Illustration1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK RECALL REPAIR HISTORY. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW, IF THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED PROPERLY, DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2005. *JB
1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
10–25K
725–50K
1050–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
33 reports with mileage · 19 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.
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. 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.
3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
52 reportsI WENT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT 3 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT ONE IN HE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A USED ONE IN THERE. TWO MONTHS LATER THAT TRANMISSION WENT OUT AND IT GOT REPLACED. WELL THI…
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I WENT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT 3 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT ONE IN HE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A USED ONE IN THERE. TWO MONTHS LATER THAT TRANMISSION WENT OUT AND IT GOT REPLACED. WELL THIS BRINGS US TO PRESENT DAY WHERE I'M GETTING IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. THEY TELL ME THAT THE REAR BALL JOINTS ARE OUT AND IT'LL COST $1200 TO FIX IT. I'M LIKE THAT'S NOT WORTH IT. I THEN FIND OUT THAT THIS IS RECALLED. *JS
I HAVE THIS CAR FROM 2011, I WENT TO THE DEALER ON BAKERSFIELD CA, TO PROGRAM THE ALARM PAGER, THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART BECAUSE HAVE A RECALL, AFTER THAT DAY MY CAR START TO STOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF, I CHANGE THE SPEED SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CRAMCHACK SENSOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE MAP SENSOR, THE EGR VALVE, T…
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I HAVE THIS CAR FROM 2011, I WENT TO THE DEALER ON BAKERSFIELD CA, TO PROGRAM THE ALARM PAGER, THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART BECAUSE HAVE A RECALL, AFTER THAT DAY MY CAR START TO STOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF, I CHANGE THE SPEED SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CRAMCHACK SENSOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE MAP SENSOR, THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER, ALL THE RELAYS, THE CAR WORKS FOR A LITTLE AND START TO STOP SUDDENLY, ANYWHERE. SOME TIMES I GO TO THE STORE TO BUY GROCERIES, HE START TO SHAKE FROM THE SUSPENSION, AND THE CAR STOP 2 OR 3 TIMES, ON ONE TRIP. ON AUGUST 15 I WENT TO BAKERSFIELD TO SEE MY DOCTOR BECAUSE I'M PERMANENTLY DISABLE, AND THE CAR STOP ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OF 65 MILES, I LET THE CAR FOR A WILE RESTING AND AFTER THAT HE START AGAIN, WHEN I GO OUT ON UNION EXIT THE CAR STOP AGAIN, TODAY I WENT TO THE MARKET AND I HAVE TO PUSH THE CAR ALL THE WAY TO MY HOME. THIS CLASS OF CARS GAVE TROUBLE TO EVERY BODY WHO HAD ONE OF THIS MAKE. NEED HELP TO SEE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,337.
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND TURNED DOWN MY STREET GOING ONLY 5 MPH AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD METAL ON CEMENT NOISE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT OUT OF CAR AND SEEN BALL JOINT CRACKED AND TIRE OFF CAR. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON GROUND IN FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE FIXED. CAR DR…
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I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD METAL ON CEMENT NOISE PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT OUT OF CAR AND SEEN BALL JOINT CRACKED AND TIRE OFF CAR. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON GROUND IN FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE FIXED. CAR DROVE SMOOTH OTHERWISE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BUT TO JUST SNAP. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T GOING FASTER OR NOTHING WAS IN MY WAY AND DIDN'T CRASH! IT WAS THE SCARIEST CAR "ACCIDENT" I EVER HAD. NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN TO ME IN A CAR THAT HAD NO SIGNS OF NEEDING TO BE FIXED. *TR
MY ALARM KEEPS GOING OFF!!! A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP. IT STARTED BY HONKING REPEATEDLY THEN A VERY LONG ANNOYING HONK. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP, THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I AM NOW DESPERATE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED; I WAS AT A GAS STATION THE OT…
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MY ALARM KEEPS GOING OFF!!! A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP. IT STARTED BY HONKING REPEATEDLY THEN A VERY LONG ANNOYING HONK. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STOP, THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I AM NOW DESPERATE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED; I WAS AT A GAS STATION THE OTHER DAY, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THE ALARM STILL SOUNDING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A WAY OF DISCONNECTING MY BATTERY TO MAKE IT STOP. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL! I RECENTLY BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE? THIS WEBSITE DISPLAYS MANY PEOPLES CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHRYSLER/SEBRING/2006/ELECTRICAL/HORN_GOES_OFF_BY_ITSELF.SHTML. *TR
I HAVE A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING, I BOUGHT IT AT 45,000 MILES AND THE SEATBELTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL LOCK TO WHERE I CANT BUCKLE MY SEAT BELT AND ITS THE SAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT WILL ALSO LOCK WHEN IT IS BUCKLED. LIKE IT WOULD WHEN IM SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES. *TR
1998 SEBRING CONV. LEFT BALL JOINT CAME APART CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. CHRYSLER DENIES PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL . I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS MYSELF AND STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE FRONT END DAMAGE. *TR
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.