Most common 2002 Chrysler Sebring problems
Share of the 358 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 →
2002 Chrysler Sebring recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and…
Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Chrysler Sebring:
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.
What 2002 Chrysler Sebring owners say
Engine & cooling all 108 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while driving, the rear driver side wheel slightly separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent where it was diagnosed the all four ball joints and struts needed to be replaced. In addition, the vehicle was also diagnosed that there was a water pump malfunction and the fuel tank filler neck had corroded with the vehicle. The vehicles driver side rear ball joint and the filler neck were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09e056000 (suspension) however the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. For more than three weeks, the contact has been waiting on a part to repair her vehicle. The dealer has over five hundred orders waiting for the mapping sensor, which is the mass air flow pressure sensor, that allows the engine to start. Without this part, the contact's vehicle stalls constantly. She was involved in three crashes due to the failure. There were no injuries. After it stalls, the vehicle restarts within a minute. The dealer cannot provide a specific time of when the part will be available. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 53,000.
Suspension all 62 →
On May 17,2010 while driving to college, I noticed a loud whining rough sound, and every time I hit a bump it would sound like something was loose coming from my tires. Before, I could stop to see what the problem was, my steering wheel locked and my car ran off the road when I attempted to regain control my Sebring over corrected and entered a counterclockwise spin. I crossed 5 busy lanes before striking a ditch. My car stopped opposite direction of oncoming traffic!!! July of 2013 I had my lower control arms, and ball joints replaced. And again in February 14,2014 I had to take my car to the shop again for lower ball joint disconnect and replace lower control arms. And again this year February 24, 2015 for the exact same thing; replacement of lower control arms and lower ball joint. This car is very hazard I was blessed there were no injuries in 2010 when I had my accident! …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. The contact was driving approximately 65 MPH when there was a loud, abnormal pop from the vehicle. The front end of the vehicle then collapsed as the vehicle abnormally accelerated, independently steering right. The vehicle skidded and crashed into a pole. There were three persons reported injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. A field inspector was sent from the manufacturer to inspect the vehicle and found that the rear driver side ball joint had separated from the upper control arm and caused the contact to crash. The manufacturer offered no assistance as they did not claim responsibility for the failure or the crash. The current and failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Updated 05/16/11 updated 2/8/12
Air bags all 43 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 25 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel seized and caused the vehicle to crash into a concrete divider. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was not sure if a police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a crash. The air bag on the driver side exploded. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The driver had metal fragments in the arm as a result of the explosion. Both the driver and passenger received medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
2002 Chrysler Sebring engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chrysler Sebring a good car?
Based on 358 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Sebring rates use caution: 1.8× 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 2002 Chrysler Sebring?
The engine & cooling — 108 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (62) and air bags (43).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chrysler Sebring have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Chrysler Sebring, the most recent from June 3, 2016 (inflator module). 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 2002 Chrysler Sebring problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 39% 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.