is the sebring a good all around dependable and long lasting vehicle?

I think the weak link on those is the trans,in automatic,a 5 speed would be nice as they do look sweet

thank you so much

you know if you are an urban dweller, you always run the risk of someone vomiting, urinating, or birdy doo-doo if you leave the top down. Makes convertible special, this...and driving next to semis with their re-treds howlin' right next to your ear...priceless:

Sebrings were not good cars. I would not recommend getting one. Lots of problems.

damn. please be courteous and friendly to your fellow motorist. As if those few seconds of courtesy are taking away those few seconds of their life somehow. Puts a smile on my face when my fellow motorist sees me, and acknowledges me with auto behavior, and if you've ever driven while MAD, you know what I'm talking about.

I have a 1999 jxi convertible and besides routine maintenance, brakes, bearings, spark plugs and wires....etc , have only needed one major repair which was the cranksensor I changed it myself for under $250. in about an hour and a half( I'm not a mechanic). I have the 2.7 mitsubishi engine. Prior to 2004 they were made in Mexico. 2004 to present in Sterling Heights Michigan. I woukd at the factory where they are made and have not heard of any major recurring problems.

Forgot to mention I'm at 127,000 miles

thank u so much Michael, I think (the more I think about it), I may just keep the crown vic, lol. U were so kind and helpful. thanks so much!!

Is it as reliable as a Crown Vic? No. Is it a good car? Depends on the year. The convertibles had the 2.7L Chrysler V6 from 01-06. It did have oil problems due to sludge build up (not oil burning problems) but those began to be fixed in 02 and were completely gone by 04. The Sebring does not use the Ultradrive transmission. It uses the successor, the 41TE. A lot of failures reported in these transmissions resulted from people using Dexron instead of the ATF+4 it was designed to use. Another problem with it was that when the computer would throw an engine code, the transmission would go into "Limp Home Mode" and only utilize 2nd gear. The coupe was the only one to get the 3.0L Mitsubishi V6 from 01-06, and it was a torqueless piece of import garbage.

thank you, I heard they had some tranny problems and that explains it all. Thank you so much, as I am pretty much an idiot when it comes to cars, lol. Thanks again.

No

Do not buy a Chrysler Sebring convertible or sedan.They both have engine sludge issues and also have transmission problems.Get the coupe version(Mitsubishi motor and transmission)that will last with good maintenance.I have a 2002 Chrysler Sebring coupe lXi(3.0 with 168,*** miles)that has been very dependable with original transmission and engine.My drivetrain year is based off of the Mitsubishi Eclipse,not to mention the coupes are built at a Mitsubishi plant.Whatever you do stay away from the convertible or sedan.Coupes do not share engine or trans with Chrysler,just the design.

Rell, your coupe must be the unicorn car because Mitsubishi produces nothing but garbage.

You must didn't read my post correctly when I said this vehicle has no issues.This car is basically a Eclipse in Chrysler clothing(referring to the coupe only).You may have had a bad experience because your vehicle was not properly maintenance .From my experience the car has been very dependable because I know how to take care of a vehicle.

That's why I said your car must be a unicorn. Mitsubishi is more unreliable than Toyota. There's a reason they don't sell new cars in North America anymore. And my Sebring Sedan functioned perfectly until it was totaled out because someone nailed it in an accident.

Teresa you have to trust your instincts. There is much misinformation about autos, and using a consumer publication like consumer reports is probably the best route, also providing price guidelines as well. That said, I have owned a 2000 JXI and currently a 2006 Touring Sebring. Seven years in each with NO problems. Just the usual brakes and tires. Samuel mentioned maintenance, and I agree completely. Following regular oil changes and the heavy duty maintenance schedule works wonders. Neglect and abuse are the demons, whether you purchase a new or used. I agree the early 2,7L engines were prone to sludge, and using synthetic oil (I do), regardless of year will help here. IMV, the years worth avoiding were 2007-11 when the Daimler design was prone to electrical, mechanical, and body problems, which the new Fiat liason corrected. Comparison of crashworthyness is important what ever convertible you choose as well, as even though the 2006 and earlier models had only 2 airbags, the weight and design were favorable for insurance claims. BTW I had several full size Ford and Mercs before the Sebrings, and although comfortable, were not nearly as fun, reliable and practical. (you can carry ladders, mattresses, and microhoods with the top down) Did I mention 27mpg?

I have a 2006 sebring convertible. I love this car plain and simple. I bought it used in 2009 with 62,000 miles on it. Knock on wood and pray to whatever deity that's up there I have had minimal problems with it. All I have replaced is the battery, alternator, water pump and timing belt. My big repair was when my timing belt snapped. However and a big however, this is my fault because I never replaced it at 90,000 like I should have. It broke on the highway and thank god my valves didn't get bent as usually when this happens its pretty huge. Good car. She's got 128,000 on it now and is showing no sign of slowing down. Its not a fast car but I didn't buy it for its pedal to the medal power. It is mechanically sound and looks good with the top up and down. I would get another and another and another.

...now that it's working properly....trade it in for a Toyota...any model will do~

I had a 1997 Sebring convertible. The only weak point was the lousy Mitsubishi engine. I got rear-ended (while stopped) by an F-150, and knocked over 50 feet with both feet on the brake pedal. Then I bought a 2006. It has the Chrysler engine, and runs great. Zero problems, easy to carry on a conversation even with the top down. I will buy another. Regarding "Toyota" comment above -- my son-in-law is a police accident investigator. He got rid of my daughter's Toyota the moment they got married, and put her in a Dodge. He drives F-150, BTW.... He calls most Japanese cars "death on wheels", as he sees them and their occupants crushed when they strike an American car or any solid object. Recent accident: Honda Odysee crossed CL and went full head-on into F-150. It literally flattened the Honda, and wrapped it around the F-150. Honda driver dead at scene. F-150 driver was able to walk away with relatively minor injuries.

