2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING Complaints

ON 7/27 BEFORE LEAVING HOME, CAR WAS SERVICED BY PALMER DODGE (ROSWELL, GA ). EXPLAINED THAT I WAS GOING ON TRIP FROM ALPHARETTA, GA-OSSINING, NY (2000 MILES ROUNDTRIP). TOLD DEALER CAR HAD APPROX. 85,000 & WAS WILLING TO RENT A CAR. "PLEASE GO OVER CAR & TELL ME IF I WAS YOUR WIFE...WOULD YOU HAVE ME RENT A CAR OR TAKE MY 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LTD. TO NY & BACK."LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH AN OIL CHANGE & A 24 POINT SAFETY CHECK W/NO CONCERNS ABOUT CAR. WE ARRIVED IN NY ON 7/29 SAFELY (9 YR. OLD TWINS & MALTESE ARRIVED IN NY). ON JULY 31 WE DROVE FROM THE HOTEL IN TARRYTOWN TO OSSINING VISITED MY MOTHER, FATHER GRAVES. WHILE AT THE LAST GRAVE THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE THE CAR SAT RUNNING. I PRESSED GAS PEDAL IT WENT OUT. WE STARTED BACK TO HOTEL VIA ROUTE 9., A NARROW, 2 LANE HIGHWAY. GOT ABOUT 3 MILES TO BRIARCLIFF MANOR WHEN I HEARD THE CAR MAKE A TAPPING SOUND. DESPITE TRAFFIC AND NO WARNING...NO OIL LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT ETC. I MAKE A SHARP TURN TO SIDE STREET & TURNED OFF CAR. MY CHILDREN ARE CRYING, MY SISTER & DOG ARE FREAKED OUT & THERE WE ARE STRANDED WITH 1.5 HRS BEFORE MY NEPHEWS BABY DEDICATION. I START THE CAR BACK UP & PUT THE FLASHERS ON /DRIVE THE CAR MOSTLY IN NEUTRAL PRAYING ALL THE WAY TO THE ENTRANCE TO SLEEPY HOLLOW AUTOMOTIVE WHO QUICKLY TOLD ME THE ENGINE IS SHOT & THE CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS WORTH AT LEAST $5000 WAS NOT WORTH FIXING. I CALLED JENKIN ENGINES & WAS TOLD ME THERE ARE 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CHRYSLER 2.7 ENGINE AND IT WOULD COST $3600 FOR A REMAN. ENGINE & $1800 FOR LABOR (MINIMUM)- 3 WEEKS TO FIX... I WAS NOW STRANDED IN NY, VACATION RUINED, CHILDREN FREAKED OUT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. HOW IN 2010 CAN AN ENGINE "DIE" WITH NO WARNING? THIS IS RECALL CAND. & NHTSA SHOULD MAKE CHRYSLER REPAIR OR REIMBURSE CAR OWNERS. MY CAR IS STILL IN NY...GA DEALER NOT RETURNING CALLS. RECOM OIL TOO THIN? OIL SLUDGE? EASY TO BLAME OWNERS FOR OIL CHANGES WHEN CHRYSLER THIS IS YOUR FAULT. BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW CONTINENTAL EXTREME DWSXL (NA) TIRES, LINE SIZE 251/50R/17C FEBRUARY 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL IN MAY 2010. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AFTER THE TIRE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRE ALSO DEVELOPED AN ABNORMAL BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE REPLACED SIX TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,123 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,441.

ENGINE FAILURE- I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING LIMITED WITH THE 2.7 LTR ENGINE OF WHICH I HAVE FAITHFULLY HAD SERVICED. THE ENGINE, WITH NO WARNING, WENT OUT JUST AS I AM SEEING WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. *TR

