Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Chrysler Sebring, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 10 | 10% |
| Wheels | 8 | 8% |
| Structure | 8 | 8% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 7% |
| Air bags | 6 | 6% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 4% |
| Visibility | 4 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I was driving my car and fault something wrong with the steering and went to make a right turn I heard a noise and my car front passenger side of my car was on the ground and my wheel was under my car. Thank goodness for
NHTSA complaint: Steering
was driving down the road with no warning car popped and made loud noise.. the left front of the car dropped down and steering was un responsive and came to a stop made a clunking sound when trying to move it out of road
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I WAS NOT INFORMED OF A RECALL AND ME AND MY SON WERE IN THE VEHICLE DRIVING AND IT STARTED HOPPING ALMOST AS IF IT HAD HYDRAULIC. I TOLD MY SON TO FASTEN HIS SEAT BELT CONSIDERING WE WERE JUST LEAVING THE STORE AND PULL
NHTSA complaint: Steering
SEATBELT LOCKS UP TO WHERE U CAN'T PUT IT ON BEFORE DRIVING OR WHEN DRIVING AND SEATBELT IS ON IT SOMETIMES LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T MOVE YOUR LOCKED IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING IF IT LOCKS UP IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWH
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
II TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND I WAS TOLD I NEED NEW TIRES. MY TIRES HAVE ONLY 20K MILES AND A 60K MILE WARRANTY. THE TIRE SHOP CALLED FALKEN WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND FOR OVER A WEEK BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT INI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CAR HORN KEEPS GOING OFF AT RANDOM TIMES, WHILE DRIVING AND NOT DRIVING. LOOKED UP ON INTERNET AND VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE, PART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO PULL FUSE FOR HORN OUT, BUT IN DOING SO THE AI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THERE WAS A RECALL THAT BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011 FOR BAD BALL JOINTS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC 2010 IN BETWEEN RECALLS 2009 -2011. NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS. ON NOVEMBER 16 TH 2012 MY BALL JOINT BROKE MY CAR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2000 Chrysler Sebring. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
IMPORT PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 30,351 FUEL FILTERS SOLD TO AND BRANDED BY THE AFFINIA GROUP AS CARQUEST P/N 86523, NAPA P/N 3523, AND WIX P/N 33523 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE FILTERS MAY DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND/OR CONNECTORS DUE TO IMPROPERLY
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: THE AFFINIA GROUP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE FILTERS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WIX FILTER RETURN CENTER AT 1-704-869-7411 OR IMPO
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS COND
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 10 of them (10%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.