2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING . IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE FUMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ON MAY 17,2010 WHILE DRIVING TO COLLEGE, I NOTICED A LOUD WHINING ROUGH SOUND, AND EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IT WOULD SOUND LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE COMING FROM MY TIRES. BEFORE, I COULD STOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL MY SEBRING OVER CORRECTED AND ENTERED A COUNTERCLOCKWISE SPIN. I CROSSED 5 BUSY LANES BEFORE STRIKING A DITCH. MY CAR STOPPED OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC!!! JULY OF 2013 I HAD MY LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND BALL JOINTS REPLACED. AND AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 14,2014 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE SHOP AGAIN FOR LOWER BALL JOINT DISCONNECT AND REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AND AGAIN THIS YEAR FEBRUARY 24, 2015 FOR THE EXACT SAME THING; REPLACEMENT OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS CAR IS VERY HAZARD I WAS BLESSED THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN 2010 WHEN I HAD MY ACCIDENT! EVERY TIME; I DRIVE THIS CAR I AM SO FRANTIC OF KNOWING AROUND THE TIME I AM GOING TO HEAR THAT SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING AND SOUNDING LIKE LOOSE BOLTS COMING FROM THE TIRE. MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER THIS YEAR, MADE THE REMARK;" MAMA I HEAR THAT RATTLING SOUND AGAIN!" PLEASE SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE; DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE COSTLY REPAIRS ON THE CHRYSLER SEBRING 2002 CARS. THE ECONOMY IS NOT CHEAP TO LIVE IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FIXING THE SAME REPAIRS YEAR AFTER YEAR ON THE ONLY VEHICLE YOU HAVE. AND YES, I DO HAVE ALL RECEIPTS ON REPAIRS AND ACCIDENT REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF HELPING. *TR

Mileage: 85,237

I KNEW ABOUT AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CONTROL ARMS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR, YET WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED MY VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY RECALLS. SOON AFTER, MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE AND THE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR

MY FRONT END CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT COLLAPSED, CAUSING OTHER PARTS TO BE DAMAGED. EVER SINCE THIS HAS HAPPEN MY CHRYSLER HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DID TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT TO MY DISMAY NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT MY CAR THE CHRYSLER SEBRING ALWAYS HAVE MAJOR FRONT END SUSPENSION ISSUES. SINCE THIS IS THE CASE, I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEMS ON THESE MAKES AND MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR, HOWEVER I DO NOT. I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY FRIVOLOUS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT CHRYSLER CAN CORRECT THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Mileage: 106,559

THE STEERING IS TIGHT 80% OF THE TIME. I FOUND OUT I HAD BAD STRUTS AFTER PUTTING IT ON A LIFT WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? *TR

ON FEBRUARY 10,2012 I JUST GOT OFF THE EXPRESS WAY AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND UP FRONT. I GOT OUT TO LOOK AND FOUND THAT MY WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CONTROL ARM BROKE. I HAD TO PAY $450 TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 142,349

FIRST I HAD CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK SO THE PAN OR SOME PART WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THE OIL IS STILL LEAKING OUT OF THAT PAN OR PART? THAT WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS INCLUDING CHECKING THE CONSTANT FLICKERING OIL LIGHT WHICH NOW JUST FLICKERS AND I PAY IT NO ATTENTION. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS A COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING, THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START SO I TOOK IT IN THAT WAS 800 SOMETHING BY THE TIME THE CAR WAS GOING AGAIN. THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THE CONNECTER THAT HAS THREE HOSES TO IT WENT BAD AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEN I OPENED IT THE WATER WAS SPRAYING LEAKING AND OF COURSE EMPTY WHICH WAS ANOTHER 300 BUCKS AFTER TOWING PARTS LABOR ETC... THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH I JUST DO MY BEST TO STAY IN THE LANE. ALSO I HAVE FOUND OUT THE WHEEL ARE REALLY REALLY CHEAP AND FLAKING SO MY BRAND NEW TIRES WERE IMMEDIATELY PUNCTURED WHICH I'VE PAID A BUNCH TO KEEP THEM SEALED AND BALANCED AND NOT TO MENTION THE WEAR FROM THE STEERING AND FLATS HAS PRETTY MUCH RUINED THE NEW TIRES. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

AT 41,000 MILES MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI 4 DOOR SEDAN REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME IF IT HAD FAILED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR AND POSSIBLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. ONE YEAR TO THE DAY - AT 47,000 MILES THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS NOR EVENTS WHICH LEAD UP TO THESE FAILURES. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END, STEERING. IT LOCKS UP AND BECOMES VERY TIGHT THEN VERY LOOSE. I WAS TOLD POSSIBLY RACK-AND-PINION BY A MECHANIC. AFTER LOOKING AT THESE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB SITE, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE 2002 SEBRING W/87,000 MILES. I WILL HAVE IT CHECKED OUT MONDAY FOR SURE. HOW DO I GET CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS? *JB

