1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1997 Sebring Convertible most often describe problems with the seat belts, which frequently stop retracting or pulling out, and with electrical and instrument-cluster faults such as intermittent odometer and tachometer readings and battery drain. Many reports also cover front suspension ball joint or control arm failures and unexpected acceleration or cruise control behavior; the sampled complaints span a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 to over 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belts won't retract or pull out

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 98,500 mi at 8.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2012

   Owners describe seat belts that stay stuck in the retracted position so the buckle cannot be fastened, or belts that retract only partway and leave slack. Some report both front belts affected, and several say the dealer quoted several hundred dollars for repairs because the vehicle was out of warranty. In a few complaints the belts failed to hold in a collision. Reports come in mostly on vehicles above 80,000 miles, though a few describe the problem on lower-mileage cars.

   What to check: Pull each front belt out fully and let it retract several times, and check for slack or a belt that will not release. Ask whether any retractor has been replaced and keep receipts, since replacements are usually at owner cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver'sand front passenger seatbelt will not releasei took my car to a Chrysler dealer to see how much it would be to fix them I was told over $600.00 to fix them both I brought my car used and the extended coverage has expired I live in ill where seatbelt are mandatory I do not have the kind of money it takes to fix something that should be covered for the lifetime of the car genrally I don't complian about anything but what is it going to take for Chrysler to do something.”

   NHTSA complaint #765290, filed 2002-08

   “I have a 1997 Chrysler sebring jxi convertible, that the seatbelt are generally useless. Both the passenger and driver seat belts lock and will not retrack, therefore you are not able to use them. This is a safety hazard especially in a convertible. I live in a state where seatbelts are requires, but when they are locked I can not use them. I have not found where the seatbelts have been recalled, shouldn't there be a lifetime guarantee on seatbelts since they are a safety device? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10409017, filed 2011-06
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Odometer, tachometer and dash gauges cut out

   • 13 complaints (17%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2010

   Complaints describe the electronic odometer, tachometer and sometimes the speedometer or gear indicator fading in and out or stopping entirely while driving. Dealers reportedly told owners this was common for the model and quoted several hundred dollars for an instrument cluster, printed circuit board or loose connection repair. A separate electrical theme is battery drain, where the car needs jump starts because a module stays awake. Reports cluster from roughly 24,000 to 57,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   What to check: Watch the odometer and tachometer during a test drive and over bumps to see if they flicker, and confirm the recorded mileage matches service records. Ask whether the cluster or circuit board has been replaced and whether the car holds a charge when parked for several days.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Electronic odometer and tachometer display work intermittently. Dealer explains that it is common with this car model. Difficult to track service on the vehicle. Also will be difficult to sell with out fix which will be over $500 for instrument cluster and could involve individual gauges which will cost around $380. Chrysler should recall and pay for this.”

   NHTSA complaint #10237263, filed 2008-08, 56,877 miles

   “Purchased 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. In 1998 the instrument cluster started to fail intermittently. The tachometer, and odometer fade in and out, out mostly. Cant see mileage, so cant sell car. Dealer says cost is about $600 to fix. And is common problem. If its so common, it should be a recall!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10238568, filed 2008-08, 24,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or stuck throttle

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2005

   Complaints describe the car surging or continuing to accelerate with the foot off the pedal, or the accelerator sticking so that braking and the parking brake did not slow it. Some owners link the behavior to the throttle cable campaign and report difficulty getting the recall work performed because parts were unavailable. Others describe cruise control that would not hold a set speed and resumed at a higher speed than set. Mileage varies widely, from near-new to about 150,000 miles.

   What to check: Check with a dealer whether the throttle cable campaign was completed on the vehicle, and inspect the cable and pedal linkage for binding or fraying. During the test drive, confirm the pedal returns freely and the cruise control cancels on the brake.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car continued to accelerate and brakes would not stop the car. Had to swerve to the side of the road, pull the emergency brake, and turn the car off. Tried to turn car back on, and the car was still accelerating. Note: luckily had not got on the major southern california freeway. Car was towed to mechanic, and repair was diagnosed as high idle, replaced idle, air control motor. Total cost (not including tow) $186.82.”

   NHTSA complaint #10033147, filed 2003-08, 80,857 miles

   “Driver & vehicle leaving toll plaza on the dallas north tollway, headed south towards I-635, about 6 pm on incident date. Driver accelerated out of the toll booth, up to about 40-45 MPH, and felt a surge in acceleration. Attempted to reduce speed by taking foot from the gas pedal, but there was no reduction in speed. Applied brake, but still no reduction in speed. Pulled hand brake, no reduction. The accelerator seemed to be stuck or hung up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10114416, filed 2005-03, 77 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint or control arm separation

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2011

   Owners describe a loud noise or grinding followed by the front lower ball joint breaking apart, in some cases letting the control arm detach and the axle come loose. Several reports say steering control was lost at low speed, and some owners note their vehicle was not covered by the ball joint recall or that coverage was declined. Repairs usually involved a new lower control arm and, in some cases, a drive shaft. Reported from as low as 15,000 miles up to about 172,000 miles, with several between 130,000 and 150,000.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front lower ball joints and control arms for play, boots or cracks before buying, and ask whether the ball joint campaign work was ever done on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving a1997 chrys. Sebring convertible across a bridge over a lake, the left front ball joint broke resulting in loss of control. I almost didn't stop before going in the water. Car blocked the highway and a patrolman stayed with me until wrecker arrived . It did major damage to front fender, plastic bumper brakes and wheel.”

   NHTSA complaint #10343086, filed 2010-07, 172,000 miles

   “I was backing out of a friends driveway in my 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible when all of a sudden there was a loud noise and a grinding sound. When I got out to look, it turns out that the front lower ball joint assembly broke in half by the front hub assembly. I then called a tow truck to have my vehicle towed and when the tow company came they informed me this was the 4th Chrysler convertible in two months that they have had to tow with the front lower ball joint breaking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10380819, filed 2011-02, 15,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Water leaks and convertible top seams

   • 16 complaints (21%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2010

   Owners report water entering the cabin, sometimes soaking the carpet and pooling on the passenger side after rain, with concern about electrical parts under the seats. Others describe the convertible top stitching coming loose, the rear window separating, and a trunk lid that does not stay up. Some say an upholstery shop traced a leak to a body seam rather than the top itself. Reported across a broad mileage range, from around 28,000 to over 100,000 miles, often after rain.

   What to check: Inspect the top seams, rear window bond and carpet for dampness or rust after rain, and check the trunk lid struts. Ask whether the top or any body seam has been resealed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The thredding around my 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible top is slowly coming loose wich will then release my back window which could cause a very serious accident on the road involving innocent drivers. The potential loose back window could not only fly out at any givin moment it also could fall in to the backseat of my convertible which raises and bigger concern for me because I have my 2 year old son in his car seat. My wish is that Chrysler corp. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10072792, filed 2004-05

   “The converible roof is unravelling at the seams, making it unsightly and dangerous. I had water in my foor in the back seats and an upholstery shop discover a defect in the manufacture of the body causing the leak. It has been successfully fixed. But the soft top roof to be replaced would cost $1250-. It is my observation that there are a lot of convertibles during the model years of 1997 (mine) and other years (1998- ?). I called Chrysler and they noted my complaint but haven't addressed the problem to my knowledge. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10064476, filed 2004-04

Buying note. A 1997 Sebring Convertible is an old car, so condition and records matter more than the model's reputation: check the seat belts, front ball joints and throttle linkage carefully, and look for water damage in the carpets and electrical faults in the dash. Confirming that open recalls were completed is worthwhile before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.