1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

Mileage: 168,000

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET AT ABOUT 30 OR LESS MPH. I HAD JUST PICKED UP MY BABIES FROM SCHOOL AND THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF MY CAR . WE FELL TO THE GROUND VERY HARD STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THE WHOLE ARM THAT HOLDS MY TIRE ON OR THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS CAME OFF AS WELL . THEIR WAS NO WARNING SIGNS THE TIRE AND ALL OF ITS PARTS CAME APART SOME HOW . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS AT AN ANGLE AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE TOW TRUCK WAS NOTIFIED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED HER THAT ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND THE STABILIZER FELL ON THE WHEEL AND WAS SHAVING THE WHEEL MATERIALS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE BALL JOINT WAS SEPARATED AND IT DAMAGED THE AXLE AND THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WILL ALSO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10E059000; SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM BUT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. SHE RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421002 RECALL NOTICE, SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM, LOWER BALL JOINT WHICH STATED "DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE." UPON ARRIVAL TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT HER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT AFFECTED AND WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE THEY WOULD APPLY THE PROPER SEALANT TO THE VEHICLE. THE SEALANT NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS FOR A SECOND OPINION AND SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WAS TOO MUCH MOVEMENT IN THE LEFT BALL JOINT AND THE RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS FROZEN. CHEVROLET DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DEALER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO DATE, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE SEALANT NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91, 695.

Mileage: 91,695

I PURCHASE THIS USED 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT ONLY NEEDED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GET AN ALIGNMENT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER LATERAL CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS EXTREMELY SCARY AND VERY HARD TO GET FIXED BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE. I CONTACTED A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE IN 2001. I LOOKED MY VIN UP ON THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL AFFECTING MY VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WOULD HAVE CHARGED ME OVER $1000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE. I AM ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHICH HANGS SLIGHTLY WHEN OPENED AND MUST BE LIFTED TO CLOSE. MY SIDE PANELS ON BOTH DOORS KEEP GETTING DISLODGED BUT HAVE NOT FELL OFF YET. I AM TRULY AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO FIX AT A COST I CAN AFFORD. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SEPARATED. *TR

Mileage: 109,228

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AXLE BROKE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE FAILED AND MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING (MPH UNKNOWN) THE FRONT AXLE BROKE AGAIN. AS OF JANUARY 7, 2008, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

Mileage: 85,000

LOUD CLICK SOUND FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN SHIFTING FRONT PARK TO DRIVE, WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CHRYSLER MECHANIC AS LOWER BALL JOINT WEAR ON BOTH SIDES. RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT GREASE BOOTS WERE DEFLATED AND GREASE WAS ABSENT CAUSING PRE-MATURE (38,000) MILE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT. SYMTOMS FIRST BEGAN AT 24,000 MILES. SAFETY REQUIRES THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT JOINT AND ENTIRE CONTROL ARM BE REPLACED TO AVOID A FAILURE. SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE NHTSA RECALL OF OTHER CHRYSLER SEBRING YEARS.

Mileage: 24,000

THE DOOR CLADDING ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN DECEMBER 1998. THE DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WITH MY DOOR PANELS HANGING OFF WHICH IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. WHY WASN'T THIS PROBLEM RECALLED AS SOON AS IT WAS DISCOVERED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER? THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I RECENTLY SPEND MONEY HAVING THE WHEEL HUB REPLACED AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS RECALL WHICH WAS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE HUB PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. THE LATCH TO SECURE THE HOOD IS DEFECTIVE -- THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME. *NM

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(00V421002) LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DRIVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. CHRYSLER SERVICE MANAGER FAULKNER. *JB THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. PER INSPECTION, THE STEERING WAS FOUND DAMAGED. REFER TO RECALL#01I012000. *SC

RECALL CAMPAIGN CONCERNING TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK, CONSUMER REQUEST THIS PART TO BE INSTALL. *BF SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK RECALL, THE POWER TOP SWITCH ON THE CONSOLE DID NOT SEAT PROPERLY AND OTHER PROLEMS WERE; THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, A GROAN WOULD BE PRESENT IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OR WHEN BRAKING FAST. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION EVEN WHEN THE GEAR IS NOT IN PARK. *JB

EXCESSIVE RATTLING COMING FROM FRONT SHOCK THAT CAN BE FELT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FRONT INTERIOR DASHBOARD. HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK FOR SOURCE OF NOISE AND TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. TOOK CAR TO BE INSPECTED MONTHS FOLLOWING FIRST REPORT OF PROBLEM TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT LEFT FRONT LATERAL BALL JOINT IS BAD AND WILL RESULT IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS (TIRE CAN COME OFF AT ANY TIME.) MANUFACTURER RECALLED THIS ITEM IN 2001 AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS AT THAT TIME. NOW THEY ARE CITING THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE FAILING MECHANISM. *JB

NHTSA#00-V-421-000:LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT: 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 BALL STUD TO CORRODE. CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS RECALL AND THE RECALL FAILED. TS *TT

Mileage: 46,186

THERE IS A RECALL ON MY BALL JOINTS & MINE ARE BAD THEY ALSO CAUSED MY TIRE TO WEAR VERY THIN WHICH CAUSED THEM TO GO FLAT I CALLED CHRY. THEY SAID THERE RECALL HAD NO PREVISIONS ON TIRES WITH BAD WEAR BECAUSE OF BALL JOINT.*AK

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHENEVER CONSUMER IS DRIVING, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEIR CAR, CONSUMER FEELS THE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AS SAID IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *JG

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEIR CAR, CONSUMER FEELS THE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AS SAID IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *JG

AFTER RECALL 00V421002 REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WERE CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR IN FRONT TIRES. EXCESSIVE WEAR IN TIRES WAS CAUSING VIBRATION AND STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS. *AK CONSUMER IS UPSET THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT BEING REPLACED AS PART AS THE RECALL. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL , AND IN SOME CASES LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CONSOMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING. ALSO, SWAY BAR BOLT WAS MISSING OR CAME OFF. *AK THERE WAS RECURRENCE OF NOISE UNDER VEHICLE AND LOOSE BOLTS IN SUBFRAME. *YH

LOWER LATERAL SWAY BAR WAS WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ON JULY 7, 1999, AFTER LEAVING SHOWROOM WITH NEW '99 SEBRING,THE PROTECTIVE UNDER CARRIAGE CAME PARTIALLY UNDONE ON THE AC EXPRESSWAY. WE HAD TO STOP AND PULL THE REMAINDER OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE FROM UNDER CARRIAGE FROM UNDER FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF SEBRING SITS SO LOW THAT THE SLIGHTEST OF INCLINES OR UPGRADES(S) CAUSES A PULLING /FRICTION ON FRONT BUMPER OF VEHICLE.. THE STANDARD CONCRETE PARKING ABUTMENT IN PARKING LOTS CAUSES A PULLING/FRICTION (CONTACT) ACTION IF DRIVEN OVER WHILE TRYING TO PARK. DUE TO THIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT TEAR ON FRONT BUMPER, FACIA/GUARD.

17 INCH FRONT TIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS WEARING OUT IN THE INSIDE OF TIRE. DRIVER SIDE TIRE IS PERFECT , AND VEHICLE DRIVES WELL. FRONT END ALIGNMENT IS PERFECT. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED 2 TIRES WITHIN 15,000 MILES.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME AND TO THE RIGHT. *AK