FaultScore

1997 Chrysler Sebring electrical problems

20 of the 295 complaints about the 1997 Chrysler Sebring are about the electrical system — 7% of everything reported for this model year.

D

20

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 4 20.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 15.0%
Wiring 3 15.0%
Front Underhood 2 10.0%
Interior/Under Dash 2 10.0%
Horn 1 5.0%
Ignition 1 5.0%
Module 1 5.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 5.0%
Switch 1 5.0%

Electrical System across every Chrysler Sebring year

1995 11 2.2%
1996 39 7.7%
1997 20 3.9%
1998 19 3.7%
1999 16 3.1%
2000 12 2.4%
2001 26 5.1%
2002 15 3.0%
2004 25 4.9%
2005 24 4.7%
2006 67 13.2%
2007 119 23.4%
2008 88 17.3%
2009 10 2.0%
2010 17 3.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Southfield, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR, I PURCHASED IT USED. I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS THEN INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A SHORT OR A SENSOR PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A SENSOR LIGHT BURN OUT, AND THAT IS WAS NOT GETTING OXYGEN TO THE ENGINE. I PAID $250. ON A TUESDAY TO GET THAT FIXED. THAT WEDNESDAY THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS ABOUT 3 SENSORS IN THE ENGINE, AND ANOTHER ONE HAS GONE OUT. AND IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER $250. TO REPLACE THAT ONE. THIS WAS ALL IN A 2 DAY SPAN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS, OR WILL I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TILL ALL THE SENSORS ARE REPLACED, AND HOW WILL I KNOW IF THEY ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. VERY UPSET COSTUMER. AND I WORK FOR CHRYSLER, THIS IS TERRIBLE BUSINESS.

NHTSA complaint #10074460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delaware, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLES CONSOLE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM THE ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE INTERMITTENT. POSSIBLY DUE TO A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10012314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSORS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE LIGHT OFF AND THEN THE IGNITION FUSES STARTED TO BURN OUT. THEY ONLY BURN OUT WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT. IT ALSO HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED OF 35 MILES PER HOUR. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. NLM

NHTSA complaint #767602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Haverhill, MA Crash 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL FAILURES IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF THE CAR. IT HAS HAD 4 ELECTRICAL FAILURES, 3 BRAKE FAILURES, 4 MECHANICAL, AND 7 OTHER PROBLEMS. BASICALLY THE CAR HAS BEEN A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING CHRYSLER FOR 3 YEARS AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP AT ALL. I FEEL AT 60,000 MY CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS CAUSED ONE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I STILL HAVE NECK PROBLEMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE MY WEBSITE AT WWW.POSTALHISTORYSTORE.CHRYSLER.HTM THANK YOU!

NHTSA complaint #765812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meadowview, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING BEHIND LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE RUBBED AGAINST MANIFOLD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FUEL LINE NEAR BY WAS ALSO WEAKENED.

NHTSA complaint #723183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AT ANY TIME, EITHER WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR OR WHILE DRIVING DIGITAL ODOMETER GOES BLANK AND THE TACHOMETER FALLS TO 0 RPM. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. ALSO, EVEN THOUGH THE ODOMETER HAS WENT BLANK, IT CONTINUES TO COUNT THE MILAGE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #722692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A WEEK. YH

NHTSA complaint #606566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

DEALER WORK ON ALL PROBLEMS/I BELIEVE POHANKA SOLD ME A LEMON CAR AND DEALER WANTS BRAKE ENGINE DOWN AND DON'T WANT TO FIX THEY ORIGINAL START WORKING ON MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #715741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DEALER WORK ON ALL PROBLEMS/I BELIEVE POHANKA SOLD ME A LEMON CAR AND DEALER WANTS BRAKE ENGINE DOWN AND DON'T WANT TO FIX THEY ORIGINAL START WORKING ON MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #715741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE IN USE THE CALIPERS FAILED TO OPEN. VEHICLE WOULD STOP UNTIL NOISE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. WOULD TAKE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES. THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SO FAR. LAST TIME BRAKES JUST GAVE WAY & NEEDED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. ON 5TH SET OF BRAKES. ALSO, REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK/ BOTH FRONT WINDOWS GLASS DISTORTED/REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/REPLACED TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM/REPLACED NOISY FRONT END/REPLACED STARTER, AND REALIGNED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE.

NHTSA complaint #852142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE IN USE THE CALIPERS FAILED TO OPEN. VEHICLE WOULD STOP UNTIL NOISE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. WOULD TAKE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES. THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SO FAR. LAST TIME BRAKES JUST GAVE WAY & NEEDED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. ON 5TH SET OF BRAKES. ALSO, REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK/ BOTH FRONT WINDOWS GLASS DISTORTED/REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/REPLACED TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM/REPLACED NOISY FRONT END/REPLACED STARTER, AND REALIGNED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE.

NHTSA complaint #852142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temperance, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WIRING CAME APART UNDER DASH LEAVING PORTION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #708137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tyngsboro, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

FLAGGED SAFETY ISSUE-HI NOTE AND LO NOTE HORNS REPEAT FAILURES AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40-50MPH IN 2-3 DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN ONE OR BOTH HORN FAIL. DEALER HAS REPLACED HORNS WILLINGLY,NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM CHRYSLER.DEALER HAS MOUNTED LEFT HORN TO RIGHT MOUNTING AND MOUNTEDRIGHT HORN TO LEFT MOUNTING.HORN BODIES NOW FACE REARWARD OF VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT RAIN WATER BEING JAMMED UP HORN ASSEMBLIES AND RUSTING HORN INTERNAL PARTS. HORN TONE IS REDUCED BY ABOUT 7 PERCENT,BUT BETTER 93PERCENT HORNS THAN NONE,OR NEXT TO NONE.RECOMMEND DESIGNING NEW ARRAIGEMENT FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #700043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kissimmee, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP FAILURE DUE TO LOOSE WIRING.

NHTSA complaint #539114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millersburg, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

KEY COMES OUT IN ANY GEAR. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #825883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT LIGHT UP INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. HAS NO IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNALING TO TURN. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #825172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #530607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hafb, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE VEHICLE HAD INTERMITTENT NOISE IN THE STEERING, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER DUE TO A FAILED BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #821635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sewaren, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE STATIONARY, CONVERTIBLE TOP WENT DOWN TWICE; ON 3RD TIME, WENT DOWN OKAY, BUT GOING UP, IT KEPT GOING. TURNED TOP MOTOR OFF BUT IT KEPT RUNNING. WIRING HARNES BURNED. TAIL & DASH LIGHTS FLASHED QUICKLY & TRUNK LID POPPED OPEN.

NHTSA complaint #815823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasasena, TX Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #809558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Chrysler Sebring problems

← Full 1997 Chrysler Sebring report