Chrysler Sebring 1996 - Structure - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Chrysler Sebring 1996

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Type	# of units affected	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
99I004000	DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION	I	175000	ODI	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	05/06/1999	02/17/2000
Defect Summary	This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. vehicle description: passenger vehicles. if the convertible top cover is not installed correctly, it can separate unexpectedly from the vehicle while driving.
Consequence Summary	If the cover separates while driving, it could distract the driver increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Summary	Owners will receive an improved convertible top cover instruction label and installation instructions.
Notes	Daimlerchrysler has decided to conduct a customer satisfaction notification to send instruction labels to owners.owners can contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
STRUCTURE - BODY
233599REVA	10/01/1999	233599	612160	Subject on the child seat tether anchors. *mjs	06/06/2000
231197	03/21/1997		6089049	Concerns with squeak in mid section of body on rough roads. *nlm	01/13/2000
230997	03/14/1997		6089046	Concerns with wind noise/water leak at top of a pillar. *nlm	01/13/2000
183298	09/25/1998		603635	Subject on flash programming failure recovery. *yc	11/17/1999
234998	10/23/1998		602882	Some vehicles exhibit a whistle ( windnoise) coming from the a pillar area. *yc	11/16/1999
235798	11/27/1998		602595	Information regarding headlining sagging above rear window due to hook and loop fastenerseparating from rear window curtain. ak yc	01/05/1999
230598	01/30/1998		600481	Painted surfaces of the vehicle may experience a milky or foggy discoloration. *yc	05/18/1998
230997	03/14/1997		54375	Experiencing a wind noise/water leak at top of	04/07/1998
970321231197	03/21/1997		54369	A squeak from the mid section of the body may be noticeable over rough road surfaces or over bumps. *yc	03/30/1998
233397	10/24/1997		54127	Subject pertaining to windnoise/waterleak between door and quarter glass. *yc	03/30/1998
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
231598	04/24/1998		600747	Experiencing door rattle when going over bumpsor other similar movements. *ak	06/05/1998
230797	02/28/1997		52076	Door trim defroster garnish service. *tw	07/17/1997
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
235097	09/19/1997		6089089	Vehicle may experience convertible top being pinched between bows when lowered. *nlm	01/13/2000
233297	06/20/1997		6089070	Consumer may complain that top does not fold properly and/or lining protrudes outside window with top raised. *nlm	01/13/2000
230698	02/06/1998		600305	Conditions with convertible top binds or become inoperative while raising or lowering and/or hydraulic leaks from or around the hydraulic cylinder. *yc	05/06/1998
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
234297	07/11/1997		6089076	Concerns with trunk lid appearing uneven when opening. *nlm	01/13/2000
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
230397	02/14/1997		51942	Difficult to clean light colored chalky residue from plastic body components that are molded in black. *tw	07/17/1997
020197	01/31/1997		51285	A light thump, chuckle, or creak noise may be heard form the rear of the vehicle while driving over small to medium bumps- this noise comes from the inside shock. *jd	06/27/1997

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
STRUCTURE
EA97025	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	11/24/1997	11/17/1998	CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER DISENGAGEMENT	99I004000
	Alleged that the convertible top cover may disengage from the subject vehicles while driving.
PE97029	CHRYSLER GROUP LLC	06/17/1997	11/24/1997	CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER DISENGAGEMENT
	Odi has received three reports alleging disengagement of the convertible top cover from the subject vehicles while driving.

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
STRUCTURE
11/15/2002	46805
	2.4 head gasket. exhaust manifold. mileage illumination. popping noise front suspension. rattle rear suspension, poping when lft door glass window put up.low fuel lite . car only has 46805 miles when you can read mileage
07/02/1999
	Grill on the bottom of the vehicle is too low to the ground, and vehicle will always hit the ground. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
05/31/1997		2
	Boot cover fell off of vehicle hitting vehicle behind.
STRUCTURE - BODY
10/15/1997		6	02/01/1996
	Took car in to 3 different dealers to have them fix water leaks & air whistling and none could fix it. they said there was a flaw in the design of the top. they tried spraying foam on edge, adding an elastic strap (#8894 part), tried adjusting top - none of these exercises worked. now yet another dealer in joplin too tells us there's nothing that can be done as it's a flaw in the design/construction. there is also a whistling in the a/c system or vents when a/c is on and driving 40+ miles an hour. several times while driving in d the transmission doesn't shift out of low gear. *ak
		1	04/01/1996
	A part was not mounted securely to the firewall resulting in firewall/part striking the engine.
			10/01/1996
	Vehicle has been designed too low to the ground. when parking in parking lots where there is the front parking stoppers, the spoiler gets past the stopper and gets hookes. when backing up the spoiler gets stuck and more often than not will tear. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
01/06/2001		1
	The clips which hold the drivers side outer panel failed causing the panel to fall off while driving. nlm
01/03/1999
	Door's exterior panel doesn't stay on. panel has been replaced before, but problem has reoccurred.*ak
06/11/2000		50	08/01/1996
	Window problem has been ongoing since the date of purchase (lease), windows have been replaced but still leak. passenger power door lock does not work, must be manually operated 50% of the time, dealer could not diagnose problem, top motor and hydraulic pumps went out after putting the top down for the first time in the summer. car has been out of commission over twenty times during possession...it was a demo, not a true used car . *ak
		1
	Passenger door will not open.
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
07/01/2002
	Trunk struts rusted and broke and fell on consumer, hiting his head. dealership was aware of problem.*ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
02/01/2005		1	01/01/1997
	1996 chrysler sebring has problems with roof leaking, front passenger tire separating from the vehicle as well as problems with the transaxles floor shifter/park interlock which caused driver to hit nine cars and be ejected through the windshield. there was a recall regarding the park /neutral start switch being faulty. the consumer wants daimler chrysler to compensate her for another vehicle. bf nm
02/01/2002
	While traveling on highway rear window was lose, and seam on convertible top was coming apart. *ak
06/23/1998		0
	Whenever it rains or going through a car wash roof leaks right at top of window. *ak
09/01/1998		1	09/18/1997
	Consumer has had several problems with vehicle. brakes do not work, they grind and the pads keep wearing and have to be replaced, dealer stated the problem was with the calipers. water is leaking into the vehicle due to sunroof being cut too short during recall 99i004, consumer feels there might have been previous problems with water leaking due to a rusted fuse. speedometer does not work. there is a transmission leak. air conditioner does not work. engine light is illuminated. windows still don't work properly. mirrors do not work properly after recall 97v015. vehicle gets poor gas mileage, dealer stated the spark plugs were burnt and fouled, spark plug wires were breaking down and arcing in tubes causing a build up in the throttle body. *slc
07/23/2000		2	03/01/1996
	Convertible top separating. water gets inside vehicle and door won't shut completely due to top .along wire hanging from the top keeping door from closing completely

