Used 1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Consumer Reviews
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The looks you get.... Loving it so far *updated**
I picked up my Jxi a few months ago for a mere $1400. The engine had 165k miles on it, but I was baffled at how well it was taken care of. This is now a 15 year old car, and I'm amazed at how many looks and compliments you get in it. I drive quite a lot, and have put a good amount of mileage on it already as it's currently @ 176k. Haven't had any major issues with it so far. As others have said, there's odd little electrical problems that pop up, but nothing too serious. The dash lights work when they want to, as do the mirror/dome light. Blower motor works on high speed only (this is an easy fix, though). The trunk lid hydraulic lifters also fail, so watch your head when you open it. Updated 4-5-2016 (Edmunds sent me an email asking for an update on this review). I do still have this car, and drive it every so often. I did run into some issues shortly after my initial review. Oil leaks were (and still are) one of my main issues. The valve cover gaskets failed, and it took the distributor/rotor/cam sensor assembly, and camshaft sensor with it. Oil seeped past the gaskets and ruined the components. I can't fault the gaskets for failing, because it can happen; especially on an older car with this many miles. What I can fault is the engineering of the engine itself, and how horrible they made it to work on. The engine bay is very cramped, and there's little room to work with. The craziest thing is having to remove the intake manifold just to access the rear 3 spark plugs. I've never seen such a crazy setup. Anyway... Getting the aforementioned parts changed out was a major pain in the rear. The valve cover gaskets were caked into the covers, and I spent hours digging them out, and trying my best not to bend the delicate covers (it's a very thin metal, and any warps in it will cause leaks). The distributor, rotor, and cam sensor are in one assembly, and it was very difficult to remove it. Also, since all three of these components are in one big chunk, it's an expensive part, and these engines are very picky about which ones you put in. You take a big risk putting a re-manufactured assembly in, and they have a high fail percentage if you do. Many Chrysler forums recommend you buy an OEM or new one. Same applies for the crankshaft sensor. Even after repairing the leaks there, I still have odd oil spots on the driveway. These cars are prone to oil leaks, and you can read around about it. Still, I'm satisfied with purchasing the car. It's been a very fun little car to take out on the weekend with the family. UPDATED: 10-18-16 (Edmunds sent me yet another email asking for an update) Currently my sebring is not doing so well. I started noticing a serious transmission fluid puddle under the car. I assumed perhaps the pan gasket was bad, and I had my mechanic friend look at it. He called me back soon after and told me to "come down and take a look at it"... never a good sign. He had it up on a lift and rotated the front wheels back and forth. Both driver and passenger axles were loose and rattling around in the differential casing, and fluid was leaking past them. He didn't fully diagnose it, but told me it was likely serious and possibly required a new transmission. Not being able to afford such a repair, I limped it back home and started tearing apart under the engine. Pulling the inspection cover off, it looked like the differential bearings went bad, caused play in the drive axles, and ruined the seals, causing the leak. I'm still in the process of fixing this, and hope to have it back up before winter. Hopefully I won't have to replace the transmission... This has turned into a massive review, but it's the culmination of two requested updates, and me wanting others to know what you might be getting into. One last thing I'm going to mention: This engine is an "interference engine" design. If you're unfamiliar with what that is, basically it means if the timing belt breaks, the engine is completely ruined. I did not know this until after I purchased the car, and I want others to know this beforehand. Every car has a timing belt, or chain. Chains are more reliable and rarely break or cause issue. Belts however, go bad and need to be changed after so many miles/years. It's another bad design, and expensive to service. Breaking it down to pros/cons: PROS: - It's a convertible... -Still a nice looking car 17 years later -If you find a loaded Sebring with the Infinity radio system, it's really good -Very spacious seating -No seriously, it's back seat leg room is more than my Buick sedan... how is that possible?? -Pretty sharp handling for a larger sized vehicle -The Auto-stick feature is fun, and gives you more control of the gears CONS: -Timing belt on an interference engine...why...seriously.... -Not the best engine design in terms of user repair. -Odd electrical bugs here and there -Cheap plastic on the doors rattle with the radio turned up
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Decent car
Compared to the other cars that you could get for the same price with a convertible top and all the features this car comes with, its almost unbeatable...almost. Unless you can do your own work or have a second car to drive while your Chrysler Sebring is in the shop, I would recommend looking around before you buy this car. This is an unreliable car and will need serviced more then you may like. The good side of that is replacement parts are cheap and easy to find. For the people that do their own work, you may need to try a few times to be able to get to where you need to be. Considering the front wheel drive, the engine compartment is very cramped. I still enjoyed my Sebring.