I have a 2006 Sebring GTC that just has two more payments on it. On Saturday an old woman backed into it and caved the rear bumper (cover), nothing else looks harmed. While searching for a replacement bumper, I found some posts like this one about the 2.7 v6 motor. Some people are saying to replace the timing chain and water pump at 90,000 miles, I have about 85,000, should I do it now? The car is and has been running great, I get up to 30mpg on the highway.

Replacing components before failure can certainly prevent inconvenience, but can also create new issues. I suggest following the severe duty service schedule in your manual. Timing chains normally last until rebuild. Timing belts on japanese engines often are replaced earlier than 90k. Here are links to purchase service manuals if yours is misplaced. http://www.chrysler.com/en/ owners/manuals/ or www.techauthority.com under manuals and catalogs, and through your dealer service department. Sorry about your bumper cover.

...sadly timing chains DO stretch and need to be replaced...listentening to the engine at idle and at on de-celeration may sound like a can of marbles..that means the chain tensioner has run out of tension because the chain has stretched...will not be long before imminent failure....just sayin' if you've got a timing chain engine...just listen to the way it behaves at idle and decel, and you'll know if it's a suspect....also number of miles...the 22RE toyota engine lasted 156,000 before it shattered taking the timing case with it~ put a new chain in, ignored the shattered oil passages and called it "skippy"~ works just fine now~

If you are not mechanical and don't know how to keep sludge out and don't check fluids almost daily H E double hockey sticks NO! Otherwise realize that Mitsubishi did a number on Chrysler with the 2.7L engine and the internal water pump and tensioner for the DOHC.

Sadly, my 2006 Sebring Convertible with only 82000 miles was totaled by a woman who knocked us into a high curb -- breaking wheels, axles, struts, control arm, and about every other component underneath the car. She admitted fault, and was cited for unsafe lane change. BTW: GEICO (the gal's insurance) told me that I had to accept USED PARTS and HAD TO REPAIR the vehicle by their estimate of around $3000. I told them I would accept after-market certified equal parts, and they refused unless I paid "the difference". Interestingly, when I told Geico that I hoped to settle the property damage without resorting to an attorney, they told me "You better get an attorney." I had to file with USAA (our insurance). USAA took one look and totaled the car with over $7000 in estimated repairs. The 2006 has the Chrysler V6, and is very serviceable. Fluid checks every oil change are more than sufficient. I run semi-synthetic oil in all vehicles, and typically go 5000 miles between oil changes.

The Sebring is a dull, uninspired, unreliable piece of garbage that depreciates like a stone. The 'new' Chrysler 200 was voted the most depreciated car. It's loses over 50% of it's value the minute you drive it off the lot. The Sebring is a poorly constructed, poorly conceived, poorly fitted and detailed slapdash effort of a car. In the day, they were a staple of rental fleets because when they broke, they just gave them back to Chrysler. Unfortunately, the average consumer doesn't have the luxury.

y all the hate for chrysler sebrings. I had two a '96 wiht the 3.0 mitsu motor and a' 05 wiht the 2.7. th e '05 tranny was wonderful, that over drive really got me into a loss of license. Top down 100 + sate cops pulled my license, was going to a wedding and of course my last p.t was very late . My fault I know .Never had a lick of trouble. You haters out there do your oil changes, like dad taught me, and all will b well. She had 162,K when i lost license and sold her, sadly.;

im having problems with my brakes system on my 2002 chyrsler sebring sedan 4 cylinder I lost brake pressure the other day and had to pump them to get them working and then relize that my front brakes are only working so I checked my brake fluid and its full and checked my brakes and its almost new so Im not sure what wrong with it but I love my car and it has 77,000 miles on it

and also when we had the slush storm and I was an hour away from home when I was driving in the slush my brakes pedal locked up on me when I was getting ready to slow down and after that it did a a couple of times to me but hadn't had the problem since until I loss brake pressure and now my front brakes are only working

you need to get them bleed

I checked my brake fluid its full and I think I heard that there is a recall on the master cylinder on the 02 Chrysler sebings and mine is 02

if you hold the pedal steady will it start rolling? if so your master cylinder is probably going out. I would still suggest you try to bleed your rear brakes

oh ok it acting like its thumping on the front and I had the brakes checked and it had been replace in September of 2013 before I brought the car

No not at all

The 2006 2.4 vin x chysler motor is junk at around 126000 miles the main seal went out replaced it 100 miles later went out again factory defect in the crank shaft that chysler wont recall 4500 dollars later (new motor) would never buy another

As far as I'm concerned, I would stay away from any Chrysler/Dodge product. They depreciate like rocks, are made with the care and reliability of a four wheel Titanic, and are as much fun to drive as a bowl of mashed potatoes. The worst car I ever owned (sadly the tale is true) was a 1986 Dodge Omni. A 1972 Datsun B210 was light years ahead of the Omni, and the Datsun wasn't a technological tour de force by any stretch of the imagination, but at least it was reasonably fun to drive and had bullet proof reliability.

