Throttle body went bad which was very dangerous as my son was driving car and it suddenly lost power and my son was nearly hit by another car. The plastic gears in this part should be recalled and fixed before there is a large lawsuit against Dodge/Chrysler for a poorly designed part that should not be put into vehicles!
2007 Chrysler Sebring engine problems
severe 47 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
47
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
3crashes
9fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 47 engine complaints filed for the 2007 Chrysler Sebring, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 carries the most owner complaints on file — 47.
Owners have filed 47 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Sebring suffers from chronic engine stalling at stops and low speeds—often without stored fault codes—creating serious crash hazards that dealers frequently can't diagnose or fix. Engine fires, loss of power, and cooling failures are additional documented concerns; expect multiple visits to the shop and possible engine replacement even under warranty.
Stalling dominates the complaint cluster. The 2007 Sebring quits running without warning at stops, low speeds, and intersections—dozens of owners report near-miss collisions. Many stall events produce no check engine codes, leaving dealers unable to diagnose. Some owners replace O2 sensors, wiring harnesses, crank sensors, or alternators with no permanent fix; others are advised the engine needs replacement. A few instances show the vehicle stuck in 2nd gear on the highway after power loss.
Surging and rough idle at stops appear linked to the stalling. RPM spikes over 2000 when braking, vehicle lurches forward, then stalls. Cold starts worsen it. One factory reflex—attaching a diagnostic monitor for a month—recorded nothing.
Engine fires are a separate crisis. Multiple owners describe smoke, rubber smell, then flames under the hood at traffic lights. These vehicles total out; fire departments had to extinguish them. Radiator fan connector recalls (Campaign 07V473000) were issued, but parts sat on backorder for weeks, and some owners were denied recall coverage even though their VINs matched the defect.
Cooling system troubles appear alongside stalling: overheating, thermostat failure, coolant leaking into the cabin (causing fogging and antifreeze smell). Electronic throttle control lights stay on after throttle body replacement.
The common thread: dealers run diagnostics, find nothing, shrug, and send you away. Chrysler sometimes excludes your VIN from recalls despite identical symptoms. This pattern repeats across the 47 complaints.
Same Chrysler Sebring engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling at low speed, stop, or acceleration
Engine cuts out without warning or hesitation at stops, low speeds, during turns, or when accelerating from rest. Vehicle often restarts normally after stall. Occurs intermittently but frequently enough to create collision hazard.
When: Typically under 40 MPH, at traffic lights or intersections; some instances on highway; worsens in rain
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off abruptly with no warning; Engine stalls at stop lights or low speeds; Hesitation before accelerating after restart; Vehicle lurches or surges forward unexpectedly at stops; Stalling occurs multiple times per week, particularly in wet weather; Check Engine light may illuminate during or after stall
Codes mentioned: P0301, P0420, P0135, Electronic Throttle Control warning light, No codes stored in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: O2 sensors replaced on some vehicles with temporary improvement; wiring harness replaced; PCM reflash performed; crank position sensor and electronic control module replacement attempted; some owners advised engine replacement needed; Chrysler refunded transmission service charges when transmission was not the cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Refer to NHTSA Campaign 07V473000 (engine and engine cooling); EGR valve replacement per service bulletin; some VINs excluded from recall coverage despite same symptoms
Surging and rough running at idle or low RPM
RPM rises unexpectedly (often over 2000) when coming to stop or at low speed, causing vehicle to lurch forward or shudder. Engine runs rough and jerky, particularly when cold. Can occur without check engine codes.
When: Primarily cold start or early in drive; at stops or low speeds under 30 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: RPM spikes to over 2000 at stop or low speed; Vehicle surges or lurches ahead suddenly; Rough, jerky engine operation; Engine stutter or jitter, especially when cold; Engine shaking at stops or turns; Hesitation followed by sudden acceleration
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light may appear briefly then disappear, No stored fault codes in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: No effective repair found in most cases; reflash PCM; some dealers unable to diagnose or replicate
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Refer to NHTSA Campaign 07V473000; CO-PILOT diagnostic tool attached for 1 month with no faults recorded; recalls issued but parts availability problems noted
Loss of power, acceleration failure, stuck in gear
Vehicle loses power while driving (often highway speeds), RPM drops, transmission locks in low gear (typically 2nd), preventing acceleration. Electronic Throttle Control warning light may illuminate. Vehicle sometimes recovers after sitting overnight.
