FaultScore report

1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible problems

Owners have filed 99 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible with NHTSA between 2000 and 2018. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 10 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chrysler Sebring Convertible All 1996 cars

FaultScore 62/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

1 complaint reports a death.

80,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

21%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 50: Against the median year of the Chrysler Sebring Convertible. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100: 28.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 36: 21% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1996 compares with every other Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Click any bar to open that year's report.

99 98 61 136 97 145 175 41 73 62

96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 15 15.2%

1 crashes, 2 fires · median 80,000 mi

Acceleration & Cruise Control 11 11.1%

3 crashes, 0 fires · median 86,269 mi

Body & Structure 9 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 54,819 mi

Suspension 8 8.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 71,000 mi

Brakes 8 8.1%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 25,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 8 8.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 108,450 mi

Seat Belts 7 7.1%

Median failure at 90,400 miles

Steering 7 7.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Equipment & Accessories 6 6.1%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 55,634 mi

Fuel & Propulsion 4 4.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 100,650 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 3.0%

Airbags 3 3.0%

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 80,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 3 3.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 80,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 2 2.0%

Median failure at 102,000 miles

Tires 2 2.0%

Lights 2 2.0%

Stability & Traction Control 1 1.0%

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Automatic Transmission 5 17.9%

Lower Ball Joint 4 14.3%

Cables 4 14.3%

Accelerator Pedal 3 10.7%

Roof AND Pillars 3 10.7%

TIE ROD Assembly 3 10.7%

Wiring 3 10.7%

Retractor 3 10.7%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 2.6%

25,000 – 49,999 miles 9 23.7%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 6 15.8%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 11 28.9%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 10 26.3%

150,000+ miles 1 2.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 2000 peak 9 Nov 2018

NHTSA investigations into the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA03011 Opened 17 Jul 2003 Closed 30 Jan 2004 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHI...

Recalls on the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

10E059000 27 Dec 2010

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.

Risk: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E056000 9 Oct 2009

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.

Risk: SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

04V021000 13 Jan 2004

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Risk: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2004003 8 Jan 2004 277,416 units in Canada

Other

On certain vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a floor-mounted shifter, the ignition-park interlock may become defeated and allow the shifter to be moved out of the Park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the Park position. This may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning. Correction: Dealer will inspect the function of the ignition-park interlock system. Vehicles found with functional interlock systems will have a load-limiting push rod installed into the floor shifter lever. Vehicles with a non-functional ignition-park interlock system will have the shifter assembly replaced.

Recall 2002128 10 Jul 2002 2,826 units in Canada

Engine

On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L V6 engines, the throttle control cable can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick. This could potentially result in a loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the throttle cable assembly.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 29 Aug 2008 at 100,300 miles Burbank, IL Fire 1 injured

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNMODIFIED! WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, I HEARD A POP (LIKE A BALLOON POPPING) AND SMOKE AND FLAME BURST FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED FIRE BEGAN IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL LINE AND SPREAD INTO THE DASHBOARD. POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING ARC WHICH COMPROMISED THE RUBBER FUEL HOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10240292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Aug 2008 at 100,300 miles Burbank, IL Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #10240292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Jun 2006 at 70,000 miles Springfield, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. FIRE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL ARCING FROM SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOTOR ON DRIVER DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10159388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Jul 2005 at 100,000 miles Bolivia, NC 1 injured

AIR BAGS

ON JULY 11, 2005 I DROVE FROM MY HOME IN BOLIVIA, NC TO DUNN, NC (APPROX. 125 MI) TO PICK UP MY GRANDSON & A FRIEND. WHILE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CRACKERBARRELL RESTAURANT AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT 421 & I95, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND LEANED OUT THE WINDOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY DAUGHTER. SUDDENLY BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS EXPLODED FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE AND FUMES. ALL THREE OF US IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE AUTOMOBILE. I SUFFERED A SEVERE BRUSED AND CUT RIGHT ARM AND BRUSING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY NECK & SHOULDER AND A TWISTED RIGHT KNEE. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN DUNN BY THE PARAMEDICS & RELEASED. THE CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED. HAD THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING SOUTH ON #421, A 2 LANE HWY USED MOSTLY BY 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER LARGE TRUCKS. NO DOUBT I WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS REPORT. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR IF THE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED IN MY FACE WHILE TRAVELLING AT 55 MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAG ON THE DIRVERS SIDE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE DUNN POLICE DEPARTMENT (CASE # OCA 2005 01833). THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT UNDISTURBED UNTIL WEDNESDAY THE 13TH, WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO MARTIN'S AUTO BODY SHOP ON BEACH ROAD IN SOUTHPORT, NC. IT REMAINS THERE UNDISTURBED. ON JULY 15TH A MR JAMES WILLIAMS, SENT BY CHRYSLER, INSPECTED THE CAR. (FILE # 13779399). ON JULY 19TH STATE FARM SENT AN INSPECTOR. (CLAIM # 330713425, TEAM #44). I AM AWAITING NEWS FROM CHRYSLER AS TO WHAT ACTION THEY WILL TAKE TO REPLACE, REPAIR OR OTHERWISE COMPENSATE ME FOR THE LOSS OF THIS VEHICLE AND TRAUMA TO ME AND THE CHILDREN.

