8.9
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $3,860
- Average Mileage:
- 73,600 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 45 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (17 reports)
- replaced engine (12 reports)
- replace engine (10 reports)
- not covered under warranty (4 reports)
- replaced spark plugs & wires, fuel injection system cleaned (2 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I have a chrysler sebring 2004 lx...spent over $2500 on repairs at the place where i bought it which is supposed to be a "state of the art repairing center"..problems were: vehicle shakes when starting/accelerating/igniting/.....overheats...stalls.........
took it to a garage mechanic and he plugged in a reader and got the codes.....he figured one of the four cylinders aren't working....changed the spark plugs and wires....
working fine as of now....the vehicle has 112,000 miles on it.
lesson learnt> never buy a chrysler...unless its a v6
- sandher, Yuba City, CA, US
I was coming home from my sons house and the oil light came on and then within minutes the car stopped. I did not have any warning and did not understand what was happening; I knew I had oil, and the battery wasn't the problem because radio and lights were still on. My husband tried to jump start but that did not work. I had it towed to the Chrysler Dealership and they said the engine was seized. I asked how that is possible when I had oil and no signs that I had problems with the engine (i.e. No engine noises etc.) and he said that there was oil and that it looked pretty clean. He also said he had no idea what caused it, and that it would cost additional money to pull the engine apart to determine the cause. Money I do not have. His solution was to buy either a used engine at the cost of $5,500 with a 6 month parts only warranty or $7,200 for a factory reconditioned one. I still owe $6,500 on this car. It seems others have had the same problem according to these posts, so what can I do? If there is anyone out there that can help me with this please let me know.
- pine, Monroe, WA, US
Only a few months after buying this car brand new we had issues with it lunging forward. I would be stopped at a light with my foot firmly on the brake and it would just jump. 3 times I took it back to the dealer for this problem. The 3rd time they changed the spark plugs and that seemed to solve that problem. The 3rd year into owning the car the blower went out and would only work on the high setting.The check engine light has randomly gone off and on again almost the entire time that we've had the car. We took it to the dealer and paid $109 for them to say everything was fine and re-set the computer. A few months ago I got in the car and it would not start. We charged the battery for a few hours and finally got it started. A few weeks ago my oil light would flash on and off every now and then. My husband checked the oil and it was fine. Yesterday I was driving the car and came to an intersection. I stopped for the light. There were no noises, no flashing lights, no indication that anything was wrong. When the light turned green I couldn't move. Figured it had stalled. I tried to re-start it and it wouldn't even turn over. After about 15 minutes of trying to re-start along with the police arriving we called a tow truck. We had the car towed to the local repair shop only to find out that the engine is completely seized. There is nothing that we can do except buy a factory re-built engine for $3,770. I am so upset!!! If anyone knows of a class action lawsuit against Chrysler please let me know. If there isn't one already then there definitely needs to be.
- scotrod318, Brunswick, OH, US
bought this POS new, has never had any other oil than amsoil 5w40, changed every 5k miles, oil light stays on up to 1500 rpm, really sucks, thought the high price synthetic oil would eliminate this problem with the 2.7 but was wrong, will never buy another Chrysler product. Wish the government would let them go under they deserve it. George A. Virginia
- George A., Cheriton, VA, US
This car has less than 50,000 miles. I paid cash for it. Now, I am looking at $8000.00 to repair it. I can not stop crying. Where am I going to get this kind of money? I am absolutely hysterical. How can Chrysler do this?? They continue to build lousy, and even after they know it has a major problem, they do nothing to correct it. Why should they care? The customer is stuck with the car. We would not sit by and simply complain online about a bad roof on our house we pay $20,000 for! Or a contractor doing work on our house that goes bad ... we would sue. How is it that car companies do this and get away with it?
I can not keep from crying. $8000.00 and I did nothing to bring this on. Except buy a Chrysler.
