FaultScore

1997 Chrysler Sebring engine problems

22 of the 295 complaints about the 1997 Chrysler Sebring are about the engine — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 106,700 miles.

B

22

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 7 31.8%
Gasoline 7 31.8%
Radiator Assembly 2 9.1%
Exhaust System 1 4.5%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 4.5%
Emission Control 1 4.5%
Cooling System 1 4.5%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 4.5%
Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 1 4.5%

Engine & Cooling across every Chrysler Sebring year

1995 22 4.3%
1996 42 8.2%
1997 22 4.3%
1998 22 4.3%
1999 11 2.1%
2001 93 18.1%
2002 59 11.5%
2004 65 12.6%
2005 15 2.9%
2006 15 2.9%
2007 79 15.3%
2008 53 10.3%
2010 17 3.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sharon, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN.DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH A EXHAUST MANIFOLD- STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN! DRIVING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON BUSY HIGHWAYS THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.

NHTSA complaint #10104859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,700 miles Bellevue, NE Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE. DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC CONFIRMED WHAT PROBLEM WAS. HAD NOT HAD HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10041846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10040584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasanton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED.

NHTSA complaint #10033646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redwood City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #568503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #8021872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO HEAD GASKET, TIMING BELT AND COOLANT FILLER FAILURE WHICH WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #567396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasanton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN MAKING A TURN AND GOING ONTO AN INCLINE. VEHICLE BEEN TO A DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8017395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burlington, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #763599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Blackville, SC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN OIL LEAK ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AND WHEN THE CONSUMER IS AT A COMPLETE STOP. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT IS A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET LEAK. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8007966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, LOST POWER TO ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE DIED. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IF ENGINE FAILS THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CHIME, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO CHIME. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8001447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED @ 54,000 MILES. FAILURE CAUSED TIMING BELT TO JUMP WHICH BENT VALVES. INTERNET INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEBRING HAS HISTORY OF THIS FAILURE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER REPAIRS BUT WON'T. DON'T BUY CARS OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES FROM CHRYSLER.

NHTSA complaint #738492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maple Heights, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

RECALL 97V201000; LOWER BALL JOINT WITH CONTROL ON BOTH SIDES, DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK. LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #877077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED , LEADING TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE (ENGINE SIEZURE). THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED SCHEDUALED MAINT AND DEALER STATES THAT EVERY THING ALWAYS CHECKED OUT. ON 04/01/98 THE CORE PLUGS WERE CHECKED PER REC.

NHTSA complaint #732727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rahway, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE OXGEN SENSOR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #871621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

Belrose Village, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE WILL TURN OFF BY ITSELF, COMPLETELY STALLS, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE . DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #845094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Visalia, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

OIL IS LEAKING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE DEALER IS FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #841121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tunnel Hill, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS. OIL IS SPRAYING ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE OIL WAS GOING. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED OIL WAS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS. MANUFACTURER REFERENCE NO. 5380798. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #833265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CRANK SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #536146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glenn Dale, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY AND ARBITRARILY CAME ON. THIS TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. VEHICLE IS 1 YEAR OLD AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN.

NHTSA complaint #541738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

RADIATOR PROBLEMS SINCE OWNERSHIP.

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

Other 1997 Chrysler Sebring problems

← Full 1997 Chrysler Sebring report