112 of the
4,094 complaints filed about the Chrysler Sebring
are about the other systems —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
On December 15, 2025, while driving my 2008 Chrysler Sebring in Indianapolis, Indiana, I noticed smoke coming from the driver’s side near the battery. Shortly afterward, the car completely stopped responding — the brakes and steering were unresponsive — and the vehicle caught fire in that area. I exited the car safely, and the fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but I suspect a battery or electrical component failure. No warning lights appeared prior to the incident, except for the smoke I noticed. The incident has not yet been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, or insurance representative. If inspection is needed, the affected parts can be examined in the tow lot, but much of the vehicle has been destroyed, and there is very little left of the car due to the fire. The safety of myself and others was at risk due to the sudden loss of braking and steering control, as well as the vehicle catching fire while on the road. The problem has not been reproduced, and I am reporting it to ensure the incident is recorded for safety monitoring and potential investigation.
NHTSA complaint #11706433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2008 Chrysler Sebring Sedan. The radiator is leaking fluid that splashes all over the wires causing a burning smell. I later found out that this is caused by an electrical issue with the sensors. Similarly my tire pressure sensors are fried. These issues have eroded wires causing my A/C and Cruise Control systems to malfunction. My power windows have issues sometimes I can't get them to roll up or down. My internal lights in my car flickering on and off. The mess from the radiator is also causing my engine to overheat. I am now having issues with oil pan leaks as a result of too much pressure from the engine. I see that only certain VINS were added to the recall list. I strongly suggest that NHTSA add other VINS to the recall list, especially mine, since I'm having those exact same issues. I see that there are complaints about this year make and model as recent as last year. Why hasn't the recall list been updated? Please update the recall list. Please and thank you!!
NHTSA complaint #11686814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 6/22/24 I made a left turn, stopped to park. I shifted the gear into reverse and heard a loud pop sound then smoke start coming from underneath the driver side of the hood. I put the car into park and lifted the hood, there were flames on the driver side of the car. The fire department was contacted and put the fire out. The car is totaled.
NHTSA complaint #11597409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
purchased may 15th.and now car sits in my apartment parking lot as a roadblock for all tenants since May 27th. 2008sebring started fine.drove 2 miles roundtrip, vehicle ride was rough upon turning into residence thankfully I was not on the street in traffic when the car decided to stop ,the windows were down I still have not been able to get them rolled up .lights instrument panel lights went haywire flashing,ding chime sound continuous. the backdash illuminate light has never worked. wont accept jump from cables,has power in areas under hood, charged to 12v on charger able to get code (DTC-U1403 implausible fuel level signal. Just like the recall of the wiring issue it's similar. The week this happened the tire pressure indicator in the lower left corner of Dash was lit up and the cruise control light would come on but when engaged it would not drive at the limit set only reduce is speed the stereo CD changer didn't work I thought it was just because it was old the cigarette lighter which I used for my power source the light on that device would flicker in and out showing it wasn't getting a good connection the key would get stuck in the ignition or do a continuous storage where you it would not spring back as it should you'd have to turn it off and then try to restart it the battery in the fob work just fine before all of this took place now the battery is dead in the fob as well. it won't hold a charge I want to know how it's going to get fixed and with whose money?? $95 for Diagnostic.while covering windows later that night,I was able to see a dim red light where the tire pressure indicator was lit up at the fuses are fine the battery is 6 months old but it is constantly draining I it won't stay charged I can't get it out of gear it to put it in neutral to move it anywhere. Main purpose was to get me to my doctor appointments now I can't even do that& I haven't been able to do that.. i think this recall has Revisited. its unsafe
NHTSA complaint #11526510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my car & listening to music. All of a sudden my passenger side dash speaker started smoking, then was shooting fire. I had a Bubbler drink & splashed it across the dash onto the speaker. It was scary, as I thought my engine might blow up. I took it to the shop, but they were so busy, it sat for a week, & I finally said forget it(I would have been too costly) & I needed my vehicle to get to work. Many things failed after that; gas gauge; speedometer needle; right turn signal; & radio.Other things but just can’t remember at the moment.
NHTSA complaint #11491258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HORN ON MY 2005 SEBRING WILL RANDOMLY SOUND AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEAT UPON OR VIOLENTLY SHAKEN UP AND DOWN. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK ON IT'S OWN AS A SAFETY FEATURE. IT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING PARKED. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS, THE HORN MUST BE DISCONNECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11398688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE STALLS AND JERKS BACK FOR UP TO 2 SECONDS. HOWEVER, THESE TWO SECONDS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ON A ROADWAY AS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11388973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER-SUB FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED OUT, CAR HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT, WAS GARAGE KEPT A LOT, CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND SUB FRAME IS ONLY THING RUSTED OUT, PARTS AROUND IT LOOKS NEW, LOOK AT PICTURE, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR IT,NEVER SEEN ANYTHING RUST LIKE THIS,VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING LIKE THIS
NHTSA complaint #11361080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE TO THE SHOP TO LOOK OVER AND SELLER AGREED THAT HE WOULD COVER THE COST FOR "SENSOR" ISSUE AS HE STATED! THE CAR NEEDS A CAMSHAFT AND DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC STATED IF THAT PART IS REPLACED IT WILL POSSIBLY NEED A TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS A NEW ENGINE. THEREFORE THE REPAIRS WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE OR NOT WORK AT ALL AND WASTE ALL THAT MONEY. CAR HAD ISSUES STARTING FROM DAY 1 TOO.
