You name it, this car has had it.
Brakes and rotors required complete replacement at 20,000 miles. Chrysler made me pay part of the cost because rotors are a "wear and tear" item. I have owned a number of cars in the past -- including Chryslers -- and never needed to replace rotors so soon.
The transmission has had shifting problems as of late. I got the computer reprogrammed, but the transmission shop advises me that this is a symptom of early failure for a Chrysler transmission and it will likely go within 20,000 miles. Anticipated cost: $1,800.
The car has had a persistent oil leak which Chrysler said didn't exist within the warranty period. Now the warranty is over and the leak is worse.
The car's 2.7L engine is prone to siezing up and self-destructing (see http://www.dontbuyone.com for details about this). This engine is EXTREMELY delicate and if you follow Chrysler's oil-change instructions, you WILL have to replace the engine around 60,000 miles (at a cost of about $6,000). You should flush the engine and use a thin synthetic oil if you want the engine to last. I managed to avert long-term sludging by doing this at 46,000 miles and hopefully the engine will be one of the lucky ones that doesn't completely fail.
At high speed on the road, when you put the air conditioning on, the top whistles -- so loudly that you cannot hear other passengers. Chrysler and the dealer insist this is "normal" -- although my old-technology LeBaron dating from the 1980s never did this and was actually quieter on the road as a result.
This car is plagued with poor attention to detail and just plain lousy fit and finish that shows up after about 20,000 miles. Visor clips on this car are known to break regularly and will cost you about $30 to replace every time they do. Interior trim is flimsy and prone to fading in the sun. The seat recline adjuster on both passenger and driver sides has needed to be replaced due to stripped gearing -- not from abuse.
This car is a real tragedy. It's changed me from a loyal Chrysler driver into someone who advises people to steer clear of Chrysler products.
This car is just unacceptable. On one hand, it's a smooth-driving, comfortable, good-handling, great-looking car.
On the other hand, it's a reliability nightmare, with little things that should have been done right failing, and BIG things that definitely should have been done right failing.
In the 21st century, basic items like engines and transmissions should be rock-solid, and Chrysler has amazingly managed to build a car which has both a weak transmission AND an engine prone to sludge failure. It wouldn't be quite as bad if Chrysler actually backed the product, but every time I've taken my well-maintained car in for repairs due to engine, transmission or other problems, Chrysler accuses me of lying -- not changing the oil, etc.
Even after I produce evidence of my excellent maintenance of the car -- receipts for maintenance, dealer statements, etc. -- Chrysler STILL tries to shift the blame to the customer. This is unacceptable.
Perhaps I got "one of the bad ones" (though from what my mechanic tells me, EVERY Chrysler car with a 2.7 L is a "bad one" when the engine sludges up and dies, requiring expensive replacement). Perhaps you'll be lucky and not have problems. But if you are less lucky, do you really want to trust a warranty from a manufacturer so willing to shift its lousy engineering onto you -- along with thousands of dollars in costs?
Neither was I. I ended up buying a Suzuki Reno for my daily driving and parking the Sebring until I can get all the problems fixed and then sell it to a Chrysler dealer. And after owning four Chrysler cars -- and recommending them to countless people -- I've washed my hands of Chrysler forever. That should tell you something.
I'm sorry that you have had so many problems with your car, but some of your comments are somewhat over the top, especially regarding the 2.7L.
"Everyone is a bad one"? Statistically this is nonsense, and this should be obvious to everyone. Chrysler has probably produced a million or so of these engine type (just a guess) and they are used in many different cars. Even if there are hundreds of reported sludged-up engines, this is a small fraction of the total units built.
Even if you are frustrated with your car, you should not exaggerate and say every engine is bound to fail. Personally I know an example of the 300M (2.7L) with well over 130K on it, and as far as I know no special care has been taken with this car. But I don't know why some others suffer from this problem, though.
The reported problems with the 2.7 were enough to keep the Sebring Convertible off my list when I was shopping for a FWD convertible.
