NHTSA Complaint #10413232 — 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

FRONT-END NOISES WERE REPORTED TO THE SELLING DEALER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THREE SHOP VISITS TO A CARY, NC, DEALER DURING WHICH THE TECHNICIANS "COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM," WE DECIDED TO JUST LIVE WITH THE NOISES. AFTER MOVING FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO FLORIDA, THE NOISES GOT WORSE. A CLERMONT, FL, CHRYSLER DEAL CHARGED US $100 TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING," BUT THEY DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS FOR ABOUT $1100. BY THAT TIME, OF COURSE, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS DID INDEED NEED TO BE REPLACED, SO WE DID. THE DISCONCERTING PART OF THIS IS THAT THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT THE TECH'S AT TWO DEALERS EITHER COULDN'T DETERMINE OR DIDN'T BOTHER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEN, THE REPLACEMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER WARRANTY HAD TO BE DONE OUT OF POCKET AT ABOUT 58,000. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SORT OF THING COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. NOW, FROM THE FRONT END SOUNDS WE'RE HEARING AGAIN, WE MAY NEED TO HAVE CV JOINTS REPLACED. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY, AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CHRYSLER DEALER HANDLES IT. *TR