2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Seat Belts Problems

DRIVERS INBOARD SEAT BELT BROKE OFF WHEN MY SON TRIED TO BUCKLE UP IN THE DRIVEWAY. POTENTIALLY A FATAL SITUATION IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONNECTING CABLE FRAYED. IT WOULD NOT HAVE HELD IN ANY TYPE OF FORWARD ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 113,000

THE SEATS BELTS WILL LOCK AND YOU CANNOT LOOSEN THEM. IF YOU ARE JUST ENTEREING THE CAR YOU CANNOT PUT THEM ON.

Mileage: 100,000

ALL SEATBELTS IN THE CAR HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT STARTED WITH THE BELTS RANDOMLY LOCKING, WHETHER DRIVING OR NOT. NOW, I HAVE TO KEEP CLIPS ON THE BELTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM FULLY RETRACTING. *JS

Mileage: 88,000

ON 6/18/13, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH (THE RECEPTACLE PORTION) WAS BEING PUSHED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CENTER CONSOLE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE. THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME IT DID THIS, THE ENTIRE BUCKLE BROKE OFF. UPON INSPECTION, THE WIRE CABLE CONNECTING THE SEAT BELT LATCH AND THE ANCHOR HAD BROKEN. THE ANCHOR WAS STILL SECURELY BOLTED TO THE SEAT. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALER AND CHRYSLER, TO NO AVAIL. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM CONCERNS THE SEATBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM ".THE SEATBELT CONTROL MODULE" HAS FAILED ON OUR 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING 1. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AFTER SETTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE BATTERY WAS LOW REQUIRING JUMP STARTING. 2. TWO DEALERSHIPS CHECKED OUT WHAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. 3. WITH THE BATTERY GROUND DISCONNECTED AND AN AMMETER BETWEEN BATTERY GROUND AND CHASIS GROUND MY INITIAL READING WAS .06 AMPS,. 4. WITH THIS SAME TEST SETUP IN PLACE THE DOORS WERE OPENED AND THEN CLOSED THE AMMETER READ .5 AMPS DRAW ON THE BATTERY AFTER THE CONTROL FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TIMED OUT. NOTE:THE INITIAL BREAKING OF THE GROUND DISGUISED THE PROBLEM. (MAYBE WHY DEALERSHIPS DID NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM) . I PROCEEDED TO PULL FUSES UNTIL I DISCOVERED THE .5 AMP DRAIN WENT AWAY WHEN THE FUSE FEEDING THE SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE WAS PULLED. I HAVE NOT YET HAD OUR CAR REPAIRED HOWEVER APPEARANCES ARE THAT THE MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM MAY NEVER HAVE SHOWED UP HAD THE CAR BEEN DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS KEEPING THE BATTERY FROM GETTING TOO LOW TO START THE CAR. EVEN WITH THE FUSE PULLED THE SEATBELTS COULD BE USED AS NORMAL WHICH WE DID SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY LOCKED TO WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE RETRACTED. WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE TELLS ME THIS MODULE HAS MANY SAFETY FUNCTIONS BESIDES JUST REMINDING US TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELTS. THE IMPACT SENSOR IS A COMPONENT OF THE SEATBELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE (SCTM) LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE G-SENSOR IS SENSITIVE TO FRONTAL IMPACT AND TO A ROLL OR PITCH OR MORE THAN 45 DEGREES AND TO ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 0.7G IN ANY DIRECTION. IN CLOSING MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY CARS BEING DRIVEN DAILY WITH THE OWNERS UNAWARE OF A MALFUNCTIONING "SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE". *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

Mileage: 154,000

MY WIFE OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE. ON SEPTEMBER 6., 2011 MY WIFE WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AND WHEN SHE WENT TO BUCKLE HER SEAT BELT THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT'S FEMALE RECEPTICLE (DRIVER'S SIDE) BROKE OFF IN HER HAND (THE ENTIRE CABLE SNAPPED). UPON INSPECTION WE DISCOVERED THE CABLE THAT BOLTS THE RECEPTICLE TO THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE BINDING OR BENDING. WE CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED IT "WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY...." MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER IT WOULD COST $300 TO REPLACE IT. AS A TEMPORARY FIX I MOVED THE SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT TO THE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SINCE IT'S ILLEGAL IN MISSOURI TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. WE FEEL THERE SHOULDN'T BE A WARRANTY PERIOD FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON A VEHICLE - IF A PART FAILS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THEIR SUBSTANDARD PARTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A DEFECTIVE PART THAT COULD COST THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE THEIR LIFE. AFTER DOING AN ONLINE SEARCH WE FOUND WE WEREN'T ALONE IN SEAT BELT RECEPTICLES BREAKING ON CHRYSLER SEBRINGS. WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF MY SEARCH I FOUND 5 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE SAME MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT - ONE MENTIONED THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AFTER AN ACCIDENT WHERE "SEVERE HEAD INJURIES" RESULTED. THE COMPLAINTS I READ ONLINE STARTED WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2000 AND GO THROUGH 2005. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF THE SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE I MOVED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILING IN AN ACCIDENT. IF I GET ONE FROM A JUNKYARD TO SAVE MONEY ON THE REPAIR WHO'S TO SAY IT WON'T BREAK IN AN ACCIDENT TOO RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH? *TT

Mileage: 119,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT TIMES, THE SEAT BELT CONNECTORS WOULD FAIL TO ALIGN PROPERLY, RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE SEAT BELT RELEASE MODULE DOES NOT RANDOMLY BELTS. UPDATED 09/21/11

Mileage: 160,000

2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI - SEATBELTS MALFUNCTION SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP (BOTH SEATS AT THE SAME TIME) SO THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE USED. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT VERY PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE REPLACED THE SEATBELT FUSE. I HAVE CONSULTED WITH A CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPT. TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR WOULD BE $508 PER SEAT BUT COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE SOLUTION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET; HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F11C283 WHICH HAS NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WWW.ALLEXPERTS.COM. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

I OWN A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI. THE SEAT BELTS OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT RETRACT FROM BOTH FRONT SEAT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN AN HOUR AND SEVERAL DAYS. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEBBING OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED WHEN WORN BY AN OCCUPANT. IF THE OCCUPANTS ARE NOT SECURED IN THE VEHICLE, THEY COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIANS HAVE REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS, SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/23/09.*JB

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE A 2000 SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BASE WIRES BROKE AND TORE OFF THE CLICK IN PART.. I BROUGHT IT TO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $300.00 DOLLARS TO PUT IN A NEW BASE. MY HUSBAND TRANSFERRED THE PASSENGERSIDE BASE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FOR ME. BUT I CAN'T TAKE ANYONE WITH ME IN THE CAR. I AM STILL UPSET. I WISH THEY WOULD SEND ME A NEW BASE. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

2000 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CABLE WHICH IS MADE UP OF STRIATED WIRES SNAPPED OFF WHEN THE STRADS BROKE OFF. THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I REPLACE THE SEAT BELT THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE CHRYSLER CORP SEAT BELT CONFORMS TO FMVSS 209 MODEL NO.0TT00 LOT NUMBER 03501G. *TR

Mileage: 110,446

ON MY CHRYSLER SEBRING (2000), THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS ARE NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. EITHER THEY BOTH LOCK AND CAN'T BE DEPLOYED, OR THEY BOTH CAN BE DEPLOYED AND BUCKLED, BUT THEN LOCK IN PLACE, EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING PARKED WITH NO BRAKE APPLICATION. WHEN I START THE CAR, I NEVER KNOW WHICH WAY THE BELTS WILL PERFORM, BUT MOSTLY THEY JUST LOCK IN PLACE. SINCE BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BEHAVE IDENTICALLY, IT MUST BE SOME MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS BOTH SEAT BELT MECHANISMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE OF A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SPLIT IN HALF WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO USE THE BELT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DO NOT REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS FOR FREE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT ALL SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A LAW THAT THEY MUST BE WORN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

ON MY 2000 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, THE SEATBELTS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK TO THE POINT THAT THEY CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT AND USED. OTHER TIMES, THEY RETRACT WHILE BEING WORN AND CANNOT BE RELEASED; VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM THAT IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. *TR JEAN HUMMEL

Mileage: 78,000

2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE REAR ENDED AT A RED LIGHT. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE COMPLETELY FELL APART, COMING OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY. *JB

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED AND CANNOT BE USED. CONSEQUENTLY, I AM UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELTS CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT +$300 TO FIXED A "FAILED SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE". *NM

Mileage: 87,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY TO THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 130,000

AFTER TAKING MY 2000 SEBRING CONVERTABLE OUT OF THE WINTER GARAGE STORAGE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT. THEY ARE LOCKED INSIDE THE SEAT ASSEMBLY AND UNABLE TO BE EXTENDED OR TO BUCKE-UP THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN FILED ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHER AUTO TROUBLESHOOTING SITES. BOTH ASSOCIATED FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK. THERE IS A SEAT BELT MODULE BETWEEN THE SEATS UNDER THE CONSOLE THAT IS PART OF THE CIRCUIT AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD BET TO TRY A NEW ONE. A RI CRYSLER DEALER REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO TRY THE FIX WITHOUT PURCHASE OF THE "ELECTRONIC" PART SO I GAMBLED $135 AND LOST. THIS WAS NOT THE SOLUTION. A FEW SITES PROVIDED STORIES OF DEALERS PROPOSING DIAGNOSTISC AND REPAIR ESTTIMATES UP TO $1000 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A HUNCH THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SEBRINGS WITH NON-FUNCTIONING SEAT BELTS AND FOLKS NOT ABLE TO JUSTIFY SPENDING $1000 TO UNSTUCK THE SEAT BELT. RI SEAT BELT LAW IS NOW MANDITIORY. I AM A LAWBREAKER IF I DRIVE MY CAR IN FOR A REAPAIR. I HAVE HAD A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH ONE CHRYSLER DEALER AND AM FEARFUL OF ANOTHER. IF I KNEW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM MYSELF IT WOULD BE DONE BUT THIS IS A MYSTERY AT THIS POINT. I AM AN ENGINEER AND CAN FIX MOST ANYTHING SO THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE ISSUE.

Mileage: 105,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE AND BROKE OFF FROM THE ANCHOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED AFTER PUTTING THE SEAT BELT ON, IT OCCURRED BECAME LOOSE AND IT BROKE IN HIS HAND. THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. HE FELT THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE ANCHOR CABLE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS COMPLETELY FAILED, EVIDENTLY FROM SOME SORT OF METAL FATIGUE, AND THE BUCKLE ON THE ANCHOR SIDE IS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

Mileage: 118,906

DT: CONTACT STATES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS HAVE THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED INTO PLACE WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN BOTH SEATS. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE ADDRESS/PHONE NUMBER OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED*. *AK DAIMERCHRYSLER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS. THE CHRYSLER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM ESTIMATED ABOUT $1,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TT

Mileage: 50,000

1. FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK PREVENTING USE. 2. FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK WITH OCCUPANTS MAKING DIFFICULT TO EXIT. 3. APPT WITH DEALER TO REPAIR... NO RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME.

Mileage: 100,000

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE, THEY ARE IN THE LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER IS DRIVING WITHOUT SEAT BELTS BECAUSE SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM.*AK *NM

Mileage: 139,000