1996 Chrysler Sebring Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report most often on the front suspension — particularly lower ball joints and front-end noises — with many complaints citing the ball joint recalls and whether a given car was or was not covered. Brake noise, wear and pedal feel, automatic transmission concerns, and engine oil leaks from the head gasket also recur. Reports span low to very high mileage, so condition and service history matter more than age alone.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint failure / front-end clunking

   • 51 complaints (15%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2007

   Owners describe a popping or clunking noise from the front end, and in some cases the lower ball joint separating so the wheel folds or the vehicle pulls to the side. Several complaints say a dealer told them their car was not included in the ball joint recall, or refused to perform the recall work. Others report paying for the repair themselves, or having the same part fail more than once. Reported from about 18,000 miles up to roughly 120,000 miles, often at low speed or while turning.

   Recall 00V421002Recall 99V066003Recall 97V201000

   What to check: Ask whether the lower ball joint recall work was done and keep the paperwork; have a shop inspect both front lower ball joints and boots for corrosion, looseness or torn boots before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While turning, the front passenger side lower ball joint failed. The consumer had the vehicle towed to a dealership. The dealership's mechanic repaired the problem once, but the consumer is still experienced having problems. Recall number 97v-201-000. Please provide more information.”

   NHTSA complaint #10076226, filed 2004-06, 18,000 miles

   “Lower lateral arm broke on our 1996 Chrysler Sebring. Dealer and Chrysler have refused to fix the car under recall. This is the 3rd major failure and inconvenience of this part. The last failure was 8 moths ago. There is clearly a safety issue here as well as a mechanical defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10179050, filed 2007-01, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake noise, rapid pad wear and pedal feel

   • 42 complaints (12%)
   • median 138,850 mi at 11.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2014

   Complaints describe grinding or loud noise when braking, pads and rotors needing replacement at short intervals, and a pedal that feels soft, hard or pulsating. Owners report dealers pointing to calipers or a solenoid circuit, and some say they were told the noise was normal. Reported across a wide mileage range, often between roughly 40,000 and 80,000 miles, and sometimes recurring within months of a brake job.

   Recall 96V123000

   What to check: Have the brakes inspected for pad and rotor condition and uneven wear, and ask for records of recent brake work; check the vacuum hose routing to the brake booster, which one recall addresses.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When applying brakes on dry pavement at 40 MPH, vehicle vibrates, vehicle swerves and the brake pedal gets hard. Took to dealer and dealer stated there is a short in the left front solenoid circuit. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10001625, filed 2002-12, 77,700 miles

   “When driving and applying the brakes they are soft but the brakes make a loud noise. Consumer had the vehicle in for service fourteen times. When driving vehicle and decreasing power, the vehiclee will stall and die out. Vehicle was repaired 6 times. The consumer was driving to work and the vehicle shut down 22 times. Vehicle will be back in the shop.”

   NHTSA complaint #829480, filed 1998-10
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket oil leaks and high oil consumption

   • 20 complaints (6%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2004

   Owners describe oil leaking from the head gasket area, having to add oil frequently, and dealers either not finding a problem or repeatedly repairing leaks. Some complaints mention the engine stalling or running roughly alongside the oil loss, and one notes a timing belt pulley coming apart. Reported from under 30,000 miles on some cars and up to about 100,000 miles on others, with leaks often described as gradual and worsening over time.

   What to check: Look for oil residue around the head gasket mating surface and the back of the engine, check the oil level, and ask whether the head gasket or timing belt has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On the engine I had the pulley on the timing belt come apart and just last month I had the head gasket start to leak from the back. Timing belt 28,000 head gasket 37,500. I have had to replace all 4 tires that where on the car. All by 29,000 miles--some earlier and then later. The brakes were replaces at the same time as the timing belt pulley. I knew they needed replacement and had an appointment to get them replaced when the timeing belt went out. It is a 1996 but I only have 37,500 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10069961, filed 2004-01, 28,000 miles

   “Problems with my 1996 Chrysler Sebring. It goes thro tons of oil, I keep having to add oil to the car, everything has been breaking on it. Now it periodically stalls out non stop. There is only 85k miles on the car and it should not be having these problems. I have put in thousands of dollars into this car for repairs. It was under warranty by Chrysler and I took it in for the oil issue and they said they saw no problem, that warranty ran out and my extended one kicked in and they said it had oil leaks and kept 'fixing' them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10030498, filed 2003-07, 29,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission shifting and stalling concerns

   • 46 complaints (13%)
   • median 59,782 mi at 9.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2015

   Complaints describe the engine dying when the automatic transmission is shifted into gear, screeching or stalling while accelerating, and fluid leaks. Owners also report ignition-key/shift interlock problems that keep the key from being removed, and dealers advising a transmission replacement in some cases. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 70,000 miles, with some complaints filed at much higher mileage.

   Recall 98V183000

   What to check: Test the shift interlock and make sure the key releases normally, feel for harsh or delayed shifts on a test drive, and check for transmission fluid leaks and service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oil light illuminated when stopped, and went out when in motion. The dealer serviced vehicle ,but the problem reoccurred. The next day consumer heard a screeching noise when depressing the gas pedal,then vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who advised the consumer that transmission needed to be replaced. .”

   NHTSA complaint #10012176, filed 2003-03, 50,565 miles

   “The vehicle experienced a problem with the ignition key shift interlock as stated in recall number 98 v 183 000, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10008987, filed 2003-02, 69,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on and non-deployment

   • 32 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,700 mi at 12.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2019

   Owners report the airbag or SRS warning light coming on intermittently and then staying on, with dealers finding stored codes and recommending the airbag module or a squib be replaced. Some complaints describe frontal impacts in which the airbags did not deploy. Reported on vehicles from roughly 18,000 to over 100,000 miles, with the warning light often appearing intermittently before becoming steady.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on briefly at startup and then goes out; a light that stays on or flickers should be diagnosed before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My airbag warning light periodically comes on for approx 30 seconds and then goes off. On 10/12/06 I was driving the vehicle and it came on and off and then remained on. I immediately telephoned the nearest dealership (livonia Chrysler jeep, michigan) and took the vehicle in. The light was on and the technician hooked up a hand held diagnostic machine and a passenger squib open code came up. I was asked to leave the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10171045, filed 2006-10, 18,396 miles

   “Air bag light goes off and on when starting and driving then the gages on the dashboard stop working. Sometimes just the red air bag light goes and the dials still work. When the red air bag light goes off usually the dials come back within 10 minites or 5 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11265367, filed 2019-10, 49,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a broad mix of complaints, with front suspension and brake work the most common themes, so a pre-purchase inspection of the ball joints and brakes is worth the cost. Ask for service records covering the recalls listed for this car and for any head gasket or transmission work, since those repairs recur in owner reports.

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.