9.4

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,100
Average Mileage:
94,200 miles
Total Complaints:
114 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace engine (38 reports)
  2. replace the engine (28 reports)
  3. not sure (15 reports)
  4. new engine (9 reports)
  5. rebuilt the engine (6 reports)
  6. needs new motor (5 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #54

Dec 112008

Sebring Limited 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

engine should have been recalled this really sucks Chrysler should be sued

- estevens, Williamstown, NJ, US

problem #53

Nov 252008

Sebring Limited 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I have had issues with my Sebring since I have owned it, mainly oil pan gasket, leaks, hoses, fairly minor repairs to be quite honest. I change my oil and do preventative maintenance often-my son is a mechanic. I am completely done with Chrysler after this last fiasco! The water pump gave out, not only was it a pain and major disassembly to get to, but once there we found the engine was covered in sludge! This sludge caused the engine to cease, and now I need a new engine. What should have been a minor repair has created a catastrophic issue-I need a new car! I only drove the car maybe a block when the temperature light came on and it started to over heat. Thank goodness I was just pulling into work and was not stranded in the middle of nowhere (which is where I was a few days earlier-road trip). I would imagine there is a lawsuit out there regarding this common issue. Can anyone direct me? Needless to say I will never ever purchase a Chrysler again-EVER!

- Dolores Deer 6., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #52

Dec 052008

Sebring LX 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles

I will never purchase another Chrysler again, and will do everything in my power to stop others from doing the same. They try to blame the oil sludge but I had mine changed regularly, and now the repair is more than the car!!!!!! As of now I'm out 10,000 for the car, and now they want another 6,000 for the engine!!!!!!!! If I would've known about this problem I never would've purchased the car.

- Harrold G., Seattle, WA, US

problem #51

Nov 292008

Sebring LX 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,167 miles

I bought this car new at the end of 2001 and kept it well maintained. One day, out of the blue, a clicking sound started. At the next intersection the car stalled and upon restarting it, it sounded terribly unhealthy. No check engine light - but the engine certainly sounded like it needed checked!!! I managed to get it parked and had it towed to a repair shop for evaluation. $200 worth of investigation showed that the engine is in need of replacement as the mechanic suspects a rod is thrown.

What a piece of garbage! If our tax dollars bail out Chrysler (again), then I want a piece of that bailout to compensate for the 3 years or more of service that I'm not getting from my soon to be junked car!

- Chris D., Westerville, OH, US

problem #50

Sep 152008

Sebring LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,145 miles

Engine failed and was told to bring into their shop to evaluate. How do I get it there when I live more than 60 miles away? The extended warranty rep was an asshole!! I don't own the warranty, the company writing it does!! They replaced the engine with a salvage engine and I have no idea how many miles is on the engine. They refuse to disclose that info. Warranty states repair or replace and they replaced. Period. What a load of crap! Had to insist they change the oil! Within one month the resistor went out on the fan motoe for the heat and ac. Of course, not covered. Tie rod replaced. Transmission work. Windshield motor work, replaced 4 tires due to blowouts, dealership assholes and talks down to women!

- suz1961, Gallatin, MO, US

problem #49

Oct 272008

Sebring Limited 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,050 miles

Another 2.7L Chrysler engine DEAD. Not much warning on this premature death...no engine light, just the oil light flashing a little.

Oil sludge issue - as usual on this motor.

Now I have a great looking giant paperweight and I am still making monthly payment for something I cannot drive.

This is sickening.

- Rebecca B., Southport, IN, US

problem #48

Jul 082008

Sebring LX Convertible V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

click to see larger images

oil sludge resulting in engine failure oil sludge resulting in engine failure oil sludge resulting in engine failure

First time I had a problem car overheated in July 2007; had engine checked was told everything was a-ok, not a problem ma'am. I was driving home from work and almost home it just died at a stop sign. Sat for a while, waited for engine to cool down enough to get it going again, limped it home (2 miles) and then had it checked. Nothing found wrong, no reason for the overheat. I had previously had the oil changed every 3k-4k miles but I'm horrible at keeping records so don't have proof. Then car overheated again in July of 2008. Took it to mechanic who said waterpump was failed and needed to be replaced. When replacing had to partially take engine apart when sludge buildup was found. Mechanic said it looked like a 20 year old car with no maintenance, but he is the one who has been doing the changes for the past 18 months so knows that's not true. He can't provide records prior to his changes tho so don't have complete records to show Chrysler. Sounds like it wouldn't matter anyway. Long story short, 2 weeks w/o car (I live in the country 25 miles from work) and $750 later, I have a pos car that I can't put any more money into but it still doesn't run right, owe $4k on, and it's worth about $2k if that. Wonderful job, Chrysler! NO I won't be buying any Chrysler vehicle ever again in my life!

