STRONG GASOLINE ODORS CAME INTO VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS DOWN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK.....PAINT ON VEHICLE WAS FADING-TURNING BLACK TO WHITE. FROM INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE BA…
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STRONG GASOLINE ODORS CAME INTO VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS DOWN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK.....PAINT ON VEHICLE WAS FADING-TURNING BLACK TO WHITE. FROM INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE BACK OF VEHICLE. SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD A BROKEN SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. IN ADDITION, PASSENGER'S LEATHER SEAT WAS CRACKING, AND STITCHING ON CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS COMING OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10117277
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2004
Visibility
THE THREDDING AROUND MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE TOP IS SLOWLY COMING LOOSE WICH WILL THEN RELEASE MY BACK WINDOW WHICH COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD INVOLVING INNOCENT DRIVERS. THE POTENTIAL LOOSE BACK WINDOW COULD NOT ONLY FLY OUT AT ANY GIVIN MOMENT IT ALSO COULD FALL IN TO THE BACKSEAT OF MY CONVER…
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THE THREDDING AROUND MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE TOP IS SLOWLY COMING LOOSE WICH WILL THEN RELEASE MY BACK WINDOW WHICH COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD INVOLVING INNOCENT DRIVERS. THE POTENTIAL LOOSE BACK WINDOW COULD NOT ONLY FLY OUT AT ANY GIVIN MOMENT IT ALSO COULD FALL IN TO THE BACKSEAT OF MY CONVERTIBLE WHICH RAISES AND BIGGER CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN HIS CAR SEAT. MY WISH IS THAT CHRYSLER CORP. WOULD RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE TOPS BEFORE THEY HAVE TO SPEND MILLIONS ON LAW SUITS INVOLVING ACCIDENTS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL OWNER OF THE SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WELL, I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE ON THIS ISSUE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AIRED A SHORT NEWS CLIP ON CHRYSLER OWNERS. THEY PUT OUT A CALL TO ALL CHRYSLER SEBRING OWNERS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA (FLORIDA) THAT WAS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM ... THEY RECEIVED OVER 100 COMPLAINTS... THATS JUST IN 1 CITY!!! GO TO WWW.TBO.COM TYPE KEYWORD (IN TOP RIGHT CORNER) : PROBLEM SOLVER THEN CLICK CHRYSLER SEBRING LINK. I HAVE LOTS OF PICS OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP UPON REQUEST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072792
97,000 miles · Apr 3, 2004
Visibility
DESIGN DEFECT - REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER - THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING STOPPED WORKING. THE WIRE ATTACHING THE DEFOGGER TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BECOME DETACHED. IT HAD BEEN REATTACHED BY THE DEALER TWICE, BUT ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. …
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DESIGN DEFECT - REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER - THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING STOPPED WORKING. THE WIRE ATTACHING THE DEFOGGER TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BECOME DETACHED. IT HAD BEEN REATTACHED BY THE DEALER TWICE, BUT ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. IT IS APPARENTLY REATTACHED WITH SOME KIND OF GLUE. I WAS ADVISED THAT IF I WANTED TO GET THE DEFOGGER TO WORK I WOULD NEED TO INSTALL A NEW REAR WINDOW AT A COST OF OVER $800. THE NEW SEBRING CONVERTIBLE;E USES A WIRE WITH A PLUG TO ATTACH THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER TO THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. CHRYSLER APPEARS TO HAVE RECOGNIZED THE DESIGN DEFECT AND PROVIDED A FIX, ALTHOUGH NOT TO OWNERS OF 1997 SEBRING CONVERTIBLES. NOTE: THIS DESIGN DEFECT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT THAT CAUSES A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN THE DEFOGGER FAILS, I.E., IN RAINY OR SNOWY CONDITIONS THE VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW IS DANGEROUSLY REDUCED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10064458
28,000 miles · Aug 15, 2003
SeatsStructureVisibility
THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR IMAGE WERE COMPLETELY DISTORTED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW ANY OBJECTS THROUGH IT. *AK THE TRUNK LID HAD FALLEN ON THE CONSUMERS HEAD, THE LEATHER SEATS CRACKED, AND THE STITCHING ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD COME UNDONE. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10029877
53,500 miles · Jan 19, 2003
Visibility
REAR DEFOGGER INOPERABLE. THE WIRING THROUGH THE CAR TO THE BACK WINDOW HAS DETACHED ITSELF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ITEM, I WAS TOLD NO AN…
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REAR DEFOGGER INOPERABLE. THE WIRING THROUGH THE CAR TO THE BACK WINDOW HAS DETACHED ITSELF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ITEM, I WAS TOLD NO AND THAT IT WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE ITEM TO REPLACE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO REMIT ANY MONIES FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED THROUGH THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ODI #10002962
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2002
Visibility
CONSUMER STATES THE WINDSHIELD SEAL IS LEAKING WATER AND DAMAGE RADIO, CD AND CARPET. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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.
1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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