I looked at the Volvo C70 and the Saab 93, before deciding on the Saab. (I love the Saab!)
This is not to say that you can get a good or bad example of any car. My 1993 Volkswagen Cabriolet was one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever had the pleasure of owning, but I frequently read horror stories about their reliability (or lack thereof) on this site.
I worry about the reliability of any vehicle, as a problematic one can certainly drain your bank account.
This time I sprung for a 5 year 100,000 bumper to bumper warranty, for a little piece of mind.
I certainly hope that I never have to use it, but will be glad I purchased it if I ever do need it.
I fell your pain. I have had several things go in my 2001 convertible, one of them being the visor clip. I never got it fixed, and I ended up with the wires in the visor (that light the mirror) blowing the fuse that also runs the radio and the mirrors. Took me forever to figure out.
I've also had problems off and on with the car shifting hard (or not shifting into all gears) and the transmission light goes on. I've taken it in twice for that and was told it was one of the 2 chips that control the transmission, not the transmission itself. I have 120,000 miles on this car and have started using synthetic oil, so hopefully, if it hasn't gone by now I'll be okay.
Overall, I am extremely disappointed with the quality and reliability of this car and probably will never buy another Chrysler product as long as I live. It's a shame because the car is fun (and practical) and I really like the looks of some other Chrysler cars (300, Crossfire) but I don't want a repeat of having my car in the shop every few months.
My last Chrysler product (a '90 Omni) went 240,000 with virtually zero problems. I did 2 brake jobs, replaced 2 timing belts, and one heater hose. That's it. No CV joints, no clutch (it was a 5-speed), NOTHING. For that reason I'm looking at buying a used 2001 or 2002 Sebring convertible to use as a 3rd car. I like convertibles, but don't want to buy a new one. I like to read these reviews and comments for info on the cars I might consider. I hear a lot of bad things about the 2.7 engines. Any suggestions (NO foreign makes, please, been there and done that. Upkeep is just too expensive).
Thank God for e-bay and other sources of used visor clips, because it takes nothing to snap them off. It would only be a minor annoyance, but when they are broken, then the visor hits you in the head when you turn a corner. I replaced one and within a week it had broken (and I'm being particularly careful, knowing how delicate they are).
I have also had trouble with the seat adjustment lever. The side lever on the driver's side gets stuck "open" so the seat won't lock back into place when you push it back. The only way to do it is to snap the bottom lever, which is conveniently stuck in the upright position by that point. Just hope you aren't trying for a one-handed operation at that point.
I have always wanted a Sebring Convertible and purchased a 2001 this past December. The car was immaculate and had 58,000 miles on it. After driving the car a mere 1,500 miles, the engine was a total loss. I have just picked it up from the shop where the engine was totally rebuilt. My mechanic explained that this 2.7 is very delicate and that I should sell it. Such a shame, it is a beautiful car and it is my understanding that Chrysler is not standing up for this product. This is my first and last Chrysler.
My 2001 Sebring is in pieces all over the garage try to repair. purchased 1 1/2 years ago with low miles 45K, exceptionally kept and well maintained.
2.7? Yuck. I agree with just about all the negative comments that have been made. This is one car that you should strongly consider staying away from.
At 60K-it fell apart. Since I still have an active loan on the car, we are repairing it instead of sending it to a dealership. We have put over 40 hours into just tearing it apart to replace the bearings, rods, crankshaft, serpentine belt etc... now the expense to buy parts... (don't go to the dealership for those... try Advance Auto you will save hundreds of dollars for after market) then another 40 + hours putting it back together.
We have enjoyed our Sebring when it was working.
One word of caution about the roof... if you make an adjustment because of wind noise in one one location... it throws the roof off in others. We tightened down the front left corner due to a water leak and noise... the whole roof has now shifted and the wind noise is awful. (normally drowned out however by the stero)...
By the way, the Infinity Stero system went out too.
Chrysler Sebring 2.7L convertible, 68,000.
My issues with this car.
Brakes & Rotors: replaced rotors twice already. Be prepared to have brake and rotor problems with this vehicle. My first set of rotors needed to be replaced at 22,000 miles.
Electrical: Something is definitely not right with the electrical system in this car. I am currently on my 4th battery because of various electrical issues that the dealer has not been able to fix. Sensors and warning lights "bong" and go off like its Christmas... VERY annoying and inconvenient when the battery dies almost on a yearly basis.
Gee fellas, you are scaring me. I've had numerous Chrysler products, from a lot of k's to convertibles, to trucks. People would all tell you'll be sorry, not once did they ever fully fail. I do feel that the 3.3 is a bullet proof engine, superior to any made in the country. Now I'm going to purchase a 01 Sebring Convertible with a 2.7 engine. It is used and has 90.000 miles on it. I know the people that own it; they've had 0 problems with it, just regular good maintenance on the engine and transmission.
Note that the electonic transmission needs a service at every 30.000 miles. Only use mopar tranny fluid (most people don't) hence the trouble. So I'm going to purchase it and keep you all informed.
$30 for a visor clip?!? I paid $8 online https://secure.webmakerx.net/Default-2.aspx?hostname=parts.crownauto.com.
I've had electrical problems with my 2001 Sebring.
Am on my third battery and have had the car a year and a half. Sometimes when I turn the lights off, they turn themselves back on. Sometimes turn signals work, sometimes they don't. Dealer said for $97, he could probably tell me what the problem is.
Also, has oil leak that it has had since shortly after purchase.
I don't want another Chrysler.
I bought a 2001 Sebring Conv about four months ago and just broke one of the famous plastic visor clips. After reading how many of these break, I am thinking of designing a metal one and sell them online! Anyway, everything else has held up well so far. It now has 63k on it.
We also purchased a 2001 sebring convertable last year, visor clip broke, now in shop with 1 maybe 2 transmission problems. worst case scenario $1000.00 or $469.00 up until this point has been a wonderful car and fun 2 drive, the car had 38.000 miles then has 79.000+ now, most of them highway miles. I will consider another one, now that mopar has a lifetime warranty. i have not experienced any oil leaks yet, and hope I don't.and I have to make the time to change the oil usually @4,500 miles. i also owned a 2005 dodge rumble bee, no problem there. I now have a 2007 ram big horn quad cab, I just hit 22,000 miles no problem's yet, and our dealerships have been wonderful.
I have a 2001 Sebring Conv. LXi and I hate it. My parents purchased it for me in January of 2006 with 63K miles on it with the dealership telling us what a wonderful car it is. In August of 06 the engine literally broke apart. The mechanic we took it to said that there was major engine sludge that stopped up the engine and caused part of a blade to break into several smaller pieces which in turn ripped the engine apart. After we waited about 8 months deciding what to do with the car, we paid $6000 and replaced the engine and thought that the bad part was over and the car would be great! Right? No. Less than 3 months later in July, the car started making a whining noise coming from the front passenger side. It's still doing it and we've just recently found out that the wheel bearings are quickly going bad... great. Then, in September the A/C went out. The heater still works though! Even though I live in Texas and it was 80 degrees yesterday... And then last week my radio stopped working. The display won't turn off even when my key is out and it drained and killed the battery. I can't even get the CD out of the player! So we're still trying to find the money to fix that problem. All of this is on top of the car being very loud and letting rain, dirt, bugs, and all sorts of debris in when the top is shut... I can't tell you how many times I've been driving in rain only to have my legs and my seats wet from a leak or gotten a random fly in the face that came in through the seal. Oh yeah, and the spring on the driver's side door broke too, so I have to hold it open with my leg while getting out of the car so that it won't close on me.
All I can say is that I will never buy a Chrysler product EVER again. This car has been nothing, but a headache for me and my (and my parents') wallet from day one.
I have a 2001 Sebring Convertible LXi and it is a good car. Other than abuse from the previous owner this car still looks great. I just completed the 100K miles tune up, and it is running strong as ever. I do run synthetic oil.