Maybe something with the fuel. While car is stopped, it will suddenly jump. If I didn't have my foot on brake the car would take off.the engine speeds up without me stepping on the gas pedal. The car suddenly stalls and shuts off at a stop sign or traffic light. This has happened many times. Over the last year and a half. I don't understand about pictures. There are no pictures
2008 Chrysler Sebring engine problems
moderate 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 40 engine complaints filed for the 2008 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
Owners have filed 40 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.
Among the 5 model years of Chrysler Sebring in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report recurrent engine stalling without warning and uncontrolled revving at idle, often at low miles, with dealerships unable to diagnose or fix either problem despite multiple visits. Timing belt/cylinder head premature failure, overheating, wiper shutdown, and at least two engine fires underscore a pattern of critical reliability issues that Chrysler has acknowledged but claims to have no solution for.
Owners report recurrent engine stalling without warning at speeds ranging from idle to highway (60+ mph), with no check engine light, warning sound, or advance notice. Stalling occurs at red lights, during acceleration, while idling, and mid-turn—forcing some to coast into grass, lose power steering and brakes, and restart manually. Multiple owners describe having stalled three or more times over months; dealers cannot reproduce the problem on diagnostic equipment or test drives, leaving no fault codes recorded.
Idle control issues appear alongside stalling: engine revs unexpectedly from idle to 4,000–5,000 rpm while stopped, lurching the car forward several feet and potentially into traffic. Owners report having to brake hard to prevent collision.
Secondary complaints include engine overheating without visible leaks, radiator fan failure and blown fuses, windshield wiper shutdowns during heavy rain, and rough idle or surging. A few reports mention loss of power during acceleration (capped at 25 mph with electronic throttle light on) and a vehicle fire. Owners cite dealership visits without resolution, engineers acknowledging the stalling issue but claiming no solution, and a 2007 recall (08V152000) for TPMS electrical corrosion causing stalling that some vehicles do not fall under despite identical symptoms.
Same Chrysler Sebring engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Engine shuts off suddenly at idle, during acceleration, or while driving at highway speeds with no preliminary symptoms or warning lights. Occurs sporadically over months; dealerships cannot reproduce or diagnose the fault on scan tools. Restarting usually restores operation temporarily.
When: Reported from ~4,000 miles to 99,000+ miles; incidents occur multiple times over months for affected owners
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown without warning; Loss of power steering and brakes during stall; No check engine light or warning indicator beforehand; Vehicle must be manually restarted to resume operation; Stalling while stopped at lights, during turns, or at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to duplicate failure; computer reset attempted in some cases without lasting fix. One owner reported alternator and battery replacement plus TIPM replacement without resolving stalling.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler acknowledged the issue (07V473000, 08V152000 recalls exist for related electrical faults), but manufacturer engineers told dealers they have heard of the problem but have no solution. TPMS electrical corrosion recall (08V152000) may apply but some VINs excluded.
Uncontrolled engine revving and lurching at idle
Engine spontaneously increases rpm to 3,000–5,000 while vehicle is in Park, idling at a stop light, or stopped at a sign. The car lurches or jumps forward, requiring driver to press hard on brakes to prevent collision. Surges last seconds then return to normal idle.
When: Reported between ~4,000 and 37,000 miles; occurs sporadically, roughly once per month or several times per year
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended rpm spike to 4,000–5,000 without driver input; Vehicle lurches forward involuntarily; Occurs while stopped at lights or in Park; Driver must apply excessive brake pressure to prevent moving; Reversal of floor mat does not eliminate problem
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported fuel injector cleaning; no lasting remedy. Dealerships have not diagnosed or repaired the condition.
Engine overheating without visible coolant leak
Engine temperature rises quickly to overheat warning, especially at idle or in stop-and-go traffic. No external coolant leak is found upon inspection. AC stops working even with heat on. Thermostat replacement and other checks do not resolve the issue; overheating resumes within a few blocks of driving.
