Consumer Complaint Detail
CHRYSLER / SEBRING CONVERTIBLE / 1997
0 Injured
0 Death
Yes Fire
| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 005035625 | Incident Date: Aug, 16 2005 |
| Consumer's City: RUTHERFORDTON | Consumer's State: NC |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO | Manufacturers Name: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Model Name: SEBRING CONVERTIBLE | Model Year: 1997 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: Yes | Persons Injured: 0 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 3C3EL55H5VT | Date added to File: May, 23 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Aug, 23 2005 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: May, 05 1997 |
| Was Original Owner: Yes | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 6 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: 1) the vehicle was parked outside securely (doors and windows closed properly, top closed properly, ignition locked and no keys in the car). 2) after a rain, i happened to walk by the car and heard it making loud strange noises that sounded like speaker amplified electrical arcing. the noise seemed to be coming from everywhere in the vehicle (no apparent point source). suspecting some type of electrical problem i began pulling fuses with no effect on stopping the noise. i began smelling something burning and disconnected the car battery. the noises stopped immediately and the burning smell dissapated. 3) the dealer advises that there is a drain in the right rear quarter panel of the car that is not working and causes water to enter the passenger compartment. there is an amplfier under the front passenger seat for the infinity sound system that water had entered into. dealer advises that the failed part must be returned to the manufacturer to get a replacement and that further damage cannot be determined until the replacement part is installed. there are two design defects in this car, one of which is a serious safety concern. the first defect is the rear quarter panel drains that can stop working and flood the car resulting in significant damage.the owner is not made aware of this defect or how to prevent the problem. the second design defect is a safety concern. an amplifier under the passenger seat has no fuse protection whatsoever. if i had not happened by the car when i did, and had not disconnected the car battery, the car was beginning to catch fire (i smelled burning!). this amplifier can malfunction electrically and start an electrical fire in the vehicle without any electrical interupt protection available. had i not disconnected the battery when i did this car could have caught fire as a result of this lack of any short circuit protection. |