10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 64,126 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring. The contact was driving approximately 65 mph when there was a loud, abnormal pop from the vehicle. The front end of the vehicle then collapsed as the vehicle abnormally accelerated, independently steering right. The vehicle skidded and crashed into a pole. There were three persons reported injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. A field inspector was sent from the manufacturer to inspect the vehicle and found that the rear driver side ball joint had separated from the upper control arm and caused the contact to crash. The manufacturer offered no assistance as they did not claim responsibility for the failure or the crash. The current and failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Updated 05/16/11 updated 2/8/12
- Sacramento, CA, USA
2002 Chrysler Sebring sedan. Consumer writes in regards to the catastrophic disintegration of the left rear suspension the consumer stated extensive corrosion led to the suspension failure. The consumer stated it was not the first time, he experienced the failure. The dealer replaced the left rear upper strut mounts and the right upper strut mount.
- Washington, DC, USA
Rear upper strut mounts degraded due to oxidation and corrosion. This degradation causes the mounts to weaken and eventually to break, allowing the struts to detach at the top. The strut mounts must be replaced to correct the issue.
- Perry, MI, USA
Driving across rr tracks at less than the posted speed and the driver's side rear strut mount broke and began banging in the well area of my 2002 Chrysler Sebring convertible. I contacted several local garages, the Chrysler dealership where I purchased the car, and mopar parts online to get price and availability on the part. I've been told by everyone, the part # 4879071 ad is on national back order with no availability date. Per mopor some customers have been waiting over 5 months for the part. Per the dealership no recall or safety bulletin has been issued on this part. Per the dealership and mopar there are over 5,000 mounts on backorder and none are getting filled. I can not fix the failure due to unavailability of the part. With this many on back order, apparently there is a problem and no one is addressing or willing to admit there is a problem and correct it.
- Grove City, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring convertible. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact heard a loud noise underneath the vehicle. There were no warnings prior to this failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was discovered that the rear strut mounts were corroded. The technician recommended that both strut mounts be replaced. The vehicle is currently being repaired for the malfunction. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.
- Clyde, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Sebring convertible. While driving approximately 55 mph, the rear strut mount detached from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the rear strut was corroded, which caused it to fail. The technician also stated that the company that manufactured the parts was no longer in business; therefore, they could not provide her with an estimate of when the parts would be produced to make the repairs. As of July 24, 2008, the vehicle has not been repaired and cannot be driven. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 90,000.
- Martinsville, IN, USA
In may, while driving my passenger side rear strut mount on my 2002 Chrysler Sebring broke. I took my car in and had it fixed and had to leave it as the dealership (golling Chrysler) advised me that it was a safety hazard to drive with the broken strut mount. On 06/29/08, my driver side rear strut mount broke. This time, the dealership (clarkston Chrysler) stated that there are no replacement parts as there is a design flaw with the part and they had to be reengineered. So, I have been unable to drive my car since 06/29/08. My car only had 65,000 miles but it is parked and unusable. I have been told that this is a common problem and there is a backlog of 10,000 parts on order. Chrysler called to state that they estimate that the parts would be in on August 11th. This is obviously a safety hazard - or at least that what the dealership told me and I cant imagine that very many people can shelve their car for 6 weeks and instead - like me, have had to drive there car on occasion. I was able to burrow someone's vehicle but there were still times when I did have to drive my Sebring when another vehicle wasn't available. It should be noted that of those 65000 miles, well over 99 % were on highway and paved roads. There are no dirt roads in the area and it is rare that I ever drive on one.
- Clarkston, MI, USA
On July 10th,2008 I heard a loud noise coming from the back of my 2002 Chrysler Sebring 4dr sedan. I pulled over and noticed the rear passenger strut had fallen from the mounting bracket. I took the car on July 11th to get it fixed. The repair shop told me that the bracket required (4879072ad) is on extreme backorder and it couldn't be fixed. I called all over the country searching for this part. It is only available through the dealers. There is no aftermarket replacement. All dealers everywhere are out and have orders placed on Chrysler but never get the parts. I called Chrysler customer service and they acted as if they didn't know of the problem. After being persistent, I found that there are over 10,200 on backorder in the us as of 7/17. Assuming 2 per car and some dealer "safety stock", this could add up to 4000 cars which are not being driven because of the parts availability or are being driven unsafe. Every Chrysler parts dealer I called said the potential exists for the wheel to fall off without the strut attached. It also causes damage to tires and other components. I checked with junk yards hoping to find a set. I did find them and they are in the same condition as mine. If the carpet in the trunk is pulled back you will see white dust and corrosion everywhere. I heard from a dealer that the parts come from Mexico and the plant is on strike, there have been cars sitting and waiting for this part for up to 3 months, best case I can get parts in 1 month. From a parts, safety and awareness standpoint, Chrysler has dropped the ball on this one. Unacceptable. I am out car rental fees and have been on the phone for days! they could at least acknowledge the problem! I am certain they know of it.
- Shortsville, NY, USA
July 1 driving on bluewater bridge right rear strut snapped off. Two weeks later while in St. Thomas Ontario the drivers side strut snapped off. Both of them had rotted right off. Replaced with reconditioned struts - $500 + towing.
- Camlachie, 00, USA
Was driving home and hear loud noise got out and checked and found that the strut bracket had broken on the rear of my 2002 Chrysler seabring. I got home and called the dealer to get a new one they told me that the part was on backorder and that there was around 8000 on backorder so I called Chrysler and asked why they haven't recalled this part yet with 8000 parts needed there must be a problem with this part. They told me that there wasn't any of these parts in the usa. Now why is this? this part is known to go bad they told me. Then why can't they issue a recall and get these parts made so these cars can be fixed.
- Pennsdale, PA, USA
Driving 5 mile P/hr (luckily) upper control / arm bal joint, left rear, cracked, separated...tire fell off tbd (probably replace both parts or more depending on extent of residual damage.
- Brentwood, CA, USA
Loud clanging noise from rear. Mechanic advised that both both struts and shocks were broken and needed replacement. Estimated $600.
- Conowingo, MD, USA
Upon rotating tires on Jan 2, 2007, I noticed severe corrosion on the rear strut mounts of my 2002 Chrysler Sebring lxi. Had these mounts not been replaced it could have caused severe injury to the passengers as the springs would have let loose through the external wheel well and enter the passenger compartment. This could cause damage to the vehicle as well as bodily injury to the occupants. Failure of these parts also could have caused the driver to experience a degraded response in handling. I purchased 2 new (modified by manufacture) strut mounts and installed them. The strut mounts cost were minimal. Rear strut mounts are severely corroded, cracked and broken.
- Pen Argyl, PA, USA
: the contact stated at various speeds, a noise was heard coming from the rear section of the vehicle. An independent repair shop determined the driver side rear strut mount was corroded and fell apart. The part was replaced. The vehicle was located in a salt belt state.
- Hancock, MD, USA
: the contact stated there was a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined the rear passenger side strut bracket fractured and penetrated the tire. The strut bracket and tire were replaced.
- Armagh, PA, USA
Vehicle control arm on right rear wheel broke while driving.
- Capron, IL, USA
The rear mount that holds the rear mcpherson strut in place, disintegrated. The consumer stated it was made of aluminum. It fell apart and the part made a rattle sound, which was the strut moving around. The consumer was going 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, they replaced it.
- Windsor, NY, USA
- Windsor, 00, USA