FaultScore

1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible acceleration problems

11 of the 99 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible are about the throttle and cruise control — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 86,269 miles.

F

11

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 4 36.4%
Cables 4 36.4%
Accelerator Pedal 3 27.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10321795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,000 miles Pineville, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATION PROBLEM. GOING 35-40 IN RESIDENTIAL AREA, THOUGHT WE WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT, ACCELERATION PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. CAR SPED UP. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED AND CAR PUT INTO NEUTRAL. STOPPED BEFORE REACHING TWO CARS AHEAD WAITING TO TURN.

NHTSA complaint #10146598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Fitchburg, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FOR ABOUT A YEAR I HAVE HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER ON MY JXI. SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 AND 1997 'S AND THAT I NEED A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD AT A COST OF OVER $700.00. NOT REPLACED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10096038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orion, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FUEL INDICATOR, TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER OPERATE PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY (TACH & ODO ARE MORE FREQUENTLY INOPERATIVE THAN OPERATIVE) USUALLY TACH IS AT 0 AND ODO DOES NOT INDICATE ANY NUMBERS. FUEL GAUGE USUALLY OPERATES, BUT DROPS SUDDENLY.

NHTSA complaint #10088201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,269 miles Auburn, IN Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

MY NAME IS [XXX]. I HAVE A 1996 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE I PULLED INTO A FILLING STATION AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT, IT REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I WENT THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE STATION AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE COFFEE MACHINES. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. I WAS IN FLORIDA AT THE TIME AND I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR CARELESS DRIVING. THE POLICE OFFICER SAID NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CAR. I HAD ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 5 MONTHS. IT SHOWS THAT THE CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL IN AUG OF 2002 FOR THROTTLE REPAIR. ON MARCH 17 IN SAVANNAH GA THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A 1996 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE AND HE HIT 9 PEOPLE. I HAVE TALKED TO THE GENTLEMAN. HIS SEBRING REVVED UP, ACCELERATED AND HE COULDN'T GET IT STOPPED. HIS HAD ALSO BEEN IN FOR RECALL IN 2002. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE DEALER SHIP IN FLORIDA AND IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED IN THE ACCIDENT. I DON'T THINK I COULD EVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN IN FEAR THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND MAYBE CAUSE A INJURY OR DEATH. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10064148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,269 miles Auburn, IN Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

MY NAME IS [XXX]. I HAVE A 1996 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE I PULLED INTO A FILLING STATION AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT, IT REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I WENT THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE STATION AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE COFFEE MACHINES. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. I WAS IN FLORIDA AT THE TIME AND I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR CARELESS DRIVING. THE POLICE OFFICER SAID NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CAR. I HAD ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 5 MONTHS. IT SHOWS THAT THE CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL IN AUG OF 2002 FOR THROTTLE REPAIR. ON MARCH 17 IN SAVANNAH GA THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A 1996 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE AND HE HIT 9 PEOPLE. I HAVE TALKED TO THE GENTLEMAN. HIS SEBRING REVVED UP, ACCELERATED AND HE COULDN'T GET IT STOPPED. HIS HAD ALSO BEEN IN FOR RECALL IN 2002. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE DEALER SHIP IN FLORIDA AND IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED IN THE ACCIDENT. I DON'T THINK I COULD EVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN IN FEAR THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND MAYBE CAUSE A INJURY OR DEATH. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10064148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amherst, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS IS DESIGNED POORLY. WHEN TRANSFERRING FOOT FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER IT WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS.

NHTSA complaint #10042488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colonial Beach, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD RACE WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT THE SAME TIME WHEN BRAKING, ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDIING THE GAS LINE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE REOCCURED.

NHTSA complaint #568364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gary, IN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR CABLE FRAYED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH. THEN, CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8012681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macon, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ACCELERATOR STUCK AND VEHICLE REVVED EVEN THOUGH CONSUMER HAD TAKEN HIS FOOT OF PEDAL, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE, HE HAD TO SHUT OFF ENGINE TO STOP VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS FRAYED WHICH HAD CAUSED IT TO GET STUCK.

NHTSA complaint #899594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Sandwich, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE TRAFFIC BARRIERS APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ACCELERATOR CABLE FRAYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #897053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible problems

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