FaultScore

1996 Chrysler Sebring body problems

39 of the 481 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring are about the body and structure — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 46,805 miles.

B

39

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Roof AND Pillars 20 51.3%
Frame AND Members 5 12.8%
Door 4 10.3%
Body 3 7.7%
Trunk LID 3 7.7%
Structure 3 7.7%
Support Device/Strut 1 2.6%

Body & Structure across every Chrysler Sebring year

1995 10 4.3%
1996 39 16.9%
1997 22 9.5%
1998 68 29.4%
1999 32 13.9%
2000 12 5.2%
2001 13 5.6%
2002 12 5.2%
2004 10 4.3%
2008 13 5.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Middlefield, CT Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

1996 CHRYSLER SEBRING HAS PROBLEMS WITH ROOF LEAKING, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER/PARK INTERLOCK WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO HIT NINE CARS AND BE EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PARK /NEUTRAL START SWITCH BEING FAULTY. THE CONSUMER WANTS DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO COMPENSATE HER FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10119012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,805 miles Irwin, PA

STRUCTURE

2.4 HEAD GASKET. EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MILEAGE ILLUMINATION. POPPING NOISE FRONT SUSPENSION. RATTLE REAR SUSPENSION, POPING WHEN LFT DOOR GLASS WINDOW PUT UP.LOW FUEL LITE . CAR ONLY HAS 46805 MILES WHEN YOU CAN READ MILEAGE

NHTSA complaint #10068722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Averill Park, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRUNK SUPPORT ON PASSENGER SIDE IS GONE. *SCC *SCC

NHTSA complaint #568262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wickford, RI 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

TRUNK STRUTS RUSTED AND BROKE AND FELL ON CONSUMER, HITING HIS HEAD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8018859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pismo Beach, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

CONSUMER STATES THAT CHRYSLER ADMITTED TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE TRUNK BEING DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER REQUIRED NEW HINGES BE INSTALLED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #564742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fineland, NJ

STRUCTURE

GRILL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND, AND VEHICLE WILL ALWAYS HIT THE GROUND. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8013910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Quinton, AL

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY REAR WINDOW WAS LOSE, AND SEAM ON CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS COMING APART.

NHTSA complaint #8005720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE CLIPS WHICH HOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTER PANEL FAILED CAUSING THE PANEL TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Reno, OK

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

A FRAME BENT UNABLE TO GET AN ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA complaint #743576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rowland Heights, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK LID /ASSEMBLY HAS WORN OUT, AND WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN. COULD COME DOWN ON AN INDIVIDUAL, CAUSING INJURY. *AK THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE TRUNK LID DESIGN POSSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE ON RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #882334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

WHENEVER IT RAINS OR GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH ROOF LEAKS RIGHT AT TOP OF WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #878855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Republic, MO

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WATER WOULD GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEN IT WAS RAINING OR VEHICLE BEING WASHED. ALSO, HORN & CD PLAYER FAILED TO WORK DUE TO POSSIBLE MOISTURE INSIDE OF APPARATUS. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER & HORN/AIR BAG WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #876912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burmingham, AL

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONSUMER HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. BRAKES DO NOT WORK, THEY GRIND AND THE PADS KEEP WEARING AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED, DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CALIPERS. WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE DUE TO SUNROOF BEING CUT TOO SHORT DURING RECALL 99I004, CONSUMER FEELS THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKING DUE TO A RUSTED FUSE. SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. WINDOWS STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY. MIRRORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER RECALL 97V015. VEHICLE GETS POOR GAS MILEAGE, DEALER STATED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BURNT AND FOULED, SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE BREAKING DOWN AND ARCING IN TUBES CAUSING A BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #874510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR'S EXTERIOR PANEL DOESN'T STAY ON. PANEL HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #873326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP SEPARATING. WATER GETS INSIDE VEHICLE AND DOOR WON'T SHUT COMPLETELY DUE TO TOP .ALONG WIRE HANGING FROM THE TOP KEEPING DOOR FROM CLOSING COMPLETELY

NHTSA complaint #728345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

WINDOW PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE (LEASE), WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT STILL LEAK. PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK, MUST BE MANUALLY OPERATED 50% OF THE TIME, DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, TOP MOTOR AND HYDRAULIC PUMPS WENT OUT AFTER PUTTING THE TOP DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SUMMER. CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION OVER TWENTY TIMES DURING POSSESSION...IT WAS A DEMO, NOT A TRUE "USED CAR" .

NHTSA complaint #725471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS FAILED, ALLOWING RAIN WATER TO ENTER INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WTHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #862166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenwood, IN

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

PROBLEMS WITH THE LEFT FRONT LOCKING DEVICE OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THREADS OF HOLD DOWN BOLT STRIPPED, CAUSING THE TOP TO COME LOOSE. REPLACEMENT UNIT PURCHASE FROM CHRYSLER LOOKED A LOT STURDIER THAN THE ORIGINAL, SO THEY MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS DEVICE.