However, do have to add that I had a 1984 Dodge Colt twin stick which had over 98,000 miles when I gave it to a friend's 16 year old daughter having done nothing to it other than change the oil on a regular basis and a new set of tires at 50,000 miles. I did buy good tires, and rotated them as required. The colt wasn't a dodge which explains the fact it lasted as long as it did. It was a Mitsubishi with a dodge badge. BTW, the car lasted Jennifer through high school, 4 years of college and 2 years of graduate school. Of course it needed stuff done along the way, but usual stuff, and never left her stranded. It was still going strong at 241,000 when it was rear ended by an old bat in a Caddy who claimed Jennifer stopped too quickly at at stop light. She was 3rd in line, the when the blue haired captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald plowed in to her.

Well my answer will tell it all clear and a day " Chrysler are like dominoes, your F***** if ur got one , screwed if you get one , and retarded if u want one ... I've had worse problem with mine ... only gd out of it , I've learned how to wrk on cars ... well Chryslers ......

I love my Sebring so I guess I must be retarded. I fell in love with her when first test drove her in 2009 and we've been together ever since. I bought her at 64,000 miles and she's got almost 138,000 now. IMO great car. Very minimal problems. I would get another in a heartbeat. My silver bullet has been a great car to me and I hope she goes for a good long time.

I stand corrected by posters here, timing chain and water pumps should be replaced at 90K, the chain comes off to acess the pump, so good time to save labor and do both together.

I agree with surferssnowgirl.....I have a Sebring as well [2001]. Purchased 2.5 yrs ago FORTUNATELY with 73K miles...I am currently at 93,500 miles. I absolutely love it !! And with required/normal maintenance I've had no problems other than it being a low rider lol

Not a good car in any way piece of shit bankrupted/Chrysler/now owned by fiat if u getting one pick the years 96-2000 with the 2.5 Mitsubishi engine that is the only how it's going to be reliable n u still have to baby it don't get the ones with the 2.7 in it worses engine ever..I have 178000 on minds and it runs good because I have yhe Mitsubishi engine but if I didn't kno how to fix cars and have a personal mechanic I would be out of luck because something on this car breaks monthly horrible electric problems u have to do so much just to keep it on the road and the brakes is horrible rether new or old sits to low in the front etc I never in my life seen a worse car dan this

Puchased 11/14/12 96 Chrysler Sebring convertible 2.5 mitsubishi engine 53 maintenances did on this car new door panels two new lower control arms coolant temperature sensor new egr valve new inner tie rod end thermostat spark plugs new wires air filter 4 oil changes to clean it out new trans fluid new power steering fluid new pcv valve twice blead the front and back brakes clean the engine off clean my fuel injectors and intake new downstream oxygen sensor new upstream oxygen sensor new back window greased up the Windows tracks restored the head lights change the tail lights out put on new trunk struts cause trunk wouldn't stay open clean and washed the car out because it flooded greased the key holes up put new tires on got an alignment had to put on new outta tie rod ends on both sides new front struts new rotors new brake pads new driver side wheel baron new pasenger side wheel baron clear the drain holes greased the suspension level the head lights change the underhood and interior fuses out clean the throttle body and plate new radiator cap new blower motor resistor new Iac valve new throttle body gasket had to flushed the radiator twice new tPS a new dashboard and a new upper radiator hose also put in stp fuel injector cleaner some chevron techron 2 cans of seafoam and cataclean after I got a po420 code that was caused by my tPS Now if its some one out there in this world that would explain to me a worse car than this plzz do so I would not be alone out there n get this i still have a oil leak and transmission leak I don't even bother to have it fixed cus it ain't worth it anymore i can name more shit that's bad about this car but look at the reviews online ppl who own this car will back me up on most of my points only thing positive I can say is the Mitsubishi engine runs good strong engine

I have a 2003 Sebring 4 door sedan with the mitsubishi 4 cylinder 2.4L engine. I am about to turn 213,000 I tune the car up myself which takes 15 minutes. I change the transmission fluid every November. The front end has been totally rebuilt as well as the rear ball joints as well at 150,000 too. I am still getting 32 mpg as of today. I got the car with 9,000 miles on it back in 2006. I replaced all 4 wheel bearings at 150,000. I had timing belt and waterpump done every 95,000 miles. I went to the junkyard and added a 6-disc cd player for $35. Added Compass/Fuel economy gauge cluster for $5. Changed out odometer cluster to a LXi for $35. This car owes me nothing. Maintain it, don't beat on it. It will last. Paul

Any will last if u have money to keep fixing it but with this car what's the point its not worth it to many problems very hard to work on evan for simple things it have recalls all over the place even stuff u wouldn't ever think would go wrong with a car will happen with this vehicle like 000's of models instrument panel go out and gauges mess up I didn't even kno my mileage when I brought it went a year with a blank cluster and messed up needles that said my fuel was low den high den rpm stuck at 1200 at idle in till I went to the yard and switch my dashboard with a Chrysler cirrus now I finally see my mileage put brand new rotors and brake pads on and its still takes forever to stop the car and i nlead the brakes i own a 11 malibu brake pads almost down to tje metel still stops on a dime literaly 10 times better this car is the worst car I ever been in and on top of that Chrysler made the worst engine ever 2.7 to go in it and in the intrepid THERE should of been a lawsuit tbh just look at car website and how horrible they rank it

To let everyone know,all sedans and convertibles use a Chrysler sourced V6 or 4 cylinder(2.7 or 2.4)and coupes are the only ones to use the Mitsubishi sourced engines(3.0 or 2.4).There are two different 2.4 liter engines as stated(one mitsubishi, one Chrysler).If you are in the market for a Chrysler Sebring,you may want to consider the coupe version however this may not be for everyone due to its size but the coupes are bullet proof.I owned a 2002 Chrysler Sebring Coupe LXi with the 3.0 V6 and never had any issues other them needing a distributor.Another note is that the coupes are built on a Mitsubishi Eclipse platform which helps a lot in the handling department.Now the sedans and convertibles rides a little smoother however the engine choices are completely junk.I now have a BMW 5 series and is having the time of my life lol :-)