POWER STEERING RACK AND RUST ISSUE. *JB

Mileage: 22,889

THESE ARE SAFETY/DEFECT ISSUES REGARDING MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING ENGINE: I HAVE A 2.7 LITER V6 ENGINE AND I HAVE RECENTLY READ ABOUT COMMON PROBLEMS AFTER EXPERIENCING A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. JUST TODAY, I HAD A MECHANIC LISTEN TO THE ENGINE NOISE AND HE SPECULATES THAT IT IS A ROD OR ROD BEARING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYMPTOM OF THE SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT YOUR WEB SITE HAS DOCUMENTED. I HAVE NOT YET CONFRONTED A CHRYSLER MAINTENANCE REP AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TACTICS THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AS SUCCESSFUL. I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT REGULAR ABOUT OIL CHANGES, BUT I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, SO WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM PROVING THE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. STEERING: LAST SUMMER I FIRST EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING TIGHTENING. BASICALLY THE GENERAL FEEL OF THE STEERING WAS TIGHT AND IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO A 'HOME' POSITION AFTER TURNING. A MECHANIC ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE $1500 TO REPLACE THE RACK ASSEMBLY AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ON A HUNCH, I HAD THE POWER STEERING FLUID REPLACED AND WITHIN A WEEK THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. AROUND OCT/NOV, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED AND I HAD ANOTHER POWER STEERING FLUID REPLACEMENT. THIS TIME THE SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT AND HAVE NOT COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. I HAVE READ A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER SEBRING OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JB

"POPPING" FELT IN STEERING. TIRES STARTING TO WEAR ON OUTSIDE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY (WARRANTY) BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE ALIGNMENT NEEDED AFTER THE REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 25,127

SERIOUS CLUNKING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION / BRAKING. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE AND REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT LOWER ARM CONTROL. GLAD I MADE IT HOME ON MY 250 MILE DRIVE WITHOUT KILLING MYSELF OR OTHERS! *JB

Mileage: 26,425

THE PROBLEM TO MY CAR HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. MY 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK AND TIE RODS AT 28,000+ MILES. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS $1800. REPAIR. A CALL TO CHRYSLER SERVICE RESULTED IN AM OFFER TO PAY FOR THE PARTS NOT THE $1000. LABOR CHARGE. I CALLED BACK TO NEGOTIATE THIS OFFER. I WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK WHICH I RECEIVED BY VOICE MAIL ASKING ME TO RETURN THE CALL AND STATING THAT WAS THERE BEST OFFER. . WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE CALL TO THE PERSON WHO LEFT THE MESSAGE I WAS HUNG UP ON TWICE. I AM STILL TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHRYSLER BY PHONE SO FAR AFTER SEVERAL HOURS I AM STILL UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB I FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS KIND REPORTED BY OTHER SEBRING OWNERS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATING? THIS IS A LIGHTLY DRIVEN CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SUFFERED THIS TYPE OF DANGEROUS FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 28,800

THE PROBLEM TO MY CAR HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. MY 2002 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK AND TIE RODS AT 28,000+ MILES. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS $1800. REPAIR. A CALL TO CHRYSLER SERVICE RESULTED IN AM OFFER TO PAY FOR THE PARTS NOT THE $1000. LABOR CHARGE. I CALLED BACK TO NEGOTIATE THIS OFFER. I WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK WHICH I RECEIVED BY VOICE MAIL ASKING ME TO RETURN THE CALL AND STATING THAT WAS THERE BEST OFFER. . WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE CALL TO THE PERSON WHO LEFT THE MESSAGE I WAS HUNG UP ON TWICE. I AM STILL TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHRYSLER BY PHONE SO FAR AFTER SEVERAL HOURS I AM STILL UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB I FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS KIND REPORTED BY OTHER SEBRING OWNERS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATING? THIS IS A LIGHTLY DRIVEN CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE SUFFERED THIS TYPE OF DANGEROUS FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 28,800

HOSE TO POWER STEERING IS CRIMPED BY A.C. UNIT PIPE ,CAUSING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *AK

Mileage: 41,000

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WAS BINDING. DRIVER WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD STICK, MAKING TURNS VERY DIFFICULT. *AK

Mileage: 46,000

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING IS BINDING. THE DRIVER WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD STICK MAKING TURNING VERY DIFFICULT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 46,000

STEERING COLUMN MAKES A CREAKING SOUND LIKE A DOOR HINGE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, EVEN IF MOVED WHILE AUTO IS PARKED AND MAKES THIS NOISE ALSO WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGED ON 1/13/05 AND ONLY CHECKED BRAKES AND DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND CHECK THE TIE ROD OR STEERING COLUMN FOR NOISE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *JB

A KNOCKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER NOTICED, WHILE STEERING,THAT STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURNED ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOLENOID SWITCH. *AK

CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN MAKE SNOISE EITHER WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, DEALER HAS INSPECTED 3 TIMES, AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ALSO WHEN CONSUMER MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN MAKE A NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS