2004 Chrysler SEBRING problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
220 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
39,961 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 166 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 220 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 47 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 41 | 18.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 24 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 19 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Engine | 11 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 24; Air Bags: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 19; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Electrical System: 16; Suspension: 13; Engine: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 63 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 36 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 63; 25,000 to 49,999: 36; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 54 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 39 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 39; 2005: 31; 2006: 32; 2007: 20; 2008: 21; 2009: 10; 2010: 8; 2011: 5; 2012: 6; 2013: 6; 2014: 12; 2015: 7; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 47 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 41 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 10067229 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLS/SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT INCIDENT WHEN THE DRIVER IS COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067702 · 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR WHEN VEHICLE STALLED/STOPPED WHEN CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE RESTARTED, BUT NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE ONLY HAS 350 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049501 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
LOOSE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION SLIPS, ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP. BRAKES ARE NOT ABS. 9/11 TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, STOMPED ON BRAKE, WHEELS DID NOT LOCK, CAR DID NOT STOP ROLLING AND I HIT THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION ALWAYS SLIPS, ESPECIALLY AT 30 MPH. I HAVE BEEN IN TWO FRONTAL HITS AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 24 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064264 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)
ENGINE ACCELERATED WHILE AT STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE ONLY, TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. AGGRESSIVE BRAKE PRESSURE NEEDED TO PREVENT VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD ON IT'S OWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063661 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
ON 2/25/04 HAD ELECTICAL PROBLEM DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED AND SAID NOTHING TO FIX, ON 3/13/04 DRIVING ON FREEWAY CAR HAD NO POWER ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN NOW DEALERSHIP REPLACING CLUSTER & BATTERY CAUSE GAUGES NOT WORKING BUT UNABLE TO DETECT WHAT CAUSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN I FEAR FOR MY LIFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,643 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072728 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)
HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. IT APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR MALFUNCTION. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY TO BE USED AS A SAFETY DEVICE. THIS HAS POTENTIAL TO HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045743 · 2003-11-08 (November 8, 2003)
PURCHASED 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING FROM ED TOMKO DEALERSHIP IN AVON LAKE, OH ON SEPT 23RD. AFTER 270 MILES (9-29-03) THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO SHAKE WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS (VISIBLY SHAKING AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AS MY ENTIRE UPPER BODY FEELS THE AFFECTS). I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE ED TOMKO DEALERSHIP ON OCT 6TH AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A 4 CYLINDER (I HAVE OWNED 4 CYLINDER CHRYSLER VEHICLES FOR 14 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS DEFECT). I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND SPOKE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 270 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050371 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN IT WAS USED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153581 · 2006-03-24 (March 24, 2006)
2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, 29,500 MILES. ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON PERIODICALLY THEN GO OFF. TOOK TO DEALER. DID DIAGNOSTICS, CHARGE $84.00. FOUND CRACKED RESONATOR PIPE, REPLACED, NO CHARGE. CYLINDERS 3 & 5 MISFIRING. DEALER TELLS ME THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE OUT THE FUEL INJECTORS TO CLEAN, CHARGE WOULD BE $234.00. SO MUCH FOR 3 YEARS, 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN ANY CAR IN FOR THE INJECTORS TO BE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED. I REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS MY SELF AND PUT IN INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE GAS. CAR IS RUNN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170594 · 2006-10-11 (October 11, 2006)
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SEBRING AT SHELLBY CHRYSLER JEEP\EAGLE DEALERSHIP. JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS LATER ,MY CAR STARTED JUST CUTTING OFF. THEN IT STARTED JUMPING FORWARD WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT IN SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS. I TOOK MY CAR IN MORE THAN 7 TIMES TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT PULL A CODE. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK FOR A LEAK SOMEWHERE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. NOW 2 YEARS LATER JUST AS MY WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170594 at NHTSA ↗