2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible LX review from North America

Beware of the "Extended Warranty".

Clock spring at 50,000.

Rotors at 45,000.

Windows at 30,000, 35,000, and 55,000.

Transmission at 68,000.

Rear-defroster at 65,000.

Leaking transmission fluid one week after purchase.

I will never purchase another Chrysler as long as I live for two reasons: 1. The car was falling apart, and 2. The company does not back up their work.

I take care of my cars as if they were my own children. I wash, wax, drive carefully, never rev too high for too long, no one drives my cars, and so on. I had a Dodge Neon from 0 miles to 137,000 miles with no problems. THAT is a testament to how well I kept my cars. However, this was the worst car I have ever owned.

The Sebring was a nightmare. The windows would always jerk and shake as they roll up. I had the left window motor replaced twice and the right motor once. The transmission was slipping at 68,000 miles. That is ridiculous.

The worst part is the dealership itself. I purchased the extended 7-year, 70,000 "bumper-to-bumper" warranty that the dealership offered. Unfortunately, it doesn't really cover what is spelled out in the contract. My clock spring stopped functioning at 50,000 miles. This means you cannot turn your wheel whatsoever. I left it at the dealership, and I received a call letting me know it was going to be a $700 repair. I explained that I had the extended bumper-to-bumper warranty, but I was told that it wasn't covered.

I called the Daimler Chrysler customer service number and talked to a gentleman about it. It turns out that the warranty I purchased was NOT the Chrysler extended warranty like the dealership told me; rather, it was the dealer's personal warranty, and they could determine what they would or would not cover. (Believe me, I read that contract from top to bottom before purchasing it, so I wasn't blindly buying whatever they offered me.)

Then the customer service gentleman, who represents Chrysler, told me I should report the dealership to the Better Business Bureau for "misrepresentation"! So rather than trying to discipline the dealer for wrong dealings or fix the problem, the company wants me to report its dealer to the BBB??? Chrysler has even given this dealership a 5-star rating.

I did some more research, and it turns out that all of the customer service phone calls are outsourced to a company in Oak Ridge, TN. In fact, if you want to write a letter, which I did, the address is Oak Ridge, TN according to the Daimler Chrysler website. Sounds like Dell.

I have since traded the car and bought a Honda, which I love. I have already been treated 10 times better. I will never buy another Chrysler again, which is sad considering how much fun the convertible was to drive... when it would run.