- JXi ConvertibleMSRP: $7,995750 mi away
- JXi ConvertibleMSRP: $5,599844 mi away
- JXi ConvertibleMSRP: $10,9991,149 mi away
From the showroom to the junkyard
I bought my 99 Sebring JX in Aug,1998, Basically just routine maintenance first 90,000 mi. Oil every 3-4,000, tires every 30-40,000, battery every 5 yrs, replaced top after 13 yrs. alternator,spark plugs, and belts,including timing belt at around 90,000. Was starting to need new paint after 15 yrs,110,000 mi. clearcoat peeling & fading. Then my son had a Ford Excursion back over him, bending front radiator support et all & pinching/twisting front sub frame, so off to the Junkyard. I loved that car, fun to toss around, like a 4 passenger go cart. It's not a Porsche, or a Jaguar, but it doesn't have the Initial buy in or upkeep cost either. Absolutely marvelous for a top down cruise along the coast, just don't forget to rub the sunscreen onto your scalp. I averaged around 26 mpg all around forever, but then I like to take all the ponies out for a romp at every opportunity! I'm currently looking for a replacement. It has to be a 97-2000 Sebring, I havent seen anything else that looks so right, and still seats 4 in comfort, top up or down.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Convertible at north of 53 degrees
I bought a '99 Jxi in '02 with the idea of parking it in the winter. By Feb '03, my "winter" car crapped out so I started driving the Jxi year-round and 8 years later I still haven't stopped. I bought winter tires for it. They go on in November and off in March. So far, it has been running great. I put the top down as much as possible living in Edmonton, Canada and that adds up to maybe 100 times a year (May to September is great weather-warm and dry). 285,000km (178,000 miles). In 9 years, I've changed the timing belt, a few sensors, couple of headlights, a windshield and a ball-joint once. It has always handled great. I average about 9 litres/100km (26 mpg u.s.) but I'm a speed demon.
Fast & Smooth
I bought a JXI in 2008 and it has run beautifully in all sorts of weather. No snow, I live in the Sunbelt. Can cruise at better than 75 mph and still get over 30 mpg. For those that have problems with their dash lights, gauges, etc. I solved it easily by waiting for to warning bells to go off before cranking the starter. A few extra seconds and never had the problem again. Yes, I had to replace the trunk lift shocks, rear window motor, struts & bushings but for a 15 yr. old car I shouldn't complain. The car has beautiful styling and the original paint is as NEW!
2nd Sebring
My first Sebring was the convertible Custom. Loved that car. bought it with only 20,000 miles on it. My husband and I took long trips with it and I can honestly say that when my husband left me for my best friend; I wasn't thinking too9 clearly. I totaled it. That car SAVED my life. When it came time to get another car I immediately went in search for another one. I found one that had been maintained. It has 157,000 miles on it and many of the things that were someone else s were already done. It gets 35 mpg on the highway and mid twenties city. It does have electrical problems, but there tolerable. Trunk can decapitate you, and I need new struts. She does leak fluids at times.
