1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe front seat belts that lock up or will not pull out, and stalling or cutting out while driving that several traced to fuel pump wiring. Front suspension ball joint failures and convertible-top and trunk-lid problems also appear repeatedly. Most complaints in the sample were filed at mileages between roughly 60,000 and 130,000.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Front seat belts lock up and will not pull out

   • 16 complaints (17%)
   • median 104,400 mi at 10.7 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2014

   Complaints describe the front driver and passenger belts locking in the retracted position or refusing to release once buckled, sometimes intermittently and sometimes for days at a time. Several owners say a dealer pointed to the seat belt timing module under the center console; others were told there was no recall and were quoted several hundred dollars or more for the repair. Some report that a retractor or belt assembly was replaced and the problem returned. Spread across the sample from about 60,000 to 173,000 miles, mostly on cars over five years old, with no clear weather pattern.

   What to check: Before buying, pull both front belts fully out and let them retract several times, then buckle and unbuckle to see whether they release. Ask whether the seat belt module or any belt assembly has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible that all the seat belts lock in the retracted position for no apparent reason. This occurs randomly and lasts for a week or more at a time. I use the car very little because of this. The local dealer mike famous (now closed) said it would be about $700 to repair. I think this is unacceptable since this is of safety in nature. I consider seat belts a valuable protective device that should not fail like this ever. I don't have any chance of using seat belts when I want to use the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275477, filed 2009-07, 85,000 miles

   “Both front seat belts lock up and do not release. It does this intermittently but mostly does not work properly. When they do work they tighten & tighten to the point of almost being painful. Mechanics do not know why this should happen unless it is the seat belt control module which can only be done by a dealer. One word expensive! This is a safety & law issue and should be the responsibility of the manufacturer for faulty safety product and operation. After my research I see many of the same issues with the seat belts over and over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10594737, filed 2014-05, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint separates or collapses

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 94,608 mi at 10.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2019

   Complaints describe a loud noise and then the front end dropping, with the wheel nearly coming away from the car, often at low speed. Mechanics in several cases identified a failed front lower ball joint or axle, and some owners note that the coupe was covered by a ball joint campaign while the convertible was not. The repairs reported include towing, ball joints and related front-end parts. Reported from about 60,000 to 130,000 miles, generally on older cars, including one case soon after a used-car purchase.

   What to check: Have the front lower ball joints and their rubber boots inspected for wear, corrosion or looseness before purchase, and ask for any service records showing they were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On monday 7/11/05 my daughter was driving my 1999 Sebring Convertible. While driving without incident the rear passenger ball joint apparently broke causing the vehicle to go into a spin and total loss of control of the car. The tire was seperated from the vehicle while driving. The police officer at the scene talked to witnesses who saw the tire wobbling just prior to losing control. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10129263, filed 2005-07, 82,000 miles

   “We discovered that the left lower ball joint on our 1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible was dangerously worn out due to moisture and corrosion inside of the boot. This exact condition is covered under recall campaign #967 for the sebring coupe, but excludes the convertible. The convertible should be added to this recall to prevent separation of the parts affected and loss of control of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10166964, filed 2006-08, 89,216 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 11.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2017

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at speed or after a restart, sometimes resuming at once and sometimes requiring 20-45 minutes before it will start again. Several complaints say a mechanic found the fuel pump or the pump wiring at fault, in some cases after overheated or burnt wires were found at the tank. A few describe the stalling happening shortly after refueling or after a short stop. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, on cars with many years of use; some complaints note it after the engine is warm.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump, filter or pump wiring has been replaced, and whether the car has a history of stalling or hard restarts. Have a mechanic inspect the pump wiring and connectors at the tank.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car will stall at any speed. Will restart after about 15 tries. Happens after filling tank. 1st thought it was bad gas. But tried different stations. Same problem. Sporadic. Often happens when I shut off car and then attempt to start it again a few minutes later. Doesn't seem to be a problem when the car is cold. Very dangerous situation on high speed roadways.”

   NHTSA complaint #10702127, filed 2015-03, 140,000 miles

   “Engine cuts out while driving at any speed. Sometimes immediately resumes, sometimes car sits for up to 45 minutes to presumably cool off. Started to happen once per week, and within a few weeks was once per day. Presents a problem while driving at high speed on the highway or making local road maneuvers as power steering and power brakes loose power. Mechanic examined and concluded the fuel pump and or fuel pump wiring was faulty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10421421, filed 2011-08, 67,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting, slipping or failure

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe hard thunking into and out of drive and reverse, bucking or slipping during low-speed acceleration, and in some cases loss of drive. Several say a dealer replaced a transmission input or output sensor, and others report a transmission or torque converter replacement at relatively low mileage. Speedometer, gauge and overheating symptoms are mentioned alongside the shifting complaints in a few reports. Reported from about 45,000 to 170,000 miles, with several at 50,000-90,000 miles; a few describe symptoms appearing after 30 minutes or more of driving.

   Recall 04V0210002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive long enough to reach operating temperature and feel for harsh or delayed shifts, and ask whether the transmission sensors, fluid or the unit itself have been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission went out on my 1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible at less than 45000 miles. The transmission shop tellm me that they are seeing alot of these cars coming in with the same problem. 2 months after the transmission was replaced the torque converter went out, apparently the same problem with the transmission not being made properly for my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10028344, filed 2003-07, 45,000 miles

   “When accelerating to approximately 50 MPH my 1999 Chrysler sebring jxi has recently started to shudder at 3-4 gear changes. Was advised by mechanic that torque converter is going out. About 2 months prior tachometer started moving irratically. Dealership advised guages needed to be reset, but problem has persisted. Although possibily unrealated, this afternoon (day after seeing mechanic for torque converter problem), my car began to overheat while idling for only 2-3 mins. I immediately turned off ignition, and had car towed to dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093342, filed 2004-09, 100,670 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Convertible top frame, rear window and trunk lid problems

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 73,701 mi at 9.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2009

   Owners report the trunk lid no longer staying open without being propped, the convertible top leaking, and the rear window coming unglued from the top fabric. Some describe the metal frame that attaches the top to the body breaking, and one reports the rear window shattering while the top was being raised. Dealers and shops reportedly quoted substantial sums, in some cases for a new window and upholstery work. Reported from very low miles up to about 75,000 miles, with several owners describing the problem appearing gradually over years.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Raise and lower the top a few times, check the rear window bond and fabric seams for separation, and confirm the trunk lid holds itself open. Ask about any prior top or frame repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My trunk falls down with out any warning. Hurts when your head is under it. The fuel light keeps going off and on even when full. The back window came unglued, I was told that I have to purchase a new window and have it installed with a upholstery person, price quotes are 680-780 dollars nothing is wrong with the window seems like such a waste.”

   NHTSA complaint #10158280, filed 2006-05

   “Trunk lid will not stay up. Problem began intermittently at approximately 10,000 miles, possibly dependent on air temperature; by approximately 20,000 miles trunk lid will not stay up without being propped. Numerous injuries to head, neck and back, over the eleven years I have owned vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10277256, filed 2009-07, 75,223 miles

Buying note. These are older cars, so condition and service history matter more than the model year itself: have the front ball joints, fuel pump wiring, seat belts and convertible top checked before buying, and confirm whether the floor-shift interlock recall work was completed.

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.