Chrysler›Sebring JX, JXI›1997›2.4L/chrysler/sebring-jx-jxi/1997/2-4l/

JX platform

1997 Chrysler Sebring JX, JXI — 2.4L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Sebring JX, JXI 2.4L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.4L

The 1997 Chrysler Sebring JX and JXI, a passenger‑car built on the JX platform, is powered by a 2.4‑liter engine that takes 4.5 quarts of oil with a filter and specifies 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API viscosity. Owner reports tally 326 total complaints, with suspension topping the list, and the model year carries 14 recalls. Together these figures define a reliability profile for the 1997 Sebring that is marked by a high complaint count, a suspension‑centric issue pattern, and a double‑digit recall total.

Model year1999 1998 1997 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195-70HR14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ, Optional: 5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05281090AB alt 04105409AE
Engine air filter	04882141AB discontinued · alt MB906051
Fuel filter	04897244AA discontinued · alt MR188221
Spark plug	68303953AA alt 68304272AA
Battery	BB75F101AA alt BB86F101AA
Front wiper blades	04746318 discontinued · alt 04723444
Serpentine belt	04668223 alt 04573737AC
Thermostat	MD194988 discontinued · alt P5278144AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	190.9 in
Overall width	69.7 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	2959 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 58.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0-21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	M6 Bolts: 9 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 21 ft-lbs
Clutch Pressure Plate Bolts	68.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	100 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	5.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	22.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	18.0-25.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	146-188 coupe ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	950 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	350 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.51-.61 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	11,500-13,500 ohms
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	°F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	47.0-51.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	11-15 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	13-16 na ohms
Engine Compression	139-185. Maximum variation 14 psi.

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	36-43 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs / 65-80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	36-43 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.39 in / 0.79 in / 0.94 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.39 in / 0.79 in / 0.94 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.33 in / 0.72 in / 0.88 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	25 ft. lbs.	25 ft. lbs
2	50 ft. lbs.	50 ft. lbs
3	50 ft. lbs.	50 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1997 Chrysler Sebring JX, JXI top in one area — the suspension, 33 of 326 reports (10%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 11 recall campaigns target the suspension, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 47 of the reports describe a crash and 6 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

139

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

326

Owner complaints

47 involved a crash · 6 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 326 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension33

Seat Belts31

Electrical System29

Power Train26

Service Brakes, Hydraulic24

Air Bags22

Engine & Engine Cooling22

Vehicle Speed Control20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

06E064000Exterior LightingReported 17/07/2006

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL… Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 139 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
08-049-20	2020-04-22	Electrical System	Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
3100619	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…
3100319	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31-006-19	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sebring JX, JXI. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 86 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt w/ filter JX-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05281090AB Engine air filter 04882141AB Fuel filter 04897244AA Spark plug 68303953AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Sebring JX, JXI 2.4L take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of ABOVE -10F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Sebring JX, JXI have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.