1997 Chrysler SEBRING: complaints, problems and recalls

MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL AT 62,000 MILES. WHY? MY WATER PUMP WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. THEN MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE PLUGS AND WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS STARING TO GO. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE IS RACING BUT THE CAR IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING UP WITH THE ENGINE. SURE SIGN.

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000602 at NHTSA ↗

THE RIMS BENT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS RESULTING IN DEFLATED TIRES. THE TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008134 at NHTSA ↗

CHRYSLER 1997 LXI COUPE, 11330 MILES. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WENT AND FILLINGS FROM TRANSMISSION GOT INTO RADIATOR, HAD TO REPLACE BOTH AND CHRYSLER DEALER AND ZONE OFFICE REFUSED TO HELP WITH COST, THEY TOLD ME CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. COULD ACCEPT IF CAR WAS MISUSED OR HAD EXCESSIVE MILEAGE, CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND AS YOU CAN SEE HARDLY EVER USED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010903 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES CONSOLE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM THE ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE INTERMITTENT. POSSIBLY DUE TO A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012314 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A RECALL LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #98V183000) IN REGARDS TO A KEY ISSUE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING - 87000 ORIGINAL MILES, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO HONOR THIS RECALL, SAYING THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC VIN# - PLEASE HELP. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 87,577 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013789 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE THROTTLE ARM STICKING. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *AK *JB *TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015291 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE DEALER STATED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 55,134 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015727 at NHTSA ↗

OUTSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE FAILURE ON 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 97,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017018 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 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: 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.

Reported: 2002-07-08 (July 8, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES, THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE CAN FRAY CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BIND OR STICK.

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1997-08-08 (August 8, 1997)

THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.

Consequence: THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1997-11-13 (November 13, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 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: 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.