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 2005 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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?
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. While driving highways speeds, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power without warning. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and recommended the contact take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. Consumer stated she was on her way home from work, she entered I-75 south bound in birch run, mi. I was picking up speed, the car completely shut down. I coasted along until the car came to a complete stop. It was scary! I had no warning to alert me that something was wrong with car. I would hope the Chrysler corporation will help to figure out, why this happened. Updated 10/15/18
The horn goes off at any given time of the day. The horn randomly goes off when the car is powered on and in motion (on the highway or on a street), sometimes while stationary and powered off in the driveway - the vehicle being vacant. This is a reoccurring issue, almost every day. I've only had the car for 14 months. Following some online research, I discovered that there are hundreds of other complaints posted to various forums by other owners experiencing the same problem. The only proposed permanent solution being to replace the clock switch, a costly repair (est $1100). Otherwise, disable the fuse controlling the airbag and horn, not safe!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the horn activated independently. In addition, the contact stated that the horn was depressed but failed to function. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the horn and air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
I've written to you people before about this problem and a girl called back and said she'd call again because you people are so busy. I never heard another word and that was last fall. The horn button in the steering wheel has stopped working and it is very dangerous to not have a horn to warn people. It has completely stopped working at all times.
Horn will start working on it's on and will not stop until fuse burns out. The only way to fix this is by replacing the driver airbag since the horn pad is inside the airbag assy. Needless to say, a vehicle without an horn will not pass inspection and since this is the only way a driver has to communicate with the surrounding drivers in case they get too close or to warn them of a danger a head, this most certainly is a safety issue. By Chrysler avoiding their responsibility for this bad design, there are a lot of people out there who are driving sebrings with no horns (since they can not afford $800 for a new airbag, which by the way is going to be no more then a temporary solution since no change in the design have been made). That posses as much as a threat on all of us who share the road with them as it does on those sebrings owners... …
'all computer electrical systems periodically, sporadically shut down completely: electrical circuit failure 'I am trapped, locked in my car with no safety, dash, window or temperature controls 'at night, my headlights flicker then go out 'steering/upper control arm appears to be cracked 'transmission doesn't shift, it slams into gear at ten miles per hour or 50 miles p/h 'something in the undercarriage is snapping loudly when turning or going over speed bumps, something in steering column 'driving over speed bumps: the front and rear loudly creak and groan 'air bag light sporadically stays on'then off'then on again 'engine light sporadically comes on'then off'then on again 'runs like a truck, chugs, rattles 'cylinder one misfire at 45K. …
My horn has started going off for no reason. It will not work when I press on it, but will sound itself at any time during the day or night. The lights on my stereo have been flickering, and the components on the steering wheel (such as the stereo volume and crust control) will turn themselves on and off or up and down. The car has also had problems shifting into gears like it is supposed to. I have only had the car for a year this month, and I have had nothing but problems with it. When I have had it looked at, I am told there is nothing wrong with it. I know it is not normal for the horn to sound off like it does, and for the stereo controls on the steering wheel to turn the volume up or down without anyone pressing on the buttons like they do. …
While driving or sitting still the security alarm system (horn blows off & on) goes off. The only way to stop it is to pull over, get out of the car ,open fuse box and remove the small yellow fuse marked for the horn. Upon replacing the fuse I have driven as much as a day or up to (3) weeks before happening again. The vehicle is out of warranty so I took the car to (3) different repair facilities and they were unable to find a problem or solution. I contacted Chrysler corporation and they said I would have to have a Chrysler dealer run a diagnostic but that did not find the problem ($106.90) . They kept the car overnight and the next day called and said that I would need a horn module ($600.00) part and 2 1/2 hours labor ($320.00). I called to find a cost on a horn module but no parts store ever heard of it, even other dealers never heard of it. …
Electrical complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Chrysler Sebring, 33% of the model year's 132 complaints. The component named most often is horn (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chrysler Sebring electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2005 Chrysler Sebring, though it has 3 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 2005 Chrysler Sebring electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 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.