2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible problems

SEAT BELTS

DRIVERS INBOARD SEAT BELT BROKE OFF WHEN MY SON TRIED TO BUCKLE UP IN THE DRIVEWAY. POTENTIALLY A FATAL SITUATION IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONNECTING CABLE FRAYED. IT WOULD NOT HAVE HELD IN ANY TYPE OF FORWARD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10837448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

TOOK MY CAR IN 10/23/15 TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP I NEEDED NEW TIRES THAT THEY WERE ALMOST BALD AND THE THREAD INDICATORS WERE SHOWING ON ALL 4. MY TIRES HAD ONLY 20K MILES ON THEM AND THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 60K MILES. SHOP SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT FALKEN TIRES AND CALL ME BACK. FALKEN JERKED THE SHOP AROUND FOR OVER A WEEK PASSING HIM FROM DEPT. TO DEPT. RED FLAG!!!! IN THE MEANTIME I CHECKED W/ SEVERAL OTHER SHOPS AND IN ONLINE FORUMS AND REVIEWS. ALL SAID THEY HAD THEY'RE TIRES WEAR OUT IN 6-8 MONTHS OR MORE. THE SHOPS SAID BECAUSE OF THE WEAR PROBLEMS THEY WOULDN'T SELL THEM AND FALKEN HAD SHORTENED THE WARRANTY TO 40K AND 5 YEARS. MANY SUBMITTED CLAIMS AND WERE DENIED 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE SHOP WAS TOLD BY FALKEN FOR ME TO BUY NEW TIRES AND THEY'D REIMBURSE ME IF THEY FOUND A PROBLEM W/ THE TIRES. AM DISABLED ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T DO THIS. WHAT GOOD IS A WARRANTY IF THE COMPANY IS GOING TO IGNORE YOU? I DON'T TRUST FALKEN THE COMPANY OR THE BRAND BASED ON THEIR DECEPTION AND NOT RECALLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT BASED ON MANY MANY PROBLEMS. THESE ARE FALKEN ZIEX 912'S SIZE 205/65/R15. THINGS REMAIN RIGHT AT A STALEMATE, BUT I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO THE FALKEN CEO.

NHTSA complaint #10809826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALARM SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE MULTIPLE TIMES AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARK. WHEN DRIVING, THE DOORS WILL LUCK AND UNLUCK MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALL THE INTERIORS LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT THE SAME TIME THE DOORS WILL LUCK AND UNLUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10747207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THE SEATS BELTS WILL LOCK AND YOU CANNOT LOOSEN THEM. IF YOU ARE JUST ENTEREING THE CAR YOU CANNOT PUT THEM ON.

NHTSA complaint #10743604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, ENGINE STALLS. SOMETIMES ENGINE (CAR) STALLS WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR STOPPING BEFORE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET. NO CODES SHOW UP ON THE CAR COMPUTER. HAVE HAD CHECKED OUT TWICE.THIS IS ONGOING FOR TWO MONTHS AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10716776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BECAME DETACHED FROM THE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN UPDATED 05/27/2015

NHTSA complaint #10618740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THIS MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 A.M. CENTRAL, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE AWAKEN TO OUR CAR HORN BLARING. I AM QUITE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE NOW AWAKE AS WELL. WE TRIED TO TURN IT OFF THINKING IT WAS THE PANIC BUTTON, BUT TURN OUT THAT IT WAS THE HORN. MY HUSBAND HAD TO PRESS ON IT REPEATEDLY TO MAKE IT STOP. HE GETS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND AS SOON AS HE SHUTS THE DOOR, IT START BLARING AGAIN!!! HE THEN LEAVES THE CAR DOOR OPEN AND STARTS THE VEHICLE TO HEAT UP THE ENGINE, SINCE WE HAD FREEZING TEMPERATURES THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS WARM THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE DOOR WITHOUT IT GOING OFF AGAIN. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND SOME HAVE EXPERIENCED THE HORN GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING!!!! I ALSO HAVE READ WHERE THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AND COVERED 100%!! IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND EMBARRASSING, BUT ALSO A DANGER IF IT OCCURS WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10555155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

ALL SEATBELTS IN THE CAR HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT STARTED WITH THE BELTS RANDOMLY LOCKING, WHETHER DRIVING OR NOT. NOW, I HAVE TO KEEP CLIPS ON THE BELTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM FULLY RETRACTING.

