NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 68 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chrysler dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible owner complaints

Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, describing incidents dated July 12, 1996 to July 28, 2018.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 14 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 10 complaints
Structure 9 complaints
Power Train 8 complaints
Suspension 8 complaints
Seat Belts 7 complaints

Of the 68 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 68 complaints, owners report 8 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11153406 · Filed November 23, 2018
THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING
ODI #10682043 · Filed February 9, 2015
I JUST SPENT 12.95 ON GETTING A CAR HISTORY REPORT BECAUSE MY TITLE SAYS THE CAR IS A RECONSTRUCTED,TOTALED TITLE,BUT RECEIVING YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND TITLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT ISN'T A RECONSTRUCTED CAR????I'M CONFUSED ...WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY FOR..THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW…
ODI #10544185 · Filed September 18, 2013
BRAKES FAILED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT HARD WHILE HWY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING QUICKLY. IF I HADN'T PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE QUICKLY, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *LN

Read all 68 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA03-011: AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
Closed January 30, 2004
- Recall 04V-021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA #10E059000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Arm · NHTSA notice

Reported December 27, 2010 · FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 22,689 vehicles

Owners notified January 28, 2011

Defect description

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.

Safety consequence

IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER LLC.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS/SEPARATION

NHTSA #09E056000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Ball Joint · NHTSA notice

Reported October 9, 2009 · QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE LLC

Potentially affected: 5,787 vehicles

Owners notified November 9, 2009

Defect description

QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.

Safety consequence

SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY CHRYSLER.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION-PARK INTERLOC

NHTSA #04V021000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Lever and Linkage — Floor Shift · NHTSA notice

Reported January 13, 2004 · DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 2,315,768 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign C45 · Owners notified June 14, 2004 · Vehicles built April 1, 1992 – July 31, 1999 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Safety consequence

EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Notes

DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. C45.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

68 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

Suspension; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #11153406

Incident: July 28, 2018 · Filed: November 23, 2018

THE SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING

Electrical System

ODI #10682043

Incident: February 8, 2015 · Filed: February 9, 2015

I JUST SPENT 12.95 ON GETTING A CAR HISTORY REPORT BECAUSE MY TITLE SAYS THE CAR IS A RECONSTRUCTED,TOTALED TITLE,BUT RECEIVING YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THEY CAN'T EVEN FIND TITLE AND LOW AND BEHOLD IT ISN'T A RECONSTRUCTED CAR????I'M CONFUSED ...WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY FOR..THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,IT'S THERE DECEASED MOM'S CAR..I'M WRITING YOU AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SITE,EITHER I GET THE RIGHT REPORT SINCE I'M HOLDING THE TITLE IN MY HAND THAT SAYS OPPOSITE OF YOUR FINDINGS,OR MY MONEY BACK? I REALLY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE CAR IS RECONSTRUCTED TOTALED TITLE YOUR SITE DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GET AHOLD OF YOUR SCAM ,WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN TOOK FOR THERE MONEY AND GIVING NO INFORMATION... *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10544185

Incident: September 8, 2013 · Filed: September 18, 2013

BRAKES FAILED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING SOMEWHAT HARD WHILE HWY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING QUICKLY. IF I HADN'T PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE QUICKLY, THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY AND I. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *LN

Seat Belts

ODI #10364079

Incident: October 29, 2010 · Filed: November 4, 2010

I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI AND THE SEATBELTS "LOCK" IN THE RETRACTED STAGE AT VARIOUS TIMES. BOTH BELTS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT THE SAME TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED NEW SEAT BELTS BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BOTH BELTS WENT BAD AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, AND THAT THE RELEASE AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THE SEBRING. *TR

Exterior Lighting; Structure

ODI #10331333

Incident: May 18, 2010 · Filed: May 20, 2010

THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN IT RAINS. I TRAVELED ONE AND A HALF HOURS IN A STORM. THE WATER ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR WHERE I HAD CLOTHES IN A SMALL PILE..THEY WERE LITERALLY FLOATING FROM SO MUCH WATER THAT WAS POURING IN. AT ANY TIME THAT I HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT THE WATER WOULD THEN COME TO THE FRONT IN A HUGE WAVE OF WATER. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? *TR

