12, 2005)

I OWN A 2003 CHYRSLER THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TWO TIMES TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT DRIVING SMOOTHLY. IT BEGUN BY ACTING AS THOUGH IT WAS STALLING ONLY IN REVERSE. IT THEN BECAME EVEN WHEN MOVING FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS TO NOW WHEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH IT DOES THIS. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FIRST TIME TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM TO KEEP DRIVING IT TILL IT GOT WORSE. WELL, IT DID. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT IT JUST NEEDED A TUNE-UP AND A FUEL INJECTION CLEANER BUT COULDN'T BE …

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114004 at NHTSA ↗