AI Damage1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible filed 77 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 77
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 19% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 19 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 15 complaints (19% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 8 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 7 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 77 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The consumer was not present at the inspection, but someone else who was at the inspection claimed that the investigator tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. He did not think the trans axle floor shifter ignition/park interlock had anything to do with the crash.
Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy, and the seat belts did not restrain the passengers. The passengers head went through the windshield and her knees hit the dash board. The driver's right rotor cuff and neck were injured. There was $8700 worth of damage to the vehicle, and it was totaled.
The air bags did not deploy. Both passenger had seat belts on but passenger seat belt did not remain locked and passenger struck the windshield, this did not unlatch but a great deal slack came from that seat belt.
Dt: when the consumer attempted to apply the brake, the vehicle continued to accelerate and consequently, the consumer hit another motorist. The vehicle was also jumping out of gear due to the recall on the trans axle floor shifter/ignition park interlock.
Dt: consumer complained of a vehicle speed control problem. Brake would not work, vehicle revved, and did not stop, vehicle over accelerated, causing it to ram into another vehicle. Ak
The passenger seat belt did not lock, and the both air bags did not deploy. Chrysler sent someone to look at the car, the chrysler investigator said that everything looked fine. Consumer had to call him back from chrysler after he came and looked at the car.
Vehicle was in park and without prior warning consumer's son kicked the gear shift and vehicle went into drive, resulting in a front end collision, vehicle hit a tree.
I was backing out of a friends driveway in my 1997 chrysler sebring convertible when all of a sudden there was a loud noise and a grinding sound. When I got out to look, it turns out that the front lower ball joint assembly broke in half by the front hub assembly.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,196 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sebring Convertible has 73 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 77, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
- Sebring Convertible 199668 sources
- Sebring Convertible 199852 sources
- Sebring Convertible 199992 sources
- Sebring Convertible 200078 sources
- Sebring Convertible 2001120 sources
- Sebring Convertible 2002121 sources
- Sebring Convertible 200324 sources
- Sebring Convertible 200462 sources
- Sebring Convertible 200539 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, seat belts, suspension. Total complaints: 77. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (21%), windows, sunroof (9%), knocking, grinding or other noise (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.