Your vehicle report
1996 Chrysler Sebring
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 343
- Received Mar 1996 to Oct 2022
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Ball joints wear out and fail27 complaints · 7.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes25 complaints · 7.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Seat belt fails to latch or retract16 complaints · 4.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #02V186000On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L V6 engines, the throttle control cable can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick.
- Recall #00V421002Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 41 crashes, 10 fires, 25 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Ball joints wear out and fail
- Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches
- Tires blow out or tread separates
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 21 |
| 1997 | 35 |
| 1998 | 46 |
| 1999 | 62 |
| 2000 | 45 |
| 2001 | 51 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 343 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 27 | 7.9% | – | NHTSA recall #00V421002, #97V201000, #99V066003 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 25 | 7.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 16 | 4.7% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 16 | 4.7% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 10 | 2.9% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 10 | 2.9% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 10 | 2.9% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 9 | 2.6% | – | NHTSA recall #98V183000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 8 | 2.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 8 | 2.3% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 8 | 2.3% | – | |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 1.8% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 6 | 1.8% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 6 | 1.8% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 6 | 1.8% | – | NHTSA recall #98V183000 |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 5 | 1.5% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 5 | 1.5% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #02V186000July 8, 200288,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5L V6 engines, the throttle control cable Can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick.
This could potentially result in a loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #00V421002December 18, 2000393,796 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #99V066003April 5, 1999165,857 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
NHTSA recall #98V183000August 6, 1998685,000 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #97V201000November 13, 1997599,000 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint Can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #97V015000February 10, 199739,000 vehicles affected
visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
The electrical contacts in the power mirror switch Can accumulate road salt due to water entering into the switch.
This Can result in a high resistance short circuit and possibly cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power mirror switch with a newly designed switch.
NHTSA recall #96V123000July 2, 199622,500 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist
The power brake booster vacuum hose was improperly installed on the intake manifold vacuum nipple.
A disconnected vacuum hose causes an increase in engine idle speed and loss of power assist during brake application increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will fully install the intake manifold vacuum hose to the vacuum nipple on the intake manifold.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN