FaultScore

FaultScore report

2002 Chrysler Sebring Sedan problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2002 Chrysler Sebring Sedan with NHTSA between 2010 and 2017. The largest single group is the suspension. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 5 worst.

A

FaultScore 23/100

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

How this is worked out

The numbers

15

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

90,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

9%

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.

Complaint volume 39 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 15 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 39
Against the median year of the Chrysler Sebring Sedan. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 15
9% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2002 compares with every other Chrysler Sebring Sedan

Click any bar to open that year's report.

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

What breaks on a 2002 Chrysler Sebring Sedan

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

Suspension 5 33.3%

Median failure at 91,377 miles

Engine & Cooling 3 20.0%

Median failure at 82,758 miles

Equipment & Accessories 1 6.7%
Wheels 1 6.7%

Median failure at 62,544 miles

Tires 1 6.7%

Median failure at 62,544 miles

Steering 1 6.7%
Airbags 1 6.7%

Median failure at 121,000 miles

Electrical System 1 6.7%

Median failure at 121,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 6.7%

Median failure at 82,758 miles

When it fails

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

Under 1,000 miles 1 9.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 18.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 45.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 27.3%

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.

Jan 2010 peak 2 Jun 2017

The most recent complaints

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

at 156 miles Manitowoc, WI

ENGINE

I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE MY NEW BORN BACK AND FORTH TO OUR APPOINTMENTS I BRING MY CAR IN EVERY 4 MOTHS TO MAKE SURE MY CAR IS STILL SAFE FOR MY CHILD. MY ENGINE KNOCKS IT'S REALLY LOUD 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME 3 DIFFERENT THINGS SO I BROUGHT IT INTO A CHRYSLER SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD JUST BUY A NEW CAR THAT THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF THE 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRINGS. SO I ASKED THEM WHAT'S WRONG AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE

NHTSA complaint #11002021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Marble Falls, TX

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA complaint #10731551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Marble Falls, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA complaint #10731551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gastonia, NC

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH 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. CONSEQUENCE: THE FEDERAL-MOGUL HAS NEVER NOTIFIED ME AS OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. IT WAS OFTEN PAID OUT OF MY POCKET EVER TIME I HAD ISSUES AND THE SAD THING ABOUT IT, I ALWAYS TOOK MY CAR TO THE ACTUAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE FIXED AND NOT ONCE HAD THEY MENTIONED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH CHRYSLER SEBRING AND LISTED AS A RECALL WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #10722179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, MO

STEERING

THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL THE CHYSLERS IF THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE ABOUT THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING OF PARTS. IT IS TOO EXPSENIVE TO FIX .

NHTSA complaint #10652066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, MO

SUSPENSION

THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL THE CHYSLERS IF THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE ABOUT THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING OF PARTS. IT IS TOO EXPSENIVE TO FIX .

NHTSA complaint #10652066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Monroe, OH

SUSPENSION

COMING TO A STOP AND TURNING RIGHT. NOISE AND WHEEL JUST FELL FLAT ON ROADWAY. LOWER BALL JOINT DISCONNEDTED AND MADE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE AND CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. AFTER REPAIR ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE SAM WHEEL TOP BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT ON A BUSY STREET. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE WITHIN SPECS. IN MAY OF 2014 WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50 MILES AN HOUR THE BOTTOM BALLJOINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DISENGAGED AND THE STEERING WAS LOST AND THE TIRE FELL FLAT AND NEARLY CAUSE A HEAD ON CRASH. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND DIVEN FOR YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVR HAPPENED IN MY LIFE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES ASAP. SOME RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE CASTING ON THE BALL JOINT RING WERE HEAT TREATED IMPROPERLY AND CHRYSLER IT AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAVE AND RESULT IN TH WHELL SEPARATION FROM THE CONTROL ARM LEADING TO STEERING LOST TO THE VEHILE AND DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS..

