2000 Chrysler Sebring Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around the front suspension, particularly lower ball joints that wear and can separate, and around air bags that fail to deploy in crashes or trigger warning lights. Owners also describe brake problems, paint and trim deterioration, and seat belt retractors that bind or fail to latch, with many reports appearing after the vehicle was well past 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint wear and separation

   • 11 complaints (12%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2024

   Owners describe loud squeaking, grinding or knocking from the front end, and in some cases the ball joint gives way while driving, dropping a corner of the vehicle and leaving steering unresponsive. Several say they only learned of the ball joint recall after the part had already failed, and others report a joint failing again after a prior replacement. Some had both sides replaced at their own expense. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 130,000 miles, often noticed first as noise over bumps or while turning.

   Recall 00V421002

   What to check: Ask whether the lower ball joint recall was performed and get the repair paperwork; have a shop inspect both front lower ball joints and control arms for play, torn boots or corrosion before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There a recall on 10-13-2009 for bad ball joints. I bought the car in 12-2010 never got a recall notice on ball joints. On nov-16-2012-we were driving with my 9 yr old and 10 year old with no warning the ball joint broke on driver side wheel . Car went out of control we almost hit two phone poles the car went into a field. The wheel is now hanging off car not driveable. Nobody was hurt it could of been worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10486064, filed 2012-11, 132,000 miles

   “I was not informed of a recall and me and my son were in the vehicle driving and it started hopping almost as if it had hydraulic. I told my son to fasten his seat belt considering we were just leaving the store and pulling onto a busy highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327303, filed 2020-06, 180,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags fail to deploy or warning light stays on

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 86,750 mi at 6.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2010

   Complaints describe air bags that did not deploy in front and rear impacts, and in one case a vehicle that caught fire after a crash. Others report the air bag warning light coming on intermittently or staying lit after a dealer diagnosis, with one owner saying the system was replaced and the light still returned. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage vehicles to those over 125,000 miles, usually after a crash or when the warning light appears.

   What to check: Confirm the air bag warning light does not stay on after startup and that no stored air bag codes are present; ask whether the air bag system has ever been serviced or diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in a 3 car collision and my airbag did not deploy. I was the middle car. I was waiting on the car in front of me to turn left. I was hit by a 3rd car going 55-60mph from behind making me the car in front of me. All 3 cars were totaled. My seat also broke loose causing me to go forward even more. I did have my seatbelt on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10236952, filed 2008-08, 128,000 miles

   “While driving about 35 MPH vehicle was involved in a crash. Driver applied the brakes and rear ended another vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10059878, filed 2004-04, 81,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes lock up, drag or lose assist

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 54,500 mi at 4.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2005

   Owners report brakes locking up at low speed, a hard pedal that feels like the anti-lock system is engaging under light braking, and a brake pad separating from its backing plate. Some describe repeated dealer repairs that did not resolve the problem, and others mention a brake line issue found at low mileage. Reported from under 30,000 miles up to around 80,000 miles, often during normal stopping in traffic or parking.

   What to check: Test the brakes at low speed for dragging, pulsing or a hard pedal, and have the pads, calipers and brake lines inspected on a lift; ask about any prior brake repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left front outboard brake pad apparently sepatated from the backing plate while stopping in a parking lot. There was no advance warning noises. When completing a stop, I felt a pulse in the brake pedal. When I returned to the car and started home the brakes were grinding very bad. Icontinued home slowly and the next morning pulled the wheels and brakes in the garage. The left outboard backing plate had no braking material at all. There was no residual as is usually present on a worn out pad, just the rivets and backing plate. …”

   NHTSA complaint #758826, filed 2002-03

   “Consumer stated brake line malfunctioned at 28,000 miles. Ak there was a bubble in the brake line and the door hinge was broken. The brake calipers were replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067388, filed 2004-06, 28,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalls or no-start tied to security and electrical faults

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2013

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, difficulty starting with many attempts needed, and the anti-theft security system light coming on before a stall. Some report the horn sounding at random, and one notes that pulling the horn fuse also disables the air bags. Reported from around 15,000 miles up to roughly 110,000 miles, with starting problems often appearing after the vehicle is several years old.

   What to check: Start the car several times cold and warm and watch for the security light; ask whether the ignition, electronic distributor or horn/clock spring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have reason to believe that the security system on my 2000 Chrysler Sebring lxi is malfunctioning and causing the car to not start. I have had several occasions where the alarm goes off and I am getting into my trunk or even in the car and driving down the road. After the car's security system has been set, I am experiencing difficulty starting the car. If I don't lock my car it starts just fine. The dealership told me I needed a new electronic distributor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10030544, filed 2003-07, 50,000 miles

   “On 7/26/02 I was coming to a stop at a traffic light and heard a thudding sound coming from somewhere below my right foot. The engine died when I came to a stop and would not start again. There were no other sounds. There was no electrical responses. My car was towed to my local firestone dealer and I was told that the pulley that moves all the electrical peripheral belts had broken off. The auxiliary belts snaped and one of them went through the plastic cover (housing) of the timing belt. …”

   NHTSA complaint #765891, filed 2002-08
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Seat belt retractors bind or fail to latch

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 13.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2020

   Complaints describe seat belts that will not retract, that tighten or lock unexpectedly while driving, or that fail to latch because of a broken cable. Several owners say the dealer attributed the problem to normal wear and declined to cover the repair. Mostly reported between about 85,000 and 140,000 miles, though a few owners noted it from much earlier in the vehicle's life.

   What to check: Pull each seat belt out fully and let it retract, then check that it latches and releases cleanly; ask whether any retractor or cable has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Seatbelt locks up to where u can't put it on before driving or when driving and seatbelt is on it sometimes locks up and you can't move your locked in place while driving. While driving if it locks up it can happen anywhere on any road or freeway it's malfunctioning and it's annoying especially when u have to be somewhere and you can't get your seatbelt to work making me drive without it on.. Since I bought the car 4 years ago it's been doing this”

   NHTSA complaint #11312289, filed 2020-02, 140,000 miles

   “Driver's seat belt will not retract properly, leaving occupant without any retraint if needed. Dealer notified, and is awaiting on part since the above incident date. . Consumers said that seat belt works but the one installed is a rear seat belt lies on a side of a seat back chewing and jams between seat back.”

   NHTSA complaint #866456, filed 2000-07

Buying note. Have a shop check the front lower ball joints, air bag warning light and seat belts before buying, since these are the most frequently reported areas. Ask for recall and service records, and expect to budget for suspension and electrical work on a vehicle of this age.

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.