Never waste your money on this car
99 Chrysler sebring convertible never waste your money or time on this car, I bought this car with 150K miles October of 2010 and paid 5200$. Came December 2010 it needed freez plugs however when they took the motor out the mounts were so bad they fell apart(total cost 1900$). From January 2011 until December 2011 I have replaced brakes(more than once), timing belt, water pump, starter, battery(more than once), altinator, crankshaft sensor, coil pack, and rollers. Total cost for repairs and labor more than 3200$ I would NEVER get this car again nor recommend it to any one if you see a 99 Chrysler Sebring Convertible on a car lot run the other way. The only pro of this car is the body.
Best Bang fot the BUCK!!!
I purchased this car 6 months ago for only $900. I have driven this car daily since the purchase. 2 weeks after purchasing it, the transmission went into limp mode. I spent $300 purchasing a used transmission and another 300 to have it put in. I have not had any problems since then. There are other mechanical things that I need to fix, but these are things that were wrong with the car when I first purchased it. This car is amazing. I have not had a car that has been as economical, fun to drive, and reliable as this has been. The two mechanical problems that I spoke of earlier are the lower control arms for both driver and passenger side. There are no other problems with this car.
One of the best
I bought my first Chrysler product, a 1956 Plymouth convertible, in 1962 and but for two cars, a Triumph TR-4 and a Mercedes Benz, I've owned nothing but Chryslers since. My '99 JXi is one of the best I have ever owned, but my car must be a fluke. I've had none of the problems described by other owners and it now has 109,000 miles. The only repairs I've had to make were a catalytic converter due to a tank of bad gasoline and the A/C compressor at 100,000 miles. The top is still fine, the leather seats are pristine and the body is solid..... and it gets almost 35 MPG on the highway! But I take care of this car. I change oil every 3,000 miles and it received a full tune up at 100,000 miles.
The money pit
I bought this car a year and a half ago, and this car has been nothing been a problem. Far as problems goes, water problems have been the most common. Far as reliabilty goes, this is not a reliable car.
Great Convertible
We've been on several 4K trips with this car, and it has been wonderful--- very comfortable and stable on long rides----top down is a blast!
Fun to drive, but a hassle to maintain!
Bought this car used back in 08, and I loved it! It worked fine till about '09 when the A/C and Heat only would work on high, which was a pain in the winter. Tyrods have had to be replaced twice, motor mounts twice, and now the struts need to be replaced as well. Countless engine leaks, and too many electrical problems to count. The car leaks A LOT, and the mpg was great up until about last year. It's been a money pit the past few years and I cannot wait to get rid of it! As much as I love the convertible style, it's simply not worth it anymore! It spends more time in the shop than on the road, and even my mechanic is getting weary of working on it! I'll miss it, but my wallet sure won't!
Only car I have kept over 3 yrs
My husband purchased my 99 Convert. for my birthday 7 yrs ago, used. I have put in a sensor, passenger power window, battery and thermostat. Absolutely the best vehicle I have ever owned and so fun to drive in season. I have stored mine in Wisconsin Winters, after my first winter. The handling in snow was not up to my standars, very light weight, but cannot wait to pull it out every spring. Tires are due for replacement and have been for 3 yrs. With summer driving I could put these off this long. With regular oil changes this has been the best car a woman could ask for! Trunk also needs new lift system, as water sits and does not drain out of that area. Tons of looks when i drive it
a bit annoyed
Alright so I have read numerous reviews on here and I am here to report i've had almost every problem on the list. The door dinging noise while the vehicle is in motion and the lights flash. The car alarm going off randomly. To fix that I had to alter the speed of my blinkers. The car takes in water underneath the floor when it rains. The transmission fluid suddenly started leaking out of nowhere and my tranny started acting up yesterday. Hope to god i can fix that! Everything falls out of the cup holders and onto the floor. The dome lights never come on when the door is opened. The trunk will stay open on it's own for 30 seconds then fall on my head. The inside is uncomfortable and boring
Too Many Problems
Bought the car used with 37,000mi on it CarMax 7 yrs ago. 2 years after purchase, we had a random transmission leak. Cost around $1500 to fix. 3 years ago the A/C suddenly stopped working in the middle of the summer. Spent many hours and over $300 getting the A/C fixed, and it just went out again today. Few years ago we smelled gas every time we got in, spent $200 to find out there was a gas leak above the tank?? And last summer the battery light came on and I was told the alternator was going bad. Spent $250 part and labor. 4 mos. ago dash gauges keep going dead w/ ABS light on and batt light. Replaced alt again $175. Now the 3rd one is bad w/ dead dash guages again, still cant fig. it out.
