NHTSA Complaint #10214108 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

MAJOR HEADACHE HAS BEEN THE RECENT ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF WHAT MAY BE OIL SLUDGE GATHERED IN THE MOTOR. ENGINE SEIZED BRIEFLY UPON SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THEN BEGAN "CLICKING" UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION TO/FROM HIGH RPMS (UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING). CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS BROKEN CONNECTOR ROD AND BEARING IN #2 CYLINDER, WHICH NECESSITATES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED PRICE TAG: $10,000 (MORE THAN VEHICLE'S WORTH). OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE INCLUDED FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG PART THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT; PERSISTENT DIMMING/FLICKERING OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS; MULTIPLE BATTERY AND HEADLIGHT BURNOUTS; EMISSION LEAKS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS REQUIRING TWO SEPARATE REPAIRS; AND CD PLAYER SKIPPING, REQUIRING (ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER) A COMPLETELY NEW STEREO SYSTEM. SPEAKERS ARE SOMEWHAT SHOT AND THE DRIVER-SIDE SUNVISOR CLIP BROKE UNDER SLIGHT PRESSURE. *TR