Most common 2005 Chrysler Sebring problems
Share of the 132 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 →
2005 Chrysler Sebring recalls (3)
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.
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
On certain sedans and convertible model vehicles, the right steering knuckle May have been damaged during the component manufacturing process.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the right steering knuckle. The recall began on December 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Seat belts › Rear/other
On certain sedans, the left and right rear outboard retractor and turning loop bolts on the seat belts May not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the affected fasteners. The recall began on November 15, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What 2005 Chrysler Sebring owners say
Air bags all 44 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a guard rail and caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed and the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000...updated 03/22/16 consumer stated he never received any recall information regarding the problems with steering mechanism. Updated 6/14/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring convertible. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was unstable on the road and suddenly spun out of control. The contact crashed into a guardrail and stopped facing in the opposite direction of traffic. None of the air bags deployed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company. The manufacturer sent an independent investigator who stated that the air bags were not faulty based upon the speed and location of impact. The independent investigator and the manufacturer provided no specific diagnosis on why the air bags did not deploy and sent a letter with a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 10e059000 (suspension), 09e056000 (suspension), 04V579000 (steering), and 15V338000 (air bags). …
Electrical system all 43 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. While driving various low speeds with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated. The contact applied excessive force to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and something is eating the battery, the battery was replaced 2 so far under warranty. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times and the vehicle barely missed crashing into other vehicles each time. On another occasion, the engine continued to run after the key was removed from the ignition. The key was re-inserted, but the engine did not stop. The contact pressed hard on the brake pedal and the engine shut off. The contact stated that this failure occurred once and was diagnosed. …
Fuse 8 under hood, 20a fuse. Chrysler has a couple of branch circuits downstream of this and collectively an increased load condition causes an overload on startup only. Instant burn fuse cant cope. The problem is design, there are 4 circuits fed downstream on that fuse, if the collected load builds some resistance it will exceed the capacity of the fuse. I am currently changing the fuse daily just to start my car and go. And sometimes have to change it again before leaving my destination. I did some research online by resulting to google and there are countless other people with this same problem. I was told not to put a larger fuse in there for it May catch fire because of not allowing the fuse to blow when it needs to blow. It seems to be a problem with Chrysler set up and to be not actually anything broken with my car. What do I do?
Engine & cooling all 21 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. While driving various low speeds with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated. The contact applied excessive force to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and something is eating the battery, the battery was replaced 2 so far under warranty. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times and the vehicle barely missed crashing into other vehicles each time. On another occasion, the engine continued to run after the key was removed from the ignition. The key was re-inserted, but the engine did not stop. The contact pressed hard on the brake pedal and the engine shut off. The contact stated that this failure occurred once and was diagnosed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact suddenly heard a dinging noise coming from the vehicle. The contact noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle and under the front driver and passenger side wheels. The contact attempted to pull the vehicle into a nearby fuel station, but it stalled. The contact had to push the vehicle to the fuel station. Karz auto sales (located at 12002 garlin rd, dallas, tx 75218, [phone]) had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the contact was unsure of the diagnosis. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not able to be driven. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
2005 Chrysler Sebring engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Chrysler Sebring a good car?
Based on 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Sebring rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sebring at the same age. 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 2005 Chrysler Sebring?
The air bags — 44 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (43) and engine & cooling (21).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chrysler Sebring have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 Chrysler Sebring, the most recent from June 2, 2015 (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 2005 Chrysler Sebring problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 33% 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.