Most common 1997 Chrysler Sebring problems
Share of the 287 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler Sebring complaints by model year
Best Sebring years: 2009, 2003, 2010. Years to avoid: 1996, 2001, 2002, 1998, 2007. Compare all years →
1997 Chrysler Sebring recalls (6)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock May fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock May also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on June 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ball joint end housing cover seal for leakage with a high pressure air tester and the rubber boot will be visually inspected for damage.
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
The headrest guide bracket was improperly welded to the seat back frame on the passenger side seat back assemblies only.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger seat back assembly with a new assembly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1997 Chrysler Sebring:
Steering shaft binding
There is no summary currently available
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
Steering shaft binding
There is no summary currently available
Automatic transaxle ignition interlock
Alleged failure of the automatic transaxle ignition interlock system that either allows the ignition key to be removed when the transmission gear selector is not in the park position and the transmission gear selector to be shifted when the ignition key is removed or prevents theignition key from being removed when the transmission gear selector is in the park, or any other, position.
Convertible top cover disengagement
Alleged that the convertible top cover May disengage from the subject vehicles while driving.
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports cannot be determined due to missing or incomplete information.the fatality incident involved an…
What 1997 Chrysler Sebring owners say
Seat belts all 38 →
Dt: was driving at an unknown speed and pulled in front of a bowling alley to pick up another passenger. Turned the engine off with key in ignition, within a matter of seconds the vehicle began to roll forward. The car gained speed and was too quick before the consumer could gain control. The vehicle went down an incline and crashed into a parking lot pole. The air bags did not deploy. Both passenger had seat belts on but passenger seat belt did not remain locked and passenger struck the windshield, this did not unlatch but a great deal slack came from that seat belt. Had received a recall on the transaxles floor shift(no NHTSA recall camp id# available) this recall had not been performed. …
Dt: the contact received a recall letter on 3-15-05 concerning the trans axle floor shifter ignition/park interlock she called at the end of March or the beginning of April and made an appointment to have vehicle checked. On 5-7-05, before the scheduled appointment, the vehicle popped out of gear and hit a pole. And the estimated damage was $8,700. On 5-12-05 Chrysler sent an investigator to check the vehicle . The consumer was not present at the inspection, but someone else who was at the inspection claimed that the investigator tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. He did not think the trans axle floor shifter ignition/park interlock had anything to do with the crash. The consumer did not agree, stating that the driver and the passenger were injured in the crash. Neither the seat belts nor the air bags worked in the crash.
Electrical system all 37 →
Dt: consumer received a recall notice in March for the transaxles floor shifter ignition park interlock. Consumer tried to make an appointment for the dealership. The following Saturday the car popped out of gear and hit a pole. The whole front end of the car was totaled. The passenger seat belt did not lock, and the both air bags did not deploy. Chrysler sent someone to look at the car, the Chrysler investigator said that everything looked fine. Consumer had to call him back from Chrysler after he came and looked at the car. Chrysler investigator sent a letter to the consumer stating that the incident did not look like it was a result of the recall.
1) the vehicle was parked outside securely (doors and windows closed properly, top closed properly, ignition locked and no keys in the car). 2) after a rain, I happened to walk by the car and heard it making loud strange noises that sounded like speaker amplified electrical arcing. The noise seemed to be coming from everywhere in the vehicle (no apparent point source). Suspecting some type of electrical problem I began pulling fuses with no effect on stopping the noise. I began smelling something burning and disconnected the car battery. The noises stopped immediately and the burning smell dissapated. 3) the dealer advises that there is a drain in the right rear quarter panel of the car that is not working and causes water to enter the passenger compartment. There is an amplfier under the front passenger seat for the infinity sound system that water had entered into. …
Suspension all 36 →
On April 23, 2005, my son was traveling to work, about 12:30 in the afternoon, traveling westbound on the 210 freeway. At some point, his left rear tire went flat. His car lost control and spun counterclockwise, across four lanes of traffic, and head on into the center divider. His car continued to spin in the same dirrection and impacted again at the right rear quarterpanel, and the right rear bumper. My son got out of the car, and the chp arrived within ten minutes to have his car towed. I contacted daimler Chrysler to let them know what happened and to express my concern. They sent an inspector to the salvage yard. Two weeks later I got a letter from Chrysler saying that their recalled upper ball joint had nothing to do with the crash. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 10e059000 (suspension). While driving 3 MPH, there was a loud abnormal noise emitting from the front of the vehicle. The wheel assembly fractured and the front driver side tire was bent inwards towards the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the upper control arm was fractured and needed to be replaced. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 208,000.
1997 Chrysler Sebring engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chrysler Sebring a good car?
Based on 287 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Sebring rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sebring at the same age. It is one of the Sebring years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chrysler Sebring?
The seat belts — 38 complaints, 13% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › retractor. Next are the electrical system (37) and suspension (36).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chrysler Sebring have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring, the most recent from January 13, 2004 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler Sebring?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2003 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 2001, 2002, 1998 and 2007. See the full Chrysler Sebring years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chrysler Sebring problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 miles; 22% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.