2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Problems
- Complaints
- 120filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 72,000miles, 97 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 21 mpgcombined, 2.7L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2001 Sebring Convertible report the 2.7L V6 engine most often: complaints describe sudden stalling, loud knocking, and engine replacement, frequently with sludge or low oil cited by shops and dealers. Secondary themes are airbag warning lights traced to the clock spring, front and rear suspension/steering wear, and an intermittent cruise control fault.
- Engine cooling
2.7L V6 engine failure with knocking or stalling
- 63 complaints (53%)
- median 72,315 mi at 7.5 yrs old (59 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $5,650 (median of 14 quotes)
- filed 2003–2014
Owners describe a loud knocking or tapping that starts without warning, often followed by the engine shutting off or seizing while driving. Several say the vehicle was towed to a dealer or independent shop and told the engine needed replacement, sometimes with oil sludge or coolant in the crankcase given as the reason. Some owners state they kept up oil changes and question whether maintenance alone explains the failure; dealers in some complaints diagnosed an oil sensor or found nothing and the engine later failed. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 145,000 miles, spread fairly evenly across that range rather than concentrated at one mileage.
What to check: Ask for oil change records and have a mechanic check for sludge under the oil cap and on the dipstick, and listen for knocking on a cold start. Ask whether the water pump or oil pump has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was driving home from work and the car started making loud knocking noises. When I got home I had the car towed to a mechanic where I was informed that the engine would have to be replaced as this particular engine, 2.7l v6 dohc, is know to have design problems that lead to failure. I had it towed to another mechanic for a second opinion and was told the same thing almost verbatim. …”
NHTSA complaint #10225480, filed 2008-04, 76,000 miles“I am writing in regards to my 2001 Chrysler sebring which contains a 2.7l engine that failed in december 2006 while I was driving on I-75, a major highway in ohio (cincinnati) during a busy hour of the day (between 6pm & 7pm). There were no events leading up to the failure. I had my oil changed every 3,000 miles at a dealership. I was driving on a highway and my engine locked up. Nothing has been done to fix the failure. …”
NHTSA complaint #10222401, filed 2008-03, 80,000 miles - Air bags
Airbag light on, horn not working (clock spring)
- 18 complaints (15%)
- median 66,500 mi at 8.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2003–2018
Complaints describe the airbag warning light coming on, often together with the horn or cruise control not working, and shops identifying a failed clock spring as the cause. A few owners report the airbag light recurring after repairs, and some say the part was on back order or that warranty coverage was declined. Several complaints also describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 86,000 miles, with no clear seasonal pattern.
What to check: Turn the key to the run position and confirm the airbag light goes out, and test the horn and cruise control. Ask whether the clock spring has been replaced and keep any repair receipt.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I went to my repair shop because my 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible airbag light came on and then my steering wheel was making sounds when I turned the wheel. The repair shop diagnosed the problem as a clockspring that needed to be replaced, it disables your airbag, horn, and cruise control when it is broken. I have an extended warranty but was told that it was a federally mandated part therefore was not covered. …”
NHTSA complaint #10268241, filed 2009-05, 80,000 miles“I was driving my 2001 Chrysler sebring while out of state on a summer trip in july 2010 when the air bag malfunction light came on. It has stayed that way for almost four years. Shortly after I returned from this trip I took the car to the Chrysler dealership (07-29-2010) where I had purchased the car in 2001. I was told (1) that there was no recall on this issue and (2) to fix it would require the replacement of two seldom used parts that would have to be ordered and which together would cost me around $800. …”
NHTSA complaint #10585075, filed 2014-04, 69,900 miles - Suspension
Ball joint and tie rod wear, wheel separation
- 5 complaints (4%)
- median 89,200 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2008–2015
Owners describe front wheels pulling loose or the suspension collapsing while driving, with mechanics reporting a ball joint separated from the control arm or a fractured upper strut bracket. Other complaints describe outer tie rod ends that cannot be lubricated and wear out, and rear strut brackets that corrode or break and let the spring rub the tire. Repairs reported include tie rods, ball joints, control arms and axle replacement. Mostly reported above 60,000 miles, several between 110,000 and 240,000 miles.
What to check: Have a mechanic inspect ball joints, tie rod ends and rear strut brackets on a lift before driving it, and ask whether any of these parts have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Rear top strut brackets are made of aluminum and have disintegrated. This allows strut to shift outward resulting in coil spring rubbing on inside of rear tire. I am waiting on the replacement bracket, but dealer tells me there are 10,000 on back order! This is apparently a big problem with the top rear strut brackets on sebring convertibles and sedans. Should have been recalled long before brackets desintegrate.”
