Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
While driving a1997 chrys. Sebring convertible across a bridge over a lake, the left front ball joint broke resulting in loss of control. I almost didn't stop before going in the water. Car blocked the highway and a patrolman stayed with me until wrecker arrived . It did major damage to front fender, plastic bumper brakes and wheel.
While driving down a side road at 15 MPH, after going through the 2nd of 2 small dips, the front ball joint broke on the 1997 Sebring and the car stopped. We got out, saw front wheel turned out at sharp angle, the right front of car dropped. Sheridan police drove by,we made an accident report. After having the car towed 2 blocks, the ins. Co. Was called we contacted phil long Chrysler in littleton co. To find price on the part. They asked for VIN number and determined there was recall on that vehicle. They said car was fixed once under recall, they wanted to see it. We had it towed there. Bernie said they would at least fix the ball joint. They estimated the damage and called district rep to come see the car. We were called and told district rep said no, they would not fix the car under the recall. …
I was backing out of a friends driveway in my 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible when all of a sudden there was a loud noise and a grinding sound. When I got out to look, it turns out that the front lower ball joint assembly broke in half by the front hub assembly. I then called a tow truck to have my vehicle towed and when the tow company came they informed me this was the 4th Chrysler convertible in two months that they have had to tow with the front lower ball joint breaking. I then decided to check for recalls and it turns out there are 2 recalls on this vehicle but when I contacted the loccal Chrysler dealership they inform me that there is no recall on my car. How can that be when you list the following recalls 04V021000, 09e056000 and 10e059000 on your website. …
Dt: consumer was aware of manufacturer's recall, 967 issued on May 16, 2001. Consumer stated that this recall repairs were never done. On June 23, 2005 she was traveling, through saint clareshores, michigan on i94, got off at exit and made a right turn and vehicle came to a dead stop. Right front tire went into wheel well, which did a lot of body damage. From there mechanic had vehicle towed to garage at waterford auto, in waterford, michigan. Mechanic then called Chrysler to find that there was a recall 967 on part that broke. Consumer did not receive a notice, her ex-husband received the notice. Mechanic had vehicle towed to clarkston Chrysler 8105 big lake road, po box 1015, clarkston, michigan 48347. Dealer looked at vehicle and said there was a recall, but they needed an investigator from Chrysler to look at vehicle. Investigator came out on July 6, 2005. …
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that the front driver's side lower ball joints failed while pulling out of a parking space. The dealer stated that the ball joints were repaired in 1998 according to NHTSA campaign id number 97V201000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). In addition, the vehicle was previously repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 00V421002 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) in 2000. The contact did not remember the first recall repair; however, it is in the system as being repaired by the dealer. He believes that the repair was never performed, but was documented as completed in order to get paid by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible. The contact stated that the driver side ball joint detached from the socket while the contact was driving. The dealer diagnosed that the lower ball joint need to be replaced. The vehicle was included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 09e056000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint), but the manufacturer refused to cover the repairs. The manufacturer proposed that the contact pay 50 percent of the cost of the repairs due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 115,000.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Sebring convertible. On July 9, 2007, while driving 10 MPH, the control arm detached from the vehicle. The failure caused the axle to fall off the vehicle. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The control arm and axle were replaced on July 11, 2007 for $1,080. The dealer stated that her VIN was excluded from recall # 00V421002 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The current and failure mileages were 135,000.
It's a constant rattle noisy at the front of the car, when we bougth the car and start driving it we notice the noisy we took the car to the dealer and they said they didn't found anything, didn't drove the car for the last two years, move to dc, start driving the car again and the rattle getting worst I took the car to a mechanic and they said they fix the car I paid almost $900.00 and the problem still there, I took the car to the mechanic 1 month after they fixed, the invoice said 90 days warranty, now they said it's probably another problem, it's the same problem same noisy. I just want my car fixed, for what I paid.
Related recalls
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.
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.
Suspension complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1997 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the suspension of the 1997 Chrysler Sebring, 13% of the model year's 287 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm › lower ball joint (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chrysler Sebring suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V421002 (lower ball joint, Dec 18, 2000); NHTSA recall 97V-201 (lower ball joint, Nov 13, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chrysler Sebring suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 135,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to suspension 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.