NHTSA complaint #10608135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,544 miles Bethalto, IL

WHEELS

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING LOW AIR PRESSURE AND FLAT TIRES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL RIMS DUE TO CORROSION/FLAKING OF THE CHROME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. IT IS A CHRYSLER PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10537429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,544 miles Bethalto, IL

TIRES

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING LOW AIR PRESSURE AND FLAT TIRES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL RIMS DUE TO CORROSION/FLAKING OF THE CHROME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. IT IS A CHRYSLER PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10537429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Windsor, 00

SUSPENSION:REAR

THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE 2002 SEBRING THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE PARTS! REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS BROKE. MADE OF ALUM.. WHY? CORROSION WILL HAPPEN IF YOU INSTALL ALUM. NEXT TO SHEET METAL, ALSO THEY WERE NOT PAINTED. THE NEW ONES ARE AT LEAST PAINTED. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE VERY SMART TO HAVE ALUM.. MOUNTS AND UNPROTECTED." "THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND FELL APART. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE." "THE REAR MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE REAR MCPHERSON STRUT IN PLACE, DISINTEGRATED. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. IT FELL APART AND THE PART MADE A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WAS THE STRUT MOVING AROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED IT."I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEALER STATEMENT THAT REPLACEMENT MOUNTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND ARE "BACK ORDERED BY THE THOUSANDS"!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10418284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

SUSPENSION:REAR

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE CATASTROPHIC DISINTEGRATION OF THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED EXTENSIVE CORROSION LED TO THE SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME, HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT REAR UPPER STRUT MOUNTS AND THE RIGHT UPPER STRUT MOUNT.

NHTSA complaint #10371592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,377 miles Perry, MI

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR UPPER STRUT MOUNTS DEGRADED DUE TO OXIDATION AND CORROSION. THIS DEGRADATION CAUSES THE MOUNTS TO WEAKEN AND EVENTUALLY TO BREAK, ALLOWING THE STRUTS TO DETACH AT THE TOP. THE STRUT MOUNTS MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10342130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,758 miles Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN

I HAD OVER $968.00 OF REPAIR WORK DONE AT MACHAIK CHRYSLER (GEORGETOWN,TEXAS ). THE MANAGER STATED THEY FOUND OIL LEAKING ONTO THE SPARK PLUG, HAD TO PERFORM A COMBUSTION CHAMBER CLEANING,CHEMICALLY CLEANS INTAKE CHAMBER .MOPAR FUEL INJECTION AND FUEL RAIL. REMOVE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CHEMICALLY CLEAN CARBON FROM THROTTLE BODY. AFTER I HAD THIS WORK DONE I DROVE 5-7MILES DOWN THE ROAD, AND MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING TIMING BELT BROKE AT 82,758 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO POWER, LIGHTS,ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WORKED, AND ALMOST GOT KILLED IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10304095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,758 miles Austin, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAD OVER $968.00 OF REPAIR WORK DONE AT MACHAIK CHRYSLER (GEORGETOWN,TEXAS ). THE MANAGER STATED THEY FOUND OIL LEAKING ONTO THE SPARK PLUG, HAD TO PERFORM A COMBUSTION CHAMBER CLEANING,CHEMICALLY CLEANS INTAKE CHAMBER .MOPAR FUEL INJECTION AND FUEL RAIL. REMOVE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CHEMICALLY CLEAN CARBON FROM THROTTLE BODY. AFTER I HAD THIS WORK DONE I DROVE 5-7MILES DOWN THE ROAD, AND MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING TIMING BELT BROKE AT 82,758 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD NO POWER, LIGHTS,ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WORKED, AND ALMOST GOT KILLED IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10304095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Savannah, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY CAR DISPLAYS THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WHEN IDLE. THERE IS NOW THE PRESENCE OF COOLANT IN MY OIL AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND FROM THE EXHAUST. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS POSTED AND DOCUMENTED ABOUT THE CHRYSLER/DODGE 2.7L ENGINE, I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD INCURRING A MECHANIC BILL JUST TO FIND OUT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE WHITE SMOKE AND COOLANT/OIL MIX HAPPENED ON NEW YEARS DAY AND I HAVE CEASED DRIVING THE CAR FOR FEAR OF SEIZING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10298810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.