2002 Chrysler Sebring Complaint Log

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING IS BINDING. THE DRIVER WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD STICK MAKING TURNING VERY DIFFICULT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

STEERING COLUMN MAKES A CREAKING SOUND LIKE A DOOR HINGE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, EVEN IF MOVED WHILE AUTO IS PARKED AND MAKES THIS NOISE ALSO WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGED ON 1/13/05 AND ONLY CHECKED BRAKES AND DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND CHECK THE TIE ROD OR STEERING COLUMN FOR NOISE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *JB

A KNOCKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER NOTICED, WHILE STEERING,THAT STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURNED ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOLENOID SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS SNOW AND ICE . CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES AFTER THE IMPACT. THIS WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. BOTH THE DRIVER, AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *AK THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT WAS NOT INFLATED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BENDING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TC

WHILE DRIVING THE BALL JOINT POPPED OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

AIRBAG/CLOCK SPRING BROKE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS FAILURE MADE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND THE STEERING TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND WHILE TURNING. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN AS SOON AS I COULD. THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY ON IT'S OWN OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A COLLISION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #0801001 AND #1900702 PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE CAR WHICH I PURCHASED NEW LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO, BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. I THINK A SAFETY ISSUE, SUCH AS THIS, WHICH IS KNOWN ABOUT, SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER POLICY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

HEATING / COOLER BLOWER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH (LEVEL 4) DEALERSHIP REPLACED BURNED OUT RESISTOR. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. IT WAS DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR ME TO AVOID THE ONGOING TRAFFIC. A NICE GENTLEMAN ASSISTED ME TO THE OFF RAMP. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC (TUNEX). THEY SHARED WITH ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER SO THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE PROBLEM. I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO COVER MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OIL CHANGE RECORDS AND MY MECHANIC WENT PERSONALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE HIS COUSIN WORKS, AND TESTIFIED TO MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE PENDING ARBITRATION. *JB

AGAIN ANOTHER HEAVY RAIN LEAVING A POND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. WITNESSED THE ENTRY OF THE WATER, PASSED INFO ON TO DEALER.DEALERSHIP REPLACED RIGHT SIDE DOOR WEATHER SHIELD AND SEALED THE MIRROR. *JB

MY FRONT BRAKES FAILURE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE FRON BRAKES ON MY 2002 SEBRING.*AK

MORE WATER AFTER ANOTHER HEAVY RAIN - ONLY ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD THIS TIME. DEALERSHIP RESEALED ALL WINDSHIELD MOLDING TO CORRECT WATER LEAK. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION ON A SLIGHT GRADE , THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES, BUT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000. *AK *JB

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE FAILED. DIAGNOSED AS EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE. EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DEALER DENIED CLAIM DUE TO INADEQUATE OIL CHANGES. I BOUGHT CAR USED IN JULY, 2003. WHAT HAPPENED: THE CAR STOPPED AFTER A LOUD TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I SENT COMPLAINT LETTER SENT TO CHRYSLER'S CEO ON 9/22/04. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON FOR TWENTY TO THIRTY MINUTES THEN STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC

VOLUMES OF WATER ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS AFTER HEAVY RAIN! DEALERSHIP RESEALED COWL PANEL (LEFT AND RIGHT), RESEALED FIREWALL, REALIGNED FRONT RIGHT DOOR! *JB

SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2004, THE PAINT BEGAN WEARING OFF (NOT PEELING) THE ROOF OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THEY SAID CHRYSLER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CLEAR COAT THAT YEAR, AND AT THIS POINT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE SPOT REMAINED THE SAME IN SIZE, BUT CONTINUED TO WEAR DOWN TO THE METAL. I ASSUMED I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE SPOT REPAINTED. THIS WINTER, APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE ROOF DOWN TO AND INCLUDING PART OF THE TRUNK AND REAR FENDERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME WEARING AWAY OF PAINT THAT THE ROOF HAS. AT THIS POINT, ABOUT 2/3 OF MY CAR NEEDS TO BE REPAINTED. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I FOUND ENUMERABLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR BLACK CHRYSLER SEBRING COUPES JUST LIKE MINE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I WANT MY CAR REPAINTED BY CHRYSLER. I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP MINIMIZED THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO MAKE IT RIGHT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR IS WORN DOWN TO THE BARE METAL. *TR

