1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible JXI from North America - Comments

Folks, all I have to say is, this car, a (generally) has transmission issues. The car (a 1999 Sebring convertible) is indeed beautiful, and outside the transmission, never a problem. However, if you have issues with the transmission? They are quickly dismissed as being a result of "wear". The other folks posting here, saying problems are a result of neglect are wrong. My car has been taken care of very well, and put away for winters, even driven in the flat ranges of northern Ohio and yet, it failed.

The transmission sensors had been replaced 3x before it finally let go. I can only say to sell you vehicle before you get the run-around and double talk that dealerships and garages give you about fixing your transmission. It is junk. Plain and simple, engineers did not do their job and you will pay the price.

I have a 1998 JXI Limited. Purchased new in March of 1999. In October, 1999, had to replace the entire air conditioning system. ($900) December of 1999, the tab came off the rear window defogger, six months later it was off again and the top had to be replaced. Two months after that the entire dash light system went out. December of 2000 the blower would only blow on high, had to replace the resistor. Six months later had to replace the resistor again. The day after I picked up the car, the resistor went out again. Had to replace the resistor and blower motor because the blower was blowing out the resistor. July of 2004 had to replace the air conditioning system again. November of 2004 the rear window defogger tab was off again and now the horn does not work. I had freeze plugs to go out and now there are oil leaks. I must say no engine problems, because I have always used the best synthetic oil and changed the oil regularly and no transmission problems. Any one else had problems with the air conditioning or the resistor?

We currently own a 96 Sebring JX convertible. My wife wanted a Mustang convertible originally, but saw this one used and decided she liked the body style better. I concur because of the leg room and passenger space. We have no complaints about the body style or handling, but have experienced the same problems others have noted.

The speakers could not have been less ergonomically designed. My son and I are both six foot so the first thing to go was the speaker covers. I managed to patch them which lasted one week. Two transmissions, one within a year of installation by a Chrysler dealer. Second one had to be installed by a transmission shop. (side note: Chrysler wouldn't honor the warranty) I just recently replaced the instrument cluster because of the tac and odometer not working. It was intermittent at first, then quit altogether. Installed the replacement unit, it worked for about 2 weeks, but has now become intermittent.

The top has been good except for at the top of the rear window where it has started showing a gap between glass and top. No significant leakage though and we have some heavy thunderstorms in Texas. Latest problem is replacing an oxygen sensor. The Haynes manual I have is for all models, but only shows diagrams for 6 cylinders as with most other repair diagrams.

Upside the car is paid for and at 135K miles we will run it till it drops since there is so much invested.

I want to add my common complaints to the above complaints:

1997 Sebring conv.

(1) Three starters... the blown 20 amp fuse. Just this week it was towed to the local dealer for 4th starter, since this is what the other Chrysler dealers did to "cure" the problem.

However, this time the dealer removed it and had it tested, and Lo and Behold the starter was fine!!! Replaced the starter and it worked fine... until the next time The 20 amp fuse blows. Then what???

(2) The Tach/Odometer works occasionally; mostly not.

(3) Lately, I been getting puddles on the front and rear passenger side.

Chrysler has been unresponsive.

My question is: does anyone have an answer to the 20 amp/starter problem, and the leakage problem?

And, if these complaints are so common why doesn't Chrysler respond to these complaints?

Any suggestions would be appreciated: dcdavidson@earthlink.net.

I owe a 1997 Sebring Convertible and I've had it for 3 years.

I just stumbled across this site looking for speaker covers

for the interior doors. I'm amazed at the similar problems

some of you have had. However, other than the few problems

I have I LOVE this car.

1) Speaker covers are smashed in. What a MAJOR placement

mistake these were. Not much I can do about them other

than replace them.

2) My tach and odometer has been working off and

on for the last 8 months, and it seems to be random

when it goes off and on.

3) I can't drive it thru a car wash, the windows leak a

bit. Problem is solved by washing it by hand :-)

It does not leak when it rains though. Seems fine except

for the power drive thru car wash.

