2010 Chrysler Sebring Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2010 Chrysler Sebring carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering pretensioner and electric power assist system. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Electronic throttle control light with power loss.” 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.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Campaign #16V668000 · Sep 15, 2016

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #10V475000 · Jul 10, 2010

Issue: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING, 300, CHARGER (LX) AND DODGE CHALLENGER (LC), AVENGER (JS), AND JOURNEY (JC), AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2011 DODGE RAM LIGHT DUTY PICKUP (DS) VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SEPARATION AT THE CRIMPED END OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Risk: LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Campaign #10V009000 · Nov 1, 2010

Issue: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING; DODGE AVENGER AND NITRO; JEEP LIBERTY, COMMANDER AND GRAND CHEROKEE; AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 DODGE RAM TRUCK. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY FORMED OR MISSING BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Fix: CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER INPUT ROD RETAINING CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2010 Chrysler Sebring.

Reported to NHTSA

Electronic throttle control light with power loss

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2020-04

ETC LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE IT HAPPENS WHEN I START THE VEHICLE WHEN I DRIVE IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY I TOOK VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WA THE THROTTLE BODY PAID 800 DOLLARS STILL HAVE THE ETC AND SAME ISSUE HAPPENING
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10916002
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WILL TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. WITHOUT NOTICE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR DECELERATED FROM 65MPH TO 35MPH. THIS DECELERATION ALMOST CAUSE THE CAR FOLLOWING TO ALMOST REAR-END MY CAR
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10654051

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Windshield wiper malfunction from control module

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2017-06

WIPERS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN. SOMETIMES THEY JUST QUIT WORKING DURING A RAIN STORM AND OTHER TIMES THEY CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND OTHER TIMES THEY STOP RIGHT IN YOUR FIELD OF VISION DURING A RAIN STORM
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649168
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY CHRYSLER SEABRINGS WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED MOVING ON THEIR OWN. AT FIRST IT WAS MAYBE ONCE . AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THEY STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. NOT HAVING WORKING WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN FLORIDA IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT PRETTY MUCH RAINS EVERY DAY
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10725758

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Steering rack and pinion failure

STEERING, SUSPENSION

6 NHTSA complaints · 2013-04 → 2016-11

IGINATION ISSUES MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON ME. I HAVE TO SIT FOR AT LEAST 5 MINS BEFORE I CAN TURN THE KEY TO START MY CAR. AS IN DRIVING MY CAR ACTS AS IF IT WANTS TO STOP WHILE DRIVING
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10926501
2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RACKING PINION PROBLEMS
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10551281

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Takata air bag recall parts delay

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2019-08

HAS HAD A RECALL SINCE 9/2016 PARTS STILL NOT AVAILABLE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10995150
AIR BAG RECALL SEP 2016 HASN'T BEEN FIXED, REMEDY PART NOT AVAILABLE AND ITS JUNE 2017
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10994622

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Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2017-04

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK IN THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH, AND ROLLED OVER
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10524403
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE ANOTHER CAR HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CRASH WAS BAD ENOUGH WHERE THE OTHER AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY BACK, NECK AND ARMS
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10606052

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Control module failure with engine stall

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-04 → 2016-12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED DUE TO A PCM FAILURE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10936522
CAR WENT DEAD ON ROAD DUE TO A BAD TOTAL INTERGRATED POWER MODULE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10885655

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Service brake failure

SERVICE BRAKES

7 NHTSA complaints · 2011-08 → 2019-05

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISION WITH LIGHT POLE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10503054
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS TO HIS RESIDENCE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11210361

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Engine compartment fire

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-04 → 2024-06

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND EXITED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10733613
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2010 CHRYSLER SEBRING TOURING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EMITTED A CLICKING NOISE. SMOKE ALSO EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WITHIN A SECOND, THE FRONT END WAS ON FIRE
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10461652

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

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

76 crashes 2010–2024

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

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.

8

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls 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 2010 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.