The 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 2,315,768 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN04V0210002004-01-132,315,768 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence
EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
SEAT BELTS
6
2crashes4injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
6
1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
5
STRUCTURE
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
4
1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
2crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS
3
2crashes4injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
1crashes4injuries
Total complaints98
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chrysler sebring convertible. The contact stated that the driver side ball joint detached from the socket while the contact was driving. The dealer diagnosed that the lower ball joint need to be replaced. The vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chrysler sebring convertible. The contact stated that the driver side seat belt remained stuck in the retracted position and he was unable to use the seatbelt. The dealer informed the contact that there were no recalls and offered no further assistance. The manufacturer…”
“I have a 1997 chrysler sebring jxi convertible, that the seatbelt are generally useless. Both the passenger and driver seat belts lock and will not retrack, therefore you are not able to use them. This is a safety hazard especially in a convertible. I live in a state where seatbelts are requires,…”
“Seat belts would not "pull out". At first it only happened sporadically and for short duration. Problem occurred more often until belts have not worked at all for past 2-3 weeks. *tr”
“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. I then called a tow truck to have…”
“My 1997 sebring convertible oil light came on when I was driving in a heavy rain during rush hour. After stopping at a red light at a major highway intersection, my car died midway through the intersection. My oil pressure sensor wiring is the cause for my fuel pump to cut off as a safety measure…”
“While driving a1997 chrys. Sebring convertible across a bridge over a lake, the left front ball joint broke resulting in loss of control. I almost didn't stop before going in the water. Car blocked the highway and a patrolman stayed with me until wrecker arrived . It did major damage to front…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chrysler sebring jxi. The contact stated that the odometer and gear lighting indicator failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that a loose electrical connection caused the odometer and gear light indicator to fail. The…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA03011 Opened 2003-07-17 · closed 2004-01-30
AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS…
InvestigationEA03011 Opened 2003-07-17 · closed 2004-01-30
AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.