The 1996 Chrysler Sebring is a compact car that came with a choice of 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl and 2.5L 6-cyl engines. At 30 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Compact Cars, Midsize Cars |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.5L 6-cyl |
| Transmissions | Automatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 18–19 city / 25–29 highway / 20–22 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,050–$3,350 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 404–444 grams per mile |
| Versions tested by EPA | 5 configurations: Sebring, Sebring Convertible |
| Age | 30 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls covering the 1996 Chrysler Sebring. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Risk: Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.5l v6 engines, the throttle control cable can fray causing the throttle to bind or stick.
Risk: This could potentially result in a loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Risk: This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. This campaign supercedes mmc's previous safety recall campaign, see 99v-066.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude.
Risk: This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a…
Risk: If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Risk: Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The electrical contacts in the power mirror switch can accumulate road salt due to water entering into the switch.
Risk: This can result in a high resistance short circuit and possibly cause a vehicle fire.
The power brake booster vacuum hose was improperly installed on the intake manifold vacuum nipple.
Risk: A disconnected vacuum hose causes an increase in engine idle speed and loss of power assist during brake application increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Owners have filed 420 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Sebring with NHTSA. 51 reports involved a crash and 14 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 35 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
Manufacturers have filed 121 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 1996 Chrysler Sebring. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging system
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or sa
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
NHTSA opened 6 defect investigations covering the 1996 Chrysler Sebring.
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports c
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. A
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
Automatic transaxle ignition interlock
Alleged failure of the automatic transaxle ignition interlock system that either allows the ignition key to be removed when the transmission gear selector is not in the park position and the transmission gear selector to be shifted when the ignition key is removed or prevents theignition key from being removed when the
Convertible top cover disengagement
Alleged that the convertible top cover may disengage from the subject vehicles while driving.
Convertible top cover disengagement
Odi has received three reports alleging disengagement of the convertible top cover from the subject vehicles while driving.
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It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 1996 Sebrings that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 1996 Chrysler Sebring; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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