← New search

1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 72.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Sebring Convertible years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

44 reports with mileage · 33 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
Clear category filter
44,175 miles · May 26, 2005
Electrical System

PURCHASED CAR ON EBAY THREE YEARS AGO. NO RECORD OF ACCIDENT BUT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN WHEN CAR PARKED OUTSIDE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STARTS AND DIES SEVERAL TIMES, THEN WONT'T START FOR ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO A DAY OR TWO. NO DEALER ABLE TO FIND PROB. OR GET IT TO …

Read full complaint

PURCHASED CAR ON EBAY THREE YEARS AGO. NO RECORD OF ACCIDENT BUT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN WHEN CAR PARKED OUTSIDE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STARTS AND DIES SEVERAL TIMES, THEN WONT'T START FOR ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO A DAY OR TWO. NO DEALER ABLE TO FIND PROB. OR GET IT TO THROW A CODE. PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR LAST YEAR WHEN WE MOVED TO CA AND PARKED CAR IN GARAGE. THEN IT RETURNED ONCE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND SOURCE OF PROB. OR GET IT TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. FINALLY GOT ONE COMPUTER REPLACED. BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND IT HAS REPEATED THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES. NOW IT IS TURNING ON THE SECURITY LIGHT AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, THEN, SUDDENLY, WHILE I AM DRIVING, THE GUAGES QUIT WORKING. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST OR HOW FAR I AM GOING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS MONTH, BOTH TIMES WHEN WE WERE ON A LONG TRIP. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REAL CORRELATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM THAT WE CAN FIND OTHER THAN POSSIBLE MOISTURE RELATIONSHIP. HAD TO DRIVE FROM LAKE TAHOE TO ORANGE COUNTY WITH NO SPEEDOMETER TWO WEEKS AGO. IT HAD RAINED HEAVILY AND THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE. THEN IT MAGICALLY "MENDED ITSELF" DURING THE WEEK AND WE TOOK IT FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO PALM SPRINGS ON MAY 21ST. THE GUAGES WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER WE LEFT HOME AND CAME ON "MAGICALLY" AFTER WE PURCHASED GAS IN PALM SPRINGS. DATE LISTED BELOW IS MOST RECENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. HAS BEEN TO DEALERS IN ALABAMA AND ORANGE COUNTY. I REALLY CAN'T SAY HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED, BUT PROBABLY AROUND 30.

NHTSA ODI #10122265

76,800 miles · Mar 31, 2005
Electrical System

ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER STOP AND START FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBELM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL. WHY WON'T CHRYSLER RECALL AND REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR?

NHTSA ODI #10116147

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Air BagsElectrical System

WHILE DRIVING HORN FAILED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 2004. DEALERSHIP FIXED IT, BUT THREE DAYS LATER HORN FAILED AGAIN. TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE HORN, AND STATED THERE WAS SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE FRONT AIR BAGS. TO FIX THE HORN DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG MECHANISM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE O…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING HORN FAILED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 2004. DEALERSHIP FIXED IT, BUT THREE DAYS LATER HORN FAILED AGAIN. TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE HORN, AND STATED THERE WAS SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE FRONT AIR BAGS. TO FIX THE HORN DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG MECHANISM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1,700. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091671

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2004
Electrical System

ELECTRONIC GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR, ELECTRONIC ODOMETER, AND TACH. GUAGE DO NOT WORK. HAVE TO GUESS WHAT GEAR VEHILE IS IN. NEVER WORKS WHEN CAR IS STARTED, BUT ABOUT 50% OF TIME IT WILL START WORKING AFTER DRIVING FOR 10-15 MINUTES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080803

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2003
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN CAR HAS TOTALLY FAILED. NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WORKS PROPERLY ANYMORE. THE BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT A COST OF $300 PLUS OVER $6,000 IN VARIOUS REPAIRS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047444

75,500 miles · Jun 24, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

IN SHORT, MY '97 SEBRING CONVT. (86,000 MI) IS ON ITS 3RD STARTER, NEEDS A NEW FUEL GAUGE & SWITCH TO LIGHT FOG LAMPS (PROBLEM FOR VA. SAFETY INSP.). ALSO TACH, SPEEDOMETER, & OTHER GAUGES HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING TEMPORAILY WHILE CAR IS MOVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023647

42,300 miles · Jun 3, 2003
Electrical System

"ELECTRONIC" ODOMETER AND OTHER DASHBOARED COMPONENTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED, AND ADVISED IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10022159

50,000 miles · May 14, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

THIS CAR IS GARBAGE! I HAVE HAD WATER LEAKS, HAD TO REPLACE COMPLETE FABRIC INTERIOR! THE BATTERY LIGHT NOW REFUSES TO GO OFF ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES IN A YEAR, HAVE REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. NOT ONE SHOP, ALONG WITH A DEALER, CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR WILL NOT R…

Read full complaint

THIS CAR IS GARBAGE! I HAVE HAD WATER LEAKS, HAD TO REPLACE COMPLETE FABRIC INTERIOR! THE BATTERY LIGHT NOW REFUSES TO GO OFF ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES IN A YEAR, HAVE REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. NOT ONE SHOP, ALONG WITH A DEALER, CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR TOLD ME IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HIM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE SEAT BELT, DRIVERS SIDE. IT NO LONGER CONNECTS TOGETHER. DEALER WHO SOLD ME CAR STATED THE CAR WAS A 6 CYLINDER AS DOES MY TITLE, FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT CAR IS ONLY 4 CYLINDER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018708

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000
Electrical System

MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE SUBJECT COMPUTER AT A COST TO ME OF $300. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A "GOOD WILL" EXTENSION OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTEE. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD THIS COMPUTER FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726269

Official recalls

1

04V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Jan 13, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock

Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.