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2003 Chrysler Sebring Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chrysler Sebring, most often about the engine (21% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is 11th of 12 Sebring model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2003 Chrysler Sebring problems
Engine
9 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine.
I am a 2003 Chrysler Sebring owner with a 2.7l engine, right after I bought it of the lot pre-owned it had to be bought back to get checked out because the engine light came on a few times and the water pump had to be replaced. While on the highway it just seized on me, turns out that a rod barring spun in the engine…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 3 MPH and proceeding to make a left turn, the engine stopped without warning. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact inspected underneath the hood and noticed that the engine was overheating. After several…
Suspension
8 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chrysler Sebring. While driving from maine to springfield, massachusetts at 30 MPH, the rear strut on the passenger side failed. The vehicle dropped to the ground and the contact heard a terrible noise. The sales dealer informed her that the strut should not have been visible and was made out of…
2003 Sebring rear mount assembly for strut crumbled while driving causing banging noise in rear passengers side. Was told by my dealer that thousands of replacement parts are on backorder. Was told that part may not be available for several weeks due to making them out of steel as the original aluminum ones were…
Air bags
7 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles.
My daughter was driving our 2003 Sebring lxi and had just left our house on a sun. Morning heading back to college. We live in a rural area and only the center road bed is tar and the shoulder is gravel. She went slightly into shoulder and said something unusual happened as she could not steer and immediately…
I was in a wreck on 11/06/2015, a women failed to yield and I t-boned her passenger side by back door/back tire, I was going 30 miles an hour the speed limit on the city road, I had my safety restraint on and still managed to hit the steering wheel and window, I had a loose car seat in front that hit the passenger…
Brakes
6 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
While driving at any speed and applying the brakes vehicle took longer to stop and made noise. Vehicle was taken to dealership, and mechanic replaced front rotors which wore prematurely at 12,649 miles. Replacement was at consumer's expense.
Dt consumer states when the brake was pressed, the car accelerated and caused the vehicle to crash. Dealer was unable to duplicate concern.
Body and structure
4 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
My daughter was driving our 2003 Sebring lxi and had just left our house on a sun. Morning heading back to college. We live in a rural area and only the center road bed is tar and the shoulder is gravel. She went slightly into shoulder and said something unusual happened as she could not steer and immediately…
Steering
3 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: rack and pinion, linkages.
I purchased a 2003 Chrysler Sebring on nov 11, 2002. On dec. 26, 2003 I was driving home at about 0730. My car suddenly pulled to the left, like a magnet was pulling . I had no control of the stairing, I tried to slow the car down by down shifting the gears. The only thing that brought that car to a stop was the curve…
Problem: smelling gas fumes while starting the car. Engine failure to start. Failure is daily. My wife and have taken the car numerous times to the dealer. The dealer stated that there is nothing wrong with the car, except needing a new gas cap. Since then, our local dealer has gone out of business. I am concerned…
Electrical
3 complaints · 7%Worked with the repair shop - evans auto car in blue ash, oh - to understand why 2003 Chrysler Sebring suddenly experiences drop in speed from 70 to 25 MPH. Repair shop noted car computer likely faulty and parts unavailable from dealership. According to message boards and other Chrysler shops, dealers are restricted…
Start car, when in idle it shuts off with in a few seconds of hitting gas now. It use to idle and I would have to rev a little so it would not turn off. That worked for a little bit today to broke down. Luckily in my drive way this time instead of the middle of road like last week. Why is my car doing this?
Speed control
3 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: cruise control.
2003 chryser Sebring lxi ,4 door, v6 motor cruise controls shut down without warning. Causing a sudden deceleration in highway speed and nearly rearend collisions.
Dt: 2003 Chrysler Sebring. The car is a 4 cycle automatic with air conditioner and cruse control. While driving up a 6% grade, and when going down the hill transmission down shifted and the car accelerated 15-20 miles faster than what the cruise was set at. Called the manufacturer, and they stated that this was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Chrysler Sebring recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Mmna will notify their owners, and chrysler will notify the chrysler and dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2015. Owners may contact mmna customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mmna's number for this recall is sr-15-005. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r30.
Full defect summary
Mitsubishi motors north america, inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 eclipse vehicles manufactured april 5, 1999, to december 17, 2004, 2001-2005 eclipse spyder vehicles manufactured january 19, 2000, to march 18, 2005, 2001-2005 chrysler sebring vehicles manufactured april 17, 2000, to february 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 dodge stratus vehicles manufactured april 17, 2000, to february 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump pressure. Those vehicles exhibiting higher than normal fuel pump pressure will receive fuel pump modifications. Owner notification began on december 15, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel return line hose fitting on the electric fuel pump may be restricted, causing excessive fuel pressure to build up in the fuel injection system. Excessive fuel pressure may result in a leak in the fuel return hose.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Safety belt cinching latch plate
Summary
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).the information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
Questions about the 2003 Chrysler Sebring
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chrysler Sebring?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (9 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); suspension (8 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); air bags (7 complaints, typically around 130,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chrysler Sebring have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chrysler Sebring?
- It is 11th of 12 Sebring model years by number of complaints, with 42 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.