NHTSA complaint #10129554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Jun 2005 at 60,000 miles Peru, IN Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DT:CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE WHILE IN CARPORT. HE PUT THE CAR REVERSE MOVED ABOUT 1 FOOT AND THE DASH BLEW UP. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS SO LOUD THAT NEIGHBORS HEARD IT FROM INSIDE THEIR HOUSES AND CAME RUNNING OUT. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SMOKE BELLOWED OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PARTS OF THE CAR WERE BLOWN ALL OVER THE INTERIOR. CONSUMER SAYS INCIDENT WAS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT HE HAD BEEN CAR BOMBED. CONSUMER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL CONTACT TO VEHICLE TO CAUSE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SAYS THERE ARE OTHER WITNESSES AVAILABLE. CONSUMER SAYS INVESTIGATOR THAT LOOKED AT VEHICLE TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE HAD INVESTIGATED 3 OTHER SUCH INSTANCES.

NHTSA complaint #10126411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Jun 2005 West Carrollton, OH 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK SPRINGS FOR TRUNK LID NO LONGER WORK. HAVE TO HOLD TRUNK OPEN MANUALLY. SPRINGS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF CHANGES CHRYSLER HAS MADE SO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE SPRINGS REWELDED. TRUNK LID HAS HIT ME IN HEAD ON OCCASION.WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR REWELDING BECAUSE OF YOUR CHANGES ON SOMETHING SO SIMPLE

NHTSA complaint #10124420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 23 Nov 2018 Oroville, CA

SUSPENSION

THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11153406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Nov 2018 Oroville, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11153406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Nov 2018 Oroville, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11153406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Feb 2015 at 63,900 miles Nehalem, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I JUST SPENT 12.95 ON GETTING A CAR HISTORY REPORT BECAUSE MY TITLE SAYS THE CAR IS A RECONSTRUCTED,TOTALED TITLE,BUT RECEIVING YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND TITLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT ISN'T A RECONSTRUCTED CAR????I'M CONFUSED ...WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY FOR..THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,IT'S THERE DECEASED MOM'S CAR..I'M WRITING YOU AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SITE,EITHER I GET THE RIGHT REPORT SINCE I'M HOLDING THE TITLE IN MY HAND THAT SAYS OPPOSITE OF YOUR FINDINGS,OR MY MONEY BACK? I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS RECONSTRUCTED TOTALED TITLE YOUR SITE DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GET AHOLD OF YOUR SCAM ,WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN TOOK FOR THERE MONEY AND GIVING NO INFORMATION...

NHTSA complaint #10682043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Sep 2013 at 42,500 miles Blackwood, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT HARD WHILE HWY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING QUICKLY. IF I HADN'T PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE QUICKLY, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #10544185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Nov 2010 at 117,000 miles Concord, NC

SEAT BELTS

I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI AND THE SEATBELTS "LOCK" IN THE RETRACTED STAGE AT VARIOUS TIMES. BOTH BELTS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED NEW SEAT BELTS BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BOTH BELTS WENT BAD AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, AND THAT THE RELEASE AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THE SEBRING.

NHTSA complaint #10364079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 May 2010 Elkton, MD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN IT RAINS. I TRAVELED ONE AND A HALF HOURS IN A STORM. THE WATER ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WHERE I HAD CLOTHES IN A SMALL PILE..THEY WERE LITERALLY FLOATING FROM SO MUCH WATER THAT WAS POURING IN. AT ANY TIME THAT I HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT THE WATER WOULD THEN COME TO THE FRONT IN A HUGE WAVE OF WATER. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?

NHTSA complaint #10331333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 May 2010 Elkton, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY

NHTSA complaint #10331333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Mar 2010 Tarzana, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WELL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BACK WINDOW WAS FULLY OUT, ALSO WHEN IM DRIVING IT SEEMS AS THO IM GOING SLOWER THAN WHAT MY SPEEDOMITER SAYS. THE ALARM DOESNT WORK AT ALL. MY BREAKS BONT FULLY BREAK ON TIME SO I HAVE TO STOP EARLYER THAN USUAL.ALSO ONE DAY I WAS IN THE CAR AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK SLOWLY ALSO THE STERING WHEEL LOCKED.ALSO WHEN I PUT GAS IN IT , IT SAYS ITS HALF EMPTY FAST WHEN I ONLY DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER,BUT WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE THE MEETER GOES UP.