Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My name is [redacted]. I have a 1996 Sebring convertible I pulled into a filling station and shut the car off. When I started it, it revved up and accelerated on it's own. I pressed the brakes as hard as I could but couldn't stop the car. I went through the doors of the station and finally came to a stop in the coffee machines. I was taken to the hospital. I was in florida at the time and I received a ticket for careless driving. The police officer said no matter what you have to have control of your car. There was no way to have control over the car. I had only owned this car 5 months. It shows that the car was in for a recall in aug of 2002 for throttle repair. On March 17 in savannah ga the same thing happened to a 1996 Sebring convertible and he hit 9 people. I have talked to the gentleman. His Sebring revved up, accelerated and he couldn't get it stopped. …
Consumer was driving 35-40 MPH and took foot off accelerator pedal to slow down, accelerator pedal was stuck, and vehicle kept moving. Consumer went through an intersection, and was hit by another vehicle. Consumer was not injured. Damage to vehicle was $ 5422.00. Chrysler investigator will look at vehicle. Chrysler sent consumer a letter stating that the throttle system was thoroughly inspected and all cables and levers were found free and moving without any restrictions, they also found no stored or active codes in the system.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated without driver intent. She finally got it stopped by putting it in park, using the brakes had no effect. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated there was no recall on her vehicle. The failure and current mileages were approximately 200,000. The VIN was not available.
While traveling approximately 50 MPH vehicle suddenly accelerated to 75 MPH, and lost control. Vehicle crashed into the traffic barriers approximately three times before stopping. Dealership examined vehicle and determined that accelerator cable frayed. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
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.
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.
In drive-through; vehicle idling & in park; shifted into gear & heard engine rev up; vehicle suddenly accelerated & hit parked semi truck. Neither air bags deployed. Engine pushed to firewall & driver's/passenger's doors damaged severely. Vehicle totaled.
Cable connecting gas pedal to engine frayed and stuck at full throttle. Brakes did not work. Was traveling in rush hour traffic at full speed two times. The first time repeated stomping on the gas pedal and brake pedal and throwing the car into neutral unjammed it after a couple of minutes. The second time also in rush hour traffic these efforts did not help. I wove in and out of traffic until I got to an off ramp, and luckily was able to get through the traffic light at the intersection at the off ramp and onto a sidestreet where I put it into neutral and landed it like an airplane on a landing strip with the brakes smoking and the engine screaming and the car glided to a stop. Was told the cable had unwound like a frayed piece of rope and stuck inside the cable connecting the pedal to the engine.
Dt: the contact owns a 1996 Chrysler Sebring couple lx. The throttle control is sticking. If coming to a stop the vehicle will continue on at a full throttle. The contact contacted Chrysler about recalls, and they said there were no recalls. The main computer had to be replaced, but that replacement was not related to this problem. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and they told the contact that there were false signals from the idle air control solenoid to the main computer, causing the throttle control to stick. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealership yet. He wanted to contact NHTSA first. This problem began nine months ago, and occurred six times, generally at speeds less than 10 MPH.
Consumers son and grand daughter were travelling aprrox. 60 MPH. The accelerator was released but the vehicle remained at 60 MPH. The brakes were applied and the vehicle only slowed to 55 miles per hour. Upon releasing the brake the car sped to 65 MPH with no mechanical acceleration. Brakes would not slow the vehicle down. When the floor accelerator was released the rpms reved and the speed stayed the same. Smoke began to emit from the tires. The speed was steadily rising. Vehicle was shifted into neutral and turned off.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l v6 engines, the throttle control cable can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle cable assembly. Owner notification began August 5, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
Acceleration complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1996 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1996 Chrysler Sebring, 7% of the model year's 419 complaints. The component named most often is cables (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chrysler Sebring acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-186 (vehicle speed control, Jul 8, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Chrysler Sebring acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 132,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.