39 of the 357 complaints about the 1998 Chrysler Sebring are about the braking system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 46,000 miles.
39
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE. BRAKES SHAKE AND SHUDDER AND BARELY STOP THE CAR. TRANSMISSION HUMSS AND SHIFTS BADLY
NHTSA complaint #10052585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CALLED DEALER 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASE COMPLAINING OF BRAKE NOISE. HAVE REPLACED BRAKES 6 TIMES IN LESS THAN 40,000. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. TOOK TO OUTSIDE SHOP, HAD TO REPLACE FOR 7TH TIME. WE CAN NOT SELL VEHICLE, AND WORRY ABOUT SON DRIVING.WANT CAR REPLACED, DEALER WON'T BUDGE.
NHTSA complaint #765554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE PAD WEAR, 6 SETS IN 2 YEARS. DEALER ALSO REPLACED FRONT ROTORS ONCE.
NHTSA complaint #8013332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AT A FAIRLY HIGH SPEED WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES; BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #8009515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE BACKING OUT BRAKES BROKE OFF FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING BRAKES TO FALL ONTO GROUND.
NHTSA complaint #8006887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS WHENEVER YOU INCREASE SPEED, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES TWICE, AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE TIRES GOING FLAT. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHENEVER COMING TO A STOP AND THEY CONSTANTLY SQUEAL. I HAVE WENT TO THE MECHANICS FOR ALL OF THIS LISTED COMPLAINTS AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY BRAKES PULSATING WAS SAID TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE KIND OF BRAKES THAT CHRYSLER PUTS ON THERE VEHICLES A SEMI METALLIC TYPE. MY FRONT WHEELS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE ABOUT TO FLY OFF. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #752714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED OR TURNED; VIBRATION BAD; NOW DEALER BLAMING IT ON WEAK WHEELS.
NHTSA complaint #742953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 OR 55 REAR ENDED A CAR. HAD SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #883551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BRAKES FAILED. AT FIRST INCIDENT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #869579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SIDE MOLDING FELL OFF ON THE FREEWAY. BRAKES VIBRATED. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. RIMS HAVE BENT SEVERAL TIMES. FRONT END WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND. ENGINE DIED BECUASE SERPENTINE TIME BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE. DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL SQUEALED. DEALER COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #869247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DOOR CLADDING FALLING OFF / BRAKE ROTORS WARP EASILY.
NHTSA complaint #726155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT CAUSING ME TO BRAKE QUICKLY. THE BRAKES WERE TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE AND FAILED DESPITE MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM TO BRAKE SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #723924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN PUSHING BRAKES, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DUBLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #860593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE STARTING "SQUEALING" AND WE TOOK IT TO MIDAS FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS. MIDAS SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS A CHRYSLER DEFECT AND THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IT TO CHRYSLER. THE MIDAS MECHANIC SAID THAT OUR SEBRING CONV. WAS THE THIRD ONE HE'S SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM. ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO THE SENSOR, CAUSING THE SQUELLING, THAT WAS BECAUSE THE ROTOR HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS IN IT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT AND FRICTION. HE SAID YOU NORMALLY ONLY SEE THIS PROBLEM IN CARS WITH WELL OVER 100,000 MILES ON THEM. CHRYSLER SAYS IT'S PROBABLY THE "CALIPER" THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/FIXED. WE'RE WAITING FOR REPAIR. LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH "BRAKE" PROBLEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I WOULD HATE FOR A FAMILY LIKE MINE(I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN) TO BE INJURED BECAUSE THEIR BRAKES FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #711113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT FELT PEDAL PULSATING, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS, WHICH WERE REPLACED, AND THE NEW ROTORS BECAME WARPED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #859628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT FELT PEDAL PULSATING, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS, WHICH WERE REPLACED, AND THE NEW ROTORS BECAME WARPED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #859628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE EXCESSIVELY WARPING WHICH IS CAUSING SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #859002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #609030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FRONT BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AS CAR WAS PROCEEDING INTO AN INTERSECTION. DRIVERS SIDE PADS AND ROTOR SHOWED EXTREME WEAR WHILE PASSENGER SIDE SHOWED LITTLE WEAR TO PADS OR ROTOR.
NHTSA complaint #717593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
FRONT BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AS CAR WAS PROCEEDING INTO AN INTERSECTION. DRIVERS SIDE PADS AND ROTOR SHOWED EXTREME WEAR WHILE PASSENGER SIDE SHOWED LITTLE WEAR TO PADS OR ROTOR.
NHTSA complaint #717593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY BRAKE "DUMMY LIGHT" CAME ON SO I TOOK IT INTO A CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $450 TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED. MY FAIRLY NEW CAR ONLY HAS 27,300 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT NEED THIS DONE SO EARLY. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/MAKE OF CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER HAS TOLD THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, NOT TURNED. BUT SINCE, THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED SO EARLY, IT SHOULD BE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #716336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A T APPROX 30-40 MPH, GOT READY TO SLOW DOWN , AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKES, AND THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 4 OR 5. HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #848555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
DEFECTIVE THROTTLE LINKAGE CAUSED VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO SPEEDS OF 50 MPH WHILE IN REVERSE, DRIVER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HITTING A BUILDING.
NHTSA complaint #847996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ELECTRICAL. HORN. BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #609803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES MAKE SQEAKING NOISE. YH
NHTSA complaint #606342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WE HAD BEEN TOLD OUR BRAKE-PADS WERE LOW, BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OF YET, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 'SEBRING' OWNERS OF WHOM HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND HAVE HAD MAJOR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULTS OF THE BRAKES GIVING OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #708739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WE HAD BEEN TOLD OUR BRAKE-PADS WERE LOW, BUT PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OF YET, THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 'SEBRING' OWNERS OF WHOM HAVE STATED THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND HAVE HAD MAJOR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULTS OF THE BRAKES GIVING OUT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #708739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #605911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE SYSTEM - CALIPER INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT FACTORY CAUSING ROTOR AND PAD ON FRONT/DRIVER'S SIDE TO FAIL. REMAINING PADS/ROTORS IN FAIR CONDITION. PLASTIC EXTERIOR DOOR PANEL ON DRIVER'S SIDE FALLS OFF WILL SPEED ABOVE 45MPH. SUNROOF FAILS TO OPEN OR CLOSE. BATTERY DIED. ANTI-THEFT NOT WORKING
NHTSA complaint #707082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WNEN CONSUMER DRIVES OVER 15 MPH, VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE. ALSO, WHEN SWITCHING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #836232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.