Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
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).
Dt:consumer started vehicle while in carport. He put the car reverse moved about 1 foot and the dash blew up. Consumer said it was so loud that neighbors heard it from inside their houses and came running out. Both air bags deployed and the consumer said that smoke bellowed out of the steering column. Parts of the car were blown all over the interior. Consumer says incident was like a bomb going off. Consumer thought that he had been car bombed. Consumer said that there was no physical contact to vehicle to cause air bags to deploy. Consumer says there are other witnesses available. Consumer says investigator that looked at vehicle told consumer that he had investigated 3 other such instances.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Chrysler Sebring convertible. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle. The air bags deployed and the contact was trapped in her vehicle. The air bags released debris that began burning her face. There was also a large cloud of smoke as if chemicals were being released from the air bags. She was transported to the hospital and a physician stated that she received second degree burns. The contact has a copy of the police report and pictures of the failure. The manufacturer concluded that that air bags were not manufactured with any hazardous substances. The failure and current mileages were 140,000.
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.
While driving at 35 MPH vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. Driver sustained face, head, neck and shoulder injuries. A police report was filed.
Driving vehicle about 35mph & started to apply brakes; heard loud popping noise; after leaving toll booth, another vehicle cut off Sebring; hit brakes hard, heard popping sound; brakes didn't catch; went into spin & hit retainer wall, front end came up & smashed windshield; seat belt came unlatched upon impact; air bag did not deploy.
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.
While driving vehicle hit another car in the rear and totaled the veihcle and neither air bag deployed. The dealer said that the body sensor had been pushed back 2-21/2 feet.a lso the dealer said that there was no air code in the computer system.
Consumer's vehicle was struck from rear at 30 MPH and it caused vehicle to hit another vehicle in front. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Dealer notified . Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
While driving the SRS light came on. This indicates a failure in the air bag that could result in premature or none deployment of the air bag. The dealership was contacted and indicated that the air bag module needed to be replaced.
Was traveling approximately 35mph & had a head-on collision with another vehicle after it pulled in front. Upon impact, neither air bag deployed. Had vehicle towed to dealer. Vehicle was not entirely totaled. There were no injuries.
Airbag complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Chrysler Sebring, 8% of the model year's 419 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chrysler Sebring airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Chrysler Sebring airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 25 crashes, 3 fires and 18 injuries and 1 death to air bags 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.