Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chrysler sebring. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle slipped out of gear. The contact mentioned that the vehicle went from drive to the lower gear and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
2007 Chrysler Sebring powertrain problems
moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 32 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Chrysler Sebring, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Owners have filed 32 powertrain 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.
Among the 6 model years of Chrysler Sebring in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Sebring's powertrain has serious reliability issues: shifters frequently lock in Park at low mileage with no permanent fix, electronic throttle control unexpectedly fails and cuts power while driving, and transmission shifting is rough or delayed. Multiple owners report spending hundreds on repairs that don't stick, and dealers acknowledge these are known problems without solutions.
The 2007 Chrysler Sebring powertrain shows three major problem clusters. First, the shifter gets stuck in Park unpredictably, sometimes as early as 28,000 miles. The brake pedal won't release it, and the manual override doesn't work—owners resort to screwdrivers or press a hidden pink button on the shift assembly. Dealerships see this constantly and say it's a known defect in this generation, affecting the Sebring, PT Cruiser, and Dodge Charger. Repair runs $275–$350 and requires replacing the shifter, but some vehicles fail again within months. Chrysler knows about it but hasn't issued a recall.
Second, the electronic throttle control light comes on and the vehicle enters limp mode, cutting power to 10–15 mph. The gas pedal stops responding. It happens without codes to diagnose, and mechanics are baffled. Owners report replacing the throttle body and ECM with no lasting fix—the problem comes back within days or weeks. Multiple owners describe this as widespread online with no solution.
Third, the transmission hesitates or jerks during shifts, especially at low speed or on hills. Some vehicles won't downshift properly; others fail to shift out of first entirely. One report describes the torque converter not disengaging, making the vehicle impossible to slow down without continuous brake pressure.
These issues appear across the mileage range and often recur after repair.
Same Chrysler Sebring powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Shifter stuck in Park — shift interlock failure
Gear shifter will not release from Park position. Owners report being completely unable to shift into Drive, Neutral, or Reverse. Some find workaround using override procedure (pressing pink button on shift assembly while depressing brake) or require screwdriver manipulation. Dealerships report seeing this frequently and confirm it is a known issue affecting 2007–2008 Sebrings as well as other Chrysler models (PT Cruiser, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300). Failure occurs without warning, often when starting the vehicle. Some vehicles experience this repeatedly after dealer repair.
When: Various mileages from 28,000 to 80,000 miles; some failures occur very early (505 miles past warranty, 36,505 total miles, under 50,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter physically stuck in Park position; Brake pedal does not release shifter; Manual override procedure ineffective or unknown to owners; Requires tow truck; vehicle immobilized
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships replace entire shifter assembly or shift selector. Costs reported: $275, $300, $350, $280 (tow fee additional). One owner paid $50 Chrysler copay after case manager involvement. Internal spring and other shifter components fail.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler acknowledges problem exists and assigns case managers in some instances. Dealerships state this is a known recurring issue. One recall mentioned but details sparse. Chrysler does not pass correct override procedure to owners in manuals. No formal recall issued despite multiple owner requests.
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) light — limp mode, unresponsiveness
ETC warning light illuminates (solid or intermittent flashing). Vehicle enters limp mode or loses throttle response, reducing speed to 10–15 mph maximum. Gas pedal becomes unresponsive. Vehicle may idle high, hesitate, or stall. Light sometimes goes off after restart but reoccurs randomly. One owner reports multiple part replacements (throttle body, ECM) with no lasting fix. Mechanics find no diagnostic codes and cannot identify root cause. Multiple owners report this is widespread online with no solution; others spend hundreds or thousands replacing speculative parts only to have problem return after days or weeks.
When: Occurs while driving on freeway and city streets; may happen during acceleration or braking. Mileage at failure: 19,000–52,000 miles reported.
Symptoms owners cite: ETC light flashes or illuminates solid; Limp mode activated; vehicle limited to 10–15 mph; Loss of throttle response; gas pedal unresponsive; High idle, hesitation, stalling, jerking; Vehicle cannot decelerate when releasing accelerator; Dashboard lights and radio shut off unexpectedly; Safety hazard on highway; driver must pull over
Repairs/costs cited: No codes retrieved by mechanics despite warning light. Owners report replacing throttle body and ECM with no resolution. Problem recurs. Repair costs unknown but owners describe spending hundreds to thousands on parts that do not solve issue.
Transmission hesitation, jumping, stuttering, and shifting delay
Transmission hesitates or skips when shifting, especially at low speeds during acceleration or on hills. Vehicle jerks or stutters, particularly in rain or when accelerating at low speed. Transmission slow to downshift when going uphill; driver must press pedal harder to force downshift. One owner reports transmission failing to shift out of 1st gear entirely at various speeds (175,000 miles). Another reports vehicle slipped out of gear while at highway speed (55 mph), dropping to lower gear with check engine light appearing.
When: Low-speed acceleration, hill climbing, rain conditions. High-mileage failure (175,000 mi). Highway failure at 55 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation during gear shifts; Jerking or skipping sensation; Stuttering, especially in wet conditions; Transmission refuses to downshift on hills without hard pedal pressure; Failure to shift out of 1st gear; Vehicle slips out of gear while driving; Check engine light illuminates
Codes mentioned: P23, 06033, 2100707, 0803806
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle scanned with OBD2 retrieved codes P23, 06033, 2100707, 0803806. Repair attempted but failure reoccurred. Dealer unable to diagnose or repair in some cases.
Torque converter not disengaging — no deceleration
Torque converter fails to disengage properly. When driver releases accelerator, vehicle does not slow down. Vehicle will not decelerate during highway driving unless driver continuously applies brake pedal or places transmission in Neutral. RPMs sporadically increase and decrease while at steady speed (40 mph). Dealer identified this as a design issue.
When: At 19,000 miles (failure); current mileage 27,000 miles at report
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not slow when accelerator released; Requires continuous brake pressure to decelerate; Must shift to Neutral to slow vehicle; Sporadic RPM fluctuation at steady highway speeds; Unsafe loss of engine braking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this is a design issue.
Engine stalling and cranking failure
Engine stalls when being started or immediately after cranking. Vehicle cuts off when driver presses brake to shift into Reverse or Drive. Engine idles down and nearly shuts off during low-speed operation. One owner reports car stalled while in Park on two separate occasions.
When: At 34,000 miles and again at 69,000 miles (two separate instances in one vehicle). Occurs when attempting to shift or engage brakes.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls on crank; Engine cuts off when brakes applied near gear shift; Engine idles down and nearly dies; No acceleration possible after stall
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Chrysler Sebring?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 37,500 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,500; a quarter make it past 90,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.