All you owners of Chrysler's 2007-2008 Sebring convertibles and Dodge Avengers will soon be getting a recall notices from Chrysler. The letters will warn owners of those cars of a door latch problem that could potentially lead to unbelted passengers being dumped into the road during a crash. Dealers are instructed to fix both front doors with a "secondary retention feature."
You lucky 2008 AWD Avenger owners will either get longer letters or another letter entirely, to inform you of another problem with your cars. While your door latches are being worked on, your dealer's mechanics will be replacing faulty fuel tank retention straps that could break and cause fuel to leak out, which you would then roll around in after being dumped in the road when your door opens -- something few drivers consider a good thing.
Both recall campaigns are expected to begin sometime this month.
[Sources: Carscoop, NHTSA]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mondo @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:06AM
Will the notice that your cars are bland, underpowered and boring be in the same letter or a separate letter?
Charger06RT @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:00PM
Mondo,
For someone who owns a honda and a nissan, I'd be happy to line up my boring, bland, underpowered, Charger RT against your two vehicles at the 1/4 mile track anytime.
I will admit though that the Dodge Caliber and the Chrysler Sebring are both ugly ducklings.
David Gevert @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:16PM
Cause 340 hp @ 4000 pounds is a power-to-weight ratio to brag about! LOL.
David Gevert @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:22PM
Oh, and I expect that your R/T Charger won't be beating much of anything on any track that isn't a straight line anyway. :D
BTW I'd be more than glad to match up my stage 2, 280 hp WRX to your 340 hp pig.
Mondo @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:25PM
Hey, hey, I love my Maxima ('02 and paid for). How can you not love 255 hp and 246 lb-ft going to front wheels with high performance summer tires while living on the East Coast. Torque steer is my friend.
My wife drives the (blah) Accord. At least its a V6.
Why do I keep defending myself? Sebrings and Avengers are crappy cars regardless of what I drive. I didn't say all Chrysler products are crappy but those two are. I like the Charger, rented an RT for a couple weeks in LA. A little heavy but nice car.
Charger06RT @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:54PM
Here is a sample of popular 2007 models weight/hp ratios. My Charger is big and heavy, but it still has an impresively low ratio compaired to others.
Boxter S 2,965 295 ***10.05***
David Gevert ~3,100 280 ***11.1***
335i Coupe 3,571 300 3571 ***11.9***
Charger RT 4,100 345 ***11.9***
Altima 3.5se 3,306 270 ***12.24***
Camry 3.5LE 3,461 268 ***12.91***
Accord Coupe v6 3,353 244 ***13.74***
Impreza WRX Sedan 3,140 224 ***14.0***
Maxima 3.5SL 3,599 255 3599 ***14.11***
TT 4,075 280 ***14.55***
Civic SI coupe 2,886 197 ***14.65***
So... yes... I'm allowed to brag and so are you. A modded WRX is a peppy car. :)
paul34 @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:55PM
Uhh, guys:
Avenger != Charger
Dodge/Chrylser/especially Jeep has made MASSIVE strides in the past few years; but seriously, if you've ever driven an Avenger (rental car of choice for many tourists, probably because its a bit cheaper than a 300C), then you would know.
It's terrible. Horrendous. A hundred steps backwards for Dodge.
The charger is *somewhat* okay, but this... this is bad. Really bad.
Rainy99 @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:18AM
This is about the funniest thing I have read in awhile...
Chris @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:20AM
Sweet, I didnt see anything about the strap breaking leaking fuel and then igniting from the busted strap draggin on the pavement.....
Max @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:23AM
Now all we need is a Passat with an engine fire to hit a Sebring with a faulty fuel tank.
I think the Sebring will go down in recent history right behind the Ion in the "worst replacement model" catagory.
Court @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:32AM
LOL, I so agree. I still cannot believe how unattractive the Sebring is. I mean...what were they thinking?? Chrysler actually approved that car for production. Who would choose to buy that thing...they would have to pay me for owning a Sebring.
Tim @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:31AM
Good thing all these cars went to rental car agencies.
SPG @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:42AM
I suppose the Russians won't be buying this car once it's replaced.
Chrysler styling department: chill out, you scared us away from your cars.
Dana @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:43AM
Luckily the fuel tank strap inspection will be easy to perform, as the fuel tank is visible from the rear of these cars from 200 feet away.
iQuack @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:49AM
Well, for people with longer memories, there was a day when there were no recalls at all and dangerous cars were allowed to stay on the road without anyone fixing the many problems built into them. At least safety problems are now faced and repaired relatively quickly.
What's amazing to me is that Mercedes proved to be so glaringly inept at producing competitive, mid-sized cars. All Mercedes seemed to do was create ugly styles for the Sebring and Avenger, then stuff mediocre Mitsubishi guts into them. Whoopie!
It'll be interesting to see how quickly Cerberus is able to clean up Mercedes' mess.
Zandriff @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:50AM
I didn't really think Chrysler sold 77,000 Seabrings and Avengers.
tanooki2003 @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:50AM
Oh for Chrystler..uhh I mean Pete's sake.
The stupid latch problem, which goes back to the very first Dodge Caravan has still not been ridded of. Even after all of these years of making junk you would think that they would at least get something right......BUZZZ Wrong
Now with the faulty straps on the fuel tank this tends for me to believe that this crap so-called car is the Ford Pinto of 2007. Nice engineering job guys, I must give you guys an award medal composed from lead paint with an asbestos ribbon. HA!
remy @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:56AM
So let me get this straight..they're adding secondary latch instead of fixing the other one? It must be seriously bad!
wally @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:59AM
SO, I guess if you us your seatbelt (as the law requires) you will not get dumped out!!!!
SO MUCH HATE ON THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jason @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:28PM
I know what you mean - the doors flying open in the event of an accident is perfectly acceptable! If you were smart enough to wear your seatbelt you were smart enough to live I guess. Never mind the other functions of a door in the event of an accident - structural stability of the roof, keeping objects outside of the car from flying in, etc. etc.
Yeah - I don't know what these people are thinking complaining about their doors flying open when they smash in to something.
Are you retarded?