NHTSA complaint #10545105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

ON 6/18/13, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH (THE RECEPTACLE PORTION) WAS BEING PUSHED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CENTER CONSOLE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE. THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME IT DID THIS, THE ENTIRE BUCKLE BROKE OFF. UPON INSPECTION, THE WIRE CABLE CONNECTING THE SEAT BELT LATCH AND THE ANCHOR HAD BROKEN. THE ANCHOR WAS STILL SECURELY BOLTED TO THE SEAT. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALER AND CHRYSLER, TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10520540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM CONCERNS THE SEATBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM ".THE SEATBELT CONTROL MODULE" HAS FAILED ON OUR 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING 1. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AFTER SETTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE BATTERY WAS LOW REQUIRING JUMP STARTING. 2. TWO DEALERSHIPS CHECKED OUT WHAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. 3. WITH THE BATTERY GROUND DISCONNECTED AND AN AMMETER BETWEEN BATTERY GROUND AND CHASIS GROUND MY INITIAL READING WAS .06 AMPS,. 4. WITH THIS SAME TEST SETUP IN PLACE THE DOORS WERE OPENED AND THEN CLOSED THE AMMETER READ .5 AMPS DRAW ON THE BATTERY AFTER THE CONTROL FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TIMED OUT. NOTE:THE INITIAL BREAKING OF THE GROUND DISGUISED THE PROBLEM. (MAYBE WHY DEALERSHIPS DID NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM) . I PROCEEDED TO PULL FUSES UNTIL I DISCOVERED THE .5 AMP DRAIN WENT AWAY WHEN THE FUSE FEEDING THE SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE WAS PULLED. I HAVE NOT YET HAD OUR CAR REPAIRED HOWEVER APPEARANCES ARE THAT THE MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM MAY NEVER HAVE SHOWED UP HAD THE CAR BEEN DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS KEEPING THE BATTERY FROM GETTING TOO LOW TO START THE CAR. EVEN WITH THE FUSE PULLED THE SEATBELTS COULD BE USED AS NORMAL WHICH WE DID SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY LOCKED TO WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE RETRACTED. WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE TELLS ME THIS MODULE HAS MANY SAFETY FUNCTIONS BESIDES JUST REMINDING US TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELTS. THE IMPACT SENSOR IS A COMPONENT OF THE SEATBELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE (SCTM) LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE G-SENSOR IS SENSITIVE TO FRONTAL IMPACT AND TO A ROLL OR PITCH OR MORE THAN 45 DEGREES AND TO ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 0.7G IN ANY DIRECTION. IN CLOSING MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY CARS BEING DRIVEN DAILY WITH THE OWNERS UNAWARE OF A MALFUNCTIONING "SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE".

NHTSA complaint #10455270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA complaint #10447195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

MY WIFE OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE. ON SEPTEMBER 6., 2011 MY WIFE WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AND WHEN SHE WENT TO BUCKLE HER SEAT BELT THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT'S FEMALE RECEPTICLE (DRIVER'S SIDE) BROKE OFF IN HER HAND (THE ENTIRE CABLE SNAPPED). UPON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THE CABLE THAT BOLTS THE RECEPTICLE TO THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE BINDING OR BENDING. WE CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED IT "WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY...." MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER IT WOULD COST $300 TO REPLACE IT. AS A TEMPORARY FIX I MOVED THE SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT TO THE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SINCE IT'S ILLEGAL IN MISSOURI TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. WE FEEL THERE SHOULDN'T BE A WARRANTY PERIOD FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON A VEHICLE - IF A PART FAILS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THEIR SUBSTANDARD PARTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A DEFECTIVE PART THAT COULD COST THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE THEIR LIFE. AFTER DOING AN ONLINE SEARCH WE FOUND WE WEREN'T ALONE IN SEAT BELT RECEPTICLES BREAKING ON CHRYSLER SEBRINGS. WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF MY SEARCH I FOUND 5 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE SAME MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT - ONE MENTIONED THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AFTER AN ACCIDENT WHERE "SEVERE HEAD INJURIES" RESULTED. THE COMPLAINTS I READ ONLINE STARTED WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2000 AND GO THROUGH 2005. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THE SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE I MOVED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILING IN AN ACCIDENT. IF I GET ONE FROM A JUNKYARD TO SAVE MONEY ON THE REPAIR WHO'S TO SAY IT WON'T BREAK IN AN ACCIDENT TOO RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH?

NHTSA complaint #10425899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT TIMES, THE SEAT BELT CONNECTORS WOULD FAIL TO ALIGN PROPERLY, RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE SEAT BELT RELEASE MODULE DOES NOT RANDOMLY BELTS. UPDATED 09/21/11

NHTSA complaint #10416766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT ALLOWED THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT WAS USING HOME REMEDIES TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD LEAVE HIM STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10359258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUTTON TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS IT WERE PRESSED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPRESSOR TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED; YET, THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10341226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUTTON TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS IT WERE PRESSED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPRESSOR TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED; YET, THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10341226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI - SEATBELTS MALFUNCTION SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP (BOTH SEATS AT THE SAME TIME) SO THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE USED. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT VERY PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE REPLACED THE SEATBELT FUSE. I HAVE CONSULTED WITH A CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPT. TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR WOULD BE $508 PER SEAT BUT COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE SOLUTION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET; HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F11C283 WHICH HAS NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WWW.ALLEXPERTS.COM.

NHTSA complaint #10336486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I OWN A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI. THE SEAT BELTS OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT RETRACT FROM BOTH FRONT SEAT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN AN HOUR AND SEVERAL DAYS. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10334793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS JUST DRIVING MY CHRYSLER SEBRING 2000 THIS AFTERNOON WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY! THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL, NO LIGHT COMING ON, NOTHING, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST COLLAPSED COMPLETELY. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE GARAGE ON TUESDAY. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THAT TO BE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN....IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT YOU CAN DRIVE A CAR 65 MILES AN HOUR WITH SUDDENLY NO BRAKES AT ALL!! I WAS JUST VERY LUCKY THIS TIME!

NHTSA complaint #10333849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM: THE HORN GOES OFF WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. THE FIRST TIME IT COMPLETELY BURNED OUT BOTH OF THE HORNS, WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR TO BE REPLACED, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS LONG OUT OF WARRANTY. OF COURSE, THE HORN ALWAYS ACTIVATED ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE CHRYSLER DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT THE HORN SWITCH IS SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE, SOMETHING I FIGURE OUT AFTER BANGING ON THE PAD DURING ONE SCENARIO ONLY TO DISCOVER THIS CAUSED THE HORN TO TURN OFF. THE HORN SWITCH IS DESIGNED AS SOME SORT OF MEMBRANE AND IS NON-CONVENTIONAL BY ANY MEANS. TEMPERATURE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION CAUSES THE TWO SIDE OF THE SWITCH TO CONNECT ON THEIR OWN. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, YOU CAN ONLY REPLACE THE SWITCH IF YOU REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY, A PART WHICH IS QUITE COSTLY. SO, INSTEAD OF PAYING THE OVER ONE GRAND REPAIR COST FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, I WIRED IN A SWITCH TO THE SIDE DASH FUSE COMPARTMENT IN BETWEEN THE HORN RELAY AND THE CONNECTOR AND MOUNTED THE SWITCH IN THE CENTER OF THE PANEL DOOR. NOW, WHEN I LEAVE THE VEHICLE, I SIMPLY THROW THE SWITCH AND MY HORN WORRIES ARE OVER. A HASSLE? MAYBE, BUT AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE TO RUN OUT TO THE CAR IN MY UNDERWEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO TAP THE STEERING WHEEL PAD TO STOP THAT INFERNAL BLARING OF THE HORN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER--WHICH IT NEVER WAS--AS THE SWITCH DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. SLIPSHOD ENGINEERING IS MY ANALYSIS. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS BUT THEY ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY, PROBABLY BECAUSE THIS MODEL HAS SO MANY ELECTRICAL, COMPUTER, AND ALARM ISSUES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GONE BROKE FIXING ALL OF THEM. MY DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM AND I'M ALSO HAVING ALARM AND KEY FOB ISSUES. I REALLY LOVE MY CONVERTIBLE, BUT I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT.

NHTSA complaint #10286033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.