2002 Chrysler Sebring Suspension Problems

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FOLLOW UP ON MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES CASE . *AS *TR

BALL JOINTS BROKE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SLIGHTLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP MALFUNCTION AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK HAD CORRODED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE REAR BALL JOINT AND THE FILLER NECK WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E056000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *TT *AS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE SCREEN ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO CAVE INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

I DROVE INTO A GAS STATION AND AS I PULLED IN THE TIRE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS FLAT I CHECKED IT AND IT LOOKED FINE.I TRIED TO DRIVE OF AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL DID NOT MOVE.I REMOVED THE TIRE IN THE PARKING LOT TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, I COULDN'T SEE ANY VISUAL ISSUES. AS I BACKED OUT TO TRY AND DRIVE THE CAR THE BALLJOINT CAME OUT. I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR TOWED FROM NEW JERSEY BACK TO MY TOWN IN NY FOR $110 AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT HAD TO PAY TO GET TOWED AGAIN TO A MECHANIC AND WITH THE REPAIR FEES ENDED UP SPENDING $500 FOR REPAIRS. ALSO MY OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. EVEN CAME ON AS SOON AFTER I GOT AN OIL CHANGE. *TR

COMING TO A STOP AND TURNING RIGHT. NOISE AND WHEEL JUST FELL FLAT ON ROADWAY. LOWER BALL JOINT DISCONNEDTED AND MADE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE AND CAR UNCONTROLLABLE. AFTER REPAIR ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE SAM WHEEL TOP BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT ON A BUSY STREET. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE WITHIN SPECS. IN MAY OF 2014 WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50 MILES AN HOUR THE BOTTOM BALLJOINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DISENGAGED AND THE STEERING WAS LOST AND THE TIRE FELL FLAT AND NEARLY CAUSE A HEAD ON CRASH. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND DIVEN FOR YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVR HAPPENED IN MY LIFE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES ASAP. SOME RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE CASTING ON THE BALL JOINT RING WERE HEAT TREATED IMPROPERLY AND CHRYSLER IT AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAVE AND RESULT IN TH WHELL SEPARATION FROM THE CONTROL ARM LEADING TO STEERING LOST TO THE VEHILE AND DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS.. *TR

THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE 2002 SEBRING THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE PARTS! REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS BROKE. MADE OF ALUM.. WHY? CORROSION WILL HAPPEN IF YOU INSTALL ALUM. NEXT TO SHEET METAL, ALSO THEY WERE NOT PAINTED. THE NEW ONES ARE AT LEAST PAINTED. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE VERY SMART TO HAVE ALUM.. MOUNTS AND UNPROTECTED." "THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND FELL APART. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE." "THE REAR MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE REAR MCPHERSON STRUT IN PLACE, DISINTEGRATED. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. IT FELL APART AND THE PART MADE A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WAS THE STRUT MOVING AROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED IT."I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEALER STATEMENT THAT REPLACEMENT MOUNTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND ARE "BACK ORDERED BY THE THOUSANDS"!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL POP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THEN COLLAPSED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED, INDEPENDENTLY STEERING RIGHT. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE THREE PERSONS REPORTED INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIELD INSPECTOR WAS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THEY DID NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OR THE CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 05/16/11 *BF UPDATED 2/8/12 *CN

2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE CATASTROPHIC DISINTEGRATION OF THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED EXTENSIVE CORROSION LED TO THE SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME, HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT REAR UPPER STRUT MOUNTS AND THE RIGHT UPPER STRUT MOUNT. *JB

REAR UPPER STRUT MOUNTS DEGRADED DUE TO OXIDATION AND CORROSION. THIS DEGRADATION CAUSES THE MOUNTS TO WEAKEN AND EVENTUALLY TO BREAK, ALLOWING THE STRUTS TO DETACH AT THE TOP. THE STRUT MOUNTS MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL SEEMED TO CAVE IN. THE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND FOLDED INWARD. SHE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITIES THE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT WERE BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL 09E056000, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

ON JULY 10TH,2008 I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING 4DR SEDAN. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER STRUT HAD FALLEN FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. I TOOK THE CAR ON JULY 11TH TO GET IT FIXED. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE BRACKET REQUIRED (4879072AD) IS ON EXTREME BACKORDER AND IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I CALLED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SEARCHING FOR THIS PART. IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALERS. THERE IS NO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT. ALL DEALERS EVERYWHERE ARE OUT AND HAVE ORDERS PLACED ON CHRYSLER BUT NEVER GET THE PARTS. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER BEING PERSISTENT, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE OVER 10,200 ON BACKORDER IN THE US AS OF 7/17. ASSUMING 2 PER CAR AND SOME DEALER "SAFETY STOCK", THIS COULD ADD UP TO 4000 CARS WHICH ARE NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE PARTS AVAILABILITY OR ARE BEING DRIVEN UNSAFE. EVERY CHRYSLER PARTS DEALER I CALLED SAID THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF WITHOUT THE STRUT ATTACHED. IT ALSO CAUSES DAMAGE TO TIRES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. I CHECKED WITH JUNK YARDS HOPING TO FIND A SET. I DID FIND THEM AND THEY ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MINE. IF THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK IS PULLED BACK YOU WILL SEE WHITE DUST AND CORROSION EVERYWHERE. I HEARD FROM A DEALER THAT THE PARTS COME FROM MEXICO AND THE PLANT IS ON STRIKE, THERE HAVE BEEN CARS SITTING AND WAITING FOR THIS PART FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS, BEST CASE I CAN GET PARTS IN 1 MONTH. FROM A PARTS, SAFETY AND AWARENESS STANDPOINT, CHRYSLER HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. UNACCEPTABLE. I AM OUT CAR RENTAL FEES AND HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR DAYS! THEY COULD AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM! I AM CERTAIN THEY KNOW OF IT. *TR

WAS DRIVING HOME AND HEAR LOUD NOISE GOT OUT AND CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE STRUT BRACKET HAD BROKEN ON THE REAR OF MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEABRING. I GOT HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW ONE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER AND THAT THERE WAS AROUND 8000 ON BACKORDER SO I CALLED CHRYSLER AND ASKED WHY THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THIS PART YET WITH 8000 PARTS NEEDED THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OF THESE PARTS IN THE USA. NOW WHY IS THIS? THIS PART IS KNOWN TO GO BAD THEY TOLD ME. THEN WHY CAN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL AND GET THESE PARTS MADE SO THESE CARS CAN BE FIXED.

JULY 1 DRIVING ON BLUEWATER BRIDGE RIGHT REAR STRUT SNAPPED OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE IN ST. THOMAS ONTARIO THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT SNAPPED OFF. BOTH OF THEM HAD ROTTED RIGHT OFF. REPLACED WITH RECONDITIONED STRUTS - $500.00 + TOWING. *TR

IN MAY, WHILE DRIVING MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING BROKE. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD IT FIXED AND HAD TO LEAVE IT AS THE DEALERSHIP (GOLLING CHRYSLER) ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE WITH THE BROKEN STRUT MOUNT. ON 06/29/08, MY DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT MOUNT BROKE. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP (CLARKSTON CHRYSLER) STATED THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PART AND THEY HAD TO BE REENGINEERED. SO, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE 06/29/08. MY CAR ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES BUT IT IS PARKED AND UNUSABLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS A BACKLOG OF 10,000 PARTS ON ORDER. CHRYSLER CALLED TO STATE THAT THEY ESTIMATE THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE IN ON AUGUST 11TH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD - OR AT LEAST THAT WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AND I CANT IMAGINE THAT VERY MANY PEOPLE CAN SHELVE THEIR CAR FOR 6 WEEKS AND INSTEAD - LIKE ME, HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THERE CAR ON OCCASION. I WAS ABLE TO BURROW SOMEONE'S VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE STILL TIMES WHEN I DID HAVE TO DRIVE MY SEBRING WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WASN'T AVAILABLE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT OF THOSE 65000 MILES, WELL OVER 99 % WERE ON HIGHWAY AND PAVED ROADS. THERE ARE NO DIRT ROADS IN THE AREA AND IT IS RARE THAT I EVER DRIVE ON ONE. *TR

REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS BROKE. MADE OF ALLUM. WHY? CORROSION WILL HAPPEN IF YOU INSTALL ALLUM NEXT TO SHEET METAL, ALSO THEY WERE NOT PAINTED. THE NEW ONES ARE AT LEAST PAINTED. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE VERY SMART TO HAVE ALLUM. MOUNTS AND UNPROTECTED. *TR

RIGHT REAR TOP STRUT MOUNT BECAME NOISY/CREAKING/THUMPS) DURING THE WINTER. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING HOME WE HEARD EXCESSIVE NOISE/CREAKING/THUMPING FROM RIGHT REAR. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE NEXT DAY NOISE WAS EVEN LOUDER. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE SHOCK HAD DROPPED THROUGH THE MOUNT AND WERE WEDGED IN THE COIL. TEMPORARILY PUSHED IT BACK UP, PURCHASED A NEW MOUNT FROM DEALER WHICH WAS INSTALLED. OLD MOUNT, ALUMINUM), HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. NOW THE LEFT SIDE WAS GETTING LOUDER. WILL REPLACE BEFORE SHOCK DAMAGE AS WELL. *AK

DRIVING 5 MILE P/HR (LUCKILY) UPPER CONTROL / ARM BAL JOINT, LEFT REAR, CRACKED, SEPARATED...TIRE FELL OFF TBD (PROBABLY REPLACE BOTH PARTS OR MORE DEPENDING ON EXTENT OF RESIDUAL DAMAGE.

LOUD CLANGING NOISE FROM REAR. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT BOTH BOTH STRUTS AND SHOCKS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED $600.00 . *AK