NHTSA complaint #11350237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL BULLETIN ON AUG 30, 2010 "K16 A/T SHIFT INTERLOCK LEVER SPRING"- THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LEVER INTERLOCK SPRING RETAINER HOOK MAY BREAK RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. ALTHOUGH THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER LOCK SPRING ON MY VEHICLE ON SEPT 2011, THIS REPLACED SPRING IS STILL FRAGILE AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS DEFECT RESULTING IN THE REPLACED PART BEING DAMAGED AGAIN IN 2020. REQUESTING NHTSA TO RE-REQUEST CHRYSLER TO REPAIR THIS SPRING FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE REPAIRED BUT ARE NOW RE-AFFECTED AGAIN DUE TO LACK OF DUALITY OF THE REPLACEMENT PART.
NHTSA complaint #11323837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VERY MAJOR PROBLEM. ON A COLD START, IF THE CAR WAS OFF FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS, IT CRANKS AND CRANKS AND CRANKS FOR ABOUT 8 SECONDS BEFORE STARTING, WHEN IT DOES START, IT REVS ALL THE WAY TO 2500 RPMS BY ITSELF AND SLOWLY GOES DOWN. IF I TRY TO PUT IT IN DRIVE BEFORE IT STOPS REVVING, THE RPMS GO UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES AND MY ETC LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL THE RPMS. I THEN HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN TO STOP THE CAR SPASMS. 50% WHEN I START IT AND LET IT STOP REVVING BEFORE SHIFTING TO DRIVE, IT GOES DOWN TO 1000 RPMS AND I'M GOOD TO GO. THE OTHER 50% OF THE TIME, IT FLASHES THE ETC LIGHT AND STUTTERS AND I MUST KEEP RESTARTING THE CAR TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE IT. I SEARHED UP THE PROBLEM AND SAW THAT BAD SPARK PLUGS OR A DIRTY INTAKE MANIFOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEMS. I THEN GOT MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND INTAKE MANIFOLD TAKEN OUT MY CAR TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. I THEN SEARCHED MORE AND WENT THROUGH A THREAD OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, PEOPLE WITH DODGE AVENGERS AND CHRYSLER SEBRINGS ALL AROUND THE YEAR MY CAR MODEL IS. MULTIPLE COMMENTERS IN THE THREAD EXPLAINED THAT THEY PUT THROUGH A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA AND A RECALL FOR THEIR CARS WERE MADE. MULTIPLE PEOPLE ALSO SAID THAT THE PART IN THE CAR CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS THE FAULT OF CHRYSLER AND DODGE. HERE'S A LINK TO THE THREAD: HTTPS://DODGEFORUM.COM/FORUM/2008-CURRENT-DODGE-AVENGER/226963-ELECTRONIC-THROTTLE-CONTROL-LIGHT-HORSE-POWER-LOSS.HTML THIS PROBLEM HAS BOTH HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR IS IN PARK AND IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I WAS IN THE SECOND LANE ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2/3/20 BUT TODAY, (2/15/20) WAS THE HARSHEST SYMPTOMS
NHTSA complaint #11309380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE NOVEMBER 9, 2019. DEFECTIVE TIPM. THE STARTER HAS CAUGHT FIRE 3 TIMES. VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND LEAVES YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. IGNITION SWITCH IS GETTING HOT WHEN KEYS ARE IN AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. TIPM WAS REPLACED. CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING DUE TO DEALERSHIP NOT KNOWING WHAT NEW PARTS TO TRY. HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEMS/FAN NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #11297121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOOR LOCK . THE PIECE THAT POP'S UP AND DOWN . IF YOU HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN AND GOT YOUR RESTING ON THE DOOR WHEN YOU START DOWN THE ROAD AND THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY THE PIECE THAT MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN IT GOES DOWN IT WILL PINCH YOUR SKIN BAD AS IT TRYS TO PULL YOUR SKIN DOWN IN THE HOLE. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT DOORS. BAD ENOUGH TO BRING YOUR SKIN. IT REALLY HURTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR TO DO THAT. ITS NOT JUST ME OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DROVE THE CAR AND SAYS THE SAME THING. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED TIMES I REMEMBER TO WATCH FOR IT. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET IT NOT TO DO THAT. THE ONLY WAY I SEE IS CUT THE PIECE OFF BUT THAT WOULD BE UNSAFE. I DON'T THINK THE PIECE COMES OFF IN A EASY WAY.
NHTSA complaint #11271163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEATER ONLY BLOWS HOT ON DRIVERS SIDE. ALL ACTUATORS ARE FUNCTIONING. NO HEAT COMING THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE DEFROST IS DANGEROUS IN COLD WEATHER. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.
NHTSA complaint #11270558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.