IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. HE NOTICED A CONSTANT LEAK ON THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOLD. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
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
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
50–25K
625–50K
850–75K
975–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
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
Steering complaints
6 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE'S FLOOR MAT GOT TANGLED INTO THE STEERING MECHANISM BECAUSE THERE IS NO COVER FOR THAT PART. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END STEERING SYSTEM (RECALL #750 ON CHRYSLER DEALER INVOICE) WERE REPLACED AND STEERING BECAME DEFECTIVE. PH
VERY, VERY LOUD SQUEEKING AND RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN PARK, DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS, AND IN REVERSE. AS SOON AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED, THE LOUD NOISE STARTS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD…
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VERY, VERY LOUD SQUEEKING AND RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN PARK, DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS, AND IN REVERSE. AS SOON AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED, THE LOUD NOISE STARTS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. DT
DRIVING AT APPROX. 15 MPH THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED/LOCKED ON MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON 10/28/02, AND WAS INITIALLY DIAGNOSED A "FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP". THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP, AND DURING THE MECHANIC TESTING FOUND THAT THE NEWLY REPLACED PUMP ALSO IMMEDIATELY FAILED AND STEERING AGAIN LOCKE…
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DRIVING AT APPROX. 15 MPH THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILED/LOCKED ON MY CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON 10/28/02, AND WAS INITIALLY DIAGNOSED A "FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP". THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP, AND DURING THE MECHANIC TESTING FOUND THAT THE NEWLY REPLACED PUMP ALSO IMMEDIATELY FAILED AND STEERING AGAIN LOCKED. THE DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE "RACK" WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS IT HAD "FAILED AND WAS CONTAMINATING THE PUMPS". BOTH THE POWER STEERING RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $1728.33 PARTS/LABOR. THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN SUCH FAILURES BEFORE, AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A RESULT OF MY MAINTAINENCE OF THIS VEHICLE. IN FACT, I HAVE VIGOROUSLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE WITH THIS DEALER SINCE ITS PURCHASE ON 6/30/97 - AND THEY HAVE PERFORMED ALL SCHEDULED MINOR AND MAJOR SERVICES. YET, SINCE I WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YEAR/50K MILE WARRANTY, THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF THE LABOR/PARTS CHARGES FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I THEN CONTACTED DAMILER CHRYLSER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THIS MATTER. DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO VEHICLE RECALLS FOR RACK/PUMP FAILURES, AND HELD NO RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WERE UNINTERESTED IN ANY DISCUSSION OF DEFECTS, OR RISK IF THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF MY FAILURE HAD OCCURRED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, RATHER THAN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURIES OR FATALITIES SINCE THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO TURN OR CONTROL THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, BUT I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERN FOR SUCH DANGEROUS FAILURES. DT
RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END BROKE COMPLETELY AWAY AND RIGHT WHEEL PIVOTED NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO LEFT WHEEL. ONLY TRAVELING 5 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT . A HIGHER NORMAL SPEED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMMAGE OR INJURY OR FATALITY. CAR HAS ONLY 34,400 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. REPAIR WAS MADE BY REPLACING BOTH RIGHT TIE ROD…
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RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END BROKE COMPLETELY AWAY AND RIGHT WHEEL PIVOTED NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO LEFT WHEEL. ONLY TRAVELING 5 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT . A HIGHER NORMAL SPEED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMMAGE OR INJURY OR FATALITY. CAR HAS ONLY 34,400 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. REPAIR WAS MADE BY REPLACING BOTH RIGHT TIE ROD END{BROKEN} AND LEFT TIE ROD END BADLY WORN AND ALIGNMENT. THESE TIE ROD ENDS ARE NON LUBRICATABLE. IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM TO OCCUR IN A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OPERATED IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A FAILURE. TWO ACQUAINTANCES OF MINE HAVE HAD FRONT AXLES BREAK ON NEWER CHRYSLER MINIVANS. COULD THERE BE A COMMON SUPPLIER OF FRONT END PARTS PROVIDING DEFECTIVE METALS OR COMMON ENGINEERING FLAWS? CHRYSLERS REPRESENTATIVE WAS TOTALLY UNSYMPATHETIC TO MY PROBLEM/COMPLAINT. *AK
Official recalls
104V021000 · 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
1EA03011 · 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.