NHTSA complaint #715030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irwinton, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

TOP COMING APART AROUND THE EDGES OF CONVERTIBLE TOP. NOTIFED DEALER AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY COVERS ONLY 3 YRS. OR 36,000 MILES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM NHTSA VIEW ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #850927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clewiston, FL

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE FRONT END FRAME FELL DOWN ONTO THE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #845716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Amher, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FLEW OFF VEHICLE DUE TO DESIGN OF THE VELCRO FASTENER (NOT SUFFICIENT). MJS

NHTSA complaint #547226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Joplin, MO

STRUCTURE:BODY

TOOK CAR IN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS TO HAVE THEM FIX WATER LEAKS & AIR WHISTLING AND NONE COULD FIX IT. THEY SAID THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE TOP. THEY TRIED SPRAYING FOAM ON EDGE, ADDING AN ELASTIC STRAP (#8894 PART), TRIED ADJUSTING TOP - NONE OF THESE EXERCISES WORKED. NOW YET ANOTHER DEALER IN JOPLIN TOO TELLS US THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE AS IT'S A FLAW IN THE DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION. THERE IS ALSO A WHISTLING IN THE A/C SYSTEM OR VENTS WHEN A/C IS ON AND DRIVING 40+ MILES AN HOUR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN "D" THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #705384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lowell, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. DEALER TOLD THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS A LEAK. ALSO, THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS ARE BEING CHANGED EVERY FIVE MONTHS, THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS THE BRAKES WOULD SUDDENLY BEGIN TO GRIND. IN ADDITION, THE CONVERTABLE TOP HAS BEEN FLYING OFF, AND NOW LEAKS AIR AND WATER IF IT RAINS.

NHTSA complaint #833224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CONDITION TO HAPPEN WHENEVER THE DRAIN GETS CLOGGED UP, CAUSING THE WATER TO LEAK INTO VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #831315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1. STRUCTURE/FRAME/BODY -- WATER GETS INTO THE CAR AND COLLECTS UNDER THE BACK SEAT CUSHION AND ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND ATTEMPTS TO FIX HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE WATER GETS IN AT NUMEROUS LOCATIONS AND HAS BEEN OBSERVED RUNNING OVER ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND SWITCHES. THERE IS ALSO A CONCERN ABOUT EVENTUAL CORROSION AND RUST DAMAGE THAT COULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEATBELT BOLTS BECAUSE OF THE WATER. THIS PROBLEM WAS DETECTED ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO -- BUT THERE IS NO DETERMINATION AS TO HOW LONG BEFORE THAT PERIOD IT HAD BEEN OCCURRING. 2. BRAKES/SHOES (PADS)/ROTORS -- THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 6,000 - 12,000 MILES SINCE ABOUT 17,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON IT. THE RECOMMENDED CHRYSLER MOPAR PADS SEPARATE AND FAIL. THEY HAVE LITERALLY FALLEN OFF OF THE METAL HOLDER THAT IS A PART OF THE BRAKE PAD, DAMAGING THE ROTORS AS WELL. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THE PAD IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF OR HAS BEEN SEPARATING. LUCKILY, THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STOP AND, DUE TO THE METAL ON METAL SOUND WHEN I WAS BRAKING, PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND TELEPHONED FOR HELP. THIS IS NOT ONLY A RISK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT A POTENTIAL RISK BECAUSE I COULD BE STRANDED IN UNFAVORABLE LOCATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, WITHOUT ACCESS TO TELEPHONE FOR HELP. 3. RACK AND PINION STEERING -- THE GEAR ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED IN JANUARY 1998. I NOTICED A PROBLEM BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #700404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission VI, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

A PART WAS NOT MOUNTED SECURELY TO THE FIREWALL RESULTING IN FIREWALL/PART STRIKING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #603957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlebury, CT

STRUCTURE

BOOT COVER FELL OFF OF VEHICLE HITTING VEHICLE BEHIND.

NHTSA complaint #527914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. WHEN PARKING IN PARKING LOTS WHERE THERE IS THE FRONT PARKING STOPPERS, THE SPOILER GETS PAST THE STOPPER AND GETS HOOKES. WHEN BACKING UP THE SPOILER GETS STUCK AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL TEAR.

NHTSA complaint #533390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stafford, VA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

EA97025, CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER DISENGAGEMENT; WHILE DRIVNG ABOUT 70 MPH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER FLEW OFF. THE TOP COVER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #821545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Patterson, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP RELEASES FROM THE LATCHES WHICH WERE STILL ENGAGED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #821406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chrysler Sebring problems

← Full 1996 Chrysler Sebring report