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Research · Compact Cars

2003 Chrysler SebringRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 74 owner complaints for the 2003 Chrysler Sebring. Most complaints involve air bags (16) and suspension (14). The EPA rates it 20–24 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–24mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
74
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 2, 2015NHTSA 15V338000

Suspension: lower ball joint

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Oct 9, 2009NHTSA 09E056000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

74 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2003 – Jul 2021
  1. Air bags16
  2. Suspension14
  3. Engine and engine cooling11
  4. Electrical system7
  5. Structure7
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  7. Power train5
  8. Wheels5
  9. Steering5

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

By model year

Complaints for each Sebring model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996433
1997294
1998319
1999263
2000172
2001269
2002234
200374
2004291
200582
2006138
2007339
2008352
200945
2010104
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

16 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2015Air bagsODI 10810468

Suspension

14 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, HE TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TURNED OUTWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BONJOY WAS FRACTURED IT CAUSED THE AXLE TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,389.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2016Suspension, WheelsODI 10885516

Engine and engine cooling

11 reports
“I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. I RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS AROUND 88,000 MILES.. I NOW HAVE 92,000 MILES AND SEE ENGINE COOLANT IS BLACK.. ONLINE IT APPEARS A COMMON PROBLEM IS OIL MIXING WITH COOLANT.. APPARENTLY I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE THE 2.7L ENGINE THAT IS PRONE TO SLUDGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I NOTICED THE CAR WAS USING MORE OIL RECENTLY EVEN BEFORE MY 3,000 OIL CHANGE.. NOW I MIGHT HAVE THE REASON WHY... I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED A CHRYSLER PRODUCT WITH THIS 2.7L ENGINE... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10402298
All 2003 Sebring problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl · 2.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Automatic (S4)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sebring
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,600370
Sebring
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,600370
Sebring 4 Door
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202722$2,850404
Sebring
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
192621$2,950423
Sebring
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
192621$2,950423
Sebring
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$2,950423
Sebring 4 Door
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192621$2,950423
Sebring 4 Door
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$2,950423
Sebring 4 Door
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L, FLEX-FUEL · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$2,950423
Sebring Convertible
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192621$2,950423
Sebring
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182520$3,100444
Sebring
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182520$3,100444
  • Sebring
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring 4 Door
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC
    18 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring 4 Door
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring 4 Door
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring 4 Door
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L, FLEX-FUEL
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring Convertible
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sebring
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

3 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Chrysler Sebring as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 4853Vehicle 4852Vehicle 4851
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2003 Sebring questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Chrysler Sebring have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2003 Chrysler Sebring problems?

Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (16), suspension (14), engine and engine cooling (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2003 Chrysler Sebring get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Chrysler Sebring at 20–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026