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 2004 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 10 MPH and making a left turn, the ball joint snapped and the front passenger side tire went beneath the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a curb. The air bags did not deploy. It was unknown if a police report was filed. There was an injury that did not require medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
I was driving down the street and the control arm snapped causing me to lose control of my vehicle. I had it towed to mechanic. The control arms and some other parts were replaced. Using my cars VIN there is not a recall but on this website there is a recall for same year make and model for the same reason. I called Chrysler [phone] and spoke with micah and she explained that she does not even see that there is a recall on 2004 Chrysler sebrings case# 28647014. But here is the website I found it on: http://www-odi.NHTSA.dot.gov/owners/searchresults;jsessionid=k261wqcjkj69rsyytt48wfrrmdtb80yqjlp8jvcgtqrgptdr0mqy!-721696947?prodtype=v&searchtype=prod&targetcategory=a&searchcriteria.model=Sebring+sedan&stats=774853%2c1%2c0%2c8%2c0%2csebring+sedan&makestats=&jsonbaseurl=%2fdownloads%2ffolders%2f&searchcriteria.model_yr=2004&searchcriteria.make=Chrysler&searchcriteria.prod_ids=774853
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, she rear ended another vehicle. Twenty minutes later, the front passenger tire suddenly blew out. A spare tire was installed; yet, within fifteen minutes while driving to an authorized dealer, the contact suddenly lost control of the vehicle, veered off of the road and crashed. The contact was injured and the vehicle was destroyed. The police report listed a statement from a witness indicating that the front passenger side tire was not on the vehicle properly. The contact stated that the front passenger side tire was the same area which she had the two prior failures. She stated that the failure was related to NHTSA recall 09e056000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The manufacturer had not been notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring. While driving 5 MPH, the front passenger side ball joint detached from the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and the front passenger tire turned sideways. The vehicle swerved on the road and the contact had to pull over quickly. The vehicle was immobilized and was not able to be driven. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 109,021.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would abnormally shake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10e059000 (suspension). The approximate failure mileage was 112,635. Updated 02/12/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring sedan. While driving at an unknown speed, the front driver side tire separated from the ball joint. In addition, the vehicle collapsed and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10e059000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while accelerating and making a left turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The failure recurred on several occasions when making turns. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10e059000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
This Chrysler Sebring convertible had the left front lower ball joint fail and separate from the lower control arm while being driven. This failure resulted in loss of steering control at a speed of approximately 30 miles per hour. The location happened on smoothly paved spring run road extension located in pennsylvania, allegheny county,in moon township. The time of this event was approximately 6:15 a.m.
Front-end noises were reported to the selling dealer when the vehicle was under warranty. After three shop visits to a cary, nc, dealer during which the technicians "could not replicate the problem," we decided to just live with the noises. After moving from north carolina to florida, the noises got worse. A clermont, fl, Chrysler deal charged us $100 to check out the problem and "couldn't find anything," but they did offer to replace the ball joints and control arms for about $1100. By that time, of course, it was out of warranty. We took it to a private mechanic, who found that the ball joints and control arms did indeed need to be replaced, so we did. The disconcerting part of this is that the problem when the vehicle only had about 30,000 miles on it and that the tech's at two dealers either couldn't determine or didn't bother to determine the cause of the problem. …
Vehicle - 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible, limited delivered new - November 2003 purchased used - March 2004, 600 miles on vehicle, original owner deceased, purchased from estate the vehicle has a vibration problem between approximately 45 - 60 MPH. It has been serviced by a Chrysler dealership five (5) times and by a Goodyear company owned distributor three (3) times. The tires have been force balanced several times and then replaced with new Goodyear assurance comfortread tires. These tires have been force balanced several times by both Chrysler and Goodyear with no acceptable level of positive impact towards resolution. The vibration continues to date. Is there a vibration problem in all such vehicles? We have been unable to resolve this vibration. The vibration continues with the vehicle engine turned off and the car coasting in neutral. …
Suspension complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2004 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the suspension of the 2004 Chrysler Sebring, 13% of the model year's 292 complaints. The component named most often is rear (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chrysler Sebring suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2004 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 2004 Chrysler Sebring suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 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.