Oh well. I dont get it. I have a 99 chrysler sebring conv with the 2.5 ltr. Theres 188k on it and it runs ex. Doesnt burn, drip, drop, smoke, leak, or "drink" oil. The motor is running fine. Everytime I turn the key it starts right up and NEVER runs hot, misses, skips, or any of those things. I would bet that the people that have or had a Generation 1 conv. with the 2.5Ltr in it will say the same thing. That never ran like crap, that they always ran smooth when they started up. If you ever drive one, you know how much fun it is to drive a car with 4 wheel independent suspension. These conv's from 96-2001 are the best of all the convertibles because the motor is the 2.5. Look on craigslist or anywhere and the reason all the 2001's -2008's with the 2.7 are CHEAPER than the 96-2000's are because the 2.5's are in them, not 2.7's. Any car that had the 2.7 in it, its about 2 or 3 thousand dollars less than they should be. And way cheaper that the 96-2000' conv's. And any of the chrysler sebring convertibles with the 2.5's are only in the convertible 96-2000's and cost 2 thousand or more than any of the 01-2008's. Why? Its because the cars with that 2.7 are sludge mobiles. So, hence the lower price to buy them. Theres 96-2000 sebring convertibles with 200 to 250k miles for sale right now still for about 1 to 2 thousand dollars. but theres 2001 -2008 conv. sebrings with that 2.7 that have less miles, newer year and cost 1500 to 2500 dollars max, all day, everyday, right now on craigslist, in your newspaper, and so on, so forth. The point is, the 96-2000 conv. sebrings were excellent and whoever has/had one knows they were awesome. If they're angry at the car its because THEY didn't maintain it or fix things before they should have and dont want to blame their selves. But I promise you this, they likes their Gen 1 conv. sebrings, and that's why the ones with 75 to 125k miles are tight now, today, still 3 to 5000 dollars. Yes, right this second that you're reading this the ones that have been taken care of right are being sold for that price and the newer ones with the 2.7 are being sold for a thousand to 2500 dollars, max. But hey, who wantsw to be honest, theres not as much excitement in that as there is in lying and stretching and exaggerating the truth to make the story more interesting, right? Take care of whatever car you get and it will last as long as any other car, Dont and, well, you'll see how long they last without care and maintenance. Any vehicle will only last as long as the owners care for it properly. I can make a hyundai last as long as a lexus. Dont believe that, bring me one of each and i'll prove it for you. But really, no car co ever made a car that was supposed to last through neglect and poor maintenance and crappy decision making for their cars. (the 2.7 is the exception to any rules as they are going to sludge up, blow up and seize up no matter how you take care of them, and thats simply the numbers out there to prove that one)

Oh, and heres my 2.5 with 121k on it, still running ex, strong as can be AND gorgeous on the inside/outside.

i like the body style of the sebring convertible....... i currently drive a mustang convertible...thinking of a new car was considering this now not so sure...guess ill have to test drive to see for my self

1999 Chrysler Sebring lx has 225000 miles runs fine just needed ah lil maintence and a new ball joint . Love this car

I've had an 04 Chrysler Sebring LXI for a while now, not the original owner and I got it at 70,000 miles on the dot. Runs perfectly, no problems. I did get the oil changed and it did have aforementioned sludge buildup, but doing proper maintenance has resulted in absolutely zero problems for me. Gets great mileage, and the body is completely intact except a small dent on the driverside door. It's not a "OMG I'M GOING TO RACE THE COPS WITH THIS HEHEHEHEH" type of car, but it's been very reliable. I bought it when I was 18, still works like a charm. And it was by far the prettiest car on the lot.

I have the 2.5 Mitsubishi engine in mine it's a 1999 model and am just looking at getting the timing belt done as its done 89k miles and of course is over 15 years old now. Runs very smooth and not experienced any large bills on it so far. Body is relatively free of rust and still on original exhaust pipe.

i have a 2004 that i bought from the used car dealer 18 months ago, it had two bad ball joints they replaced. To be sure i'm not proud of this car at all, but i am happy with it. I've driven it 40k miles with no issues at all. As for your comment about not seeing a lot of them? Are you crazy? mid-2000 sebrings are EVERYWHERE. Not only do i see 5-6 a day, i see one with my exact body style and color at least once a week. I parked next to an exact replica and color of mine today at the mall, they were super popular in the mid 2000's

I cannot believe the amount of people on this forum that are so misinformed and generally FOS. The Generation 1 Sebring Jxi Convertible was an excellent car and we own a beautiful red 1999. The V6 engine in those cars was sourced by Mitsubishi and they run incredibly well. After 2000, the Chrysler made 2.7 engine was used which bankrupted Chrysler and left many owners of Generation 2 convertibles in the hole. These cars are like every other convertible in the world. They require extra care to keep rubber seals up to date so the interior does not get damaged electrical parts, etc. The Generation 1 cars, Jxi V6 models and Limited models are high line cars with a superior suspension system and a lot of features other cars of the day did not have at far more money. In short, if you want a Sebring Convertible do what I did - Buy it with low miles, a traceable history and from a State that does not see snow or salted roads. You will have a fine machine as the one I have.

