2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible lxi 2.7 from North America

Summary:

Great car for the money, a blast to drive

Faults:

Clock spring broke.

Seat belt buckle driver's seat turned on check engine light.

General Comments:

Love this car. It is fun to drive, gets about 25 mpg around town and has more than enough power.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd November, 2006

2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible LX 2.7 from North America

Summary:

Chrysler doesn't care about you once they have your money..

Faults:

Beware of the "Extended Warranty".

Clock spring at 50,000.

Rotors at 45,000.

Windows at 30,000, 35,000, and 55,000.

Transmission at 68,000.

Rear-defroster at 65,000.

Leaking transmission fluid one week after purchase.

General Comments:

I will never purchase another Chrysler as long as I live for two reasons: 1. The car was falling apart, and 2. The company does not back up their work.

I take care of my cars as if they were my own children. I wash, wax, drive carefully, never rev too high for too long, no one drives my cars, and so on. I had a Dodge Neon from 0 miles to 137,000 miles with no problems. THAT is a testament to how well I kept my cars. However, this was the worst car I have ever owned.

The Sebring was a nightmare. The windows would always jerk and shake as they roll up. I had the left window motor replaced twice and the right motor once. The transmission was slipping at 68,000 miles. That is ridiculous.

The worst part is the dealership itself. I purchased the extended 7-year, 70,000 "bumper-to-bumper" warranty that the dealership offered. Unfortunately, it doesn't really cover what is spelled out in the contract. My clock spring stopped functioning at 50,000 miles. This means you cannot turn your wheel whatsoever. I left it at the dealership, and I received a call letting me know it was going to be a $700 repair. I explained that I had the extended bumper-to-bumper warranty, but I was told that it wasn't covered.

I called the Daimler Chrysler customer service number and talked to a gentleman about it. It turns out that the warranty I purchased was NOT the Chrysler extended warranty like the dealership told me; rather, it was the dealer's personal warranty, and they could determine what they would or would not cover. (Believe me, I read that contract from top to bottom before purchasing it, so I wasn't blindly buying whatever they offered me.)

Then the customer service gentleman, who represents Chrysler, told me I should report the dealership to the Better Business Bureau for "misrepresentation"! So rather than trying to discipline the dealer for wrong dealings or fix the problem, the company wants me to report its dealer to the BBB??? Chrysler has even given this dealership a 5-star rating.

I did some more research, and it turns out that all of the customer service phone calls are outsourced to a company in Oak Ridge, TN. In fact, if you want to write a letter, which I did, the address is Oak Ridge, TN according to the Daimler Chrysler website. Sounds like Dell.

I have since traded the car and bought a Honda, which I love. I have already been treated 10 times better. I will never buy another Chrysler again, which is sad considering how much fun the convertible was to drive... when it would run.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 27th February, 2006

17th Nov 2008, 09:09

I too, have found Chrysler Customer Service to be very poor.

It seems to me once you buy the car, you're on your own.

It's not surprising that they are struggling now.

What goes around comes around.

14th Oct 2010, 13:27

You are too nice to Chrysler! Chrysler should not treat a customer the way they treated you. Once you sell someone a product, if that customer isn't happy with it, it should be rectified immediately. How can such a large company continue in business when they don't stand behind their product? I condemn Chrysler's pass-the-buck treatment. They're telling their customers, 'screw you!' and then they say, 'we're a great company'. Sheeeeeezzzzzz! Never again will I have business dealings with them. Never.

17th Oct 2011, 18:48

My worst experiences by far where with Chrysler's Customer Service, or as I refer to it "Customer Disservice". I cannot believe the way I was treated when I purchased a brand new Jeep and had issues with the selling dealer. By the way, I'm not just some disgruntled person who drives another brand - there are 2 Chrysler & Jeep products parked in our driveway. Love the vehicles - however the company has a lot to learn about customer service. I hope this improves under Fiat's management.

2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible LXi V6 2.0L from North America

Summary:

Awesome Car: Luxury, Power, and Fun!

Faults:

I had to take it to the dealer to get the automatic windows fixed. They would shake when going up or down unless they were spotlessly clean.

General Comments:

I purchased a 2003 Sebring Convertible LXi in May and I love it! I knew having a convertible in California in the summer would be fun, and it is sure is! But what really surprised me was how luxurious my car is. The drive is so smooth, the engine is so quiet, and I have as much power as I'd ever need. The leather interior is super nice and very comfortable. I really like the '03 model compared to the 04 model because of the "roadster" looking front grille and cooler-looking rims. This car rocks!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th October, 2003

3rd Nov 2010, 18:23

I have had my 2003 Sebring LXI convertible since March of 2004.

After 121,000 miles, I am now starting to spend money on her. Needed outer tie rod ends, front and rear struts and mounting kits, and her first tune up. Car was running just fine, but decided to do the tune up since I was going to be working on it anyway.

Getting an honest 26 MPG around town, and about 29 MPG on the highway. Sorry to see it getting old, as think it a far superior looking car than the new one.

4th Jul 2014, 18:02

I agree with you regarding the styling of the second generation Sebring convertibles. Absolutely beautiful & timeless.