2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING Complaints

(1) THE COURSE OF ACTION WHEN LEAVING MY EMPLOYMENT WORKPLACE ON THURSDAY, JULY 21, APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. CST: I STARTED MY 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH MY REMOTE START (WHICH I HAVE DONE DAILY SINCE 2002), GOT INTO THE CAR TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT, SECURED MY SEAT BELT, AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE (NO CARS WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF MINE). (2) THE MOMENT I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR (DRIVE) IT TOOK OFF LIKE A BULLET WITHOUT ANY ACCELERATION. THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY (RUNAWAY) AND HEADED TOWARD A 4-LANE, BUSY STREET. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR BUT I COULD STEER. I TURNED TO AVOID ENTERING THE BUSY STREET BUT CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF A BRICK BUILDING. ELAPSED TIME FROM THE POINT OF FAILURE TO THE CRASH WAS VERY SHORT; I ESTIMATE IT TO BE 5 SECONDS. I WAS INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED WITH A FRACTURED HEEL BONE, ANKLE BONES, AND RIBS. (3) THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. *NM

AFTER I RECEIVED A TUNE UP OF MY VEHICLE, IT STARTED A PROBLEM. AFTER MY CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 20 MIN, THE ENGINE STARTS TO ALMOST DIE OUT, THEN COME BACK TO LIFE. THIS IS W/O USING AC OR HEAT. HOWEVER, IF I USE MY A/C OR HEAT, IT BECOMES MUCH WORSE. IN BOTH SITUATIONS, W/OR W/O AC & HEAT, THE PROBLEM BECAME SO BAD MY CAR DIED OUT. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, AND CLAIMED IT DID NOT DO THIS TO THEM WHEN THEY HAD IT IN THEIR POSSESSION. I MYSELF, HAVE CHANGED THE AIR FILTER, GOT AN OIL CHANGE, CHANGED MY TRANS FLUID, PCV VALVE, & PUT IN FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT STOPPED. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO MURRAYS AUTO PARTS, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, GIVING IT THE CODE P1391 MISFIRE CODE. I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THIS CODE, NOBODY HAD ANY IDEA WHAT IT MEANT. EVERY TIME I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER, THEY DENY THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, AND PUT ME OFF LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED. *NM

DT: CALLER SAID 3 TIMES HER AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON, AND HAD IT FIXED TWICE. SHE DID NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN AUGUST 2004 ,AND THE LAST TIME WAS ON JULY 24, 2005. CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 14, 2005. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER SAID WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING MY CHRYSLER SEBRING THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. IT STARTING MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE CONSUMER HEARD A CRUNCH. WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD THE TIMING CHAIN HAD CUT A SLICE OUT OF THE PLASTIC VALUE COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK. HE ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO SEARCH THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME MOTOR. THE CONSUMER HASN'T DONE ANY RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE YET. *NM

FRONT TOP BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. NO WARNING, HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR. FOUND DAMAGED CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES WHEN REPLACING BOTH FRONT TOP AND BOTTOM BALL JOINTS. ONLY 53,000 MILES ON THE CAR! INTEND TO WRITE TO CHRYSLER.

DECEMBER OF 2002 - REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER QUIT. WIRE CONNECTOR CAME LOOSE FROM REAR WINDOW. COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. WINDOW HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX PROBLEM. MAY OF 2004 - AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON AND CHIME SOUNDED. SENSOR OR SOME SORT REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF OVER $300.00 JUNE OF 2005 - REPEAT OR ABOVE PROBLEM. APPOINTMENT TO BRING CAR IN FOR SERVICING ON JUNE 28TH. JUNE OF 2005 - REPEAT OF REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. ITEM HAS NOT WORKED FOR MONTHS. I HAVE RUN A REPORT ON MYCARSTATS.COM AND HAVE FOUND BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. APPEARS WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE AIR BAG PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND I CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY NEXT WEEK WHEN I BRING IT IN FOR SERVICING.

DT: CALLER SAID THE WHEEL FELL OFF IN DRIVEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE TOP UPPER BALL JOINT GAVE WAY, LEAVING THE BOTTOM BALL JOINT TO HOLD THE TIRE. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER HAS NOT HAD IT FIXED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS LEAK DURING A RAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED 3 TIMES AND JUST TOOK IT BACK IN AGAIN. THE FLOOR ON THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE GETS SOAKED, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE.

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A LONG TRIP, ONE QUART OF OIL IN VEHICLE AS EVERY 700 MILES. ENGINE AND CAP PLUGS LEAKS OIL. THERE IS A HEATING AND COOLING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL NOT TELL ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG, BUT DID SAY THE BLOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TT

UPPER BALL JOINT IN PASSENGER SIDE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FOLD INWARD WITH AN ASSOCIATED TEMPORARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NEW PART WAS INSTALLED AND UPON INSPECTION, THE OLD BALL JOINT APPEARED RUSTY AND CORRODED.