Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am so disgusted. I will never buy another Chrysler vehicle, nor will I encourage anyone else to do so. I purchased a 1998 Chrysler Sebring lxi on 6/29/2000. Since that time I have had the following problems: key won't work in trunk all the time. Lack of air bag deployment - 2 different incidents (reported in a previous complaint) passenger side seat belt will open if you just push against it - I have taken the vehicle to the certified service agent (over a year ago) who was supposed to order the part and contact me when it arrived. He never did and now that dealership is not the service agent anymore. Driver's side seatbelt twists inside the covered area attached to the interior wall of the vehicle. High-pitched whining sound coming from front driver's side tire area. Have replaced rotors twice. Have had to purchase those expensive ($600 - $800) Goodyear tires about 4 - 6 times. …
My alarm keeps going off!!! A few months ago, my car alarm started going off randomly and will not stop. It started by honking repeatedly then a very long annoying honk. In order to make it stop, the only thing that I could do was disconnect the battery. I am now desperate to get this problem fixed; I was at a gas station the other day, and it did it again. I ended up having to drive away with the alarm still sounding because I didn't have a way of disconnecting my battery to make it stop. This should really be a recall! I recently began researching on the internet and realized that hundreds of people are having the same problem. Is there anything that you can do for me regarding this issue? This website displays many peoples concerns about this issue. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chrysler/Sebring/2006/electrical/horn_goes_off_by_itself.shtml.
First time this happened was oct - 2001, blew ignition fuse , then had the car towed to dealer. Replaced starter and fuses per diagnoses from dealer(starter drawing excess amps causing ignition fuses to blow). March 2003 , ignition fuse started to blow again. Replaced fuses about six times in about a month. April 7, 2003 blew ignition fuse again, fuse would not hold ,car towed to dealer.
After the dealer had the car for 2 days and said there was no problem the car again went totaly dead, but this time while being driven on a mountin road. Th electrical system completely failed, resulting in no headlights as well as no ABS or power steering and my employee hit a telephone pole.
Consumer complained about an ignition problem. In the last 4 years consumer replaced the key cylinder 4 times. Consumer contacted the manufacturer on seven different times, and was told that his customer care complaint file was closed. They will not help consumer.
The ignition fuse on my car keeps blowing. I have had wiring replaced as well as the neutral control switch, but neither have helped the situation. The fuses seem to blow mostly in damp or rainy weather.
I have had nothing but problems out of this car!! The car was purchased in charlotte, but I live in spartanburg, so all service and maintenance had been performed at quality Chrysler (1030 n. Church st., spartanburg, sc 29303; phone: 864/596-4550). The transmission was not shifting correctly in 11/98, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it at the dealership. It would not move when put into reverse or drive. They finally found the problem in 6/98. Started having additional problems in 11/99, and they stated once again that there was not a problem. - the door panels have come off of both doors on numerous occasions. Blew a tire while driving approximately 25mph. Rim appears to have cut through side wall. - horn on right side of steering wheel does not work. This is a safety issue in that I couldn't alert a vehicle that was about to shift into my lane. …
Cruise control from purchase didn't work, salesman told me I needed to be traveling 55 MPH for it work. Turned out, it was broken, cost me $100 to repair. One month after purchase, car dead, turned out it needed a batery. Dealership paid the cost. 2nd month after purchase, check enging light came on, car running sluggish and popping noise, turned out I needed a spark plug. I requested they change them all. They wouldn't. 3 months after purchase check enging light on again, car running very sluggish, popping noise again, filled up with gas, car wouldn't start, had to have it towed it. This is rediculous. I want to file a lemon. Law. I can't afford a $400/mo paymnet and pay for my car to be repaired on a monthly basis. What can I do?
My car keeps blowing the ignition fuse. It will be fine for a while then it blows two in a row and on the third it will start. I have contacted Chrysler and they said they have never heard of it before. Though they do say if I want to pay their hourly wage they will trouble shoot it.
The key could not be removed from the ignition when in the park position. The dealer was notified and indicated that the component was recalled but the consumers vehicle was not included due to VIN.
Electrical complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Chrysler Sebring, 7% of the model year's 319 complaints. The component named most often is horn (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chrysler Sebring electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring, though it has 4 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 1998 Chrysler Sebring electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to electrical system 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.