SERIOUS VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. HAD TO HAVE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED AND ALL ROTORS RESURFACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE SEIZED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER RESET THE TIMER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE OTHER 4 TIMES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK A RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD IN THE DASH AREA. THE CONSUMER FOUND A NUT AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE NUT DID NOT BELONG IN THE DASH AND THEY INSULATED THE DASH SO NO MORE NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE NUT CAME FROM SOMETHING IN THE DASH. THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE COOLER LINE CLAMPS BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. *NM

BRAKING DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY, CAR FISHTAILS WHILE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY ON DAMP OR WET SURFACES, TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE ALMOST HIT OTHER VEHICLES EVEN WITH PLENTY OF ADVANCED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CAR IS ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL TO DRIVE ON A WET ROAD, AND IT CERTAINLY ISN'T COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE ON DRY ROAD SURFACES. PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SINCE VEHICLE WAS BRAND-NEW, AND BRAKES/ROTORS ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.*AK

I HAVE NOW HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE I HAVE ACCIDENTLY/UNKNOWINGLY MOVED THE FLOOR TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN WHILE PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURNS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WERE NEAR ACCIDENTS. *AK THE GEAR SHIFT MOVES SO EASILY FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITH JUST THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE CAUSING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHEN JUST THE FORCE OF STOPPING, BEFORE TURNING, WITH MY HAND RESTING ON THE SHIFTER PUSHED IT OUT OF GEAR. THE SECOND TIME JUST MOVING MY PURSE ONTO THE CONSOLE PUSHED IT OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 4 OTHER VEHICLES WITH FLOOR SHIFTERS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE MOVEMENT OF THE SHIFTER WITHOUT FIRST PRESSING IN THE RELEASE BUTTON. I THOUGHT THE REASON THE GEAR RELEASE BUTTONS WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES WAS TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF THE GEAR SHIFT. WHEN SITTING IN THIS VEHICLE THE ONLY PLACE TO COMFORTABLY REST YOUR RIGHT ARM IS ON THE ARM REST WHICH THEN EXTENDS TO YOUR FINGERS RESTING ON THE BALL OF THE SHIFTER. TO ACCESS THE RELEASE BUTTON YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO UNDER SHIFTER TO PRESS IT IN, THIS IS A SAFE PROCEDURE, BUT NOW THAT I FOUND OUT THAT IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY I AM CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. I NOW FIND MYSELF SITTING ON MY RIGHT HAND WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT I WARN THEM NOT TO BUMP THE SHIFTER WHILE REACHING FOR THEIR DRINK IN THE HOLDER. I CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT AND HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL DESIGN OF THE CAR. IS THIS A NORMAL DESIGN OF ALL CARS? IF IT IS, IT IS A VERY POOR DESIGN.

IN NOVEMBER I NOTICED THAT IN THE MORNINGS WHEN I WOULD GET READY TO DRIVE TO WORK MY CAR WOULD REVERSE WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. SINCE I HAD JUST MOVE TO CALIFORNIA FOR MY NEW JOB AND WAS IN TRAINING I DIDN'T GET THE TIME OFF TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP UNTIL JANUARY 06, 2003.