This is the third sebring we have owned,
This car has been very reliable and a great car . We just purchased a Toyota and like it too. But the sebring has not had any expensive repairs and runs very well. It has 72,000 miles and still gets 29 mph on the road. V-6 performance is good, but I would not purchase one for a teenager.
My Sebring
If you can't fly a plane or surf in the ocean, a convertable is the next best thing. After I bought this I thought I'd better put the top down as often as the weather allows me or it won't be worth the extra money I paid to have a convertable. It was worth it. I love the feeling of the air and openess.
liz loves car
Best car ever! the only bad thing about this car is getting a little wind-blown on the way to work.
LOVE the car, HATE the problems!!!
I bought the car at 63,000 miles and it was 4 years old. It was alright for the first 1 1/2 years. Besides all of the wear and tear, I have had 3 transmission problems (never had to replace it, but have come close to it), the AC AND heating unit doesn't work (I have to put it on full blast for anything to come out...the first 3 settings produce NOTHING), and for the past YEAR there is this annoying beeping sound that is CONSTANT!!! It's the beep that occurs when a door is open. I have to put my radio up OVER it...4 auto technicians said they won't touch it! While the beeping is going, the locks are going crazy, and at random times, the car alarm sets off! This all started at about 85k miles.
Great Sebring for me and two teenagers
My 1999 Sebring jxi convertible was bought by me in 2000. I bought it used.It was a rental car for its first 17000 miles. I put 90,000 more miles on it and gave it to my daughter who put 20000 miles on it and now my 17 yr old son is driving it. Since my daughter now lives in Utah, my son and I picked it up from her in Salt Lake City and drove it back to Orange County California. It was 111 degrees as we drove through Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert. The air conditioning worked so well my son had to put a sweatshirt on in the car since I like it cold. We got 34 miles per gallon on the trip back! The car has been extremely dependable with no repairs other than routine maintenance!
You can win Price is right.
The only good thing about this car is when the top is down, the drive is real nice. I have replaced every part of this car, towed three times and the list goes on. As I had to rely on mechanics for my fixes, the expense was couple of hundreds each month.
I love it!
The Sebring Convertible is the best convertible around for the money. It's style suits me as a woman...I don't need big grills or a powerful motor or a fancy name. My vehicle is 6 years old and I still get compliments wherever I take it! Thanks, Chrysler, for a wonderful "woman's car".
What FUN!!!
I've had this car for the past year and a half. It is far and away the most fun car I've ever owned! The reliability has been unsurpassed for me and all systems have been go from day one. Long trips for me are somewhat wearing in this car (the seats are too short for my legs for this), but the top down MORE than makes up for that!! I bought the Limited edition and the two tone seats, the dash, the sound system, the Autostick and the extra touches have made it worth the extra few dollars. For my money, GET THIS CAR!!
Bad top
Convertible top thread used to sew top was coming undone after only 2 years. After 3 years it began to fall apart completely. Should have lasted longer.
Beware the timing belt
Don't buy one of these used unless you can be sure the timing belt has been recently replaced. The belt is supposed to last 105K miles, but they frequently break earlier. It's a major repair and can lead to complete engine failure. Handling is a little loose. Brakes are squishy. Road noise way too excessive, even for a convertible.
Great car with room to share.
