2004 Chrysler SEBRING: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE DUE TO SEAT HEATER FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052221 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS VANDALIZED. THE THIEF BROKE INTO THE VEHICLE BY PULLING UP ON THE HANDLE OF THE AUTOMOBILE AND USING SOME TOOL TO POP OPEN THE LOCK. THEY STOLE OVER $130 WORTH OF CDS. CELL PHONE EQUIPMENT AND IRS PAPERS THAT CONTAINED MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060063 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2004 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAS MADE TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT NOISES: 1ST AT ANY SPEED WHEN I RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL I GET WHAT I CALL A CRICKET SOUNDING NOISE - VERY ANNOYING. 2ND AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND UP I GET WHAT I CALL A WHISTLING SOUND THAT IS ALSO VERY ANNOYING AND STAYS ON WHEN I USE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT MASSEY YARDLEY, HOBE SOUND, FL ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND GONE FOR TEST DRIVES WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM TRIES TO FIX IT TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY HAVE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060623 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO COME BACK ONCE THE LIGHTS STAYED COMPLETELY OFF. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061234 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH HEADLIGHT AND THE FOG LIGHT WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE. CONSUMER HAD TO FOLLOW ANOTHER MOTORIST TO A HOTEL BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T SEE TO TRAVEL. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 2,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062963 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

Reported: 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)

ON CERTAIN 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOLDED.

Consequence: BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A LEAKAGE OF FUEL AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, IT COULD RESULT A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)

ON CERTAIN CONVERTIBLE MODEL VEHICLES, THE LEFT HAND REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT BEING IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE LEFT SIDE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BOLT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 19, 2004. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.