2004 Chrysler Sebring Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Chrysler Sebring has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine failure with oil sludge.” Chrysler's Oil Change Indicator tracks engine load and duty cycle, then messages when oil life is used up — capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (300, Pacifica, Town & Country, Voyager) is long-interval by design: spark plugs at 100,000 miles and no timing belt. Minivans in family duty count as 'severe service' more often than owners think — frequent short trips shorten the oil indicator's countdown, and that's the system working correctly.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Chrysler Sebring.

Reported to NHTSA

Engine failure with oil sludge

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

23 NHTSA complaints · 2006-08 → 2014-02

“2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING LIMITED. OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE LED TO ENGINE FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES. THIS CAR WAS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED, INCLUDING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10346788
“AT 30,987 MILES, MY 2004 CHRYSLER CONVERTIBLE 2.7L V6 ENGINE SEIZED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE OF INTERSTATE RT 95 IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I HAD JUST LEFT PHILA. CITY AND WAS DRIVING ONLY 5-10 MINS WHEN THIS HAPPENED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10186947
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SLUDGE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT MUST NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OIL OFTEN ENOUGH. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10169794

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front ball joint and control arm separation

SUSPENSION

19 NHTSA complaints · 2006-12 → 2020-12

“I HAD JUST TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM AND THE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE INNER CV JOINT SEPARATED. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT THE TIME, A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10481325
“THIS CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE HAD THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11271345
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WENT BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10735336

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear strut mount corrosion and failure

SUSPENSION

8 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2009-07

“UPPER REAR STRUT MOUNTS FOR 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEVERE CORROSION CAUSING MOUNTS TO FAIL. IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME STRUT ASSEMBLY COULD WEAR THROUGH INSIDE SIDE-WALL OF TIRE AND CAUSE BLOWOUT, POSSIBLY WRECK. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10235580
“04 CHRYSLER SEBRING 4 DOOR SEDAN V6 2.7L REAR STRUT TO BODY MOUNTS FAILED. THE MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE CAST ALUMINUM AND DISSOLVED TO NOTHING CAUSE SUSPENSION FAILURE. THIS THEN CAUSED THE FRONTS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10247990
“INCIDENT: OUTER, OR UPPER PLATES FOR STRUT ASSEMBLY DETERIORATED; VEHICLE DEEMED UNSAFE TO OPERATE; PARTS ON NATIONWIDE BACKORDER; APPROX. 3,000 VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10233013

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Heated seat overheating, smoke, and burn-through

SEATS

16 NHTSA complaints · 2007-01 → 2018-12

“THE SEAT WARMERS OVERHEAT. WHEN DRIVING, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE SEAT WARMERS BURNED A QUARTER-SIZE PLACE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10508761
“PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WAS SMOLDERING. THE SEAT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10304684
“DRIVING THE FREEWAY ON 91 DEGREE DAY AND RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CATCHES FIRE DUE TO SEAT HEATING ELEMENT WHICH WAS NOT TURNED ON. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND POLICE USED DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10218835

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling at low speed or at stops

ENGINE

25 NHTSA complaints · 2006-09 → 2023-06

“Random stalling upon deceleration with no warning lights after stalling (as if the engine thinks it is still running). Occurs at low speed. Sometimes the engine will surge when the rpm drops off instead of stalling. I have almost run into other cars when the surging happens”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11527525
“2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING TOURING SEDAN WITH A 2.7L ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN CAR IS DECELERATING. THE CAR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING WITH ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT, IT NOW HAS ABOUT 69,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10207600
“I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 06'. IT'S AN 04' CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE [XXX] CAR STARTED STALLING AND STOPPING WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. IT DIES ON ME AT LEAST ONCE A DAY NOW. IT FINALLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING TODAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. IT SCARES ME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10240836

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine surge and unintended forward acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

13 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2025-03

“WHEN CRUISE CONTROL ON, WHEN YOU STEP ON BRAKE AT STOPLIGHT, ACCELERATES UN- CONTROLLABLY. MUST SLAM ON BRAKES, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN IGNITION OFF. THEN WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TRYING TO RESTART CAR. I THINK CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY WENT OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10854546
“AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATOR OR THROTTLE BEGAN TO STICK AND ACCELERATE INTENSELY, GOING UP TO 80MPH WITH THE BRAKE ENGAGED. I PULLED OFF THE MAIN ROAD, CONTINUING TO BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10486405
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. SURGE FORWARD. THE ENGINE WOULD RAIL UNTIL HE TURNED THE KEY OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10199932

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illuminated

AIR BAGS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2007-02 → 2021-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10884335
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. CHRYSLER HAS REPLACED THE SEATBELT TENSIONER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOW RECURRING AND THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELT TENSIONERS TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10231831
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYLSER SEBRING. ON SEVEN OCCASIONS SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2005, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR REPAIR IT. CHRYSLER ADVISED HER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY ANOTHER DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10206048

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata air bag recall repair part unavailable

AIR BAGS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-11 → 2016-09

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10903777
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10903754
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10789354

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change oil when the indicator message appears — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L uses 0W-20; PT Cruiser's 2.4L uses 5W-30. Short-trip city driving will trigger the indicator well before 10,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles or at every oil change. Front-heavy minivans (Pacifica, Voyager) chew front tires quickly without rotation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Loaded minivans and the heavy 300 wear rear pads faster than expected — check both axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Timing Belt (2.4L PT Cruiser)

Every 100,000 mi

PT Cruiser's 2.4L is a timing-belt engine: replace around 100,000 miles (check your manual's exact interval for the year). Do the water pump and tensioner in the same job — the labor overlaps almost entirely.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Minivans (62TE six-speed): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles under family duty. 300 with the ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed: Chrysler lists no normal-service interval, but specialists recommend fluid service around 60,000-100,000 miles. ATF+4 or the specified 8-speed fluid only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: iridium plugs at 100,000 miles. PT Cruiser 2.4L: roughly every 30,000 miles with conventional plugs — check the manual for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. On the Pentastar it's a quick top-of-engine job; inspect sooner in dusty climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on evidence of cracking or glazing. A failed belt on the Pentastar takes the water pump drive with it — don't run it to destruction.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles — behind the glovebox on Pacifica, Voyager, and 300. Family-hauler duty (pets, gravel school lots) argues for yearly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant: first replacement at 10 years or 150,000 miles per the schedule; many shops suggest refreshing by 100,000 miles. Use OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing types gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually once the battery passes 3 years old. Pacifica's stop-start system uses a pricier AGM or dual-battery setup — weak batteries throw confusing electrical faults first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

239 crashes 1990–2024

How the 239 occupant deaths break down

180

driver deaths

56

passenger deaths

3

not recorded by seat

239

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

27

complaints mentioning a crash

21

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Chrysler Sebring reflects Chrysler's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.