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2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 72.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 28 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 16 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 reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

41 reports
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76,000 miles · Jun 27, 2013
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

THE HORN DOESN'T WORK , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON, AIRBAGS LIGHT ON CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ... MY CAR WONT BE ABLE TO PASS THE EMISSION TEST... AC COMPRESSOR DOESN'T WORK . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522173

118,000 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ENGINE GAVE OUT AND I GOT STUCK ON SHOULDER, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND MY MECHANIC SAID MY ENGINE SEIZED. I HAVE MY CARE SERVICED REGULARLY AND DID NOT KNOW OF THIS ENGINE/OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE OR TO BUY A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455025

104,244 miles · Dec 1, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

THIS COMPLAINT FOLLOWS OTHERS THAT OWN THE SEBRING CONV. AND THE SLUDGE BUILDUP,.I ALSO DO REG. MAINT. ON THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE AN ENGINE THAT HAS SEIZED & FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A PILEUP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, NOT ONLY ON THIS SITE BUT …

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THIS COMPLAINT FOLLOWS OTHERS THAT OWN THE SEBRING CONV. AND THE SLUDGE BUILDUP,.I ALSO DO REG. MAINT. ON THE VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE AN ENGINE THAT HAS SEIZED & FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A PILEUP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, NOT ONLY ON THIS SITE BUT SEVERAL OTHERS, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS BEING BROUGHT AGAINST CHRYSLER ON THE 2.7LTR ENGINE FOR THIS FACT. THE OIL LIGHT KEPT FLICKERING TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, LEVELS CORRECT, IT WOULD GO OUT FOR A WHILE AND THEN BOOM. THIS WOULD GO ON LIKE EVERY 3 MONTHS OR SO SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR .NEVER AGAIN CHRYSLER. WILL IT TAKE A DEATH FOR YOU TO ORDER A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437993

93,546 miles · Sep 27, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE DIED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WE KEPT THE CAR IN GOOD CONDITION AND PERFORMED MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427682

56,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, WITH 56K MILES, WITH A BLOWN ENGINE, ROD THRU IT DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. OIL WAS CHANGED ON THE CAR EVERY 4 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386705

144,000 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I CHANGE THE OIL, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS LIKE I DO TO ALL CARS I BUY. ABOUT 2 DAYS AGO THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR. CHANGED THE SENSOR BUT THE LIGHT STILL TURNED ON. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP & AFTER A BETTER INSPECT…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I CHANGE THE OIL, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS LIKE I DO TO ALL CARS I BUY. ABOUT 2 DAYS AGO THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR. CHANGED THE SENSOR BUT THE LIGHT STILL TURNED ON. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP & AFTER A BETTER INSPECTION HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE OIL PUMP. TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I GET IT FIXED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1000 TO REPLACE IT. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE AFTER A SEARCH ONLINE I CAN SEE I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384229

113,000 miles · Dec 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369270

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH, I BOUGHT IT FROM MY MOTHER. THE OIL WAS CHANGED RIGHT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND I HAVEN'T DRIVING MORE THAN 3000 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 22ND, 2010 MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN I STARTED IT UP AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING …

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I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH, I BOUGHT IT FROM MY MOTHER. THE OIL WAS CHANGED RIGHT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND I HAVEN'T DRIVING MORE THAN 3000 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 22ND, 2010 MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN I STARTED IT UP AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT, THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT AT EVERY STOP LIGHT. THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND I HAD AAA COME TOW IT TO THEIR AUTO SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE CAR. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES IN CHRYSLERS AND DODGES. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ESPECIALLY SINCE I JUST PAID MONEY FOR THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO! I AM SO UPSET! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362103

54,974 miles · Feb 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR A QUICK CHECKUP. MY MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 50,000 ORIGINAL MILES LOOKS LIKE IT IS FROM A VEHICLE WITH 150,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILDUP. I AM AFRAID TO PURCHASE A USED ENG…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAD THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR A QUICK CHECKUP. MY MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 50,000 ORIGINAL MILES LOOKS LIKE IT IS FROM A VEHICLE WITH 150,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILDUP. I AM AFRAID TO PURCHASE A USED ENGINE (WHICH IS HARD TO FIND TO BEGIN WITH) BECAUSE IT MAY FAIL BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FROM SLUDGE AND ALSO THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM I HAVE DISCOVERED AFTER MUCH RESEARCH OF THE 2.7L ENGINE ON THE INTERNET. INSTEAD I HAVE TO PAY OVER $5000.00 TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED IN MY USED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314562

40,000 miles · Mar 8, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsVisibility

CAR TAKES FOREVER FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM UP, SOMETIMES STALLING & HARD TO START. THE HEATER MOST OF THE TIME DOES NOT WORK IN MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI, IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THE SEAT HEATER WORKS, HOWEVER IT HAS A LOUD NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN OPERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261087

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.