NHTSA complaint #10235383, filed 2008-07, 67,000 miles“I was driving on savannah springs drive (a patio home community) and I heard a horrible noise and stopped. I though I had a flat tire but when I got out and looked, my left front wheel had off. (the balljoint came loose from the control arm) the car was not drivable and had to be towed home. We just purchased this car on 4/23/2015 from new life auto in noblesville, in and drove it home to louisville, ky on i65. The car drove great and I took it out for a drive and turned into a neighborhood less than 1/2 mile from my house when this happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10714241, filed 2015-05, 89,200 miles
Buying note. Have any 2.7L example checked for sludge and engine noise before purchase, and budget for suspension wear on higher-mileage cars. Confirm the airbag light, horn, cruise control and rear defroster all work during the test drive.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 120 consumer complaints for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. 97 of the complaints include a mileage, and 19% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 25 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling62 52%
- Air bags18 15%
- Electrical system7 5.8%
- Suspension7 5.8%
- Steering6 5.0%
- Vehicle speed control6 5.0%
- Brakes5 4.2%
- Seat belts5 4.2%
- Body and structure5 4.2%
Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (5), Engine (4), Equipment (2), Tires (2), Wheels (2), Fuel system (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “I own a Chrysler sebring with a 2.7l engine, my auto body repair driver was taking the car to have a 4 wheel alignment when the engine seized while he was driving down the road. There was no warning the engine just quit. I had a factory rebuilt engine put in the car for the cost of $4500.00 and the auto repair shop stated the engine failed due to sludge.”
NHTSA complaint #10153730, filed 2006-03, 80,983 milesAir bags: “Clockspring on my 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible went out. When I checked the internet I found hundreds of people had this exact same problem with the exact same model and year as mine. This problem disables the air bag.”
NHTSA complaint #10350110, filed 2010-08, 69,000 milesElectrical system: “Starter fuse keeps blowing. Started a year ago. I have gone through 25 fuses in one year. Called last year, Chrysler said they did not know. Brought car in on october 27th, 2004. Was sent home with nothing done. They did not know how to fix the problem. Problem getting worse. Afraid I will not have a vehicle soon. I am bringing it in on dec 17th. Have done recearch and found many, many people with this problem. Is this something that is designed wrong? Everyone seems to have to spend $500.00 to buy a new starter to fix this problem. Why can't the starter be perfect? …”
NHTSA complaint #10102900, filed 2004-12, 60,000 milesSuspension: “I bought my 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible brand new back in 2001. For the last few years, I'd been hearing a slight clunking coming from somewhere in my passenger side, rear suspension. On the night of july 10th, 2008 my wife and I were on the highway and starting hearing a major banging coming from the same area. I thought my shock had loosened as I had heard that before on a previous car. I was 140 miles from home on my way for a weekend vacation. Then on monday I made an appointment with my mechanic telling him I thought I need new rear struts. …”
NHTSA complaint #10236636, filed 2008-08, 148,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
19% of the 97 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 56,000 and 89,500 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebring Convertible FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Sebring Convertible FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 25 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10229256Jul 22, 2020Electrical system. KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the…
- 10175743Apr 30, 2020Equipment, Body and structure. Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
- 10175735Apr 22, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty…
- 10220101Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10220099Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10220097Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
- 10169249Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10169247Nov 20, 2019Equipment. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10169245Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
- 10121832Nov 16, 2016Equipment. Wiper If Mopar OE wipers are unavailable, the below alternatives can be offered instead. 05066964A$ = WBRW0011A$ 05066973A$ = WB000019A$ or WBF00019A$ 05096134A$ = WB000027A$ or WBF00028A$…
Other model years of the Chrysler Sebring Convertible
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 39 | 55,173 | 0 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 62 | 72,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 24 | 48,115 | 0 | — | 21 | — | Stable |
| 2002 | 121 | 68,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 120 | 72,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 78 | 81,163 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 92 | 75,112 | 1 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 52 | 73,200 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 77 | 78,000 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 68 | 80,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Chrysler Sebring Convertible model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible?
Owners of the 2001 Sebring Convertible report the 2.7L V6 engine most often: complaints describe sudden stalling, loud knocking, and engine replacement, frequently with sludge or low oil cited by shops and dealers. The issues reported most often: 2.7L V6 engine failure with knocking or stalling; Airbag light on, horn not working (clock spring); Ball joint and tie rod wear, wheel separation.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible have?
NHTSA recorded 120 consumer complaints for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 62 complaints (52% of the total), followed by air bags with 18.
Has the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible get?
The EPA rates the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible (Sebring Convertible, 2.7L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible reported?
Among the 97 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,000 miles and the middle half falls between 56,000 and 89,500 miles; 19% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.