1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems

What owners report

Owners of this convertible most often describe unintended or surging acceleration traced to a frayed throttle/accelerator cable, along with seat belts that lock up or lose their ratcheting, and intermittent instrument cluster failures. Electrical and gauge problems, water leaks into the cabin and top mechanism, and front-end steering and suspension wear at higher mileage round out the common reports; many complaints come at 60,000 to 130,000 miles on an older car that is often out of warranty coverage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent gauges, warning lights and wiring faults

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2009

   Owners report the odometer, tachometer and fuel gauge dropping in and out, ABS and dash lights flickering, and door locks, lights and the lighter acting erratically. Several say dealers attributed it to the instrument cluster circuit board and quoted a substantial repair; others describe burned wiring harnesses, a stalling engine traced to the harness and control module, and a fire reported from arcing in a mirror motor or near the fuel line. Appears across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 miles to over 170,000, and often described as intermittent over months or years.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, confirm the odometer, tachometer and fuel gauge all read steadily, and test every light, lock and accessory. Ask whether the cluster or any wiring harness has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For about a year I have had an intermittent problem with the tachometer and odometer on my jxi. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. The dealership said this is a common problem with the 1996 and 1997 's and that I need a new circuit board at a cost of over $700.00. Not replaced yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096038, filed 2004-10, 30,000 miles

   “Vehicle is totally unmodified! While sitting at a light, I heard a pop (like a balloon popping) and smoke and flame burst from under the hood. Fire department observed fire began in the area of the fuel line and spread into the dashboard. Possible cause was electrical failure causing arc which compromised the rubber fuel hose.”

   NHTSA complaint #10240292, filed 2008-08, 100,300 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration / sticking throttle cable

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2005

   Owners describe the engine racing or the car accelerating on its own — at low speed, while braking, or after restarting at a standstill — and in several cases the brakes could not stop the vehicle. Complaints state that inspection found a frayed or sticking accelerator/throttle cable, which some drivers had replaced; others report the dealer declined to do anything. A few also mention the pedal spacing, where a foot can catch between the gas and brake pedals. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 132,000 miles, at speeds ranging from parking-lot and residential driving up to highway speed.

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator and throttle cables have been replaced, and have a shop inspect the cable routing for fraying or binding. Check that the pedal returns freely and is not catching on the brake pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The trottle stuck on my 1996 Chrysler seabring. I was passing a vehicle and when ii went to brake and get in front of him I couldn't stop. The engine was reving at 8000 rpms. And I was holding the brakes as hard as I could and I was going about maybe 60 MPH. I did get the car to come to a stop, after having to turn 2 corners very fast and going through an intersection. I had put it back and forth form nurtal & reverse and when the car was slow enough I put it in park and turned the key off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10002610, filed 2003-01, 102,000 miles

   “Acceleration problem. Going 35-40 in residential area, thought we were slowing down for stop light, acceleration pedal went to floor. Car sped up. Brakes would not stop the car. Emergency brake was pulled and car put into neutral. Stopped before reaching two cars ahead waiting to turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #10146598, filed 2005-12, 132,000 miles
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Seat belts lock up or stop retracting

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 90,400 mi at 11.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2010

   Complaints describe front seat belts that lock in the retracted position and cannot be pulled out, or both belts locking and releasing at the same time despite little use. Owners say dealers quoted repair costs of a few hundred dollars and that Chrysler declined or only partly covered the work; in the convertible, some also report rear belts with no locking feature for child seats. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles on cars that were by then well out of warranty.

   What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract several times on the test drive, and confirm the rear belts lock as expected if a child seat will be used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 96 Chrysler Sebring Convertible jxi and the seatbelts lock in the retracted stage at various times. Both belts lock and unlock at the same time. I don't know how this happens and have been told that I need new seat belts but I can't believe that both belts went bad at the exact same time, and that the release at the same time. I have read online that this is a common occurrence in this year and model of the sebring.”

   NHTSA complaint #10364079, filed 2010-11, 117,000 miles

   “Front seat belts locked and wont work...the dealership that im having this worked on was going to charge me $756.00 to fix...Chrysler is going to pay all but $200.00..since this is a safety issue and I believe a defect...I think they should be fixed at no charge.......”

   NHTSA complaint #10064534, filed 2004-04, 63,800 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Front tie rod ends and ball joints fail

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2009

   Owners describe tie rod ends separating or ball joints snapping, sometimes while pulling out of a parking space or merging, leaving the front wheels pointing in opposite directions. Complaints say the sealed joints cannot be lubricated, dry out, and give no warning before failing; one owner also reports a lost-control crash attributed to control arm failure. Repair shops replaced the affected joints. Reported from about 60,000 to 104,000 miles, with failures often noticed at low speed during parking or turning.

   What to check: Have a shop check the tie rod ends and ball joints for play, cracked boots or missing grease, and ask for service records showing whether they have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tie rod fell off. Started engine, proceeded to pull out of parking place and the tie rod fell off. Since Chrysler now makes tie rods so that they cannot be lubricated, they dry up and the end just drops off. I am fortunate that I was not driving down the highway 50 miles an hour when this happened. There is absolutely no forewarning of a problem until it happens. My mechanic also noticed that Chrysler has installed a heat shield between the tie rods and brakes. I have saved the parts and I have notified Chrysler of this situation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10064535, filed 2004-04, 78,000 miles

   “Recall #750 front lower control arm ball joint alleged repaired 02-10-98. This is a new (10-08-09) recall. Due to my vehicle was at the dealer, it was asked if the numbers of the ball joints and control arms numbers could be checked to see if original Chrysler or aftermarket quality parts were used. Though this is a serious safety issue, loss of steering, the service advisor advised I'd need to check the original repair order (02-10-98). The original owner is deceased. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10294207, filed 2009-12
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shift lever moves out of Park without the key

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 108,450 mi at 9.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2009

   Complaints describe being able to press the shift button and move the lever out of Park with the key removed, or to shift without pressing the brake, and in some cases the car rolling when the lever was knocked. Owners report the dealer performed the interlock recall but the condition returned, and that they were then quoted for a cable or interlock part the dealer said was no longer covered. Reported on cars with no mileage given or around 126,000 miles, in several cases years after the recall repair was first done.

   Recall 04V021000

   What to check: With the key out, try the shift button and lever to confirm the car stays locked in Park, and ask for paperwork showing the interlock recall was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10126915, filed 2005-06, 126,900 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10116974, filed 2005-03, 90,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, service records matter more than the mileage: confirm whether the interlock recall and any throttle-cable, belt or front-end work have been done, and budget for a pre-purchase inspection of the steering and suspension joints plus a check of the gauges and belts.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.