The Limited Convertible is great! The two-tone seats are always an attention grabber, and it is roomy enough for four adults. I have had no mechanical problems, and it drives like a larger car. The only draw backs are the gas mileage (especially with the gas prices being as high as they are), and visibility with the top up is hampered.
The best car
I love this car even though my friends say it is a chick car. I have had no problems with the vehicle except that it is stalling a little at 90,000 miles. I bought the car with 69,000 miles. I would buy this car again. I like this styling better than the newer ones.
Lots of room and features - fun to drive
We have had our car for almost 3 years now and we really like it. The V6 is responsive and a bit sporty while keeping the ride smooth. The "real" back seat comes in handy when we take our friends out for a ride. Plus, the trunk is quite ample for a long weekend out of town plus! It offers a lot for your money in comparison to other convertibles. Its lots of fun to drive!
My Sebring, My Baby
Love! Love! Love my 1999 LIMITED convertible! Bought used - went from a 90 LeBaron to this and both have been amazing cars. Car handles like a dream and it's so much fun to drive! All of the added LIMITED features (fog lights, cloth top, cd player & autostick which I love in the snow) were so worth the extra few dollars. Custom PLATINUM color is gorgeous & the compliments are plenty, even on a 6-yr old car. Love it! Only problems were a pesky wiper that carved into the windshield and the rear defogger detached twice, which the dealership replaced, and getting used to the large blindspots. I agree with the other comments that the dealership service has been the pits, though. 5 star? NO WAY!
Report at 78000 miles
Have driven this vehicle to 78,000 miles -- it has been problem free. Excellent economy when you drive the speed limit. Great heater and AC. Following the maintenance schedule -- change oil at 7,500 mile intervals -- no need to do more frequently if you use quailty filters and oil. Wonderful ride w/ top down. Very good ride with the top up. If you want a convertible for grown-ups, this is the car.
1st but not last
i am 61 years old never owned a chrysler as i was a chevy man. Buying this car makes me wonder what i missed out on my life of buying auto after auto, I think the auto is tops, hope the florida sun does not destroy it. thank you for letting me voice my happiness over my purchase. Sebring forever. bernie coalt
IMPECCABLE CONVERTIBLE
I have owned a number of vehicles, but nothing has surpassed by '99 jxi convertible. The interior design is ingenius along with the attractive exterior. extremely reliable, was never in the shop. could not have asked for a better automobile.
Sebring Fun to Drive
We have owned this car for 4 years now and have had excellent service with one exception. Chrysler seems to have a problem with a computer chip that governs the transmission and it is fairly expensive to replace over $500 and was replaced once under warranty and once outside that i was able to negotiate lower. We also owned a 300M that had the same problem. Other than that glitch, we were quite pleased with the car.
Anne's review
I had my Sebring for several years, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got as much as 36 miles to the gallon (and yes, that's 36) and around town consistently got in the low 20's. We added a member to our family and decided to go with a larger vehicle, so the Sebring got traded in 2006. I miss it, and would have another in a heartbeat!
Chrysler jxi convert
I own a 2002 Caddie, a 2002Dundra pickup and the Chrysler jxi convt and I enjoy driving the chrysler jxi the most
1999 Sebring Convertible
Love my car! Traded in a Buick Park Avenue for my Sebring, thought I would really miss the comfort of the PA but have found that I get great gas mileage compared to the PA and have not really missed the size of the PA. Only negative aspect is the noise of the convertible comparatively speaking, but in defense of the Sebring I believe all convertibles would be noisier. Car drives like a dream, even on icy, snow covered roads, have never been stuck.
A Great Convertible
The Chrysler Sebring JXI convertible I own is georgeous. It has supreme styling and looks like a car, not a tank. It is a joy to drive and I still love it after all these years and I never fail to get favorable remarks from others. It's a great car and beautiful.