4) The one I can't seem to get any answer about is

my 'check engine' light comes on about every 3 months.

For no reason what so ever. I've had in the shop, scanned

and tested and nothing is wrong. The light will come on

and stay on for a few days then it goes off and stays

off for another 3-4 months. Any suggestions?

I have 117,000+ on it and it runs great. And it's payed for

so I'm keeping it.

Do we have a class action suit on water leaks?

Besides having recently experienced the "stall" problem, my main problem on my 2004 Chrysler Convertible Sebring is water. Four months after purchase, the car had soaking wet carpets. Since that time, I have had 5 other incidents. The dealer has completely replaced the carpeting 4 times. Both dealer and tech rep have admitted it is a "design defect." The rear of the car has two openings to allow water to spill out, but not the front. I park nose down on a steep drive, so the water collects in the front and goes into the cabin. Once it took 26 cupfuls to get rid of 1.5 inches of water! Under the Alabama Lemon Law I am entitled to either a full refund or a new vehicle. The dealer spent a month trying to get Chrysler to put me into another vehicle (300). Chrysler did not accept it. They told me to park it level! All my previous cars have been parked in this way with no problems. I am wondering if this couldn’t be a class action suit. If other Sebrings are made the way mine is, no one in San Francisco can purchase this car!!!

Two days after submitting this, when I brought my car to the dealer for the stall problem (fixed with a software reload of the engine), the General Manager informed me they had not yet given up on my case. The owner of the four dealerships in North Alabama is working it.

I will let you all know the outcome.

To the person whom is having problems with his check engine light coming on for no apparent reason: as ridiculous as this sounds, I had the same problem, only to find out that the gas cap wasn't tight enough. You must turn it past 3 clicks or else the check engine light comes on.

I, too, have had problems with my AC (I have a '98 Sebring Convertible.) We had to replace the AC control unit... I forget what it is called, but the dash part in your car where you turn your AC on off and so on. We were first told that that was the reason the AC would only work on high and would only blow through certain areas (no matter what setting it is on.) However, after replacing it, the problem still has not been fixed. After reading this, though, I'm going to try the resistor.

I have had MAJOR flooding problems. I live in Texas and we do get some bad storms, but one day, I had to use a cup to dip the water out of my car; it was almost at seat level.

One of the defroster tabs has come off of mine... although I have no idea how. One day it was fine, the next morning, broke.

I have noticed lately that sometimes I do have transmission problems. Mainly when going from park to reverse.

A year or two ago, my car did break down for a blown fuse. As a result, I couldn't even start my car. Towed it to Goodyear and was charged a little over $400 (not including the separate towing fee).

Within the past few months, my top has started to fall apart... not looking forward to replacing it. But, with a new baby, can't afford to get a new (or even used) car at the time.

Aside from all this, I still love my convertible.

Cars Break!

The outcome to the November 9 and 16, 2005, comments is as follows:

I have a new car! The Sebring has been replaced! The General Manager of my dealership successfully worked my water leak issue with Chrysler so that I received a brand-new 2006 Chrysler 300 Touring (my choice) to replace the 2004 Sebring Limited convertible.

This process was long and weary and many times I wondered if it would have a happy ending. But my dealer is an honest, upright person and he worked to bring it to a successful conclusion.

My wish is for all of you who have had similar problems to check your state for its lemon law and then make an another effort to work with your dealer.

Hello to my fellow 98 JXi people, much like you I too have had exact problems as you all, besides my tie-rods being replaced, my alternator, the "weep holes" periodically clogging (force some air from compressor/air hose to open them up) and now recently my rear defogger thingy came off (how do I adhere that to window again?), the horn stopped working (tested fuse & relay switch-OK), the passenger-side mirror on/off clip broken and only way to repair that is to REPLACE the entire visor, and the most expensive thing THE ALUM SPARKLE GOLD WHEEL/RIM is cracked. Driving on the donut, cost $300 just for the wheel, not sure if that includes tax & mounting...huh? MANY MANY problems with the rims on ALL THE CHRYSLERS. No help from the dealer nor none from the chrysler/daimler corp. Once you drive it off the lot, hasta la vista helpful sales reps.

