IllustrationTHE OUTSIDE MOLDER PANEL ON THE DOOR IS HELD ON BY PLASTIC CLIPS THAT DO NOT HOLD. PANEL HAS FALLEN OFF VEHICLE WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1998 Chrysler Sebring
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sebring years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring are substantially higher than the model-year median of 132.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sebring 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
Limited mileage data: 62 of 267 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Structure. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports5 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
267 reportsELECTRICAL. HORN. BRAKES.
RIGHT-SIDE PASSENGER LOWER PANEL FELL OFF.
THE MAT ON THE DIRVER'S SIDE BECAME CAUGHT IN THE STEERING COLUMN BASE. THE MAT STARTED TO MOVE AND CAUSED DIFFCULTY WITH CONTROLLING THE CAR WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN AND PULL THE MAT BACK OUT. THE BINDING OFF OF THE MAT HAD TO BE REMOVED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE …
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THE MAT ON THE DIRVER'S SIDE BECAME CAUGHT IN THE STEERING COLUMN BASE. THE MAT STARTED TO MOVE AND CAUSED DIFFCULTY WITH CONTROLLING THE CAR WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN AND PULL THE MAT BACK OUT. THE BINDING OFF OF THE MAT HAD TO BE REMOVED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO COVER THE STEERING COLUMN TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS HESITATING, CONSUMER HEARD NOISES, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE ,DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 100 FEET ,HEARD EXPLOSION ,VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR FELT POWER STEERING F…
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS HESITATING, CONSUMER HEARD NOISES, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE ,DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 100 FEET ,HEARD EXPLOSION ,VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR FELT POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ON TOP OF CATAYLIC CONVERTER, CAUSING FIRE. *YC
THE RIMS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE BENT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WHICH MAY CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *ML
WHEN DRVING AT ANY SPEED THE OUTSIDE FRAME PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS COMING OFF. ALSO, ALL FOUR WHEEL RIMS ARE BEND AND STICKING IN THE TIRES. *AK
WHILE IN A PARKING LOT THE SIDING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SIDE FELL OFF. ON JULY 19TH WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20-25 MPH THE SIDING FELL OFF. THE SIDING HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED ONCE AND REATTACHED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
FLOOR MAT GOES UP THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. IT FRAYS AND IT PULLS THE FLOOR MAT. DRIVER NOT ABLE TO STEER.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
ON-GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML
Official recalls
300V421002 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
98V183000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Aug 6, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
98V045002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 3, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
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
4PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
PE00007 · Door Panel/garnish Separation
Opened Feb 2, 2000 · Closed Jul 18, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
ALLEGED THAT THE PLASTIC GARNISH PANELS MOUNTED ON DOORS DETACH FROM THEIR MOUNTINGS, SOMETIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION
EA99028 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened Sep 10, 1999 · Closed Jul 26, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE99030 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened May 3, 1999 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available