- Elizabeth B., Sheridan, IN, US

problem #47

Aug 252008

Sebring LX 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

Complete Engine Failure due to Oil Sludge. Problem occurred after spending $1200 on a Fuel Pump. Engine light was on and never ran properly after repair. Told by Dealer not to worry it was only oil sludge due to the car not having regular oil changes (at 3,000 miles, even though the manual states 7,500 miles). Cost of new engine at $5,000 to $6,000.

- Karen B., St. Petersburgh, FL, US

problem #46

Nov 072006

Sebring Cloth 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

I also had my oil changed at the Byers Dodge service center in Dublin Ohio, the engine oil separated and the engine gunked up, customer care investigated and refused the claim based on maintenance. They stated that this engine was made for use with man made oil and that the oil company and product was to blame, the run around was so great I ended up getting sea sick pills. I cave up and bought another car. Warranty yea right, what it really means it the company will go to war with you until you get "T" off and give up. thus problem solved.

- gutches, Columbus, OH, US

problem #45

Jul 052008

Sebring LXI V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

I got my 2002 Sebring in June of 2007 from Carmax and it barely had 27k miles on it. I started having issues with it at the beginning of 2008 when my heat wasn't working. I took it in for a regular oil change and had them take a look at my radiator. They said I needed new thermostat housing. It was still under warranty so I took it to CarMax and they replaced the thermostat housing. Within a week it started overheating. I put in 2 gallons of antifreeze within a 2 week period. After about another week it appeared to be fine. In July it started doing the same thing and got to the point where on July 5th it just died on me. The coolant was getting backed up in the reservoir tank and causing the car to overheat. I ended up having to have it towed to Carmax (on my birthday!!) because it was still under warranty. They said I needed a new head gasket which they weren't equipped to fix so I had to have it towed (again... at my expense) to a nearby dealership. They were the ones that told me, after having my car for a week, that I needed a new engine. Luckily the car was still under warranty and all I had to pay for was spark plugs but it was a remanufactured engine not new. Would you believe that after being without my car for a month (yes a month!!) I had to take it back because it started smoking... AGAIN!! Turned out that they never did anything about the coolant tank (hmmm, wasn't that the initial reason I took the damn car in?). Again, it was still under warranty but I had to pay the deductible even though it should've been fixed the first time around. Since then it's been ok but stay tuned...

- dayga, Atlanta, GA, US

problem #44

Aug 082008

Sebring 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Kept smelling a very hot smell and taking it in to be looked at. The computer said nothing was wrong. Changed oil regularly and watched all fluid levels, but still smelled hot. Check engine light came on and had it serviced again. Light turned off. Light kept coming on and nothing showed up on computer. One day started running rough and I stopped. Husband came to take car home and call to get checked out. It stopped running. Had it towed to mechanic. Water in Oil and needed new engine. Our mechanic said it was not worth fixing. We owe 3 more years on this and now it sits in our yard. Chrysler would sell us an engine for $3000 plus labor. Why would I want to buy the same engine when it will do the same thing. Now we find others with the same problem. Never Never Never another Chrysler if they gave it to me

- Kila J., Lebanon, OR, US

problem #43

Jul 252008

Sebring 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

Just as other people on this site my engine blew (2.7L-V6) after putting much money into repairs on this vehicle and calling Chrysler last incident where my water pump went and cost about $950.00 to replace now my oil light started going on and when I went to get it looked at the engine was blown. I talked to Chrysler and no one at that facility would help with the water pump. Now I have a bigger problem. A car with a blown motor and no money to fix it. If anyone knows of a suit going on against Chrysler I would appreciate the information. This is ridiculous that a company as big as Chrysler is selling products that they know have defects.

