Chrysler Repair: 2001 Sebring horn,cruise control and air bag all simultaneously stopped, chrysler sebrings, highway traffic safety

Question
Hello,
 Recently, my 2001 chrysler sebrings' horn, cruise control and air bag stopped working...this all happened simultaneously and i was wondering if it's something simple i can fix myself.  I already tried fuses, but nothing worked when I replaced the horn relay, so i'm assuming it's something different.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Kelli,
All the items that stopped working rely on a flexible connector that has 4 wires that jump across the gap between the steering wheel and the steering column. It is call the "clockspring" because the wires are coiled just like on the balance wheel of a clock. Because of the airbag involvement it is the case that the clockspring, when it fail means that a critical safety function (the air bag) is disabled. For that reason you may be able to get the clockspring replaced at a Chrysler dealer for free under a Federally-required warranty. You could ask a dealer and if not satisfied with the answer go to the website of the National highway traffic safety administration (www.NHTSA.gov) and see if there is a recall for your Sebring or an industry-wide warranty for the air bag system, including the clockspring. It may have a 7-year limit or maybe no time limit.
That clockspring has to be the reason that all failed at once, I would believe.
Roland
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