Dads toy
My third chrysler convert. 2 Lebarons {1989 and 1992} Best by far but I do miss the Turbo. Mine is a Limited with all options . I bought it as a one owner trade in at my local dealer. It is used as a cruiser only 4000 to 5000 miles a season . Great looks , good performance , much fun to drive .
nice car but not a sport car
Very nice car, but it is not a sport car, the mileage surprisingly economical. and 4 can seat in with no troubles. I have driven the car over 30,000 miles with only one problem: an electrical sensor part of the transmission. otherwise it has been very dependable, this car is all about open/fresh air with comfort
Solid, fun-to-drive & not a single prblm
I drove some sporty cars with good gas mileage in the past (Sunbird, Saturn SC), but there was always a prblm of no room in the back seat for adults.So I tried my 1st convertible, the Sebring, mainly because it had a back seat big enough for adults, & still looked sporty. Consumer Reports had it rated only 'average', but I've been pleasently surprised -- it's a solidly built car with upper 20's MPG (mixed highway/city)that has run w/o even a hint of a problem.
Sebring convertible
A very fun car to drive. I have a new Caddi and a Tundra PU and when I go most anywhere the convertible is my choice of transportation. The only problem experienced is the heater blower fan needing repair.
Really Great. Sebring Haters are Crazy
I got the car last year. It's my first car, and so far it's been great. It is 11 years old and still runs great. It gives you the illusion of a sports car and has decent performance. I raced a Jeep Grand Cherokee and smoked it. It's a little long (that's what she said) but I guess thats good because that means it's safer. My Sebring was in excellent condition until my stepdad backed into it and a ran into a minivan (two different accidents). But even through all that it runs fine. However, the passenger door is now jammed shut from the minivan.. The trunk doesnt stay up. The keys can be taken out while the engine's running. not sure if thats normal..
my fun car
I have thoroughly enjoyed driving this car these past 3 years.It moves well and quickly,you feel like you're drivingand it's very comfortable upfront.
Love it !!!
Love my 1999 JXI. Had problems in 2 weeks after purchase when steering went up, fixed in 2 days and no mechanical problem since. Stitching on top broke and was repaired under warrenty(after much fighting to get done). Would buy another in a heartbeat.
Great ride and Fun to drive
This is a great car! Fun to drive, and handles great! If it just had a little more horse power, it would be perfect! By the way, my top is 4 years old, and it in great shape!
Stay away from this car
While the car may look great and fun to drive, it will always be in the shop. I have had the car in the shop 4 times, since I bought it 1 month ago. The car has been severely random misfiring and they have replaced the computer, spark plugs, valve cover, manifold, distrubuter, and they are now changing the EGR. In addition to this the car squeaks terribly at low speeds. Not only this the car has electrical problems, the cruise quit working, lights turn on and off when they want to and the remote keys only work when they want to any will randomly set the car alarm off. The car is not even junk yard worthy!!!
Never Ending Problems
I had this car for a little over a year and had the following problems: the car alarm kept going off randomly as did the lights and beeping, the radiator had problems and the car kept overheating, it flooded in through the doors, the heat and AC only worked on the highest setting, and the break line burst. After all these problems, because off the flooding it was totaled due to an electrical fire. I will never buy a Chrysler again and would never recommend this car to anyone!
My Convertible
This was my first convertible and I have had fun with the car. I have had it for almost 5 years and it is holding up well. The only problems were handled under warranty and some routine maintenance. Sometimes I wish it was a bit shorter and had better visibility with the top up.
1999 Sebring Convertible JX
Beautiful, fun car to drive. You get many looks in this baby! It's fast, roomy back seat, and handles seamlessly. The 2.5 Mitsubishi engine is powerful and reliable. You can't miss with this one! Family friendly and sexy to boot!
Feels good to drive.
My Sebring Convertible has been a solid, stable car. It's fun to drive, reliable and looks good. That's more important than it sometimes seems, but it FEELS good to drive this car.