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WONT MOVE, BUT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL VEHICLE WOULD GO FORWARD. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND REPLACED SOME SENSORS. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

AIR BAG DID NOT RELEASED IN CRASH WHERE MY VEHICLE, 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN, WAS GOING 20 MPH AND HIT BY VEHICLE GOING 45 MPH. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $9000 DAMAGE. I RECEIVED A MINOR INJURY. *LA

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 NIACIN MAXIMA FOR 1 MONTH AND HAVE THE SWITCH CONTROLLING THE SUN ROOF NO LONGER WORKS. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS FROM NISSAN. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS AND THE PARTS HAVE NOT COME IN. NISSAN SAYS THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THRE WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY SAID IT COULD BE 1 MORE MONTH OR MAYBE 6 MORE MONTHS. THEY DO NOT KNOW.THIS IS A $900 DOLLAR OPTION THAT DOES NOT WORK, AND NISSAN SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE PARTS TO FIX IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK

DT CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE GEAR SHIFT CAN SLIP TO ANOTHER GEAR. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS. *AK *JB

CONSUMER STATES SEAT HEATER IS WORKING ONLY WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING, NOT WHEN IS IDLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THREE TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN MAKE SNOISE EITHER WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, DEALER HAS INSPECTED 3 TIMES, AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD A CONTINUING BRAKE PROBLEMS AND WOULD DIE WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED AT 92 MILES, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH LOW OIL. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO LOSE POWER AND THE OIL LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, THE FRONT END WOULD VIBRATE, THE BRAKES SQUEALED, THERE WAS SLIGHT LEAK AT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE, THE TOP WAS PULLED DOWN AND THE RADIO HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE SIDE MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE BRAKE PADS HAD WORN DOWN TO 2/32. *SC *JB

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 50 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY. TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER CAR. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES (CLAMPS)*JB

VEHICLE'S SHIFT CABLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE 25MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 25MPH TO 100MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES EVERY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING TO REDUCE HER SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 30MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUSING THE FRONT SEATBELT TO BECOME DETACHED, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, TRANSMISSION JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN GOING INTO 1ST GEAR. WHEN DRIVING 45 TO 55 MPH, WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THERE IS A THUMP IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. NOT CONSISTLENTLY, BUT ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCERN.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK *JB

THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON OUR 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEEMS INADEQUATE. HARD APPLICATON ON A VERY COLD AND WET ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOES NOT RESULT IN BRAKE LOCK UP. I UNDERSTAND LOCK UP IS BAD, BUT CERTAINLY THE CAR SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH BRAKING POWER TO LOCK THE BRAKES UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ALSO WHEN CONSUMER MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN MAKE A NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WILL GO DOWN AND WONT RELEASE BACK, AND THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICEL AT 40MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRASMISSION BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED BEYOND REPAIR AT DELIVERY. FRONT GRILL AREA DEEPLY SCRATCHED ON BOTH SIDES OF GRILL. TRANSMISSION JERKS BADLY WHEN GOING INTO GEAR. ALL TIRES BADLY OUT OF BALANCE AT DELIVERY. BECAUSE OF THE OUT OF BALANCE TIRES AND THE WARPED BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM SENSOR COULD RECEIVE FALSE SIGNALS THEREFORE RENDERING THE ABS INOPERABLE.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ONLY WAY THE DEFROSTER WILL WORK IS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND THIS IS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN DRIVING 45-50 MPH, CONSUMER WOULD TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS AND VEHICLE MADE A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER FINALLY GOT VEHICLE TO STOP, BUT ENGINE WAS REVING HIGH. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

CAR DELIVERED WITH BADLY WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND THE TIRES WERE WAY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED COULD COMPROMISE THE ABS SYSTEM AND CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND ANYONE HIT BY THIS VEHICLE. DEALER FIXED PROBLEMS AT FIRST SAID VIBRATION WAS NORMAL FOR THAT CAR. CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY. MR

PROBLEM: VIBRATION NOISE UNDER HOOD LOSS OF COOL AIR WITH AIR CONDITIONER DEALERSHIP REPLACED EXPANSION VALVE. *JB

AFTER TEN DAYS OF PURCHASE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON EVEN AFTER DEALERSHIP REPLACED AIR BAG LIGHT MODULE. THIS PART WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR TWO MONTHS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE EVEN THOUGH AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON. DEALERSHIP STILL HAS VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK