13th Mar 2006, 12:35

I bought a 98 Sebring convertible in March 2002. Had to replace the transmission that Summer. Had to replace the transmission June 2004 and guess what, the transmission has just gone again. Can't afford to replace it this time as the warranty has run out. Guess, it will just sit in my yard until I have paid for it. I still owe $4600. Apparently, to quote the dealer I bought it from, the place that put in the two transmissions and my Step Father. Chrysler made really really bad cars in the years 96 - 2000. Wish I had known that before I bought it. Also, the catalytic converter, tire rod, two wheel bearings, two sets of brake pads, drums, shoes etc, have had to be replaced. I used to love my car, but now I hate it.

21st Mar 2006, 22:50

I have a 1998 convertible that I bought in 2004 that had 93000 miles. I now have 119000 miles and the car runs great. The only thing that has been done is a tune up, new tires, starter, new a/c, and the brakes. Paid 6000 for it. The car looks new, still runs good, but lacks power.

23rd Feb 2007, 08:47

I own a 96 Sebring Convertible I have had nothing, but grief! After my water pump was replaced the dealer forgot to re-attach the hoses to the transmition etc and on the freeway my car all of a sudden started rolling backwards. Had my car towed to a different dealer who told me that the hoses were not attached. I contacted the original dealer who denied any wrong doing no apology nothing! after a long battle they paid for repair minus the battery that mysteriously died at exactly the same time. O2 sensors went out and were replaced with the wrong one somehow causing the other sensors to die and damaging my catalytic converter. It took me years to get to the bottom of this problem and my car would not pass smog in the meantime. finally fixed all the problems and two days later my passenger side floods killing the stereo and other under the passenger side seat. Other problems throughout the years like door handles breaking, seat belts breaking. I am DONE with this car.

1st Jul 2007, 00:44

My son just purchased a 1998 Chrysler Sebring convertible and we had to change the drivers seat because the seat belt would not work. So, we went to the junk yard and picked up a seat from a 1996 Sebring convertible that worked. We get it home and put it in the car and now it doesn't work! Any ideas?

28th Jul 2007, 17:00

Regarding the seat belt problem you most likely have a short in the harness under the seat. if you look at the wires for the seat it is placed between the rails. best thing is to cut the wires between the connector and seat and splice them back by matching the colors.

Hope this helps.

Ted.

1st Aug 2007, 10:57

I bought A 1998 Sebring JXI in January of 1999 that had been a program car. I love the car the only problem was keeping brakes on the front, but went to after market calipers and rotors and all is good now. The only thing I have to complain about is that it started leaking 2 years ago. I understand that somewhere there is a drain that I have not been able to find that will elminate this issue. I love this car and would buy another new one. I have the light bar on mine and I get the looks when "Sebrina" is clean and shinny.

14th Sep 2007, 17:18

Early summer of 2006 I purchased a beautiful 1998 Sebring convertible and I absolutely love it. When I found the car for sale on the side of the road, it had about one inch of water on the drivers side, front and back. The owner replaced a $60 seal and we both thought that would be the end of it. Needless to say, the first rain we had filled the car up again. I continued to drive it (thought about drilling a hole for drainage), full of water and waited for evaporation or wet vac if real bad.

Fast forward to summer of 2007 (park it during NH winter) and decided to fix the problem. Looked on-line and found others with same problem, said to fix the seals. Spent over $500 replacing seals on driver's side and thought I was all set. It rained for two days and when the sun came out, I ran out put the top down, looked in and wella, it was dry! Driving down the road feeling great, went to turn, applied the brakes and water came rushing forward. I could hear the water sloshing around inside the body of the car. Guess I could have saved $500+ by just drilling the holes that I am heading out to do now.

I still love the car, but am discouraged. I would definitely buy another, but would thoroughly check it out first.

22nd Sep 2007, 18:36

I have a Sebring 98 JXI and have leak problems since I bought it new - had the seal on drivers side replaced, and then my master window switch replaced the following year (99). The darn thing STILL leaks and the windows are all on the fritz now - so in reality the problem was never fixed in the first place.

I believe that the water leaking when ever it rained or if I washed the car with a garden hose no less - the constant dripping onto the switches in the driver door cause the window switch to get corroded.

Problem is, the car is out of warranty and I have NO money to get this SAME problem fixed again.

The car is useless to me, cannot put the top down without the windows going down, then I cannot get the windows back up again once they are down! I feel the dealership should fix it for me for free! (being it wasn't fixed RIGHT the FIRST time!!!)

11th Dec 2007, 08:27

Check the seal around the rear window by pulling up slightly on the edges. Mine looked good when the top was up and the roof was tight, but the seal around the window was deteriorated. This lets water leak into the trunk and back seat area. Wipe down both the glass and top area that touches the boarder with alcohol then use a high quality silicone sealant to caulk the border back into place. Tape down with blue painters tape and let cure for a few days. Oh yeah, don't put the top down either.

28th Dec 2007, 09:57

My 98 Sebring has 239k on it and I have had the normal things go bad like trany @ 180k, needed to add brake fluid to the hydraulic pump for the top that was starting to run slow, alternator and wheel bearings now. All convertibles have the drain plug issue that traps the water if not kept clean “with the recent rain we have had it’s time to check mine again”. All in all I have kept my oil changed and the engine is still going strong!