Problems · by component

1996 Chrysler Sebring power train problems

54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring cite power train, 12% of all 433 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
54
12% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APR 05 FROM FRIENDS. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED. WHILE RUNNING, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND RECALL C45 ALLEGED TO BE COMPLETED 10-25-05. DUE TO MY CHILDREN NOW USE THE CAR, A RETURN WAS MADE TO A DEALER 12-01-09 FOR RECALL. INVOICE STATES "REINSPECT RECALL #C45." WHILE WAITING, SERVICE ADVISOR APPEARED TO DISCUSS RECALL AND STATE THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTERLOCK CABLE. INVOICE STATED "DID RECALL C45 REPLACE SHIFTER ROD," "NEED TO REPLACE INTERLOCK CABLE, $227.00." SO IT APPEARS AFTER DOING ANOTHER SHIFTER ROD, MAYBE THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE AS IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT # 10126915. THOUGH I SAID THIS WAS A RECALL AND A SAFETY ISSUE, HE REPEATED I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE. ABOUT TO LEAVE, A LONG SPRING WAS FOUND ON DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SHOWN SAME AND SAID A NEW ONE WAS PUT IN, HOPEFULLY WITH A NEW SHIFTER ROD, THOUGH MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG FIX FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2009Power trainODI 10294197
“DT: THE CONTACT COULD TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF A SAFETY DEFECT. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE RECALL HE GOT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. UPDATED 11/16/05. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2005Power trainODI 10141536
“DT: CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V021000. CHECKED VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER FOUND THAT VEHICLE DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ONCE CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM DEALER FOUND THAT VEHICLE WOULD STILL COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A CABLE TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, DEALER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. HOWEVER, IF DEALER FELT THAT RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED THAN DEALER COULD BE CHARGED CO A $35 INSPECTION FEE, AND THEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR IF CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE IT DONE. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2005Power trainODI 10126915
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2005Power train, StructureCrash reportedODI 10119012
“WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF SHIFT, AND THE IGNITION LOCKED. DEALER STATED THEY HAD DONE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2005Power train, Electrical systemODI 10116974
“VEHICLE ROLL BACK OCCURRED WHEN GEAR SHIFT WAS KNOCKED OUT OF PARK.*MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONSUMER'S GRANDDAUGHTER ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT STICK AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS.*TS (THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE) *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2003Power trainCrash reportedODI 10044611

Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: park

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Aug 6, 1998NHTSA 98V183000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.