First problem I had was a month after buying it. The transmission blew, with two gears getting burned up all due to a faulty transmission fluid hose. very expensive, but thankfully some persuasive calling to the dealership persuaded them to fix it.
The A/C blower has gone out ($400).
O2 sensor gone out multiple times ($200 a pop).
Head gasket blew. Not covered under warranty (~$2k to fix).
Top is coming unthreaded and unglued around back window, making it look ghetto. But I can't seem to save up enough money to get that fixed because I busy paying for mechanical failures.
"Special package" feature wood paneling has cracked off on passenger side as well as knobs on radio coming off.
Had to replace tires ($500) and am trying to save up to fix brakes.
This car has been in the shop 10 times in the last year and a half and never for anything small.
I am longing to pay this car off so I can trade it in (if I'll even get anything for it) and get another vehicle. Never again for Chrysler. I have had more problems with this vehicle than all other vehicles combined; my mechanic now has a prefilled out form for me every time I come in and knows me by first name when I call, since I see him so often.
This jives with the experience of everyone I've known, including my father, who had a Sebring convertible.
I've found one simple rule effective for judging cars -- though this doesn't work with wholly new models. Observe how many are still on the road... From seeing scads of Sebrings when they first came out I've gone to them being few and far between. Contrast this with, for instance, your basic Toyota Corolla, of which you still see oodles of all vintages driving about...
I agree with the original writer ours has a noise on start up that won't go away till warmed up three shops three diagnosis three bills over $400 apiece and I still have a noise my top is also coming unglued around the window, but I am going to try the hair drier and windshield epoxy to fix next week I would say if you had a choice run if you see one just call your local parts store and ask for motor mounts, rods & mains, or how about an oil pump... good luck.
It is ashamed that you have had such a horrible experience with your. Mine is at the 100,000 mile mark and I have owned it since brand new. I did get the extended warranty (the only time I ever got one) but it did pay off because the time belt broke at 45,000 miles causing extensive damage, but after that it has been wonderful!!! It looks great and is still running like a champ. Last year my husband asked if I wanted to start looking for a new car - but after looking around there is nothing out there I really liked. I did put a new top on it because 5 years of wear had did a number of it! And put new wheels on it! I walked away with a car that looked as good as when I bought it new and runs just as well. I live in Florida and you see MANY Sebring convertibles. I love it!!
I agree with the above poster.
My '97 has 114k miles, and I have had very very problems in the 3000 miles since I bought it. In New Jersey, the land of brutally snowy winters, and atrociously hot summers I see many first generation Sebring convertibles abound. Many in better condition then mine, granted people put them away for the winter... but still. They can last quite some time.
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