I purchased a 1999 Sebring JXi convertible 17 months ago with 84K on it. It now has 109K. It is a beautiful car, rides like dream top up or down, and is plush and comfortable. My last convertible was a 1995 Mustang GT - a great car as long as no snow was on the road. I sadly sold it due to missing too many days work when it snowed, and because of the gas prices rising - V8's are thirsty! I do believe by now I should have kept the Mustang - I would have spent way less on gas than I have spent keeping this Sebring running. I have had many front end problems. It is getting to be I dread getting my oil changed: from the first one, almost every other time I took it in, it needed something replaced in the front end: control arms, ball joints, etc., you name it - first one thing on one side & then something on the other! And all this time (and still), every time I have to stop fast & turn right, something in the front passenger side front makes a horrible "clunk" noise. I have no idea what that is. I have been stuck 2 times now 6 months apart waiting for a locksmith to come unlock the ignition - the key will not turn a witt. The first time, it happened a couple days after I had just had something replaced on the front end, and the dealership had pity on me (that time the locksmith couldn't get it going, so it was towed in) and fixed it free. They said this is a common problem, but assured me they had removed the dash & fixed & lubed everything up & it should be fine for years. Boy, 6 months were some short "years"! And the distributor went bad - again, I was told this is a common problem with these cars. I am so disgusted with this car - I was thinking of a PT Cruiser convertible, but by now have decided I will NEVER purchase another Chrysler product again. I wish Ford would hurry up and make a front wheel drive convertible - maybe something like the Focus. For comparison, almost every car I have owned has been a Ford (purchased with 50K or more on the odometer & driven to 100K+ before I sold it) and they have all been wonderfully reliable cars.

I own a 97 Sebring Convertible with 100k miles. Overall, it's been a good car and has held up well, considering the really awful roads I drive. My biggest complaint - the tach/odometer thing that others have mentioned. Does anyone have a clue as to how to fix it? Is it a fuse, or more complicated? My rear defroster wire is also disconnected. Anyone know how to reattach? In answer to the flooding problem - I had that issue and you could hear the water sloshing around behind the back seat as well as my back carpeting being soaked. There are some drain holes underneath the car behind the front doors. My husband ran a coat hanger into the holes to unclog them and all kinds of water drained out. I haven't had the water problem since. The speakers are a bad design, although I haven't kick mine out. I don't like how they rattle, but I love the sound system.

If anyone knows what to do about the tach/odometer issue, please post it.

I have a 1999 Sebring JXI. I have been a Mopar fan for a longtime and really do like the car. The problem I am experiencing is the lighting in the instrument cluster. It is out. I took it to the garage and the quote they gave me to fix it is around $600.00 dollars. I believe this to be way to high. Has anyone else experienced the same problem and if so how did you solve it without costing you an arm and a leg? Please let me know here or at laroyar58@sbcglobal.net

Thank You. P.S. I believe Chrysler is on the right track and offer the Challenger (Concept) as proof.

I would like to comment regarding the issues that people have had with their Sebring instrument clusters becoming inoperative. I have a 1997 Sebring JXi convertible, and the instrument cluster was in a non-working state when I bought the car. The tach does not work, and the odometer does not appear to work (although it still records mileage, just won't display). Chrysler had a flawed design for a few years; there is a resistor on the PC board assembly on the back of the cluster that overheats and burns out. I have not replaced mine yet, but I understand they are rather expensive. In my opinion, Chrysler should honor a lifetime warranty/replacement on this obviously defective part, but I doubt that is the case. I love my Sebring, but I also understand that it is a typical American car and it has to be babied a lot. I only drive it for fun, it is not my primary vehicle (reliable Toyota). But is has killer styling, looks and the V6 can get up and go. I just has the interior reupholstered and had new carpet installed. I intend to keep it as a very beautiful (although problematic) second car, and keep fixing the issues as they arise.