1998 Chrysler Sebring Convertible JXI review from North America

Starter motor short circuited at 70,000 miles; needed to be replaced at a cost of $400+.

Convertible top wore out when car was five years old, wearing through at the creases and all the stitching disintegrating. A routine maintenance - $700.

Driver's side floor floods during heavy rain; not sure where the water is coming from.

A strange electrical problem that causes the door open sensor to register and the power door locks to lock while driving. Started around 100,000 miles. I've seen other reviews mentioning electrical problems with the alarm. Perhaps my electrical problem just manifested itself differently; alarm has always worked perfectly.

Other than that, the engine runs as if it was brand new, with no hesitation starting, no sputtering, no leaks, doesn't burn oil, etc. Still gets almost 30 mpg highway (significantly less city - about 21 mpg),

The worst design feature about this car is its brakes. Chrysler would have benefited so much more by just increasing the rotor size. As it is, the car has trouble stopping its 3500 lb curb weight, and brakes go quickly. Even with ABS, it's a beast to stop.

I went with lower profile tires to get even better handling (the car handles amazingly well for its size already). Unfortunately I tried to save a little money and get a generic brand. The tires caused a vibration in the front end at just about any speed, produced a horrible, loud noise inside the cabin, and wore absolutely terribly. I bought the same size tire (205/50/16) from a more reputable company, and those problems disappeared.

Extremely comfortable interior and wonderful stereo system. The six disc changer right under the radio/vent cluster is excellent design. Could use a little more back seat and trunk room if you're a family person; could be a little smaller and sportier if you're not.