	Convertible top has failed, allowing rain water to enter inside the passenger compartment, causing an electrical malfunction wthin the electrical system. consumer has contacted the dealer. please provide any further details. *ak
03/03/1998		1	01/01/1997
	Problems with the left front locking device of the convertible top. threads of hold down bolt stripped, causing the top to come loose. replacement unit purchase from chrysler looked a lot sturdier than the original, so they must have experienced more problems with this device. *ak
06/15/1999
	Top coming apart around the edges of convertible top. notifed dealer and informed consumer that warranty covers only 3 yrs. or 36,000 miles. consumer would like to know from nhtsa view on this matter. *ak
07/05/1999		1
	The convertible top flew off vehicle due to design of the velcro fastener (not sufficient). mjs
04/15/1997
	Vehicle has been leaking oil for more than a year. dealer told that engine head gasket has a leak. also, the brake rotors and pads are being changed every five months, there is no warning signs the brakes would suddenly begin to grind. in addition, the convertable top has been flying off, and now leaks air and water if it rains. *ak
09/09/1997
	Ea97025, convertible top cover disengagement; while drivng about 70 mph the convertible top cover flew off. the top cover has not been replaced. *ak

	Convertible top releases from the latches which were still engaged, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
07/18/1997		1	10/01/1996
	The boot (convertible top cover) blew off while driving.
10/31/1996			08/01/1994
	Driving down the highway at about 70mph and the convertible top popped open on one side and the roof started coming open. *ak
09/09/1997		1
	Pe97-029, while driving on the freeway the defective top convertible cover disengaged from the vehicle which almost caused an accident. *ak
05/17/1997		3
	While driving the convertable top plastic boot flew off from the vehicle which could cause an accident. dealer replaced it 3 times. dealer still cannot determine the problem. *ak

	Owner states that the boot that holds the convertible top flew off while driving.owner has concerns for safety. *ak

	Owner states while driving vehicle at 60 mph the boot that haold convertible top down flew off and hit another vehicle. owner has concerns for safety. *ak
08/29/1996		1	08/01/1996
	Convertible top flew off due to lack of boot clip..
07/12/1996
	While driving, the convertible top flew off. please describe. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
		1
	The consumer stated that the trunk support on passenger side is gone. scc scc
		1
	Consumer states that chrysler admitted to the original design of the trunk being defective, consumer states that the dealer required new hinges be installed. *slc
03/01/1999		1
	Trunk lid /assembly has worn out, and will not remain open. could come down on an individual, causing injury. ak the manufacturer changed the trunk lid design possibly due to defective part and should be on recall. yh
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
			03/01/2000
	A frame bent unable to get an alignment. *ak
10/09/2000
	Water would get inside of vehicle on passenger's side when it was raining or vehicle being washed. also, horn & cd player failed to work due to possible moisture inside of apparatus. took vehicle back to dealer & horn/air bag was replaced. *ak
08/20/1999
	While driving at 65 mph and without prior warning, the front end frame fell down onto the tires. *ak
05/03/1998
	Consumer experiencing ongoing problem with water leaking into the vehicle. dealer notified and informed consumer it was normal for this condition to happen whenever the drain gets clogged up, causing the water to leak into vehicle. *ak
01/19/1998			02/01/1997
	1. structure/frame/body -- water gets into the car and collects under the back seat cushion and on the floor. it has been reported to the dealer and attempts to fix have been unsuccessful. the water gets in at numerous locations and has been observed running over electrical connections and switches. there is also a concern about eventual corrosion and rust damage that could compromise the integrity of the seatbelt bolts because of the water. this problem was detected about nine months ago -- but there is no determination as to how long before that period it had been occurring. 2. brakes/shoes (pads)/rotors -- the front brake pads have had to be replaced every 6,000 - 12,000 miles since about 17,000 miles on the car. it currently has about 58,000 miles on it. the recommended chrysler mopar pads separate and fail. they have literally fallen off of the metal holder that is a part of the brake pad, damaging the rotors as well. there is no warning that the pad is about to fall off or has been separating. luckily, the last time it happened i was coming to a stop light and was able to control the stop and, due to the metal on metal sound when i was braking, pulled over immediately and telephoned for help. this is not only a risk while driving the vehicle, but a potential risk because i could be stranded in unfavorable locations and circumstances, without access to telephone for help. 3. rack and pinion steering -- the gear assembly, power steering was replaced in january 1998. i noticed a problem before it was completely inoperable.