2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Complaints

MY 2001 SEBRING ENGINE LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION DUE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE PISTON RODS, BEARING AND CRANKSHAFT ON THE 2.7L ENGINE. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST CLEARED THE FT. MCHENRY TUNNEL ON I95 IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY HAS RECORDED MANY OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES WITH THE SEBRING. IT WILL COST $6,000 TO REPAIR AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. *JB

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLER HOSES. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #01V011002, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STOP WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED THE TEMP INDICATOR WENT ON. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP BROKE, COOLANTS ENTERED THE CRANKCASE AND THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAR HAD ONLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO HELP OR REPAR. QUOTED NEW ENGINE PRICE AT $9500. CHRYSLERS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTANT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LOWER END CONNECTING RODS. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY POOR MAINTENANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE SAME THING AS THE DEALER.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS FLAKE OFF. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A LOSS OF AIR. WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED AIR WAS ADDED ONCE A WEEK NOW AIR MUST BE ADDED DAILY. THIS OCCURS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS HOWEVER THE REAR IS WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO UNDER WARRANTY AND SOMETHING WAS ADDED AROUND THE WHEELS TO SEAL OFF THE LEAK. SINCE THIS THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND ROTATED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED AGAIN.

2001 SEBRING AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT BELT SENSOR, HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MAKING TURNS. *JB

I OWN A CHRYSLER SEBRING WITH A 2.7L ENGINE, MY AUTO BODY REPAIR DRIVER WAS TAKING THE CAR TO HAVE A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. I HAD A FACTORY REBUILT ENGINE PUT IN THE CAR FOR THE COST OF $4500.00 AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM