engine problem
10.0
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$5,000.00
Average Mileage:
64,333 miles
Number of complaints:
6 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (6 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2003 Chrysler Sebring engine failure due to oil sludge
2008Sep 22
Sebring LX 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 66,000 miles
I bought this car from CarMax, in Memphis Tn. It had 58826 miles on it. At 60000 miles we did an oil change. Now at 66000 miles the engine is gone. Chrysler dealership says that it has oil sludge. This car still has warranty on it and they still are refusing to fix it, even though I have only had it long enough to do one oil change.
2008Oct 06
Sebring Limited Edition 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 94,000 miles
CHRYSLER MAKES DEFECTIVE ENGINES, BLAMES "OIL SLUDGE" AND ME FOR NOT CHANGING OIL. WHICH I DID REGULARLY. THEN SAY THEY NEED TO "DIAGNOSE" AND BREAKDOWN THE ENGINE AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO ME, BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THEY WILL COVER THE COSTS. IF AND WHEN THEY DON'T COVER THE COSTS OF A NEW ENGINE OR REPAIR, I AGAIN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PUT ENGINE BACK TOGETHER. THEN THE REPAIR ITSELF COSTS AN ADDITIONAL $10,000!!!!
Ahh, sorry for the CAPS but this is a real pisser. My car ran cool and quite and never had any engine problems. I brought it to a Chrysler shop for a new starter and battery since it wouldn't start all of a sudden and they said thats what was needed. I also had them put on 4 new tires and spent $700 for it all together. when I got the car back, I drove approximately 15 miles, made a turn and car stopped. I tried 3 or 4 times to restart the car, when I did get it started it made a LOUD clunking noise from engine and the temperature guage was all the way up (never ever overheated before that). Lifted the hood and almost burned my hands off. Engine was boiling hot. I got the car towed back to Chrysler repair shop, thats when they accused me of never changing the oil and the engine failed to "engine sludge". I changed the oil on a reg basis. They said its a $10, 000 job to fix. Before they can see if it will be covered under warranty, they need to open and break down the engine, which nobody covers, and costs thousands of dollars ontop of the 10 thousand , they expect me to pay for it. Then when they wont cover it, im left to pay an additional several thousand dollars to put the broken engine back together or pay 10 thousand to fix. They pretend they know nothing of issues with these engines, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to google "Chrysler 2.7 engine defective" on the internet to prove otherwise. My fiancee and I just evacuated New Orleans due to hurricane Gustav. She is disabled and we are really struggling and on the verge of homelessness, and now our only means of transportation is gone.
2008Jan 01
Sebring 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 52,000 miles
My 2003 Sebring engine seized at 52,000, despite proper oil maintenance. They blamed oil maintenance. I replaced engine. Now I'm suing the bastards. I'm a products liability lawyer. Please join me or at least be a potential witness that the same thing happened to. I'm going to put together as many people as possible. They can't keep getting away with this. John Durst, www.nynylaw.com, 212-964-1000. (There is no risk to you, btw.)
2008Mar 03
Sebring LX 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 58,000 miles
I have a 2003 Sebring Lx and lo and behold my oil light is coming on with the oil level no where near low. Called two Chrysler dealers who are playing stupid and don't know the sludge problem I am speaking of. Of course, I have NO receipts where the oil was changed every THREE THOUSAND MILES because my husband did it himself, like clockwork. I didn't complain when the transmission leaked ALL FLUID, I had that repaired. But the sludge problem AS WE ALL KNOW is not that simple! My nephew is a mechanic WHO WORKS FOR CHRYSLER and he says they are constantly getting in SEBRINGS LOADED WITH SLUDGE!!! He says there is no fix but to install a new engine, this car doesn't even have 60,000 miles on it!! HE SUGGESTED TO ME TO PURCHASE MARVELLS MYSTERY OIL AND COMPLETELY CHANGE THE OIL WITH ONE CAN BEING MARVELLS, THE OTHERS SYNTHETIC. RUN THE CAR 200 MILES AND DRAIN ALL THE OIL OUT OF THE CAR. REPEAT THE MARVELLS MYSTERY OIL ALONG WITH THE SYNTHETIC OIL, RUN ANOTHER 200 MILES, DRAIN THE CAR OF ALL OIL AND REPEAT A THIRD TIME. IF THERE IS A CHANCE YOUR CHRYSLER CAN BE SALVAGED, THIS MAY HELP. IF YOUR OIL LIGHT IS STAYING ON ( MINE ONLY COMES ON WHEN THE CAR HAS RUN AWHILE) HE SAYS YOU STILL PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE SLUDGE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED BUT THE CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE PLAYING STUPID. WHEN I CALLED, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS CALLING BUT INSTANTLY KNEW TO TELL ME TO BRING IN MY RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES WHEN I TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING OF OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS! FUNNY HOW THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE BRING IN YOUR RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES LINE WHEN THE WORD SLUDGE WAS MENTIONED. THE THING THAT SUCKS THE MOST ABOUT ALL THIS IS, I BOUGHT THE SEBRING USED FROM THIS DEALER, THEY KNOW I CAN'T PRODUCE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER SO I AM SCREWED! I STILL OWE THOUSANDS ON THIS CAR AND I CANT AFFORD TO MAKE TWO CAR PAYMENTS! IF I COULD AFFORD 6000 FOR ANOTHER ENGINE I WOULD JUST BUY ANOTHER *%*& CAR! CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE BOYCOTTED, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, I AM AN INSURANCE AGENT FOR A VERY LARGE NATIONALLY KNOWN INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HAVE PEOPLE CALL ME AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES A DAY TO ASK ME WHAT INSURANCE WOULD COST IF THEY BOUGHT THIS CAR OR THAT CAR AND I AM GOING TO TELL EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CALLS THE INSURANCE COMPANY I WORK FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WITH MY SEBRING AND HOW CHRYSLER DOES NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE MYSELF FROM THIS MESS BUT I CAN DARN SURE SAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF POTENTIAL CHRYSLER CUSTOMERS LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY BY GIVING THEM THE HEADS UP ON ON WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WITH A CHRYSLER PRODUCT!
2007Mar 04
(reported on)Sebring 2.7
- Manual transmission
- 50,000 miles
Engine quit running, Burger Chrysler towed car, dismantled engine and said they wouldn't fix because the problem was sludge. I had to pick up the car and Chrysler employees would not help load on trailer. The mechanic didn't put the removed parts in the car so an extra trip was necessary to retrieve the parts. Burger recommended an extended warranty which I purchased but they wouldn't honor. Burger offered to fix the car at my expense but I can't afford the repairs. The real problem I am expected to continue making payments and the law protects business but what about me? I have searched other web sites and several people have the same problem. Is there any help, I have to pay the payments but can't use the car.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Sep 15
Sebring LX
There is no Chrysler dealership that will fix this, even though it is under warranty. We haven't had it long enough to do anything but 1 oil change.
Debra K.
Somerville, TN, USA
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