I have 2 2004 Chrysler Sebrings, both bought new. One is a 4 door sedan, the other a convertible both with the 2.7 V-6. Both are serviced by a Chrysler dealer on a regular schedule. The sedan has had the thermostat housing and the MAP sensor replaced. The convertible has never had anything done with the exception of regular oil/filter changes. With any brand of vehicle the most important thing to remember is to follow the manufacturers service recommendations. The most expensive vehicle will not give good service if it isn't well taken care of . I am writing this June 14, 2015.

Kewlblue - You are extremely fortunate. The 2.7 engine has a coolant pump seal in common with the crankcase because the coolant pump is driven by internal parts of the engine. So it is very common for the vapor pressure or just wear of that seal to let coolant mix with the oil and that is a prime failure mode of the 2.7 engine. 99% of engines are designed with an externally driven coolant pump and do not see the sludge issues caused by oil and coolant mixing.

I have a 2004 2.7 V6 convertible and love this car, Shortly after I got it I had to have a new head gasket since then its been fine except for trying to find brake pads (Im based in france and this model is the only one ever imported here).

Hi guys! End all be all summary for chrysler convertibles from a sebring/lebaron fan! Have owned 5 LeBarons, 3 Sebrings and am currently a service advisor for a full auto shop. I will start by saying this; it's a love hate relationship! Here's important info: ENGINES: 1996-2000 Sebring convertibles have a 2.5L V6, not powerful by any means but is very dependable with proper maintenance, and can easily go 220,000 miles without rebuild or replacement. As a service advisor I'll tell you that the timing belt is around 900-1300$ with full service (heater hoses too while he's back there, save money on the labor later. They are known to leak and cause heater issues around 100K miles). Most people know any timing belt is expensive, this is average. Distributor is 2nd most expensive repairs to look forward to, as it's a pain to get to and an expensive part. Job costs aroubd 500$. Get dealership part ONLY, you won't have to worry for another 100K miles! Nothing bad happens to the engine if the distributor goes, it will fail when starting car one day. Other than that it is average maintenance costs for everything else. Change transmission fluid every 65K and it will last 200K easily.

I have to say the 1996-2000 Sebring convertible is the better buy, as the 2001 and up Sebring has the ridiculously AWFUL 2.7L V6 engine. There is a later option after mid 2000s This engine is known as the Sludge Engine. It absolutely will fail on you at some point, and when it does it will be catastrophic. Usually an engine replacement or full rebuild is required to repair the vehicle. Replace it, the amount of labor required to rebuild the engine is NOT worth it, almost the same price as buying a new engine. A used engine is not an option, as they will ALL go bad at some point. The reason for this isite because oil deposits build up in the engine, old stuff, hardened tars, etc. This engine is so badly designed that it's impossible to prevent, even if you change with pure synthetic oil every 3000 miles. Doesn't matter. Stay away, do not buy a 2.7 V6 version. However... the 4 cylinder is decent with proper care, flush fluids on time or a little earlier and you will have no real troubles until about 160K. Then it's already slow acceleration gets even slower, cooling issues crop up more often (hoses, radiator, heater core, engine coolant channels and of course the water pump) and it becomes less cost effective to continue owning it. Sell by 160K unless you take great care of it (fluid changes mostly) then may last 200K miles!

Overall I like the car a lot. I'm 6'4 230lbs, and can stretch out in the drivers seat while driving. Tons of space for front seats. Rear is serviceable but 4 big adults will not be comfy lol. My current car is a 1997 JX Sebring, my previous car was a 1999 JXI Sebring. If you like exhaust a mellow American Racing can on the back sounds great, without being loud or sounding like it will ACTUALLY get somewhere fast. Because it wont. But it's fun! And so is this car :)

What year did Chrysler, change from a 2.7 motor to a different motor?

I have an'05 sebring limited coupe 3L. I only have 64000 miles on it, but I will tell you this. Not once has that car failed me. I maintain my car, as I should. I was once told, if you take care of your car, your car will take care of you. That Sebring is a good, dependable car and I wouldn't take anything for it. I have no intention of selling it. I may buy another car, but I will keep my Chrysler. I still get compliments on it, and it's a10 year old car. Anyone who says different, abused their car, and now complains about it.

I have a 2001 LXi coupe w/3.0L currently I am having trouble with it stalling at idle. Any ideas? Thanks!

The OP asked such a vague question that it's impossible to give a proper answer because it largely depends on the original vehicle in question. I have a '97 Sebring JXi convertible with the 2.5l engine, and before that I owned the LeBaron convertible with the 3.0. Both are Mitsubishi-designed engines and are just wonderful. Reliable, not overly powerful but definitely lively enough. The 3.0 burned oil but even after 140k miles my Sebring neither leaks nor burns oil. I changed the timing belt, water pump and associated parts myself, which wasn't a happy experience but necessary. A few front end components too. But every vehicle regardless of manufacturer needs this work. Crown Vics are reliable as anything else...if the vehicle was maintained properly. The earlier Sebrings with the 2.5 are imo your best bet but obviously they have to be taken care of. And when you put the top down, the fun factor is a ten! From close up you'd think my car had been terribly abused since the body looks pretty awful, but mechanically it's perfect and I have only done preventive maintenance - meaning, I've never been stranded and had to react to a fault. I've kept ahead of parts that showed wear, and that's a key to any happy experience in ownership.

