Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler sebring. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact suddenly heard a dinging noise coming from the vehicle. The contact noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle and under the front driver and passenger side wheels. The contact attempted to pull the vehicle into a nearby fuel station, but it stalled. The contact had to push the vehicle to the fuel…
2005 Chrysler Sebring engine problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 10 engine complaints filed for the 2005 Chrysler Sebring, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Chrysler Sebring we track for engine problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (10).
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2005 Chrysler Sebring 4-cylinder engine has a troubling history of early failures including overheating, stalling, oil system problems, and catastrophic damage at mileage as low as 25K to 57K miles. Multiple owners report Chrysler refused warranty coverage citing engine sludge or denying knowledge of known defects like the crankshaft seal issue.
The 2005 Sebring's 4-cylinder engines are showing up with serious, early-life failures across the board. Overheating tops the list—multiple owners report the engine cooking itself between 54K and 57K miles, with one vehicle losing coolant capacity within five miles of first reporting the symptom. One owner claims the engine was completely destroyed at 57,842 miles.
Oil system problems are widespread. One owner had metal shavings in the pan and an inoperable engine block after pump failure. Another uncovered a known defect where the crankshaft front seal gets pushed out due to loose tolerances in the engine block—the owner's shop found Chrysler knew which serial number ranges were affected but refused to recall or cover repairs. That fix runs over four grand for a short block.
Stalling events are frequent and dangerous. One owner documented 15 separate stalls, including one that left the vehicle dead on a median. Another stalled at 60 mph with smoke pouring out from under the hood; the car had to be pushed to a station. Camshaft failure also caused stalling at highway speed.
On warranty, Chrysler has denied coverage citing engine sludge buildup or demanding oil change records, even in cases where dealers initially approved repairs. One owner dealt with smoke, dinging noises, and sudden stall-outs at 83K miles but got no clear diagnosis.
Same Chrysler Sebring engine reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Engine knock and oil pump failure
Engine knock following accident repair, traced to oil pump failure with metal shavings in oil pan. Repair shop found engine block damaged despite synthetic oil use and deemed it inoperable.
When: Post-accident (July 2010), vehicle had 25K+ miles at purchase (2006)
Symptoms owners cite: engine knock; metal shavings in oil; vehicle would not start
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pump replacement attempted; oil pan metal shavings found; engine block inspection revealed damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty not covered by Chrysler for this failure
Overheating and engine sludge
Vehicle overheated at 35 mph with only 5 miles of failure progression (57,837 to 57,842 miles). Dealer initially covered repair under extended warranty, then denied it citing engine sludge. Dealer determined entire engine destruction.
When: At 57,837 miles
Symptoms owners cite: overheating while driving; would not drive more than ten minutes without overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Initial estimate $1,600; dealer later stated entire engine needed replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty initially covered, then denied due to engine sludge finding; manufacturer requested oil change receipts
Front crankshaft seal failure and oil leak
Crankshaft front seal pushed out, causing severe oil leak. Owner reports garage found Chrysler knew of defect affecting 4-cylinder engines, with specific serial numbers identifying affected blocks. Defect allows crankshaft to float axially and push seal out. Oil leak severe enough to soak undercarriage and rear, creating fire hazard.
When: Approximately 26K miles (purchased with 25K miles, failed 1 year later)
Symptoms owners cite: oil leak; severe oil seepage on undercarriage and rear; smoke/fire hazard from oil on exhaust
Repairs/costs cited: Short block replacement required, cost over $4,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refused recall; no warranty coverage offered despite known defect
Sudden stall with smoke and dinging noise
While driving 60 mph, vehicle emitted dinging noise followed by smoke under hood and at wheels. Engine stalled; vehicle had to be pushed to fuel station. Certified mechanic unable to provide clear diagnosis but stated vehicle unable to be driven.
When: At approximately 83,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: dinging noise; smoke under hood; smoke at wheel areas; engine stall
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis unclear from complaint; vehicle deemed undrivable
Engine light and EVAP/fuel system issues
Engine light illuminated with transmission delay from drive to park. Vehicle shook and jerked in neutral and when shifted to drive. Mechanic unable to duplicate problem initially. Subsequent diagnostics revealed EVAP leak and gas leak code; mechanic suggested rodent damage to wires.
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light; transmission delay drive to park; vehicle shaking and jerking in neutral and drive
Codes mentioned: 0441 (gas leak code)
Repairs/costs cited: Gas cap tightening required; possible rodent wire damage
Overheating with engine light and catastrophic failure
While driving 70 mph, engine light flashed and engine began to overheat. Smoke emitted from under hood. Vehicle would not restart. Dealer determined engine replacement necessary at approximately 54,000 miles.
When: At approximately 54,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine light flashing; overheating; smoke under hood; no restart
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required
Repeated stalling (15 occurrences)
Engine stalled 15 times total. Most recent stall occurred August 9, 2006 while vehicle was traveling at normal speed, causing it to stop on a median. Dealer unable to locate root cause after inspection.
When: Multiple incidents; last documented August 9, 2006
Symptoms owners cite: repeated engine stall (15 times); stalled on median
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose cause
Camshaft failure
While driving 65 mph, noise was heard and vehicle stalled. Dealer determined camshaft needed replacement.
When: At 65 mph driving
Symptoms owners cite: noise during driving; engine stall
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft replacement required
Engine knock (early failure)
Vehicle had bad engine knock within two weeks of purchase.
When: Two weeks after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: bad engine knock
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Chrysler sebring. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated while driving 35 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that most of the repair work was mostly covered under extended warranty. The following day, the dealer stated that the failure was not covered because they found engine sludge. The repair would cost $1,600. When the contact…
My vehicle was involved in an accident july 2010, damage was to the front driver's side. Upon picking up car I complained of an engine knock and axle noise. Geico determined this was not due to the accident. I was told to take my car back to where the axle was replaced in april 2010 by pep boys. While waiting to be seen by an adjuster from geico, my vehicle would not start. I then had my…
Had engine trouble with your 2005 Chrysler Sebring?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2005 Chrysler Sebring?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 48,000 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 57,837. A quarter of owners report trouble before 48,000; a quarter make it past 83,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chrysler/Sebring.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.