- Denise G., Bayville, NJ, US

problem #42

Nov 092006

Sebring GTC V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

My car died on way to school. I had regular maintenance with oil and such. Chrysler said didn't change oil and result engine failure. I knew couldn't be. So i got on computer. Talked to my mechanic, and he talked to other mechanics. With their information and information from computer saw it was getting to be a common problem. They are a huge corporation trying to hide a manufacturers mistake. The engine gets so hot that it ruins the oil and my car as early as 50,000 miles.

- Lisa C., Phila, PA, US

problem #41

Jun 302008

Sebring LXI 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

The timing chain broke and damaged valves. Turns out it can not be fixed cheaply. It needs a new engine for the tune of $4,600 dollars or so. Of course the warranty has expired and the 70,00 power tran coverage ran out at 70,000. The cars worth $5,000 at this point, so not worth fixing. I've got it on craigslist right now and am taking a BIG hit with this POS car. It was a beauty though at one time, but now I'm paying dearly for it.!

- Cherie L., Deerfield, IL, US

problem #40

Feb 102008

Sebring LX` 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,000 miles

I have a 2002 Chrysler Sebring that I have to continue to pay for and I am a single mother. Had I been informed that this engine problem is a common failure I would have never invested the little money we can spare on a car that is guaranteed to fail you. I am now stuck making a monthly payment to a car that will cost over 6,000 dollars to repair and what do you know I don't have 6,000 dollars laying around. I was told by a mechanic that this is a well known problem with this model and the company was well aware of it. I can't believe we have companies so devious that they know there parts are defective and are willing to take advantage of people. Well that just goes to show you how people really are. Needless to say I am in a complete bind because we cannot afford another car and the one I am paying for is stuck in my garage. The company cares nothing about its consumers and does not take responsibly to make things right.

- shell, Lockhart, TX, US

problem #39

May 302008

Sebring 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

Add me to the list. Bought this POS car in August and still owe money on it. I have some motorhead friends who need the money so they can put in a new engine, but do the replacement engines have the same problem? Also keep up the complaining! A few years back we all did the same thing about the fuel pump on the Ford Focus...it took a year and a complaint to the BBB but I got my money back :)

- goodgawd, Darien, NY, US

problem #38

May 042008

Sebring 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Like all the others, I'm enraged that this is a documented problem and they still sell the car knowing it will fail. 3 months prior the water pump went to the tune of $900.

- dreamchanter, South Portland, ME, US

problem #37

Mar 152008

Sebring LX 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Had this Sebring for a year and a half. It just turned over 60,000 miles and leaked oil and coolant all over my drive. Checked the dipstick and found that it was full of the mixture. Mechanics originally thought that I had a blown head gasket but the car never over heated. Upon further examination it was found that the water pump, which is poorly designed had gone out. Now I need a water pump, timing belt and kit, valve cover gaskets just to name a few things. So far the bill is around 2500.00 and we're not sure that will fix the problem yet. I love the Sebring and had another one prior to this but this will be the last! I will trade it as soon as possible. Still owe 6k on the piece of junk. Hopefully there will be a lawsuit or something to compensate all of us.

- Debra W., Garland, TX, US

problem #36

Apr 092008

Sebring LX 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,047 miles

my car has had problems with the heat we had that fixed. several brake pads & rotors changed. We recently had the whole heating& cooling system fixed. worst of all the motor gave out without a warning. We kept up maintenance on the car. I'm a mom I don't go far. Take the kids to school, run to the grocery store. Im not hard on the car. I took care of it. Without warning, the motor revd up and died. we tried to start it again and their was a loud knocking. i was told it was the motor and that its a common problem in this car. I didn't know. no one told me. I still owe 6000.00 on this car. its going to cost me about that to fix it. I don't know what I'm going to do do yet. I can't afford to pay what I

- Margie A., Centralia, IL, US

problem #35

Mar 172008

Sebring LXI 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

The fact that Chrysler knows about the engine sludge problem (a result of poor oil circulation) with the 2.7L V6 and has done nothing about it is ridiculous. There should be a class action suite organized against Chrysler to force them to fix these engines. Anyone know a lawyer willing to take this on, I'm sure we would all sign up.

- Jon N., Rapid City, SD, US

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