Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension70
- Service brakes, hydraulic52
- Power train47
- Engine and engine cooling39
- Structure39
- Electrical system37
- Air bags31
- Visibility28
- Vehicle speed control19
- Seat belts16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 25 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Chrysler Sebring failed the safety check 1.50% of the time — 2% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 85,802 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 10.3–11.7 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 237–269 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebring · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.1 | 10.3 |
| Sebring · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.7 | 11.1 |
| Sebring · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.5 | 11.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring.
| 2001062 9 Mar 2001 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower lateral arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication. There is a potential for moisture to leak past the protective bo… |
| 1999144 30 Jul 1999 | Steering On certain vehicles, the rubber boot on the lower lateral ball joint could be damaged, allowing the intrusion of dirt and water, leading to extraordinary wear o… |
| 1998165 26 Aug 1998 | Other NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FLOOR MOUNTED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED SHIFTER RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FOR… |
| 1998010 21 Jan 1998 | Emissions Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1103 - exhaust emissions. The calibration of the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may fail to adequately control CO emi… |
| 1997205 20 Nov 1997 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the lower control arm ball joint may separate due to loss of lubrication. This separation could result in loss of vehicle control and a cra… |
| 1997037 18 Feb 1997 | Electrical On certain Sebring convertible vehicles, the electrical contacts in the power mirror switch may accumulate road salt due to water entering into the switch. This… |
| 1996102 11 Jul 1996 | Brakes On certain Sebring convertible vehicles, a power brake booster vacuum hose may be improperly installed on the intake manifold vacuum nipple. A disconnected vacu… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L V6 ENGINES, THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE CAN FRAY CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BIND OR STICK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE POWER MIRROR SWITCH CAN ACCUMULATE ROAD SALT DUE TO WATER ENTERING INTO THE SWITCH.
THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM NIPPLE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chrysler told its dealers about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623153 | EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE, HARD START AND START & STALL.*CLS |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 616720 | INFORMATION ON NEW COMPONENTS AND A REPAIR PROCEDURE DEVELOPED TO REPLACE FAILED SEAT SLIDE MOTORS. *TT |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610000 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089311 | CONCERNS WITH A/C EVAPORATOR ODOR. *NLM |
| 6089309 | INFORMATION ON MICHELIN P215/55R 16 XGT 4 91S TIRE. *NLM |
| 6089137 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF POPPING/KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM |
| 6089089 | VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE CONVERTIBLE TOP BEING PINCHED BETWEEN BOWS WHEN LOWERED. *NLM |
| 6089076 | CONCERNS WITH TRUNK LID APPEARING UNEVEN WHEN OPENING. *NLM |
| 6089070 | CONSUMER MAY COMPLAIN THAT TOP DOES NOT FOLD PROPERLY AND/OR LINING PROTRUDES OUTSIDE WINDOW WITH TOP RAISED. *NLM |
| 6089060 | CONCERNS THAT SEAT BACK CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BY LOWER RECLINER HANDLE. *NLM |
| 6089049 | CONCERNS WITH SQUEAK IN MID SECTION OF BODY ON ROUGH ROADS. *NLM |
| 6089046 | CONCERNS WITH WIND NOISE/WATER LEAK AT TOP OF "A" PILLAR. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6089028 | INFORMATION ON 41TE/42LE SERVICE INFORMATION. *NLM |
| 6088988 | CONCERNS WITH 41TE/42LE TRANSAXLE SHUDDER DURING AN EMCC (ELECTRONICALLY MODULATED CONVERTER CLUTCH) SHIFT. *NLM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE IGNITION INTERLOCK
CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER DISENGAGEMENT
CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER DISENGAGEMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation