1998 Chrysler Sebring Problems, Recalls & Reliability
418 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 71/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.
Below average
Where 1998 sits among all Sebring years
What owners report
“Door paneling fell off on interstate causing damage to the rim, repairs made several times for door panel.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
“Front brake failure occurred as car was proceeding into an intersection. Drivers side pads and rotor showed extreme wear while passenger side showed little wear to pads or rotor.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
“The front end is too close to the ground and the unit cracks every time pulled into a parking area with cement abutments. The whole front has to be replaced. Should be a separate unit! Cracked two times over $2k damage.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
“Several flat tires, since less than 15k miles on vehicle -- i've had over a half dozen flats in the two years i've owned the vehicle( dot number: )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
“Started car, with foot on brake went from park to reverse to neutral to drive. When car went into drive it raced out of control. Resulting in hitting the other vehicle”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
“Power locks and power trunk release button failed due to failure of the body control module.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sebring
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 122 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 52,000 and 129,939 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE…
Fix: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULES, P/NOS. E7089M, E7094M, E7113M, AND E7129M, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL…
Fix: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX TOLL-FREE AT 1-866-867-3759.
CERTAIN TIGAS FUEL PUMP MODULES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AND P/NOS. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES ARE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN…
Fix: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-461-1834.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108,…
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998-1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING JXI LIMITED CONVERTIBLES. THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLER…
Fix: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLER PINCH BOLT AND RETAINING PIN. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FLOOR MATS WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL…
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY, IT CAN SEPARATE…
Fix: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE AN IMPROVED CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER INSTRUCTION LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V021000.
Led to recall campaign 01I012000.
Technical service bulletins
124 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and engine — are on file for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Sebring TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Chrysler Sebring reliable?
The 1998 Chrysler Sebring drew 418 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 71/100, scored against the model's worst year (1996).
What are the most common 1998 Chrysler Sebring problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Chrysler Sebring are body & structure (75 complaints), brakes & stability (45), and suspension (38).
At what mileage do 1998 Chrysler Sebring problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Chrysler Sebring problems around 80,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 52,000 and 129,939 miles.
Does the 1998 Chrysler Sebring have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Chrysler Sebring. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.