Chrysler Sebring MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chrysler Sebring appears in 3,812 MOT tests spanning model years 1994–2019, and 74.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 25.6%, so the Sebring sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and suspension (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 285 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.0% in the 0-30k band and 32.5% in the 150k+ band, a 9.4-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.0% fail against 27.2% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 3,808 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sebring model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 32 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 46 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 504 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,386 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,689 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 31 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 524 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 434 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 419 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 256 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.9% | 187 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 185 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.6% | 175 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 285 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 257 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 191 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 151 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 140 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 128 |
| 7 | Wipers | 122 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 116 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.7% | 1,322 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.2% | 1,302 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 1,034 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 727 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 491 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.9% | 415 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 100 | 23.0% |
| 30-60k | 672 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,281 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,158 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 443 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 151 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,181 | 24.0% |
| Diesel | 1,627 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,202 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 946 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 761 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 506 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 397 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler Sebring
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler Sebring?
74.6% of the 3,812 Chrysler Sebring MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.4% fail rate, across model years 1994–2019.
What does the Chrysler Sebring most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, then suspension (11.4%).
How much does mileage affect Sebring MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.5% for 150k+, a 9.4-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Sebring more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 24.0% of the time against 27.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,812 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.