Whoever says that the sebring conv 2.5L is a bad motor is FOS. They either bought one that was already abused with improper care and maintenance or no maintenance at all OR they actually didnt do a damn thing to keep it running right and complain when they have to even wash their car. Give it up lazy ones, you'll never find a vehicle that you dont have to do stuff to. There isnt a car for you out there, sebring, toyota or anything. Sorry but you haters are hating the wrong thing. It aint the 2.5L from the 1st gen convertibles thats the problem. And the forum has spoken and proven that. Its the non taking care of your sh**. Any car can last or NOT last if you take or DONT take care of it. I feel that the reason the higher end cars get a better rap is because people that can afford higher priced vehicles can afford more maintenance, hence the car SEEMS to last longer. People that cant afford higher priced vehicles end up getting a lower priced car, cant afford everything it takes to keep it running right and get mad when they break down(FROM NON MAINTENANCE/NOT THE CARS FAULT) SO yea, it looks like the more expensive car is a better car. But I promise you this-you give one of the people that cant afford a higher priced vehicle a BMW, nice Toyota or something higher priced and watch how fast it falls apart from them NOT being able to afford the maintenance and upkeep. Then those type of cars will start getting the bad rep. Period. Now go buy you a 96-2000 gen 1 conv sebring that has slightly lower miles, have your maintenance done LIKE ALL CARS HAVE TO HAVE DONE, and have you the time of your life! Its a convertible, its supposed to be able to get a little wet inside!!

Whats not to love about these bad a** rides? I have it as a 2nd car now and it only cost me about 3k for it. And its had to drive me to work more than once when my 08 Rav4 wouldn't! So what's up with that Toyota? Its a Chrysler. Its American made and don't cost a fortune. Easy to work on. Runs forever. And LOOKS slamming when you go get some ice cream at 7:30 at night right when its just getting dark with your top down and your lights on, evening air chilled just enough to run the heat on low, racing fog lights are on and the radio has the game or your favorite opera song going!(their stereos rock!) It's as sweet as it gets. Hell, if you cant fix whatever's wrong with it, bring it to me. I'll fix it. I can fix about anything on these gen1's, easily. And its fun to me to get em back to running right for not much at all. Parts are abundant and everywhere, so the cost for parts for the gen1 convertibles are relatively low. And Its not like they're rocket scientific, remember?, some of y'all said they're really cheap. Some of y'all that said they were so cheap you didn't realize you were complimenting the car. Anyway, they shouldn't be THAT hard to work on if they're so cheap because there should only be a small amount of technology in these car's engines and body. It should all be basic and easy to understand. I know I dont have a bit of trouble working on the conv in my driveway and I am NOT a mechanic. Just have the tools and got me a manual and saved a thousand bucks with the timing belt alone. Not to mention everything else I do to it. Runs like a dream! So anyway, put the top down and quit complaining! You can get you a bad a** conv for 2 or 3 thousand. (Do not get the 2.7L though, please, no matter how good they claim they run or how cheap the car is, or you're screwed, as all the other posts said. Just know theres a difference before you buy-2.7 and 2.5 conv's, dont get a 2.7L!!) What'd y'all say, the value dropped in half after leaving the dealer? So for cheap you get a used 2.5L one and all the thrill and fun out of your new 2nd, OR 1st car. I know this, it's by FAR the greatest 2nd car you can own and for a long time it was my 1st car. I love em, cheap, affordable, smoking hot to look at, fun, handles like a race car with its 4 wheel independent, stereo rocks, easy to work on, lasts forever, CHEAP- Again, whats not to love?

2004 Chrysler sebring Lx 2.4L 16valve new timing belt upper ball joints both rear strut mounts rear left strut tie rod ends both sides new tranny,New window assembly,new AC/Heat console switches unit MAX speed 180 KPH 111.85 MPH

Car ratings, and KBB mean nothing to me. MY EXPERIENCE with my 1999 Sebring JXI is what I go by, and my experience has been great. I've had mine for 14 months, and taken it from 90k to 130k. I KNOW my car. This is my advice to anyone looking for a Sebring. 1. Know what you are buying. I got mine for a very low price from a guy that flips auction cars in my state so knowing that it was an as is sale I thoroughly inspected the car. For some reason he hadn't noticed that somebody had swapped out the notoriously bad factory transmition, and installed an old school "Auto-Stick" tiptronic which is super awesome. He had also put his initials, and his GF's initials on both doors in painted script. The dash was also full aftermarket, all black back lit job, you know the one, white dials, glow in the dark at night, sick! ALSO, he installed a 6 CD changer, and 4 12" speakers, the thin has a competition level sound system. The dealer noticed none of this, and sold it to me while pretty much giving away 2k of value. I saw the tires, and had already planned on getting 4 new, you have to be real about what your expenses will be. I still came out with an amazing modified JXI that is still worth far more than I payed 40k later. Make sure YOU are gettin the right end of the deal in these cars. At this price point it's easy. I also ended up doing the radiator at about 120k but that came after a week of -20 temps... 2. MAKE SURE the water pump, and timing chain are good. A water pump on this car is like getting a tranny done. SO awfully horribly expensive. UGG. 3. Keep your tires, and alignment right. If not, it will lead to further problems. 4. Get the convertible! There's no feeling like riding around in a drop top in the summer, and I can vouch for it's dependability in winter weather. You won't regret it, it's not "weird" to drive a convertible, it's actually great fun. Just a knowledgable Sebring owner's views! Cheers, enjoy the wind in your hair, they don't make them like this anymore.

Was thinking about getting a 2010 Chrystler Convertible used under 60m. Should i?!?!

