NHTSA Complaint #10138181 — 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLERS 2.4L - 4 CYLINDER ENGINES - DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. WE PURCHASED A NEW 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING JX W/ 2.4L DOHC 4 CYLINDER ENGINE IN MARCH OF 1998. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED BY NALLEY CHRYSLER IN ROSWELL. VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 19,000 ACTUAL MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE OR USE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR LEAKING COOLANT/OIL MIXTURE COMPLAINED OF LEAKS TO SERVICE REPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOTHING FOUND. AT LAST RECALL - SHIFTER LINKAGE, ASKED SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS WAS INFORMED THAT 2.4L ENGINE WILL NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET. INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW MANY OCCURRENCES OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS 2.4L ENGINE AS HEADS ARE MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAN BLOCK AND THEY COOL AND HEAT AT DIFFERING RATES CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. CHRYSLER HAS SILENTLY WARRANTED MANY OF THESE ENGINES BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES AND KNOWN PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS. WOULD REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT OR REPAIR. CHRYSLER REP HAD DENIED REPAIR. CLASS ACTION STATUS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR THESE KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS. *JB