Faults:

Water pump, timing chain = $1600.

Head gasket = $1800.

Most of the mechanics did not want to fix the head gasket on this car...

Faults:

Well.. nothing that would have been worth to be mentioned as some extreme failure, but:

- Plastic headlight covers looked after 3.5 years as if someone would have grind it with a copper brush (Chrysler tried to charge me about 1,400 Euros for two new headlights (currently almost 2,000 USD - no kidding) for replacement; I announced it as a rip-off and burglary, suited by my lawyer, and won.)

- Chrome-like door handles became "violent"; my wife had cut her delicate fingers many times on loose plastic or coating parts - cheap materials, I guess.

All attached stickers looked after 3 years as if it was made in Taiwan - quick production to look shiny and new, but only for the moment...

- Rust here, rust there. Glad it was only leasing...

- Performance: really enthralling, - but the speed limiter at about 140 miles/hours is just brutal: Engine shuts off, and in the first moment you think you blew it. Then, going under about 130 miles, it gives you a hit into the seats... Bad behavior, Mr. Sebring! Some fine tuning on that would be more comfortable, while travelling German Autobahns.

General Comments:

... The first pick of my (American) wife. Once we can afford one of them as a second family car, I will get one. Expecting mayor problems with a maybe 5 or 6 year old Sebring, I would not be willing to pay more than 5,000 Euros for a Sebring of more than 60,000 miles. I expecting to build a money grave for the dreams of reliability of my wife, having experienced a brand new model, but never have understood, that the visible loss of comfort has even come to this brand new car in less than 3 years.

While I was preparing to release this car to the leasing company, I had my first Pontiac Trans Sport (92); at the time I had both the Sebring and the old Trans Sport. I had chosen more and more to let the Sebring sit in the parking lot, and use the Pontiac for my daily necessities. I really don't miss the Sebring, even though it was a nice car. But it had no soul...

Faults:

Radio telescopic antenna didn't extend anymore, probably needed often cleaning which I didn't do and the small motor met mechanical resistance and forced itself until it burned out.

Left back-door window stopped working, I guess my little girl kept her foot on the knob and forced it up until something stuck. Don't know yet whether the motor or a fuse is burned, or it has just disabled itself and needs a reset.

Sometimes the trunk doesn't open when trunk-release button is pushed while the engine is running. If I stop the engine, it works with no problem.

Around 55k, the gearbox started to shake the car when going from reverse to drive. A reset of the gearbox at the dealer fixed the issue and now it changes R / N / D smoothly.

Some noises in the back train over road bumps, it turns out that some rubber coils placed on top of the dampers need to be changed.

Chromed wheels needed cleaning around the air valve, since it corroded inside and leaked air.

General Comments:

The car is equipped with 2.7 v6 engine, developed from the Mitsubishi engine from Stratus, and auto gearbox. Dealer uses Castrol 5w30 (around 16 Eur / liter) which allows a very easy cold start in winter and smooth high revs.

It drives very smoothly and shifting gears is made senslessly. The 202 BHP and the v6 design really give a push when needed. Coupled with sequential mode of shifting gears it really helps you when you need to get over a line of lazy cars aligned behind a truck.

Fine leather seats with heating, great for winter time. Since it's so comfortable, I was able to drive 1,000 km in only one day in heavy traffic conditions. It easily reaches 4000 rpm where it reaches 190 km/h and you won't feel it because of the good air coefficient and VERY good noise insulation. Top speed is electronically limited around 220 km/h. Driving on snow it's very predictable, the car is very stable and neutral on corners.

Despite the electrical glitches (minor), the car is solid built and it never let me down and never had any engine / gearbox errors. Fuel consumption is good for it's size and mass. The trunk it's huge, so it's a good option as a family car. I find the 2001 model a better design and head-turner than the face lift, and definitely better than 2007. I recommend.

Adrian Surugiu.