When: While driving at highway speed (60 MPH typical); intermittent recurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while accelerating on highway; Vehicle stuck in 2nd gear, unable to accelerate; Electronic Throttle Control warning light illuminates; Engine runs rough after event; Power loss followed by rough idle; Vehicle may accelerate erratically (revs to 50 MPH despite low actual speed); Speedometer reading does not match actual vehicle speed
Codes mentioned: P0420 (Catalyst system efficiency below threshold), P0135 (O2 sensor circuit), Electronic Throttle Control warning light, No codes in some instances
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replaced; oxygen sensor replaced; fuel economy dropped from 30 to 23 MPG after repair; transmission service performed but was not the cause; throttle body replacement attempted; some dealers recommended engine replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refunded transmission service cost after determining transmission was not faulty; no response to some owner requests; some VINs excluded from recall despite symptoms matching recall criteria (07V473000)
Engine fire
Smoke and flames emanate from engine compartment, typically during low-speed driving or after engine shutdown. Fire spreads under hood and undersides of vehicle. Causes total vehicle loss.
When: At traffic lights or during low-speed driving; fire may start after vehicle is parked
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke under hood; Burning rubber smell; Flames visible from under hood and on windshield; Large amount of smoke from engine compartment; Fire visible in engine bay area
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; no repairs attempted; fire department required to extinguish fires
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 07V473000 (radiator fan connector fire hazard); Campaign 08VI52000 (electrical matters); some recalls received after fire occurred; dealers declined to service due to damage; investigators dispatched but findings not communicated to owners; some VINs reported as not covered despite fire occurrence
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) light and loss of acceleration
Electronic Throttle Control warning light illuminates, vehicle cannot accelerate, engine stalls to near-complete stop. Light comes on intermittently and persists despite component replacement. Restarting vehicle temporarily resets issue.
When: Intermittent; occurs at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: ETC light illuminates on dash; Vehicle cannot accelerate or accelerates very slowly; Engine stalls or near-stall; Light persists even after throttle body replacement and idle relearn; Causes dangerous driving conditions
Codes mentioned: Electronic Throttle Control warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced; idle relearn procedure performed; light returns intermittently after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives
Cooling system failure and overheating
Engine overheats or cooling system malfunctions. Narratives reference thermostat problems and coolant leaks (including coolant draining into cabin). Related to radiator fan connector recalls.
When: Intermittent overheating episodes
Symptoms owners cite: Engine coolant temperature warning light illuminates; Black smoke from under hood; Engine overheating; Coolant draining inside cabin; Windows fogging excessively; Maple syrup smell when heater on (antifreeze odor)
Codes mentioned: Engine coolant temperature warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat replacement suggested by owners; heater core replacement; radiator fan recall repairs attempted but parts unavailable for extended periods (6-8 weeks quoted)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 07V473000 (radiator fan connector); NHTSA Campaign 08VI52000 (electrical); some owners denied reimbursement because VINs not listed despite having identical symptoms; recall parts had limited availability
Alternator failure
Alternator fails, causing electrical system issues including dashboard light flickering and engine stalling. Replacement resolves some but not all stalling issues.
When: At vehicle speeds around 10 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off at low speed (10 MPH); Dashboard lights flicker intermittently; Electrical system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced; stalling continued after replacement, indicating other causes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chrysler sebring. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000. Updated 03/10/15*lj the consumer stated the…
Windows fogging, maple syrup smell when heater is on, engine coolant draining inside cabin. Heater core replacement. *tr
I heard a lot of peoples having problems with the thermostat on a Chrysler sebring 2007 going bad and I was wanting y'all to put it on a recall because a lot of people having problems with their thermostats on these models of cars and if you need to contact me me on this matter my phone number is [xxx] redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of…
Had engine trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Chrysler Sebring?
It's a meaningful issue. 47 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 41 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 30,000 and 67,500 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 67,500. 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/2007/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.