Not a great car but a good one if maintained. Do NOT buy a 2001 or newer with the Chrysler engine. It is commonly regarded as the worse American engine still on the road (those that still are). Nothing but a constant pain! Buy a 2000 or earlier one with the Mitsubishi 2.5 engine. Its durable and with proper oil changes should see 150 to 200k without major repairs. Upper ball joints front and rear need lubricating every 30,000 and should be done at about 20,000. They do wear and will need replacement by 100,000 miles. Transmissions are fine, change fluid & filter every 30,000 (but few people do). I've owned a 1997, 2000, and presently a very clean 1999. You should find a nice one (an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10) in the $1,000 to $1500 range, maybe a few hundred lower if it needs tires, muffler, or minor TLC. The condition of the top is important, good ones tend to be expensive. If garaged since new its not unusual to find one in pristine condition even after 16 or 17 years. Great looking, fun driving car for very little $$$. Good luck!

I still get compliments on my car! It is a 2002 Chrysler Sebring convertible LXI with over 191,000 k on it.

I absolutely loved mine (a 2004), bought it used and drove it for seven years, but a year ago some jerk cut out and stole the back window, wrecking the top and back sections of the top. The insurance company wrote the car off. Too bad. It drove like a rocket - very sprightly - and it handled great; super cornering and smooth ride. It was solid and very reliable, good mileage, and nice touches, such as leather upholstery. This was definitely a Daimler. As for one person's comment about the engine - this was definitely not the case with my car. Great engine. There was an issue where the heater would stop working. The dealership said it needed a $350 repair but a local mechanic said all it needed was fluid (I've forgotten what fluid) and he fixed it for $15. There is only one down-side (and it's big enough for me to not recommend the car) - the window actuators have cables that abrade and fail, requiring replacement of the whole mechanism (around $300 if you can find the parts). This is particularly bad with the back side-windows. They stopped making the parts years ago and the only place to find them would be a junk yard, but there were not enough cars made to make this practical. In the end, I had to have them propped up internally. It's too bad. I really loved that car. As for replacing the top, the factory tops are available for around $2,400 and aftermarket (same fabric, etc.) for around $1,500.

Sorry furutan, its soooo documented that the 2.7l sebring, intrepid, stratus, etc motor is a sludge mobile that theres no possible way you can sell that load of crap about your engine being so great and only needing 15 bucks worth of "heating fluid"? And tops are 150 to 400 all over ebay and in any junkyard(just look em up on i-net and check their inventory)theres at least 15 to 30 of em sitting there with blown 2.7's in them. Not wrecked, but blown engines.So any window parts one needs thay have 40 to choose from @ 2 per car. Our junkyard, a pull a part in col sc has 20 of these sebrings every day coming in and out for the past 6 or 7 years! SO, save it. And nobody pays 1500 to 2000 bucks for gen2 sebring top. Huh? That's absurd. I dont even think a ercedes top is that much on their 2001-2008 cars. We all got internet, we all can look that up and see that that's a load of #*&@! The 2nd gen 2.7l motor is on you tube showing the horrible smoke and other catastrophic problems they had to aid with the class action lawsuit. And you cant replace the motors because theres none left on the planet. Theyve all been replaced and those blew up! You wont see an intrepid, sebring, stratus, mercury whatever that the 2.7 was in on that one, and any more 2.7L cars on the road except for 1 out of every 100,000 that was built from 2001-2008 because theyre all blown up. Hence, the reason you DONT see these cars, ever, on the road. Theyre garbage if they have a 2.7 in them. Do just a teeny tiny bit of research, not dig for whatever you can find, just punch in a couple of key words on google and do your research. Its horrible what they did to people with that junk motor!

That's a heck of an extreme response. So over the top and in such absolutes as to be unreliable. I drove the car for six years. It was an excellent performer. As for replacing the regulators on the rear windows, I haven't been able to find a Sebring convertible in any junk yard within an 80 mile radius. Even if I had, the design of the regulators was poor, with a life of only a few years before the cables would abrade and fail. I, too, am familiar with the Internet. The best price I found for a decent top (top, back and liner) made from the same materials was around $1,300 plus tax and installation. If you could find all three components for $150 to $400 that would be very special indeed. I'm not a mechanic, but when my heater went out the mechanic I used charged me $15, saying he had to add some fluid. That's all I know. He fixed it. With the exception of the regulators on the windows, I would buy this car again and again. As I said, I had siix years' experience driving it, including town and expressway driving, plus monthly 750 mile drives across the state of Texas. I know the car far better than you. If someone hadn't trashed the top and the car been totaled because of it, I would still be driving it. And not once have I had any issues with smoke. Not once has my engine blown up. And I do see other Sebring convertibles around town - I've seen three others besides mine - and none of them were in a junkyard.

Yeah, someone caught a bad Sebring. I have a 1999 Sebring. When I got it, someone had taken out the stock transmission, and it had a brand new Autoshift Auto/Manual in it which is sweeet. Also has a custom dash, and full black leather (black dash/Glow in the dark gauges) along with an aftermarket stereo. So mine is tinkered with but I drive over 100 miles a day like Kyle Busch, I've put 40k on it in a year. Simple maintenance has kept it running just fine. If you CHANGE YOUR OIL when you should, no sludge factory (surprise). In my opinion it's a fantastic car as an every day driver, and my 99 JXI has surprising pop in high speed situations but that might be the AutoShift. Idk, change your oil more dude, that's how the sludge happens... Happened once to me when I got lazy... Then I changed my oil. Just sayin'!

I have a 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertable 2.5 I love it! Drives like a race car live the look and upkeep is basic! So yes is my answer.

I have a 1996 Chrysler Sebring. Its great, it also only has 83000 km on it! Unfortunately someone hit the side of the car. Good news the car works fine and I was quoted to repair the dent and re-paint would cost almost $700. I did find a newer 2001 Sebring (230 000 km) for $1000. My question is can I just swap the engines?

