When we acquired our 1998 chrysler sebring june 2010, both outside door handles were broken. We could only open the door through an open window. The dealer wanted $500 to install them. In april 2012, the passenger handle broke again. Now, june 2012, the driver handle broke again. The parts installed two years ago have both broken again. These parts are plastic and apparently do not last very long. Is there a recall? What do we do?
1998 Chrysler Sebring: doors won't lock, open or latch
15 of the 267 complaints about the 1998 Chrysler Sebring describe doors won't lock, open or latch.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical mileage
- 110,000
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
Doors won't lock, open or latch by model year
- 20084
- 20074
- 20044
- 20022
- 20014
- 20002
- 19997
- 199815
- 19971
- 19961
- 19952
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chrysler sebring. The contact stated that both the driver and passenger side door latches malfunctioned and could not be utilized to open the doors. The contact stated that the only way to open the doors was to leave the windows open and unlatch the doors from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed by a private mechanic but not repaired. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000 and the current mileage was 110,000.
Plz note 1998 chrysler sebrings door levers will break on you both mine did as well as others I notice on the internet. First it was one door handle tried to lift it and the other one brakes. So for mths I had to get into the passenger side door to open drivers side door. Then passenger side door lever wont open. I read some guy door even came of while he was driving. And to there is a distributor you will have that problem I notice with a 1998 chrysler sebring it will die on you. You will tow it and cost thousands to repair. As far as the doors im calling chrysler if any recalls on both doors..and most likely pay hundreds to get it fix by some1. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chrysler sebring. The contact stated that the door latch has failed three times when she attempted to open the driver side door. When attempting to unlock the vehicle, the key turns, but does not unlock the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to different mechanics and they replaced the locks and latches twice. The current mileage was 139,000 and failure mileage was 110,000.
Both outside door handles have broken off within 2 months of each other. Appear to be made of plastic. No unusual force used on either handle. Just snapped off. Unable to enter car conventionally, must go through trunk. Taken to body shop to repair.
Dt*: the contact stated both outside door handles are plastic and have cracked. The doors will not open therefore; the vehicle has not been to a dealership.
Dt: the contact stated the outer door handles broke. This happened one time on both doors. The second time, the contact's daughter was inside the vehicle and it was running. The vehicle has not been to a chrysler dealership. He purchased the parts and was going to fix this himself.
Defective door handle on my 1998 chrylser sebring: my door handle on the driver side broke off right in my hand as I attempted to opent the door. Due to expensive repair the handle is still broken . Over the years I have noticed close to a hundred sebring owners with broken door handles, so this is obviously a manufacturers defect and should be recalled!
1998 chrysler sebring. Last year sport moulding fell off passenger door. Two weeks ago, passenger door handle broke when opening door.
Don\\\\\\'t know exact dates but had window trim repaired for leaking on left and right side windows and interior covers under door handles replaced for peeling away under orig. Warranty. Called dealership w/I 10 mos. Because same problems came back and was told that I would be responsible for all costs (including rental car) and then I could submit my claim to see if I would even be reimbursed. Car now has approx. 65,000 miles and took it to be diagnosed since I purchased a 75,000/7 yr. Extended warranty. Paid $75 for diagnoses and approx. $30 for rental car and am still told \\\\\\tough luck\\\\\\ on my repairs and that I am responsible even though they have been repaired previously. Oh, and come to find out if I had been informed correctly the first time that my repairs would have been covered because they are warrantied for twelve months!! Of course I relied on an answer from an employee at chrysler/jeep in southfield, michigan and since they misinformed me I am sol. I have also gone \\\\\\'round and \\\\\\'round with chysler customer service and they have been very unhelpful.
Outside door handle broke upon attempting to open unlocked door. One junk yard informed me he has 10 calls a week on the sebring door handles.
Consumer states that both outside door handles fell off, within three days apart. Dealer and the manufacturer have been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1998 Chrysler Sebring door locks
Is doors won't lock, open or latch a common problem on the 1998 Chrysler Sebring?
15 of 267 owner complaints about the 1998 Chrysler Sebring (6%) mention doors won't lock, open or latch. The model year with the most reports is 1998.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Chrysler Sebring?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Chrysler Sebring
Ball joint 16No deployment 12Grinding brakes 11Tire blowout 9Stalling 7Brake failure 5Sudden acceleration 5
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