At the time of collision the airbags did not deploy correctly. The airbag seems to have burst at the seams and projectlies of debris and chemicals came from the air bag instead. I hit my head on the windshield and hit my chest on steering wheel. I was burned on my arms, hands and ribs/chest. I have pulmonary and neurological injury. as well as changes to my sight and hearing. My car filled with…
2006 Chrysler Sebring airbags problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 14 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Chrysler Sebring, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Sebring has documented chronic issues with the horn pad assembly shorting and triggering the horn uncontrollably, which forces owners to disable the horn—but the horn circuit is wired to the airbag, so removing the fuse leaves the airbag unreliable. Additionally, there are complaints of airbags failing to deploy during crashes or deploying improperly with chemical spray and burns, and one case of spontaneous deployment while parked.
The 2006 Sebring shows a consistent pattern of horn pad assembly failure integrated into the airbag clock spring. Owners report the horn activating spontaneously—at all hours, while parked, during entry, or while driving—and blasting for 60+ seconds without stopping. Forceful pounding on the steering wheel pad eventually silences it, but only temporarily. The problem recurs more frequently over time. Dealerships and Chrysler have offered no technical support or recalls; one owner's online research identified worn foil inside the horn pad creating electrical shorts, requiring replacement of the entire horn pad assembly ($600–$1,000). Because the horn and airbag share the same fuse and control circuit, owners who removed the horn fuse to stop the horn now have a 50/50 chance the airbag will function.
Separate from the horn issue, multiple owners report airbag failures during crashes: complete non-deployment on frontal impacts, and improper deployment with seams bursting open instead of smooth inflation, expelling hot chemical spray and thick smoke. Occupants sustained burns, inhalation injuries, and impact trauma. One owner also reported spontaneous passenger-side deployment while the vehicle was parked with no collision, shattering the windshield. Chrysler has declined to acknowledge or recall these issues.
Same Chrysler Sebring airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Horn pad assembly short circuit / chronic horn actuation
The horn pad assembly contains a foil that wears through or corrodes, creating an electrical short that triggers the horn to sound randomly. The horn will not stop until significant force is applied to the steering wheel pad, and eventually triggers on its own. Affected owners had to disconnect the horn entirely or remove the horn fuse, disabling both horn and airbag function.
When: Low to moderate mileage (45,000–110,975 miles reported); occurs spontaneously during parking, driving, or entry to the vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Horn sounds continuously without driver input; requires forceful pounding on steering pad to stop; Horn activates at all hours, in garage, parking lot, or while driving in traffic; Clicking sounds in steering pad concurrent with horn malfunction; Cannot shut off horn without disabling the entire horn circuit; Clicking or arcing sounds audible from steering column when horn is fighting to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $600–$1,000 for full airbag assembly replacement (horn pad is integrated); independent mechanic cited replacing clock spring, horn pad, and driver airbag; removing horn fuse disables horn but also compromises airbag circuit function
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler dealer diagnostics found no problem; Chrysler corporate provided no information or recalls; one owner reported Chrysler cited 'environmental factors' and age of vehicle and declined responsibility
Airbag deployment malfunction during impact
During motor vehicle collisions, airbags either failed to deploy at all or deployed abnormally (burst at seams, expelled chemical spray and hot smoke instead of proper cushioning). Owners sustained thermal burns, chemical inhalation injuries, and impact trauma from lack of proper restraint.
When: At impact during motor vehicle accidents (reported at 96,000 miles and unspecified mileage on collision)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy on frontal impact; Airbag burst at seams rather than inflating cleanly; debris and chemical spray expelled; Vehicle filled with thick hot smoke and chemical aerosol; Drivers and passengers inhaled chemical fumes causing cough, respiratory distress
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle declared total loss by insurance; airbag system damage visible and inspected by police and paramedics
Spontaneous passenger airbag deployment without impact
Passenger-side airbag deployed spontaneously while vehicle was parked with no collision, impact, or electrical trigger. Deployment shattered windshield, ejected plastic and glass debris, and could have caused severe injury if occupants had been seated.
When: July 9, 2025 (most recent); low mileage, well-maintained vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag deployed without any impact or collision; Windshield shattered by deployment force; Plastic dashboard pieces ejected; No dashboard warning lights or fault codes preceding deployment; Deployment occurred while vehicle was stationary in parking situation
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag and damage available for inspection; no repair attempted by owner at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler declined responsibility, citing vehicle age and environmental factors
Airbag warning light intermittent activation
Airbag indicator light cycles on and off periodically, indicating the airbag system is intermittently activating and deactivating, suggesting an electrical fault in the sensor or control circuit.
When: Unspecified mileage or timing
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light activates and deactivates repeatedly; No collision or impact reported
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owned a 2006 Chrysler Sebring. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact vehicle was involved in a crash. The contact rear-ended the vehicle that was in front of the contact vehicle. The contact's vehicle was damaged to the front driver's side of the vehicle. In addition, the air bags were deployed. The contact stated that the vehicle had a burning odor…
Dt: the consumer stated she ran off the road and crashed into ditch. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained facial cuts and bruising, a fractured foot, and teeth came out. This was a rental vehicle. A police report was taken.*ak updated 01/04/06. *jb
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 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 airbags problem on the 2006 Chrysler Sebring?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 35,000 and 110,975 miles, with the median around 74,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 110,975. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2006/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.