- sunkist, Beaverton, OR, US
I guess I am having the same problem as others but my engine hasn't quit yet. My problem is with the oil pressure light flashing at idle speeds. The oil like so many others has been changed every 3000 miles or less. I am a mechanic and have been for several years so my first deduction was to change the sending unit not to hard to do but a little pain. This did not fix the problem. But I did notice the oil that came out of the sending unit port was much dirtier than the oil in the pan so I decided to flush the engine. My light went out for now but after reading the other complaints I am sure my problems are not over. But I will however flush the engine more regular to try to slow down my woes. While doing some research I found there is a tech. bulletin put out by Chrysler it is TSB #08-36-99 which calls for a wire terminal vent wire be added to the switch connector. But I recommend only doing this after your oil pressure has been checked and is good. I have been a loyal Dodge fan since I have been able to drive and I own 3 of them my 83 dodge Diplomat has 175000 miles and still going strong but this Sebring and my 2006 Dodge truck have not been so good to me so I guess it is time to change.I think it will be to a Honda.
- Brian G., Oxford, AL, US
2004 Chrysler Sebring has Sludge problem. The thermostat housing cracked and caused the car to overheat. I only used synthetic oil but when car over heated I believe it burned oil badly enough to cause sludge. N car won't rev above 4000 RPM.
- vendor1usa, Yonkers, NY, US
2004 Sebring 2.7 v6, engine failed, dealership wanted about nine thousand dollars for new engine and to install it or he would be more than glad to sell us a new one. Now what kind of dumbass would buy this same auto again, i was born at night but not last night. anyway a guy that has same problem says he is a lawyer and would like to hear from more people who have this problem, i think he had a 2003 Sebring. his address is JOHN@DURSTLAW.COM, MAYBE HE CAN HELP US.
- Allen I., Oklahoma City, OK, US
2004 Sebring, 100,000 miles, engine failure and it wasn't due to my negligence,i have a 2001 Malibu with 200,000 miles and a 1993 Chevy p/u with 150,000 miles and i changed oil in all 3 from the start. Chevy's are still running good and Sebring is sitting with blown engine. CHRYSLER CORP. SUCK BIG TIME
- Allen I., Oklahoma City, OK, US
CHRYSLER SUCKS BIG TIME I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER. DON'T BUY A SEBRING . CHRYSLER IF YOUR SELLING A PRODUCT AND IT IS DEFECTIVE ON YOUR SIDE, YOU NEED TO FIX IT AND QUIT RIPPING PEOPLE OFF. AGAIN I SAY CHRYSLER SUCKS.
- Allen I., Oklahoma City, OK, US
I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS THE OTHERS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND WE SHOULD BE REMBERSED. BEEN A DODGE FAN FOR 30 YRS IT IS TIME TO CHANGE. GOT NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER NOR CHRYSLER NEED CLASS ACTION TO FIX TA KNOWN PROBLEM.
- Dan G., Citrus Heights, CA, US
As driving the car home, coming from having the oil change, coming up towards an intersection the lights on the dash starts to flicker then the car shut down. 30 minutes later the car was towed. Tried to restart the car and the car wouldn't crank. thought it was the battery, had bought a new battery, tried to start up the car again, still no sound. So it is figured that the engine has frozed up.
- Curtis H., Jacksonville, FL, US
2004 Sebring LX oil light flickers and comes on when coming to a stop. Seems to happen after engine warm. Have changed oil at least every 4000-5500 miles. I have 52K miles on the car and have taken very good care of it. From reading the other posts it appears that this is a common problem.
- Frank J., Simpsonville, SC, US
I have taken my Sebring back to the dealer at least three times for the same issue, and today I'm taking it back for the fourth. The oil light keeps coming on and off, sometimes staying on for awhile, even immediately after an oil change, and I have been faithful about the oil changes. Another issue is that when the oil light appears, the car will often shudder at low speeds and has had a history of dying when slowing down or accelerating from a low speed. I am completely disgusted.
