Should I buy a 2008 Chrysler Sebring with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2008 Chrysler Sebring airbags problems

severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

5crashes

8injuries

What stands out

Among the 6 model years of Chrysler Sebring in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.

No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2008 Sebring airbag system shows consistent problems across the complaint set. The most common issue is the airbag warning light illuminating and staying on—sometimes recurrently even after dealers replace modules or sensors. One owner paid for three separate repairs in under a year and the problem came back. Dealers have diagnosed failures in airbag modules, seat control modules, and under-seat sensors, with repair quotes reaching $550.

More serious are the deployment failures. Three owners were in crashes where airbags should have deployed but didn't. One owner hit another vehicle at 35 mph with no deployment and suffered a knee sprain. Another sustained serious lifetime injuries in a multi-vehicle collision and believes airbag deployment would have prevented the injuries. A third experienced a severe side impact with $8,500 in damage (doors, frame) yet side, curtain, and seat airbags all failed.

One documented case shows both frontal airbags deploying without any impact while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light—the owner sustained arm burns and temporary hearing loss, but the manufacturer refused warranty repair citing the vehicle's age.

Seat fabric is also problematic: two owners reported the fabric tearing open along the airbag deployment seams without deployment occurring, suggesting a defect in the seat assembly itself.

Same Chrysler Sebring airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010

Failure modes owners describe

Airbag warning light illumination and recurrence

The airbag warning indicator (light) comes on and remains on, often recurs after dealer repair, or flashes intermittently. Owners report the light coming on while driving or sitting still, sometimes repeatedly after paid repairs. One owner reports paying for three separate repairs in a year.

When: 40,000 to 121,056 miles; timing varies from days after purchase to years into ownership

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light stays on continuously; Airbag warning light flashes on and off; Light illuminates while driving or at rest; Light recurs after dealer repair

Codes mentioned: B1B02 (driver airbag squib circuit open)

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced airbag modules, airbag seat control modules, and sensors under the seat. Repairs cost $550 or more. Multiple owners report recurring failures even after paid repairs.

Spontaneous frontal airbag deployment

Both frontal airbags deployed without warning or any impact while the vehicle was idling at a traffic light. The owner sustained burns to the right arm and temporary hearing loss. Manufacturer refused warranty repair citing the vehicle's age (164,000 miles).

When: 164,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Both frontal airbags deployed without impact or warning; Deployment while vehicle idling at traffic light; Owner sustained burns and temporary hearing loss

Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer inspected vehicle (case #29852258) but refused repair, citing expired warranty and vehicle age.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated warranty expired and vehicle was too old; declined to repair (case #29852258)

Seat fabric tearing over airbag deployment seams

The fabric on the driver and passenger seat backs 'busted' open along the zipper seams designed to open when airbags deploy. This occurred without airbag deployment, indicating a manufacturing defect in the seat assembly or a premature activation of the deployment mechanism.

When: One week after purchase (April 2009) for driver side; passenger side failure timing not specified

Symptoms owners cite: Driver side seat fabric busted open along back seam; Passenger side seat fabric busted open along back seam; Tears occur without any airbag deployment

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repaired driver side at no cost under warranty. Passenger side failure indicates recurring defect in seat design or manufacturing.

Airbag non-deployment in frontal and side impact crashes

In three separate accidents, airbags did not deploy despite significant impact. Two owners sustained injuries (sprain to knee, serious lifetime injuries) who stated they would have been better protected had the airbags deployed. One owner reported damage exceeding $8,500 with replacement of doors and side frame, yet side, curtain, and seat airbags did not deploy. Manufacturers denied responsibility or did not respond.

When: 35 mph frontal crash at 47,000 miles; severe side impact at unknown mileage; multi-vehicle collision at unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy in frontal impact crash; Side airbags, curtain airbags, and seat airbags did not deploy in severe side impact; Owner sustained injuries that might have been prevented by deployment; Owner totaled in multi-vehicle collision with no airbag deployment

Repairs/costs cited: Owners incurred medical costs and vehicle damage. One vehicle declared total loss ($8,500+ damage). Another vehicle ruled total loss after crash.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated impact in one case was not sufficient to trigger deployment. No response reported in other cases.

Airbag sensor failure requiring replacement

Airbag warning light illumination was diagnosed as requiring airbag sensor replacement. Sensors are located under the seat. One owner reported the issue at 121,056 miles; another at 97,000 miles. The defect appears to cause intermittent sensor signal loss triggering the warning light.

When: 91,590 to 121,056 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator illuminates; Sensor signal failure detected by diagnostic scan

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended sensor cleaning or replacement under the seat. Owners did not complete repairs; estimated cost unknown.

Clockspring defect in steering wheel

One owner reports driving with a disabled airbag system due to a bad clockspring in the steering wheel, which is a known point of failure in airbag wiring. The owner notes this was a recall item on a 1996 model but is not covered as a recall on the 2008.

When: Unknown mileage

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illuminated; Clockspring internal damage or failure

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $550 to replace the clockspring. Owner unable or unwilling to pay out-of-warranty repair cost.

Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

airbags · filed 12/14/2015

This is the third time I've bad problems with the air bag light coming on I've spent money three times for repairs because of the airbag light coming on I just spent money for the third time for repairs in may 2015 and six months later I'm having the same problem I just paid to be repaired there has to be an defect in the airbag .and I keep reporting and not getting any help no matter how many…

Had airbags trouble with your 2008 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 2008 Chrysler Sebring?

It's a meaningful issue. 23 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 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 40,000 and 121,056 miles, with the median around 91,590. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 121,056. 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.

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/2008/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.