1997 Chrysler Sebring Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sebring years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 210 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chrysler Sebring. That ranks 7th out of 19 Sebring model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (30 complaints, 14%). Complaints mention 37 crashes, 4 fires, 21 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
- 210owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 37complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Chrysler Sebring problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 29 | 14% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 28 | 13% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 24 | 11% | 123,400 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 11% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 10% | 106,700 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 18 | 9% | 83,375 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 8% | 55,134 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 14 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 5% | 92,675 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 4% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Chrysler Sebring recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l v6 engines, the throttle control cable can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick.
Risk: This could potentially result in a loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the throttle cable assembly. Owner notification began august 5, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Risk: This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. This campaign supercedes mmc's previous safety recall campaign, see 99v-066.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints. Ball joints that are within the established tolerance will be cleaned and a special sealant will be applied to prevent intrusion of moisture.
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
Risk: If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Risk: Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ball joint end housing cover seal for leakage with a high pressure air tester and the rubber boot will be visually inspected for damage. If the cover seal leaks or the boot is damaged, the lower control arm will be replaced.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: The headrest guide bracket was improperly welded to the seat back frame on the passenger side seat back assemblies only.
Risk: The headrest support bracket can break, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat back assembly with a new assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
- Steering shaft binding (EA99028) — opened Sep 10, 1999, closed Jul 26, 2001, led to recall 01I012000.
- Steering shaft binding (PE99030) — opened May 3, 1999, closed Sep 10, 1999.
- Automatic transaxle ignition interlock (EA98014) — opened May 29, 1998, closed Sep 14, 1998, led to recall 98V183000.
- Convertible top cover disengagement (EA97025) — opened Nov 24, 1997, closed Nov 17, 1998, led to recall 99I004000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic light, he was rear-ended by a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the driver claimed that the brakes had failed on his vehicle and he was unable to stop. The contact stated that he…
Fire in right front dash area( passenger side) to the right of the air bag. Broke/melted front window/wiper blade, burned a 12" square hole in the dash. While driving the vehicle the driver smelt something burning--no signs of smoke, the vehicle was driven and parked over night. The damage was…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chrysler sebring. While attempting to put on the seat belt, the seat belt did not release and fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000. ....updated 07/05/16 *bf the…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chrysler sebring. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 10e059000 (suspension). While driving 3 mph, there was a loud abnormal noise emitting from the front of the vehicle. The wheel assembly fractured and the front driver side tire was bent inwards…
I purchased the 1997 chrysler sebring in november of 2014. I did notice that the passenger air bag is slightly ejected. I have gone to automotive shops and even a chrysler dealership, and both inform me that the airbags for this particular car are no longer made. I need help on how to fix this…
Other Chrysler Sebring years
← 1996 Sebring · 1998 Sebring →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Sebring | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Sebring | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 Sebring | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 Sebring | 86 | 3 |
| 2009 Sebring | 43 | 2 |
| 2008 Sebring | 238 | 4 |
| 2007 Sebring | 337 | 7 |
| 2006 Sebring | 120 | 0 |
| 2005 Sebring | 75 | 3 |
| 2004 Sebring | 220 | 4 |
| 2003 Sebring | 42 | 2 |
| 2002 Sebring | 210 | 2 |
| 2001 Sebring | 242 | 9 |
| 2000 Sebring | 93 | 1 |
| 1999 Sebring | 172 | 1 |
| 1998 Sebring | 267 | 3 |
| 1997 | 210 | 5 |
| 1996 Sebring | 343 | 7 |
| 1995 Sebring | 132 | 3 |
See all Chrysler Sebring problems by year, every Chrysler model, or the Chrysler VIN decoder.
Similar Chrysler models
Embed this 1997 Chrysler Sebring badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chrysler Sebring?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, power train, suspension problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 30 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chrysler Sebring?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Chrysler Sebring a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sebring model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.