2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TAKATA RECALL; AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY FROM STARTUP TO SHUTDOWN, ANYWHERE - WTF?

PAST FEW WEEKS BEEN NOTICING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. 1. SUN VISORS HIT ME IN THE FACE 2. CAR STALLS TO START 3. LIGHTS HARDLY WORK EVEN WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT ON HIGH BEAMS 3. FLUID DOESN'T STAY IN THE CAR 4. CAR CUTS OFF IN MID DRIVING 5. CAR ALSO CAN CUT OFF WHEN YOU APPLY BRAKES . CAR BACK TIRE SMOKES. WAS NOT IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANYONE CAR CUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO OWN MY OWN BRING CAR TO STOP

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. I RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS AROUND 88,000 MILES.. I NOW HAVE 92,000 MILES AND SEE ENGINE COOLANT IS BLACK.. ONLINE IT APPEARS A COMMON PROBLEM IS OIL MIXING WITH COOLANT.. APPARENTLY I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE THE 2.7L ENGINE THAT IS PRONE TO SLUDGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I NOTICED THE CAR WAS USING MORE OIL RECENTLY EVEN BEFORE MY 3,000 OIL CHANGE.. NOW I MIGHT HAVE THE REASON WHY... I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED A CHRYSLER PRODUCT WITH THIS 2.7L ENGINE... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING TO THE LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING 61,000 MILES DEFECTIVE NOW BROKEN CLOCK SPRING THAT OPERATES AIR BAG AND HORN, NOW STEERING WHEEL BINDS, VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS, MOSTLY BREAKS WHEN ITS COLD OUT. HOW COME CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL ON THE CARAVANS FOR SAME REASON BUT NOT ON SEBRINGS? PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE THAT HAS CHROME/ALUMINUM WHEELS. I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING SUBSTANTIAL PRESSURE IN MY TIRES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THINKING THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, AND THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER IN WYCKOFF NJ WHERE I PURCHASED IT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WHEELS AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR (NON-CHRYSLER) MECHANIC, HE POINTED OUT THAT MY RIMS WERE CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE AND THAT THIS AFFECTED THE BEAD ON THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO LOSE PRESSURE. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD CALLED CHRYSLER AND BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEBRING RIMS. I SENT AN INTERNET COMPLAINT TO CHRYSLER'S WEBSITE BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT ALL HE COULD DO, INSTEAD OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT, WAS GRIND DOWN THE OLD RIMS AND TAR OVER THEM AS A STOP GAP SOLUTION. I EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF PRESSURE ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO TIRE DEALERS TWICE TO REGRIND THE RIMS. EACH TIME THEY POINT TO THE CORROSION AND THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH CHRYSLER NOT DEALING THE PROBLEM. HAVING TIRES LOSE PRESSURE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF THE WHEEL IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THANK YOU. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING IN EARLY '07' I STILL OWE ABOUT 5,000 ON THE CAR. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS MY OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON WHEN I COME TO A STOP. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THE OIL SENDER SWITCH WAS BAD AND LEAKING OIL. THEY CHARGED ME 173.00 TO REPLACE IT AND WHEN I LEFT I GOT ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. NOW I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ENGINE MOST LIKELY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS THE 2.7 THAT I NOW HAVE LEARNED IS ONE OF THE WORSE ENGINES MADE. THIS LAST CHRISTMAS I WAS AT A PARTY AND MY FRIEND INTRODUCED ME TO HIS ROOMMATE THAT WAS GOING TO DIESEL ENGINE SCHOOL,HE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED EVERY GAS AUTOMOBILE CERTIFICATION THERE IN EXISTENCE AND IS ONE OF THE TOP MECHANICS IN THE AREA! WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT CARS AND HE ASKED ME WHAT I DROVE, I TOLD HIM I HAD A 2003 SEBRING. HIS REPLY WAS.."OH, I'M SORRY". NOW I KNOW WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT,AT THE TIME I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST JOKING. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT,IF THEY DON'T REMEDY THIS PROBLEM I WILL PRAY DAILY THAT CHRYSLER GOES UNDER AND WILL BAD MOUTH THEM TO EVERY PERSON I KNOW AND MEET. *TR

HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH A 2.7 LITER ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP WHEN IT WOULDN'T START, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (THE BATTERY IN IT WAS A FEW MONTHS OLD) AND A NEW STARTER. I BORROWED THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THEN AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 15 MILES WHEN I GOT IT BACK, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS THE CAR ENGINE BLOWS. THE CHRYSLER SHOP ACCUSES ME FALSE ALLEGATIONS OF NEVER CHANGING THE OIL. I PROVED IT WAS CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY SAY IMPROPER MAINTENANCE CAUSED "ENGINE SLUDGE" WHICH THE CAUSED ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CAR ALWAYS RAN QUITE AND COOL, BUT WHEN IT FAILED AND I GOT IT TO START AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS, IT MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ALL THE WAY UP (WHICH NEVER HAPPENS) AND THE ENGINE WAS BOILING HOT. THEY NOW SAY THEY NEED AN INSPECTOR FROM MY WARRANTY PEOPLE TO COME INSPECT AND "DIAGNOSE" THE ENGINE. THEY SAY THAT COST IS NOT COVERED TO BREAK DOWN AND OPEN THE ENGINE FOR INSPECTION AND IT COSTS SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEN IF THEY DO NOT COVER IT, I'LL NEED TO PAY AGAIN TO PUT THE BROKEN ENGINE BACK TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND ADDITIONALLY AND ABOVE THAT COST, THE COST TO REPAIR THE ENGINE THEY SAY IS $10, 000. CHRYSLER PRETENDS THERE HAS BEEN NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE BUT A GOOGLE SEARCH OF "CHRYSLER 2.7 ENGINE DEFECTIVE" PROVES OTHERWISE. MILLIONS OF THEIR CARS HAVE THESE ENGINES AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHRYSLERS DENIAL OF THIS PROBLEM AND SYSTEMATIC COVER UP. MY FIANCEE AND I JUST EVACUATED NEW ORLEANS DUE T HURRICANES GUSTAV. SHE IS DISABLED AND WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING HOMELESS, THAT CAR WAS THE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR US AND FOR ME TO ATTEMPT TO EARN A LIVING. *TR

2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING HAS ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAGS AND A RUST PROBLEM WITH THE HOOD LATCH. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BEEP SPORADICALLY AND THEN WOULD STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

CHRYSLER 2.7L ENGINE FAILURE. REFUSAL OF CHRYSLER TO HONOR 7/70,000 DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY OR PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND TOWED. CHRYSLER IS FOLLOWING THE PATTERN STATED BY OTHER CUSTOMERS. NOT HONORING WARRANTY, THEN COMING BACK WITH A 50% OFFER WITH AN EXAGGERATED USED ENGINE PRICE. CAR HAS BEEN ON OUT OF SERVICE FOR 6 WEEKS. *TR

LACK OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT HEAT DURING VEHICLE IDLE. *TR

THE CONNECTION FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES, FIXED 3 TIMES, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THEY CAN DO NOTHING BUT FIX IT AT OUR COST EACH TIME. IT HAS BEEN RECONNECTED ONCE, AND TWICE AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $100 EACH TIME. *TR

THE CLOCKSPRING THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING BROKE IN COLD WEATHER, RENDERING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE. IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN EARLIER CHRYSLER MODELS PROMPTED RECALLS OF THIS PART, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT REACTED TO THE SAME POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS RETURNED TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE REAR DEFROSTER WIRE WAS PULLED OUT OF PLACE. THIS RESULTED IN THE REAR DEFROSTER BEING INOPERABLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECONNECTION. THIS OCCURRED EVERY FALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A STREET, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A SMALL POTHOLE, AND A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CORROSION WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME WHEELS BECAME CORRODED DUE TO THE WEATHER AND DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WEATHER RELATED AND COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY CONTINUOUSLY ADDING AIR TO THE TIRES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT AIR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE TIRES ON A DAILY BASIS.

PROBLEMS STARTED EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST PAYMENT WAS DUE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE AND STILL JOLTS WHEN DRIVING AND SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. ON THE THIRD OCCASION I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE SEBRING'S DRIVE THAT WAY AND IT WAS NOT FIXED. OVER TIME THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ROOF HAS LEAKED. THE DOORS SHAKE. AUTOMATIC WINDOWS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. BOTH FRONT SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE KEY IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE ON OCCASION. I HAVE HAD TWO ALIGNMENTS DONE BUT THE FRONT END SHAKES WHEN DRIVING AND HAS A RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE. THE CAR HAS 43,000 MILES AND I CONSIDER IT UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE FOR LONG DISTANCES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 10 TIMES BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, THE SEAT BELT, AND THE SEAT TRACK AND AFTER EACH REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN WITHIN TWO DAYS. ONCE THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE DASH AS THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE THE REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE.

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE OIL BECAUSE OF IRREGULAR MAINTENANCE. THEREFORE, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP, THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V443000, REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE FUEL PUMP RECALL MAY BE RELATED IN SOME WAY TO THE SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WASN'T A CODE STORED AND THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. FINALLY, IN LATE JUNE OF THIS YEAR THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, I TOOK THE CARN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER HAVING THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER REPLACED THE LIGHT WA OFF. NOW, LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS UNDERN WARRANTY, BUT THE WARRANTY WILL BE UP IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

THE VEHICLE'S ROOF LEAKED, THE WINDOWS SHOOK, AND THE STEERING WHEEL RUBBED. THEN, THE WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT, THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS LOOSE, AND GAS GAUGE BROKE. ALSO, THE SUSPENSION WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED, BOTH DOOR PANELS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD SHAKE WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED, THE REGULATOR CABLE WAS KNOTTED, THE LEFT 1/2 REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, THE FRONT TIRES WERE RUBBING, THE FRONT END DISPLAYED A CLUNKING NOISE, THE BACKING PLATE WAS BENT, THE KEY DID NOT COME OUT AT TIMES, BUT NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED AT THE TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, A TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT VOLTS WERE TOO HIGH PER ENGINE LIGHT AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT MOVING. WIRING WAS FOUND OPEN IN THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED. *SC

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ANCHOR BROKE OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND WHILE BUCKLING SEAT BELT. THE ANCHOR CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE THE SEAT BELT IS NOW UNUSABLE, AND WHAT'S MORE, HAD BEEN OFFERING NO PROTECTION FOR SOME TIME, WHILE APPEARING TO BE INTACT. MILEAGE ON CAR IS 34,500 MILES. BREAKAGE OCCURRED IN STRANDED METAL BETWEEN THE BUCKLE RECEPTACLE, AND THE BASE OF THE ANCHOR. THIS LOOKED LIKE A METAL-FATIGUE TYPE OF PROBLEM WHERE INDIVIDUAL STRANDS OF THE STRANDED CABLE HAD WEAKENED AND BROKE OVER TIME.*AK

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEEL BEARING AND BRAKE CALIPER BOLTS FALLING OUT. (IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE) THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY MAIL AND THE CONSUMER HAD NO RESPONSE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SCC *JB