Is the 2008 Chrysler Sebring a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 52, 5.2× a quiet Sebring year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 5.2× the complaints of a quiet Sebring year, spread over 41k–108k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Sebring owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 88 (37%) | 54k–104k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 51 (21%) | 41k–108k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 48 (20%) | 52k–101k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 34 (14%) | 60k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 26 (11%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (6%) | 57k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 15 (6%) | 31k–78k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 (5%) | 71k–130k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 12 (5%) | 20k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 13 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 238 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The car sometimes stalls. On several occasions, mostly during or after it rains, it will just cut off. It cuts off at stop lights and while I'm driving.
Driving down a slight hill at 35MPH using no throttle, the car stalled. No lights, no alarms. Realized it stalled when I had no power steering for corner.
Was driving on the interstate headed east from hickory flat ms to myrtle ms. Throttle control light began to blink, check engine light came on, all power shut down quick, car would not start, waited 45 minutes before it started .
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Chrysler Sebring: 4
Unused electrical connectors for the TPMS may become corroded and could short circuit, which can cause a variety of conditions including engine no-start, dead battery, an inoperative cruise control or remote start system, and/or engine stalling. Engine stalling could cause a crash without warning.
On certain vehicles equipped with 2.4 liter engines, the engine coolant may be drawn into the left radiator cooling fan motor connector. This can cause an electrical short circuit and result in an engine compartment fire.
On certain vehicles, the front door latch cable may become partially unseated from the interior release handle housing possibly causing the latch to stick in the unlatched position or the lock function to become inoperative. Driving a vehicle with an unlatched door can result in an unbelted front seat occupant falling out of the vehicle or being ejected in a crash, causing increased risk of injury.
On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly. This could increase the risk of injury to front seat occupants during certain crash conditions.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chrysler: 37
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Chrysler Sebring. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle Exhibits Vibration From The Transmission During Vehicle Launch (X43 Warranty Extension 5 Years 160,000 KMS)
UConnect and Voice Recognition Inoperative
STAR Center News No. 78 - Jan/Feb 2013: Instead of limiting the use of the tether anchor to 48 pounds…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Neighbouring years
2007 Sebring: 336 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2009 Sebring: 43 complaints, keep it.
Every Chrysler Sebring year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · All Sebring years side by side
Other Chrysler models: Chrysler 200 · Chrysler 300 · Chrysler 300C · Chrysler 300M · Chrysler Aspen · Chrysler Concorde · Chrysler Crossfire · Chrysler Crossfire Roadster · Chrysler PT Cruiser · Chrysler Pacifica · Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid · Chrysler Sebring Conv · Chrysler Sebring Convertible · Chrysler Town and Country · Chrysler Voyager. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Chrysler Sebring a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 52, 5.2× a quiet Sebring year. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 5.2× the complaints of a quiet Sebring year, spread over 41k–108k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chrysler Sebring?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (88), engine (51), transmission and drivetrain (48), speed control (34), air bags (26). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 41k–108k miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Chrysler Sebring have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 08V-152), Engine and cooling (NHTSA 07V-473), Latches and locks (NHTSA 07V-414), Air bags (NHTSA 07V-240). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.