- Teresa D., Arlington, TX, US
the oil pressure light continues to come on with no warning usually when slowing down for the stop light for e.g. causing a little trembling then the engines dies. it is kinda
embarrassing driving a fairly new car that has engine failure.Chrysler should be sued for this. i started changing oil at 5000km, treating it with oil stabilizer at Canadian tire, it runs a little better but i have to add the oil stabilizer at every oil change which can be
costly.
- Derrick S., Toronto, ON, Canada
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy Chrysler. This sludge problem has been well documented by Chrysler yet they refuse to cover repair costs. My oil was changed every 3,000 miles religiously yet my engine still failed.
- Jeffrey H., Pacific, MO, US
2004 seabring Touring 2.7 Eng. 71000 miles. Oil Light comming on due to sludge im sure. Warranty over at 70000 miles. Oil&Filter changed every 3000 miles. What to do? Drive it till it blows. Still owe more than its worth. Im just SCREWED. Chrysler Will never get me to buy another vehicle.
- Harold E., Aiken, SC, US
Bought car used w/less than 40k on it. Commute 70+ miles one-way to work each day... car started having problems accelerating and I thought it was because it was do for an oil change. Got an oil change and it improved slightly. After a couple of weeks got frustrated and took in to the shop for the acceleration issue and the loud noises & squeaking (see other comments). Dealership said car needed tune-up and proceeded to replace spark plugs and cables and they also said there was a lot of gunk built up in the fuel injector system and they cleaned it. Of course none of this was covered under my warranty. Seemed to be working when I picked it up.
- Linda H., Copperas Cove, TX, US
This is the problem I'm having right now but the car hasn't stopped yet. Engine light has come on & they've put the car on the computer. They tell me it's a 'sound' in the engine and mentioned when they changed my oil they noticed "sludge"...... I was floored! It's only got 34,740 miles. They re-set the light at first & said 'maybe that was all' because they had to replace my exhaust system...... it was faulty..... maybe that wasy the reason.
They had it for two days. Got my car back, went to the grocery store the next day and as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot to come home the light came right back on. I had only driven it about 5 miles. I went straight to the dealership. "Bring it back in tomorrow."
Took it back the next day at 9 a. m. At 4:30 p. m. I called. Is it ready yet? We looked at it but we'd like to have you bring it in when it's cold and check it then. "O. K." I said "But I only live a mile from the dealership & I brought it in this morning & it sat all night & you've had it all day. It should have been cold then & cold all day!" Well, they didn't get it. It's Friday so this is when they said they wanted me to drive it for a THOUSAND MILES with their additive to clean it..... which was really only Transmission fluid...... because of the "sludge" that was in it.
Next morning my HUSBAND went in to get the key when I got the car. He got into it with the woman inside when she told him he needed all the receipts from all the oil changes. "Who keeps all the receipts?" he asked her. "Oh I ALWAYS DO" she said. "Well, you must be one of the few who do" he told her........... Anyway, we're on a roll & ready to fight the System. Nothing worse than feeling like you've been screwed.
You try to do what's right & support your Country's Companies because these are your workers who are here who need to feed their families. My father worked for Ford for over 44 years & my husband, himself, is a Seelworker....... but with things like this... NO WONDER people are turning to buying Foreign Automobiles!
- watkins, Dalton, OH, US
My wife's car engine dash light on her Sebring Convertible kept coming on. We changed the oil twice but after the 3rd time, it would not go away. Took it to a mechanic close to home, and was told we needed a new engine due to sludge in the engine. Cost me over $100 for them to test the engine. My wife cried for 3 days. This was her 3rd Chrysler Convertible and she kept saying over and over .".. I should have known... I should have known!" Took it to my mechanic across town, and they called and said "Get rid it it - NOW!" She cried. We bought a Toyota Camry Solara Convertible and she is happy again ... we took a $7000 loss on the Sebring in trade in compared to what KBB said it should have been worth, and what we got on trade in. Both of us are bitter and angry.
- katz4jake, Beaverton, OR, US