Service Brakes, Air; Fuel System, Other; Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Tires; Unknown or Other

ODI #10321795

Incident: March 22, 2010 · Filed: March 24, 2010

WELL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE BACK WINDOW WAS FULLY OUT, ALSO WHEN IM DRIVING IT SEEMS AS THO IM GOING SLOWER THAN WHAT MY SPEEDOMITER SAYS. THE ALARM DOESNT WORK AT ALL. MY BREAKS BONT FULLY BREAK ON TIME SO I HAVE TO STOP EARLYER THAN USUAL.ALSO ONE DAY I WAS IN THE CAR AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK SLOWLY ALSO THE STERING WHEEL LOCKED.ALSO WHEN I PUT GAS IN IT , IT SAYS ITS HALF EMPTY FAST WHEN I ONLY DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER,BUT WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE THE MEETER GOES UP.

Electrical System

ODI #10294208

Incident: September 1, 2009 · Filed: December 1, 2009

THE ODOMETER AND RPM GAUGE WORK INTERMITTENTLY LIKE IN COMPLAINT 10061946. THOUGH THE FUSES LOOK GOOD, THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM FLASH DO NOT WORK NOW SINCE THE ABOVE HAS BEEN OCCURRED. *TR

Steering; Suspension

ODI #10294207

Incident: October 8, 2009 · Filed: December 1, 2009

RECALL #750 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ALLEGED REPAIRED 02-10-98. THIS IS A NEW (10-08-09) RECALL. DUE TO MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, IT WAS ASKED IF THE NUMBERS OF THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS NUMBERS COULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF ORIGINAL CHRYSLER OR AFTERMARKET QUALITY PARTS WERE USED. THOUGH THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, LOSS OF STEERING, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED I'D NEED TO CHECK THE ORIGINAL REPAIR ORDER (02-10-98). THE ORIGINAL OWNER IS DECEASED. SO I GUESS I SHOULD CRAWL UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK FOR WHEREVER THESE PARTS ARE, LET ALONE THE NUMBERS, OR PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THEM, OR JUST HOPE CHRYSLER HAD AND USED THEIR OWN PARTS. *TR

Electrical System; Visibility

ODI #10294201

Incident: April 27, 2005 · Filed: December 1, 2009

RECALL #717, POWER MIRROR SWITCH, ALLEGED REPAIRED 03-20-97 ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER VIP SUMMARY REPORT. RETURN TO DEALER 12-01-09 DUE TO ALL 4 POSITIONS NOT WORKING. INVOICE STATES "CHECK RECALL #717," "NO LONGER COVERED," "NEEDS MIRROR SWITCH." GUESS I'M SUPPOSE TO BUY THE RECALLED MIRROR SWITCH. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10294197

Incident: April 27, 2005 · Filed: December 1, 2009

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN APR 05 FROM FRIENDS. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED. WHILE RUNNING, THE BUTTON CAN BE PRESSED AND THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND RECALL C45 ALLEGED TO BE COMPLETED 10-25-05. DUE TO MY CHILDREN NOW USE THE CAR, A RETURN WAS MADE TO A DEALER 12-01-09 FOR RECALL. INVOICE STATES "REINSPECT RECALL #C45." WHILE WAITING, SERVICE ADVISOR APPEARED TO DISCUSS RECALL AND STATE THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTERLOCK CABLE. INVOICE STATED "DID RECALL C45 REPLACE SHIFTER ROD," "NEED TO REPLACE INTERLOCK CABLE, $227.00." SO IT APPEARS AFTER DOING ANOTHER SHIFTER ROD, MAYBE THE RECALL SHOULD BE FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE AS IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT # 10126915. THOUGH I SAID THIS WAS A RECALL AND A SAFETY ISSUE, HE REPEATED I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INTERLOCK CABLE. ABOUT TO LEAVE, A LONG SPRING WAS FOUND ON DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SHOWN SAME AND SAID A NEW ONE WAS PUT IN, HOPEFULLY WITH A NEW SHIFTER ROD, THOUGH MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG FIX FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

Other Chrysler Sebring Convertible model years

Check your 1996 Chrysler Sebring Convertible VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chrysler Sebring Convertible at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Chrysler VIN