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2002 Chrysler Sebring

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chrysler Sebring do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 132.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

139 reports with mileage · 71 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 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports4 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

48 reports
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92,000 miles · Aug 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP WAS TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FEEL REPAIRS WERE NEEDED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE THIRD DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROB…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP WAS TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FEEL REPAIRS WERE NEEDED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE THIRD DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE THIRD DEALERSHIP REPLACED AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER PART AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI #10166101

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTOR STALLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SLUDGE BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PROPER OIL LEVELS HAVE NOT BEEN MAI…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTOR STALLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SLUDGE BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PROPER OIL LEVELS HAVE NOT BEEN MAINTAINED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT DISAGREED

NHTSA ODI #10163647

64,000 miles · Jul 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHRYSLER SEBRING 2002 FAILED ENGINE TWICE - ONE WAS THE RESULT THAT NOT ENOUGH OIL CHANGE AND IT BLEW THE ENGINE. THE 2ND TIME - CLAIM THE TRANSMISSION BLEW THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS TO BE UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAVE REFUSED CLAIMING THE ABUSE OF THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. MY BELIEVE IS THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE S…

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CHRYSLER SEBRING 2002 FAILED ENGINE TWICE - ONE WAS THE RESULT THAT NOT ENOUGH OIL CHANGE AND IT BLEW THE ENGINE. THE 2ND TIME - CLAIM THE TRANSMISSION BLEW THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS TO BE UNDER WARRANTY BUT HAVE REFUSED CLAIMING THE ABUSE OF THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. MY BELIEVE IS THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE SEBRING ENGINES. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAVE 65,000 PLUS MILES AND WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR BACK 3 WEEKS WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW THE 2ND TIME. THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE COMPANY IS BOB FRENSLEY CHRYSLER IN GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - 615 859-0000. I HAVE REQUESTED THIS INFOMTION ON SERVERAL TIMES AND HAS YET BEING FAXED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THIS CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10163062

76,000 miles · Apr 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE- SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. REGULAR OILS CHANGES AT 3000 MILES. ENGINE FAILED AT 76000 MILES ON THE CAR DUE TO WATER MIXING WITH THE OIL..(A DIRECT RESULT OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE- I ASSUME) THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST > $5…

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2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE- SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. REGULAR OILS CHANGES AT 3000 MILES. ENGINE FAILED AT 76000 MILES ON THE CAR DUE TO WATER MIXING WITH THE OIL..(A DIRECT RESULT OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE- I ASSUME) THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST > $5000. HE ALSO INDICATED CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING. CHRYSLER HAS SINCE MODIFIED THIS ENGINE FOR ITS NEWER VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155133

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

THESE ARE SAFETY/DEFECT ISSUES REGARDING MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE: I HAVE A 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE AND I HAVE RECENTLY READ ABOUT COMMON PROBLEMS AFTER EXPERIENCING A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. JUST TODAY, I HAD A MECHANIC LISTEN TO THE ENGINE NOISE AND HE SPECULATES THAT IT IS A ROD OR ROD BEARING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYMPT…

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THESE ARE SAFETY/DEFECT ISSUES REGARDING MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE: I HAVE A 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE AND I HAVE RECENTLY READ ABOUT COMMON PROBLEMS AFTER EXPERIENCING A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. JUST TODAY, I HAD A MECHANIC LISTEN TO THE ENGINE NOISE AND HE SPECULATES THAT IT IS A ROD OR ROD BEARING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYMPTOM OF THE SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT YOUR WEB SITE HAS DOCUMENTED. I HAVE NOT YET CONFRONTED A CHRYSLER MAINTENANCE REP AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TACTICS THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AS SUCCESSFUL. I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT REGULAR ABOUT OIL CHANGES, BUT I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, SO WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM PROVING THE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. STEERING: LAST SUMMER I FIRST EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING TIGHTENING. BASICALLY THE GENERAL FEEL OF THE STEERING WAS TIGHT AND IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO A 'HOME' POSITION AFTER TURNING. A MECHANIC ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE $1500 TO REPLACE THE RACK ASSEMBLY AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ON A HUNCH, I HAD THE POWER STEERING FLUID REPLACED AND WITHIN A WEEK THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. AROUND OCT/NOV, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED AND I HAD ANOTHER POWER STEERING FLUID REPLACEMENT. THIS TIME THE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT AND HAVE NOT COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. I HAVE READ A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER SEBRING OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152856

2,840 miles · Feb 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

PROBLEM: VIBRATION NOISE UNDER HOOD LOSS OF COOL AIR WITH AIR CONDITIONER DEALERSHIP REPLACED EXPANSION VALVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151165

50,499 miles · Nov 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2ND ENGINE FAILED IN 2002 SEBRING AT 50,000 MILES I WILL NEVER EVER BUY CHRYSLER AGAIN, THIS IS A SAFETY AS WELL AS ECONOMIC ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141784

38,000 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT:CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING.. UPON TAKING THE ENGINE APART AND INSPECTING IT, THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUILDUP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONTACT REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO SEE THE OIL CHANGE R…

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DT:CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING.. UPON TAKING THE ENGINE APART AND INSPECTING IT, THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUILDUP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONTACT REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO SEE THE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. THE CONSUMER SENT THE INVOICES TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE MANUFACTURER OR SERVICE DEALER WAS GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10138117

115,000 miles · Sep 14, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING'S ENGINE FAILED AT AN OFF RAMP OF A HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AFTER IT WAS DRIVEN FROM THE GARAGE THAT IT WAS TOWED TO. THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *BN

NHTSA ODI #10136516

71,000 miles · May 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE FAILED. DIAGNOSED AS EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE. DEALER DENIED CLAIM CITING INADEQUATE OIL CHANGES WHICH IS INCORRECT, OIL CHANGE WAS DONE WHEN SPECIFIED, OIL LIGHT NEVER HAD TO COME ON. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAD IT MAINTAINED. WHAT HAPPENED: THE CAR STOPPED AFTER A LOUD TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I …

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2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE FAILED. DIAGNOSED AS EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE. DEALER DENIED CLAIM CITING INADEQUATE OIL CHANGES WHICH IS INCORRECT, OIL CHANGE WAS DONE WHEN SPECIFIED, OIL LIGHT NEVER HAD TO COME ON. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAD IT MAINTAINED. WHAT HAPPENED: THE CAR STOPPED AFTER A LOUD TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. I SENT COMPLAINT LETTER TO CHRYSLER'S CEO AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $6000 TO REPAIR. CHRYSLER SHOULD REPLACE THOSE ENGINES. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX CAR AND I STILL HAVE A LOAN ON THE CAR BUT IT IS NOT DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10122180

Official recalls

2

16V401000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 3, 2016

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

15V338000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 2, 2015

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.

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

PE02082 · 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.