CLOCKSPRING ON MY 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WENT OUT. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET I FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE. THIS PROBLEM DISABLES THE AIR BAG. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2001 SEBRING LXI CONVERTIBLE IN DEC 2003, WITH JUST OVER 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT HAD SUFFERED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT THE ORIGINAL DEALER, HAD NEVER BEEN SOLD TO A CUSTOMER, WAS RETURNED TO CHRYSLER FOR A REPLACEMENT, THEN SAT ON A BACK LOT FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS BEFORE BEING RESOLD TO ANOTHER DEALER. I BOUGHT IT WITH A NEW CAR WARRANTY AND BOUGHT THE EXTENDED (7 YEAR/70,000 MILE) WARRANTY. AFTER INITIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, HEATER AND WARPED BRAKE ROTORS (ALL FIXED BY THE DEALER), THE CAR SERVED ME VERY WELL FOR 50,000 MILES--NO SERIOUS ISSUES AT ALL. AT EACH SERVICE AFTER ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES, I WOULD TELL THE CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPT THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THEY WOULD DULY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND TELL ME NOT TO WORRY. THEN I TOOK IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER (ROSENTHAL, ARLINGTON, VA) FOR THE 50K SERVICE AND TOLD THEM THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON FREQUENTLY AT IDLE OR VERY LOW RPMS FOR THE PAST 10,000 MILES OR SO, BUT THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, AND ALSO THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEGUN TO USE OIL AT ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY, THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE (2.7L) WITH THAT MUCH MILEAGE TENDED TO USE OIL. HE SAID JUST TO KEEP IT TOPPED UP. I KEPT CHECKING AND ADDING OIL FOR THE NEXT 5,000 MILES. JUST BEFORE I INTENDED TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE, THE ENGINE BLEW WITHOUT WARNING ON AN INTER-STATE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT HAULED TO THE NEAREST CHRYSLER DEALER AND PAID TO HAVE THE OIL PAN PULLED AND ASSESSED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THE CAUSE WAS SLUDGE BUILD-UP, AND THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THAT CAUSE FOR ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING LX1. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,000.

FUEL LINE CLIP BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING GAS TO POUR OUT OF THE TANK, LOSING ABOUT EIGHT GALLONS OF GAS IN 15 MINUTES. I SMELLED GAS, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY SOMEONE ON THE ROAD BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION THAT I WAS LEAKING GAS AND I HAD IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THE FUEL LINE CLIP WAS ONLY $5.99 AND LABOR WAS $49.99. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SITUATION THAN IT WAS. *TR

ON FRIDAY JUNE 11, 2010, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. MY CAR, A CHRYSLER 2001 SEBRING LXI FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I STEERED THE CAR AWAY FROM REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AVOIDING A CRASH. HOWEVER, I STEERED MY CAR BETWEEN TWO LANES OF STATIONARY TRAFFIC.WHILE GOING INTO TRAFFIC EXITING OFF HIGHWAY 270. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. MY CAR MADE CONTACT WITH A MINI VAN. MY PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR STRUCK THE MINI VAN CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE MINI VAN AND MY CAR. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVER OF THE MINI VAN AND I EXCHANGED INFORMATION AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR TO MY HOME. THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY JUNE 16, 2010.. FARMERS INSURANCE ADJUSTER PAUL GALLAGHER CONTACTED ME. I RECEIVED A RENT-A-CAR FROM ENTERPRISE LEASING. TODAY, JUNE 16, I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER COPORATION TO VOICE MY COMPLAINT AND I WAS TOLD THAT A CONTACT INVESTIGATOR WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 3 DAYS. I TOLD THEM I NEED AUTHORIZATION FOR A RENT-A-CAR WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE THE CRASH. I ASKED THAT A SUPERVISOR CONTACT ME TO ADVISE ABOUT THE RENT-A-CAR. SHORTLY AFTER, I WAS CONTACTED BY THE SUPERVISOR AND HE TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND I WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER. I WENT ONLINE AND CONTACTED YOUR AGENCY AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER KNEW THAT MY 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI, WAS ON THE RECALL LIST SINCE NOVEMBER 2000. I WOULD LIKE YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER BECAUSE MY GRANDDAUGHTER, THE DRIVER OF THE MINI VAN, AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I NEED COOPERATION FROM CHRYSLER CORPORATION. I WILL CONTACT MY ADJUSTER TO INFORM HIM OF THE RECALL NOTICE THAT I DISCOVERED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THAT CAR AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES AND IS IN MINT CONDITION. I HAVE RECORDS OF EVERY OIL CHANGE AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. I NEED HELP. *TR

1. NORMAL USE OF FAN BLOWER WITH A/C OR HEATER IN A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN LXI. 2. BLOWER BECOMES INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY AT ALL SPEEDS WITH EITHER A/C OR HEATER ON. THE INTERMITTENT PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE MY WIFE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. FAN BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE, BLOWER RESISTOR BLOCK WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. IN TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THE CONTACTS OF THE POWER WIRE FROM THE BLOWER FAN TO THE BLOWER RESISTOR AT THE RESISTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DEVELOPED A HIGH RESISTANCE THUS CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACTS OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF MELTING BOTH SIDES THE CONNECTOR'S PLASTIC TOGETHER. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR, I HAD TO BREAK THE PLASTIC OF THE RESISTOR CONNECTOR IN ORDER TO REMOVE IT. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A SMOKE TRAIL COMING FROM THE PIN 1 (POWER WIRE) SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR. SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE, I THOUGHT I DETECTED THE ODOR OF A BURNING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT CHANGED, THUS LOWERING THE RESISTANCE, A FIRE WOULD DEFINITELY RESULT. THE MELTED PLASTIC OF THE CONNECTOR ENDS LEADS ME TO SAY THAT A FIRE DID OCCUR. THE RESISTANCE WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC, BUT NOT BLOW THE 30 AMP FUSE. 3. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BLOWER RESISTOR WAS CUT OFF. SINCE THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT CONNECTORS AVAILABLE, I USED INSULATED FEMALE "SPADE" QUICK DISCONNECT TERMINALS CRIMPED TO EACH WIRE TO CONNECT THE BLOWER RESISTOR. A SMALL DAB OF RTV SILICON WAS APPLIED TO EACH TERMINAL TO HELP LOCK THEM IN PLACE. BEFORE REINSTALLING A NEW BLOWER RESISTOR, I ENLARGED THE HOLE TO THE AIR DUCT WHERE THE RESISTOR MOUNTS INTO. THE ORIGINAL HOLE CUT OUT FROM THE FACTORY WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE RESISTOR TO EASILY FIT INTO. THIS I FEEL CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT THE OLD PARTS AS EVIDENCE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WEST ON JEFFERSON AVE IN DETROIT. THERE ARE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT BOTH ENDS OF A SHORT BRIDGE WHERE IT PASSES OVER I-375. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST AND, WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, STARTED FORWARD, THE SECOND TRAFFIC SIGNAL TURNED RED. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, BUT, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND PUT IT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND, ALTHOUGH I WAS LITERALLY STANDING UP ON THE BRAKE, IT HAD NO EFFECT AND I HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME GOING ABOUT 25 OR 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SIMILAR EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED A HALF DOZEN OR MORE TIMES BEFORE, BUT NEVER WITH THE SAME CONSEQUENCES. ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE CONTINUING ACCELERATION STOPPED AFTER A DELAY AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THERE WAS ANOTHER AUTO A CAR LENGTH OR MORE IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKE TOOK OVER CAUSED ME TO BUMP INTO IT. IN NEITHER CASE WAS THERE ANY BODILY OR SERIOUS VEHICLE DAMAGE. IN OTHER INSTANCES, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISION, AFTER SUFFERING A SCARE. AFTER EACH EPISODE, I REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO REPLICATE THE OCCURRENCE. THEY WERE NEVER SUCCESSFUL. (IF THEY RETAIN COPIES OF THEIR SERVICE ORDERS, THEY WILL REFLECT THAT I REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR TO FIX IT.) MY VEHICLE IS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND, ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE PARKING LOT AT MY NEARBY OFFICE, I DO NOT EXPECT TO REPAIR IT OR, OF COURSE, TO EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN. WHEN CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CALLED BY MY WIFE AFTER ONE OF THE EARLIER ACCELERATION EVENTS, THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL OR RECORD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER. *TR