Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Chrysler Sebring problems

Owners filed 234 complaints about the 2002 Chrysler Sebring with NHTSA between Jan 2002 and Jul 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (51).

Complaints
234
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling51
  2. Suspension45
  3. Power train30
  4. Steering24
  5. Air bags18
  6. Electrical system17
  7. Wheels14
  8. Structure13
  9. Engine12
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  11. Vehicle speed control8
  12. Tires5
  13. Equipment5
  14. Visibility5

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200221
200318
200418
200534
200636
200725
200813
200912
201011
20115
20124
20138
20149
20158
20162
20174
20182
20191
20202
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

51 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2016Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10852219

Suspension

45 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING . IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE FUMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2015Steering, SuspensionFire reportedODI 10774483

Power train

30 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE SCREEN ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2015Suspension, Power trainODI 10744391

Steering

24 reports3 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2018Steering, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11092498

Air bags

18 reports7 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2017Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 10980142

Electrical system

17 reports2 fires
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11324022
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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