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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Steering complaints

8 reports
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120,000 miles · Dec 7, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. SHE IS STILL UNABLE TO OPERATE THE VE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. SHE IS STILL UNABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10211136

133,480 miles · Sep 4, 2007
Power TrainSteeringCrashFireInjury

AFTER EXPLAINING TO MY MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT END WAS RUBBING AND GRINDING AT A SPEED OF 40 AND ABOVE, AND THAT IT WAS WORSE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR BEARING LEFT, WHILE BEARING RIGHT THE RUBBING AND GRINDING LESSENED A LOT. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACED FRONT BRAKES & BALANCED WHEELS. THE SAME SITUATION STILL EXISTED. HE S…

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AFTER EXPLAINING TO MY MECHANIC THAT MY FRONT END WAS RUBBING AND GRINDING AT A SPEED OF 40 AND ABOVE, AND THAT IT WAS WORSE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR BEARING LEFT, WHILE BEARING RIGHT THE RUBBING AND GRINDING LESSENED A LOT. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACED FRONT BRAKES & BALANCED WHEELS. THE SAME SITUATION STILL EXISTED. HE STATED THAT MY FRONT AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, & HE WOULD REPLACE IT WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM VACATION. I EXPLAINED TO THE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS GETTING WORSE AND IF MY CHILDREN AND I WOULD BE SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE RETURNED, HE SAID IT WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. ON JUNE 30TH 2007 ,THE CHILDREN AND I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING WORSE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. I THEN DECIDED TO GO FOR A RIDE WITH IT, ALONE. I STARTED DRIVING ON ROUTE 195 EAST IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH. SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING THE RI/MA LINE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG. MY CAR THEN STARTED TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND. LIFTING THE RIGHT SIDE & THEN THE RIGHT. I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES BUT WITH TWO TIRES OFF THE GROUND THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I TRIED STEERING THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT WAS BEING LIFTED OFF THE ROAD. I HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. THE CAR ROCKED SIDE TO SIDE WHILE HEADING INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAVEL AND AS IT DID THE ROCKING TURNED THE CAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER THE FIRST ROLL OVER I DO NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING. I BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE STATE POLICE WHO INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT STATED, THE CAR WAS GOING IN ALL DIRECTIONS ACROSS THE HIGHWAY WHILE ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES LANDING IN THE BUSH OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HE STATED THAT THERE WERE 6 WITNESS AND ONE OF THEM HAD PULLED ME OUT OF MY CAR AND CARRIED ME AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE A FEW FEET (I WAS NOT CONSCIOUS). I DID BECOME SOMEWHAT COHERENT,AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SAW MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I THEN BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING IN THE HOSPITAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201876

88,900 miles · Feb 1, 2005
Steering

OWNER SAYS THAT THE FLOOR MATS BIND UP, CAUSING THE MATS TO TANGLE UP WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT COUPLER, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. CURRENTLY THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED THE 1998-99 SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION. THE OWNER HAS A JX CONVERTIBLE WHICH WAS NOT BEING RECALLED FOR THIS …

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OWNER SAYS THAT THE FLOOR MATS BIND UP, CAUSING THE MATS TO TANGLE UP WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT COUPLER, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. CURRENTLY THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED THE 1998-99 SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE LIMITED EDITION. THE OWNER HAS A JX CONVERTIBLE WHICH WAS NOT BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10109508

58,000 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Steering

RIGHT TIE ROD END BROKE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING, WITH RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NOT STEERING WHEN STEERING WHEEL TURNED. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER EXITING A HIGH SPEED EXPRESSWAY. CAR IS WELL CARED FOR, NOT ABUSED, AND HAS ONLY 58000 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088796

72,000 miles · Feb 12, 2004
Steering

CONTINUAL FRONT END PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE COLLAPSING OF THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A "FATAL" DEFECT IF THE CAR WERE TRAVELLING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED. EXPENSIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER REPAIR.. WHEELS JUST DO NOT COLLAPSE FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI #10057065

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2003
SteeringSuspension

I OWN A 1998 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WHICH I HAVE MAJOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY FIRESTONE THAT IT NEEDS A NEW RACK AND PINION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SILENT RECALL ON THE RACK AND PINION OF THESE VEHICLES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030706

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Steering

PROBLEM FIRST DETECTED AS A MOANING/SLIPPING SOUND. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756359

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Steering

THE STEERING SYSTEM CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS, POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #553153

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.