When: Reported at low mileage and at 50,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid overheating while idling or in traffic; No visible coolant leak; AC inoperative; Heat on does not prevent overheating; Coolant level appears stable after initial drops
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat replaced without success; cooling system components checked but no defect found.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners reference NHTSA Campaign 04V473000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and note recalls issued for 07–08 models addressing overheating, suggesting a known issue.
Timing belt and cylinder head premature failure
Timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and cylinder head fail abruptly without prior warning, causing sudden engine shutdown on the road. One owner reported timing belt replacement at 74,708 miles and right cylinder head replacement diagnosis at 75,209 miles—well below typical service intervals. Parts fail catastrophically with no gradual symptoms.
When: Reported at 74,708–75,209 miles and 106,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise precedes engine shutdown; Complete engine failure mid-traffic; Check engine light comes on after failure; No advance warning despite dealer maintenance following recommended intervals
Repairs/costs cited: Timing belt, tensioner, water pump, serpentine belt, and anti-freeze replaced for $1,822.28 at 74,708 miles. Right cylinder head replacement diagnosed at 75,209 miles; estimated repair cost ~$5,000.
Hard start and stall-on-restart pattern
Engine starts then dies after 1–2 seconds; requires multiple restarts to keep running. Problem appears intermittently over months. When vehicle is in dealership shop, it runs normally, preventing diagnosis.
When: Reported at ~30,000 miles; pattern ongoing for ~1 year
Symptoms owners cite: Crank and immediate stall after 2 seconds; Multiple restart attempts needed; Intermittent—may run fine for weeks or months between episodes; Runs normally when dealer inspects
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer visited twice without finding fault.
Electronic throttle control malfunction and power loss
Electronic throttle light illuminates while driving, vehicle loses power and refuses to accelerate above 25 mph. Vehicle operates normally afterward without lasting fix.
When: Reported before 1 year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic throttle warning light comes on; Sudden power loss; Speed capped at 25 mph; Problem resolves temporarily but repeats
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to identify cause; multiple visits and diagnostic fees incurred with no resolution.
Windshield wiper failure
Windshield wipers stop working abruptly during heavy rain, forcing driver off highway. Wipers resume after 15+ minutes of waiting. Switching to faster intermittent speeds causes repeat failure.
When: Reported at 30,373 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stop completely during heavy downpour; No warning before failure; Wipers resume after 15+ minute delay; Changing wiper speed triggers repeat failure
Radiator fan failure and electrical fuse burnout
Radiator cooling fan stops working, causing engine to overheat. Blown fuse is found; replacing it temporarily resolves the problem. Subsequent failure occurs within a week; mechanic discovers fan motor wiring is fried.
When: Reported during traffic stop; second occurrence within one week
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating while idling in traffic; Radiator fan inoperative; Blown fuse in cooling circuit; Recurrence of overheating after fuse replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse replaced initially; fan motor wiring replaced after second failure.
Engine fire
Engine compartment catches fire while driving or shortly after parking and locking vehicle. One occurrence reported 5 minutes after turning off engine with only ~12,000 miles and recent oil service. A second vehicle caught fire while driving on residential street with only 11,800 miles and after lube/oil/filter service.
When: Reported at 11,800 miles (two separate incidents)
Symptoms owners cite: Flames visible in engine compartment; Fire occurs during normal driving or immediately after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle total loss.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner notes safety recall issued October 2007 but was not notified when vehicle was sold in May 2008.
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have a 2008 Chrysler sebring convertible. The engine has begun stalling and surging at red lights. The stalling has the potential to cause an accident, but the surging is much more dangerous. The engine will suddenly jump from idle to a couple thousand RPM. If you're not ready for it you can easily be pulled forward several feet, potentially into the path of an oncoming car. You have to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler sebring. The contact stated the vehicle would stall sporadically and without warning. The dealer performed a PCM update to the computer, but to no avail. In addition, the contact stated that intermittently, the vehicle would fail to start. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage was 30,000 and the failure mileage was unavailable.
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2008 Chrysler Sebring?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 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 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 31,724 and 83,500 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,724; a quarter make it past 83,500. 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/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.