29,000 - Sunroof leaking, not covered under extended warranty, repair did not solve problem, took it back, still no fix, just try to keep it out of rain.
35,000 - Check engine light on, O2 Sensor, of course not covered under extended warranty, $450.
38,000 - Brakes squealing horribly, had to get rotors and pads replaced, $700.
39,000 - Transmission not engaging on cold startup, took at least a minute or two before it would engage. Took it to dealer, could not reproduce problem, so could not find anything wrong, but of course, because the extended warranty was still good.
39,000 - Check engine light on. Went off after about 1000 miles.
40,000 - Driver's door trim panel popped off, clip broken, of course, not covered by extended warranty.
42,000 - CD Player quit working, CD got stuck in player, finally got it to spit it back out. Didn't even try to get it replaced, of course, not covered by extended warranty.
43,000 - Check engine light comes on sometimes, then goes off, who can afford to take this car into the shop every time it cries.
49,000 - brakes squealing horribly, pedal all the way to the floor, husband had to turn around from work and come back home as brakes were barely stopping car. Had to replace all brake rotors and pads AGAIN, ANOTHER $750.
50,000 - Automatic dimming rear-view mirror not automatically dimming any more. Extended warranty now expired (at 49,000)
65,000 (most recent) - Transmission went out, clutch casing broke apart which then contaminated the torque converter with metal frags, cost $1850. Check engine light on, mechanic says it was "high fan motor" trouble, but then the light went off after he unplugged and replugged, figured loose connection.
NOW - Brakes starting to squeal again, speakers in car starting to break up with static, passenger side window switch working intermittently (won't risking putting that window down), alarm system will go off if driver's door is opened with key, have to open car on passenger side if not using remote control.
I hate this car, totally unreliable, money pit, want to sell or just drive off a cliff somewhere, but bought it used and owe more than it is worth, extended warranty now expired, just waiting on something else to happen.
DO NOT PURCHASE A CHRYSLER CAR!!! They look great, but unless you want to spend most of your money on repairs, then buy something else! Like a Nissan!!
I have a '99 LXI... I feel your pain also...I've had the same problem with my sunroof, the sensor in my transmission went out, the power steering sensor went out, replaced brakes 3 times in 70k miles, rotors once, my alarm has a mind of its own (i had to end up taking the horn fuse out) my door panel also came off and clips are broke (its in my trunk now) took it to the dealer had to have sludge cleaned out, also had to have distributer and fuel senser replaced (that was a 1200.00 fix) my mirror leaked some kind of fluid out dripping down on my console and ruining part of my plastic wood grain, my driver window is loose need I say more??? I still owe 6200 on it and I too have too much in it and owe too much to sell it. All my problems happened between 40k and 67k miles. I bought this car new, being a single parent I needed something dependable and something I wouldn't have to have in the shop all the time.
I have a 1997 Chrysler Sebring LXI purchased new and I feel your pain. I have the same problem with the sunroof. I am afraid of rain because of the leaking. But alas, that will be the final problem that I fix. My check engine light has been an ongoing problem. The dealer says that it's the oxygen sensor. I have replaced it 3 times. The last time I ignored it and there actually was a problem with the engine. Of course, my engine blew and I have to get a new converter and replace engine parts. Total cost there? $1,800. The dimmer in the mirror somehow broke so my screen has a nice liquid line across it. The motor in my driver window is completely dead. The lower panel on the passenger door is gone. I don't know when it happened, but I do know that when I drove off it was there and when I parked it wasn't. All the lights in my dash died at 50,000 miles. Those tiny little bulbs are expensive to fix. I have changed brakes and rotors too many times to count because the squealing makes me paranoid. The alarm system is way too sensitive. I feel bad for my poor neighbor, not to mention the sleep I lose by getting up in the middle of the night to turn it off. There is a shaking problem with the car that won't go away with new tires, rims, front stabilizer bar or alignment. Cost there? $1,600.
Would I buy this car again? No way. I have only 67,000 miles on the car and have replaced many little things that should not have gone bad so quickly on a new car. I have spent at least a good $10,000 fixing the car over the past few years. I would have willing added the additional 10K to the purchase price to get a reliable car.
I have a 1997 Chrysler Sebring that I bought used at around the 26,000 mile mark. I have apparently been very fortunate so far:
40,000-EGR valve replace (extended warranty)
65,000-EGR valve replace (extended warranty)
Then, it got ugly:
67,000-O2 Sensor demons attacked me, had to be replaced several times, costing hundreds of dollars each time.
76,000-EGR again, bought repair manual and with shaking hands, followed instructions to clean the valve. Miracle: have never had another EGR problem since (Knock on Wood)
Around the same time, my sunroof started leaking. Dealership does not fix this problem, even when your standing there with your wallet open. Had to relocate to the desert one year later--lucky me! No real rain threat!
80,000-Learned to replace those darn 02 sensors on my car myself. Replacing all of them, including the special tool price, was cheaper than going to the dealership to find out which one was bad, and including the cost to replace that one. Somehow, once I changed them, they have been fine up through 127,000 miles and counting (Knock on Wood)
97,000-Transmission went out. Was told by dealership that this was a little odd, and that it should have lasted longer, but still had to pay $2000 to fix. Also, now differential is making noise (?) But was told this was not a part of the transmission, and would cost $1000 to fix when it goes out. I'll wait till the tires no longer roll.
120,000-Water pump, several hoses, spark plug valves leaking oil. Cost: $900.
123,000-A/C sounds like dying cat. Compressor out, decided to go with aftermarket parts and trusted mechanic instead of dealership. Savings of $1500 :) total cost:$500.
126,000-Front and Rear rotors changed. CHEAPEST PIECE ON THE DARN THING!! Add brake pad replacement $300.
127,000-Still going; however paint is in terrible condition, as Chrysler changed paint suppliers a few years later when they realized the junk they were using. Pondering over repainting it (More money!!) Additionally, have gone through 2 front ends, because of lower lip hitting speed bumps and common road dips. An inexpensive bra can mask this problem quite nicely.
Overall, would you believe I still like my car? Maybe it is the paid off title sitting in my file cabinet :)
For anyone keeping their car, there are aftermarket parts and accessories coming out to make life with your Chrysler a little more cheaper and enjoyable.
I bought this car about a year ago and it had 70,000 miles on it. Since then it has brought me problem after problem. I have also had the problem of having to replace the brakes constantly. The side panels have come off, it has been incredibly difficult to find the parts to reattach them. Had to replace the O2 sensor twice, spent about a thousand dollars on repairs just so it would pass the emissions test. The outside driver door handle broke off. The passenger seat window's screw came loose so I can't put the window down if I eventually have to put it back up again.
I agree totally with the things that have been said earlier. I have owned my 97' Chrysler Sebring LXI for about a year and a half and have seen nothing, but bill after bill. When I bought the car at 86,000 miles I should have realized it was a mistake when before I could even drive it off the lot the dealer had to put in a new rack and pinion. Then a week later had to put in brand new ball joints. I drove it for about a month before I took it on a long trip and low and behold when I started out on the highway after hitting a bump my car would jump sideways. This is supposedly due to a bad rim and after getting it replaced found that all of my struts and rotors were bad and needed replaced. (still handles terribly) After getting those replaced it took about a month before my car overheated. I took it down to the dealer (I bought it from) and they claimed it was the head gaskets. Realizing that my car payments were getting harder to pay by the month due to car repairs I decided I would take my car to a cheaper place that was well respected by the people in the town. With the Dealer (I bought it from) wanting $800 to replace the head gaskets, Another Chrysler dealer wanting $500 just to replace the head gaskets, we took the advice of many people and called a local mechanic, he estimated $750 for the head gasket replacement, replacing the timing belt, and the outer belt, an oil change all while he had the engine torn apart anyway. I went with him and after him surveying it and replacing the gaskets he found that not only were the gaskets not the true problem, but it was that my water pump had totally seized... it twisted. the mechanic had never seen a water pump do that. Well with the additional part the total that day was around $950 with the part and labor. I prayed that was the end of it, oh, but was I wrong... since then I have replaced the tires and in the process of a new rim, but had the power steering replaced, had the cigarette lighter stop working, it leaks oil like crazy, and the sun roof shows signs of leaking before I had the car, but haven't had a problem with that since. I swear the mechanics I take my car to think I am crazy or mistreat my car due to the time it spends in the shop because as I type this my car is yet again in the shop getting a ECG Valve replaced. I have put all of my savings into this car and too think that I have too much riding on this car to sell it. I could have had this car paid off a year ago if it just would quit needing repairs. Totally a piece of junk and not worth a penny.
I guess buying my 97 Sebring LXi coupe was just up my alley. I am a mechanic and do my own work. I bought my car used for $300.00, not running, and needing a distributor. I have replaced the distributor, the radiator, all three O2 sensors, the anti-lock brake module and relay, the rear view mirror and the steering rack in it. After all this it is running fine and I love driving it. As to the total expense, that I have in the car, it is a total of $700.00. Not bad for a car like this, I guess they are just cars to be owned by mechanics.
HATE IT HATE IT!!! I have a 99 Sebring LXI and have all the same problems, but more.
The car won't run when it's raining. Took it to multiple people, all said is they don't know what's wrong.
Goes through 2 sets of tires a year.
The power window panel on the drivers side keeps falling in.
The wires that attach the alarm to the lock have fallen off and won't stay on, causing me not to be able to unlock the car with keys.
The check engine light will not go off for the last 5 years, and nothing is wrong with the car.
I bought the car for 10,000 with 40,000 miles on it, and I have put about that much in the car to keep it running.
I put about 4,000 miles on it a year because it will not run in the rain.
I bought my '97 Sebring LXi coupe from the 2nd owner with 69,000 miles. She had a small accident, I had to replace the right headlight. None of the junk yards had the part so I had to buy an aftermarket light. The left one was dull and the aftermarket right one was clear and shiney. No biggie. The transmission howled and whined from day one. My daughter calls it the "tattle tale car" The trans wine sounds like "Ewwwwwwwwww, I'm telling Mommy..."
Trans whine aside, the car served me well until 85,000 miles... The wheel bearings started humming, with the trans whining it was getting hard to hear the stereo, which by now was down to 3 speakers.
At 86,000 miles I heard the brake sensor scraping...I had pads installed to keep it cheap, I knew the end was near... I started shopping for another car... I was going to put it on craigslist then the water pump started leaking... $430... for a water pump? WTF?? It's a Chrysler! I heard you can sell cars at copart.com... and it's as-is.. That's where it's going.. I'll let you all know how much it brings.
I've owned my 97 Sebring LXi for 6 years and about 65,000 miles, and other than regular maintenance I haven't had a whole lot of problems. I've replaced the O2 sensors, the water pump, and spark plugs. I think most of the problems noted on this website could have been avoided with regular maintenance... you can't just bring your car to the shop when something goes wrong. I love my car and with 153,000 miles on it, it still runs pretty well. No complaints here, this car has been really good to me! BTW, for anyone who doesn't know, parts are not everlasting, you do have to replace them sometimes. Don't get mad because you or the previous owners don’t know how to take proper care of your vehicle.
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