All you people saying Sebring is a good car and has no problems. I said the same thing about my 06 Sebring GTC 2.7 around 80-100 k. Heck even when it was at 125 it was great! 140k it all went downhill....it started with the struts, then the alternator, then it overheated. Put fluids in it, it never showed to be over heating again but it obviously did, as next time I looked my reservoir was completely burned up. A couple weeks later the wheel bearings went completely out, then the reservoir again popped multiple holes in a matter of minutes. I got stranded on the highway for 3 hours while cooled, just to over heat again 5 miles from home. the next day finally got it home, replaced the reservoir and the coolant air bleeder. ( No obvious signs of what caused the initial overheat) Now the damn thing won't start AGAIN!!! Oh and did i mention that ALL OF THIS has happened in the last THREE WEEKS!!!!!!! I have literally put almost 800 dollars into this car in less than a month (we did most of the labor on our own or it would be more). And the damn thing still won't leave the drive way! Not to mention the myriad of problems it has that aren't immediate, brakes, remaining struts, oil leak (ad of yet no leak can be found even though I'm obviously leaking somewhere) electrical issues with interior AND headlights, fuel economy issues (undiagnosed) and the list goes on and on! I have owned 2 Ford escorts and a Chevy cavalier.....all considered to be crap cars, but let me tell you! Not a single one of them EVER gave me this many problems! I'm about ready to scrap this car for parts and buy something else! I will NEVER buy Chrysler AGAIN!

Maecille, don't let that 2nd generation sebring prevent you from owning a different gen sebring convertible. But yea, you're right about it going down hill fast at that point!. And to tell you the truth, for you to get all the way to 140k in yours, that's pretty impressive for the year and generation of the one you own! Not bad. Remember, its an 06, with the sludge engine. Nobody really gets that many miles out of those motors. So good job, and to get 140k, you did real well!

Have a 98 jxi convertible with the 2.5 bought it in 01 with 33K now has 316K yes it's true! LOF every 5K have replaced brakes sensors distributor front wheel bearings fuel pump tires brake lines calipers wheel cylinders alternator radiator cap neck radiator both lower control arms outer tie rods front axel and still beats most cars of the line with tires screaching all this and have yet to do any internal engine work probably a lot of luck involved running so long but at this point it's more of a personal challenge keeping it on the road did I mention it's my daily drive 80 miles a day for work been a great car most likely willl never own another car that will be this good to me everyone tells me to contact Chrysler and let them know .I don't know maybe I will

I have a 1997 jxi sebring convertible and I love it!!! 199000.00 miles later, I just replaced battery and speaker grilles. Regular oil change, tune up and fresh tires is all it needs. The original paint is still shining! A few chips on the hood from our dirt road, which a labra, fixed. I love my sebring! Have 2 trucks, 2 smaller cars 2 suvs, and yet, the sebring out runs them all...I love this car!!!!!!!!!! I must of got one of the first built???? No major problems at all. Our machanic is a stunned at how well it is running. Love my sebring!!!!!!

I bought my Sebring as a program car from Enterprise it has 30,000 miles on it when I bought it and it now has 225000 very few problems it's been a great car

Absolutely. Don't listen to these fools. I've had mine since I bought it new in 04. Rebuilt the engine once about 4 years ago. Anything will last a lifetime with proper maintenance. I took good care of mine. Had it repainted last year.

I have a 2003 convertible.. it runs great.. no major problems..ball joints did where out through..

I have a 2004 Sebring Limited Convertible. Recently purchased with only 56K miles. Rides and runs like a TOP!. Beautiful car and at a reasonable price as well. Did some minor work on it and we love it! (So far). I looked around and found nothing but High mileage vehicles that were not nearly in as good shape as this one.

I'm have two sebring convertibles a 2000 with 190897 miles and a 2003 with 126000 and I had a 1999 with 164000 before a farmer ran a stop sign and dropped 9 huge round nails of hay in front of it .my girlfriend was driving the car. It was totaled but held up really good she got hurt but the car is well made. Great cars at a good price .

I have that i bought new ,a 2005 sebring touring convertible,with 30,000 miles on it. I keep up wih maintence and oil changes. it does not see rain, or it's not driven in winter. Everytime ,i go to the dealer, i'm asked quite oftem about selling it. I just tell them no , that its not going anywhere. I'm happy it's paid for, and don't have any payments for 6 to 8 years .

I'm am on the verge of buying a low-mileage 1999 jxi convertible for an urban runabout in the Kansas City, MO area. MPG is really not an issue since the jxi runabout will only be driven 2.5K -3.0K miles max/ year. From what I have read about generation1 Mitsu motors compared to the Chrysler 2001-2008 problem-causers, the purchase should be an enjoyable n successful driving experience.Proper maintenance will be done and fun will be had. R.G. Reynolds, Grandview, MO. July 17th, 2020. All be well n safe!

DEAL KILLER on the Sebring convertible: The rear side windows operate by a cable that scrapes against metal. Eventually, the cables will abrade and break. You cannot replace the cables. You must replace the entire window unit. And you will not find any replacements that are not already badly abraded. This is the only flaw I found with this car. But unless you are prepared to modify the mechanism to keep those windows permanently up, you will not be happy.

I am looking at a black 2002 coupe with leather and all the options. It’s an LXi and Chrysler sure did a fantastic job reskinning the Mitsu Eclipse from an aesthetic point of view. This one has the 3 litre engine, only 23k miles on it, and certainly looks pristine. I’m paying 4000 for it. Hope it’s a good one!