Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2002 Chrysler Sebring — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Chrysler Sebring year.
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 16V401000
Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.
Campaign 15V338000
Issue: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.
Campaign 09E056000
Issue: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000
Issue: CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
Campaign 07E023000
NHTSA frontal crash test
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2002 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
The parts named most often across 234 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash
1 crash · 3 injured
1 crash
6 crashes · 1 fire · 8 injured · 1 death
1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
3 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
Rear Disc Brakes.I had a repair shop and a dealership assess what they both found to be what's called a Backplate.It mounts onto both Left and Right Spindles.The Backplate on Left and Right hold or guide the Pads in place on both sides of the caliper.The pins show to be almost rusted out.The dealership told me the Left and Right Backplate is unavailable and obsolete.So my options are to find a shop that can fabricate the parts or modify the rear brake system.Truly a poor design.A prototype that slipped through the cracks.I have invested thousands over the years into the vehicle so I would have a problem free efficient ride when I retire.I now had to finance another vehicle because the Chrysler Sebring is no longer driveable.The dealership told me 100.00 to scrap it.Unacceptable! I will continue to pursue my options. I invested alot of blood money into the vehicle and the help I received to date is Park it or Junk it.That is not even a remote consideration.
ONCE I TURN ON THE CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY
WHEN UR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN LIKE U TURNED OFF THE KEY. IT ISN'T OVER HEATING AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT KEEPS DOING THIS AND IT HAS A NEW BATTERY . I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
I HAVE ATTACHED THE PAPERWORK 4 MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. AS YOU CAN SEE MY FIRST PAYMENT WAS APRIL 13TH 2018 THIS WAS MY DEPOSIT $700. AGAIN ON APRIL 24TH I PAID ANOTHER $600. MAY 20TH I PAID ANOTHER $700. JUNE 5TH I PAID $105. JUNE 5TH IS WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR. JULY 1ST IS WHEN I HAD THE CAR ACCIDENT, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE ON THE CAR WAS SO SEVERE BECAUSE THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS ALL RUSTED OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE FIRST DAY I TOOK THE CAR HOME THE BATTERY WAS DEAD I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER BATTERY FOR $75. I NOTICED THE CAR WAS BOTTOMING OUT I TOLD THE MECHANIC JIM WHO IS ALSO THE MAN THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND HE ASSURED ME IT WAS SAFE. THEY HAD THREE MONTHS TO CHECK THE WHOLE CAR OUT AND MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE AND IT SAT IN THE SAME SPOT UNTIL I PICKED IT UP. NOW EITHER THEY NEVER CHECKED THE CAR OR THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SOLD IT TO ME ANYWAY. THE WAY I SEE IT IS THEY WERE WRONG EITHER WAY. NOT TO MENTION THAT JIM THE SO-CALLED MECHANIC IS THE ONE WHO SOLD IT TO ME. RIGHT AFTER THE BATTERY DIED THE RADIO TOOK A CRAP. THEY ALSO CHARGED ME EXTRA 4 TAX TAGS AND TITLE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE $2,000 THAT THEY WANTED FOR THE CAR. I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM SEEING THAT IT WAS UNDER A MONTH THAT I ACTUALLY HAD THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION I EXPLAINED TO JIM WHAT THE POLICE TOLD ME ABOUT BEING ALL RUSTED BUT THEY INSISTED I HAD THE CAR TOO LONG AND THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO HERE WE ARE. I HAVE A PERSONAL INJURY CASE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED YOUR TYPE OF ATTORNEY TO FIGHT LLAPI AUTO SALES HUDSON FLA. FLORA IS THE PERSON WHO "MADE THE SALE" (HER NUMBER IS 727-478-5632), BUT IT WAS JIM THE MECHANIC WHO REALLY SOLD ME THE CAR, THAT'S WHY I TRUSTED HIS WORD IT WAS SAFE.
2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FOLLOW UP ON MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES CASE . *AS *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WELL AND WELL MAINTAINED. THEN HAD ISSUES STARTING AND SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO BE A SIMILAR ENGINE FAILURE OF THESE MODELS.
I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE MY NEW BORN BACK AND FORTH TO OUR APPOINTMENTS I BRING MY CAR IN EVERY 4 MOTHS TO MAKE SURE MY CAR IS STILL SAFE FOR MY CHILD. MY ENGINE KNOCKS IT'S REALLY LOUD 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME 3 DIFFERENT THINGS SO I BROUGHT IT INTO A CHRYSLER SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD JUST BUY A NEW CAR THAT THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF THE 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRINGS. SO I ASKED THEM WHAT'S WRONG AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
BALL JOINTS BROKE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A LOUD POPPING AND ROLLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD FALLING AND CRACKING FROM THE DRIVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,556.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SLIGHTLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP MALFUNCTION AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HAD CORRODED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE REAR BALL JOINT AND THE FILLER NECK WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *TT *AS
Showing 12 of 234 complaints.
Over 5 years this costs $4,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.