2002 Chrysler Sebring

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE SCREEN ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN

MY WONDERFUL FATHER BROUGHT ME THIS CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI ON 04/17/2014. AFTER MY CHEVY IMPALA/2002 STALLED DUE TO TRANSMISSION/IGNITION SWITCH THE TOTAL COST IS $3100.00. SO MY DAD PAYS CASH FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SEBRING LXI. ON 05/03/2014, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND A BARBECUE. IT WAS A VERY NICE DAY OUT. THE CAR STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND THE CAR STALLS AND SLOWS DOWN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SUN MAY 4,2014. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE HAD JUMP TIME AND THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $3000-5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE LOST MY JOB IN HR DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO GO WORK. I NOW OWN TO VEHICLES THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE AND CANT EVEN AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR SINCE I HAVE LOST MY JOB. IT REALLY UPSETS ME ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. WE THE CONSUMERS SHOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF RELIEF. WE THE CONSUMERS RELY ON THE INTELLIGENCE AND INTEGRITY OF THOSE THAT MANUFACTURE AND MAKE THE ENGINES. I'M ASKING THAT CHRYSLER PAY FOR ME A NEW ENGINE. THAT IS A SMALL AMOUNT COMPARED TO THE FACT I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR. HAD THIS TURNED OUT ANY OTHER WAY SUCH AS A FATALITY. MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT " HEADS WOULD ROLL". I WOULD HATE TO SEE CHRYSLER IN THE SAME "HOT SEAT" THAT GM IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PROBLEM # 1 - STARTED AS INTERMITTENT / NOW CONSTANT. SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY "WACKY". EARLIER IN NOV. 2008, EXHIBITED A PROBLEM THAT I FIRST SAW TWO WINTERS AGO. IN DEC 2006, HAD THE SAME SYMPTOM - SPEEDOMETER GOING WILD. IN THE REPAIR SHOP, THE REP REPLACED INNER & OUTER SPEED SENSORS BASED ON CODES HE SAW FROM COMPUTER. PROBLEM NOT SEEN SINCE 12/06 UNTIL RECENTLY. IN EARLY OCT 2008, ONLY ABOUT THREE BRIEF INSTANCES. NOW THE WACKY SPEEDOMETER IS FREQUENT / CONSTANT. GOING ALONG AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLIPS TO 10 MPH (PRESUMABLY THE CAR IS STILL REALLY TRAVELING ALONG AT 55 MPH). IN FRACTION OF A SECOND THE NEEDLE SWINGS BACK UP TO 60 MPH, THEN DOWN TO 20 MPH, THEN UP TO 70 MPH, THEN DOWN AGAIN TO 5 MPH... I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL GARAGE. GARAGE TECH REPLACED BOTH INNER & OUTER TRANSMISSION SENSORS ON 12/5/2008 -BASED ON COMPUTER CODES, AND RESET ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT. SINCE REPLACING BOTH SPEED SENSORS THE ?WILD SPEEDOMETER? PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS; SWING OF THE NEEDLE IS JUST A LITTLE LESS, ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON (CONSTANTLY) AFTER HAVING SPEEDOMETER SWING WILDLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. PROBLEM # 2 - POSSIBLY RELATED (OR NOT) - AT LOWER SPEEDS (5-30 MPH), THE CAR TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO RESPOND FINE (OTHER THAN THE WILD SPEEDOMETER ISSUE). I MEAN THAT IS THE CAR REGISTERS 1000-2000 RPM, SOUNDS LIKE ENGINE IS RUNNING WELL. CAR SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME AT 50-60 MPH, THEN SLOWING TO EXIT (DOWN OR UP A RAMP) WHEN SPEED IS SLOWED TO AROUND 20 MPH, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEAR (SMALL BUCK CAN BE FELT); THEN CAR SEEMS TO STAY IN LOW-GEAR. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE CAR BUT WHEN THE SPEED IS AROUND 30 MPH, THE RPM IS OVER 3000, CAN HEAR THE ENGINE STRAINING. I PULL OVER, TURN-OFF ENGINE, SIT A MINUTE, RESTART CAR, IT IS OK ONCE AGAIN TO DRIVE. IT CAN GO OVER 30 MPH OR HIGHER AND MAINTAIN AROUND 2000 RPM (UNTIL SPEED IS REDUCED TO 20 MPH (CYCLE CONTINUES). *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES I TEST DROVE IT AND IT RAN FINE. AT 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS, IT MADE NOISE ONLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION PLACE AND THEY HAD IT FOR TWO DAYS AND STATED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT IM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS NOW THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS WHILE SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 35 TO 30 MPH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. ON JUNE 25, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST BETWEEN $1,500-$2,300. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,800.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKING HARD WHEN SHIFTING TO 5TH GEAR SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. WHEN REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE RESPONSE WAS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD LINGER ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT NO CODE RETURNED. AT 70,350 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, THE CAR JERKS HARD AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO AN AUTO SHOP (SPEEDY AUTO) AND LEFT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FINE. NO CODE AVAILABLE. PROBLEM WAS CLEAR FOR 3 DAYS THEN RECURRED. AFTER THE CAR SAT FOR OVER 12 HOURS, THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CAR SHIFTED FINE. THE LIGHT HAS NOW BEEN ON FOR 8 DAYS AND STILL JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. *TR

I OWN A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH APPROX. 35K MILEAGE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. IT WOULD NOT BUDGE WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR OR WOULD STALL AT RED LIGHT. IT WAS WORSE WHEN COLD. I TOOK IT TO CHRYSLER DEALER IN GREENVALE, NEW YORK. THEY INDICATED A TRANSMISSION LEAK REQUIRING CHANGE OF TRANSMISSION OIL AND CLEANING, EVEN THOUGH CHRYSLER MANUAL ITSELF DOES NOT INDICATE TRANSMISSION SERVICE BEFORE 45K MILEAGE. THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION LINES AND HOSES AND CHARGED ME OVER $400 FOR THE SERVICE. CHRYSLER FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN DEFECT REQUIRING THIS SERVICE. ULTIMATELY, I DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE AND ALSO OUTRIGHT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH CHRYSLER FAILS TO ADDRESS. I KNOW THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED BY NHSTA FOR 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING REGARDING SIMILAR ISSUES. PERHAPS IT IS TIME YOU ISSUE THE SAME RECALL FOR 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. EVEN BETTER, PLEASE ISSUE A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AGAINST ALL AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS OF CRAP THEY CALL MOTOR VEHICLES, SO WE NEED NOT MAKE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE FUTURE. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP WITH THE GEAR IN PARK; WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE GEAR SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS RESEARCHED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE RELATED TO THE 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC STATED THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC ON DECEMBER 18, 2006 FOR REPAIR. THE POWER TRAIN IS UNDER WARRANTY.