2001 Chrysler Sebring Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Chrysler Sebring most often describe engine and cooling problems, with many complaints centered on the 2.7L V6 — oil sludge buildup, knocking, timing chain failure and, in some cases, engine replacement. Front suspension ball joint failures and air bag warning lights tied to the clockspring are the next most common themes. Reported mileages vary widely, from under 40,000 to well past 100,000 miles, so problems are not limited to high-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine failure after oil sludge buildup (2.7L V6)

   • 73 complaints (30%)
   • median 74,800 mi at 5.9 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2016

   Owners describe sludge accumulating in the 2.7L V6 even with regular oil changes, followed by knocking or ticking noises, oil and coolant consumption, and in some cases the engine quitting while driving or seizing. Several report needing a rebuilt or replacement engine, and that the dealer or manufacturer declined to cover the cost because the vehicle was outside warranty. A few mention the timing chain breaking or jumping time and damaging the engine. Reported from about 30,000 to over 150,000 miles, with many failures noted between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

   Recall 00V2990022 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil for a fuel or burnt smell and look for sludge under the oil filler cap; ask for service records showing regular oil changes. Listen for ticking or knocking at cold start and ask whether the timing chain or water pump has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a sludge build up in my 2.7 Chrysler seabring lxi 2001. I have faithfuly changed the oil every 3,000 miles. The Chrysler factory warranty and most of the extended warranty plans will not cover engine repairs if they find sludge in the engine. My car failed with no warning while driving down the road which could have lead to a serious injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110125, filed 2005-02, 97,000 miles

   “We own a 2001 Chrysler Sebring that had been well maintained by us for the two years that we owned it. While my daughter was driving back to school the engine seized in the middle lane of a very busy highway, leaving her stranded. We were told this incident was not uncommon in engine 2.7l). So we followed through by contacting isg. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10193145, filed 2007-06, 98,083 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag light on (clockspring failure)

   • 31 complaints (13%)
   • median 63,900 mi at 6.5 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2017

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying on or cycling on and off, often together with a non-working horn or cruise control. Several say a dealer traced it to the clockspring and replaced it; some were charged for the repair even when Chrysler authorized it. A few complaints describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 110,000 miles, sometimes after a turn or a cracking noise from the steering wheel.

   Recall 00V306000Recall 15V338000Recall 16V401000

   What to check: Turn the key to the run position and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check; test the horn and cruise control. Ask whether the clockspring has been replaced and check the VIN against open air bag recalls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Clockspring: I have a 2001 Chrysler Sebring and my airbag light is illuminated, therefore my airbag will not work. My horn and cruise control will not work either.”

   NHTSA complaint #10176390, filed 2006-12, 63,800 miles

   “The dash, radio, & cd player lights flash off and on intermittently. This occurs on random occasions. It also happens when operating the turn signal. The lights will dim low and will not return to a normal brightness until you adjust the turn signal arm. Or the lights completely go off. Turn off the car and the displays will start up. The suspension problem is the noise of metal and banging in the suspension. The air bags, horn do not work as well as cruise control. The A/C fails to work most of the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10544877, filed 2013-09, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: dash lights, cluster and ignition

   • 30 complaints (12%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2014

   Complaints describe instrument panel and interior lights flashing or dimming intermittently, the radio cutting on and off, and in one case the ignition switch coming out with the key. Others report a melted alternator or wiring and a burning smell, and a horn or power window that stopped working. Owners say diagnosis was often inconclusive at shops and that dealer repair estimates were high. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle the lights, turn signals, radio and power windows with the engine running and watch for flickering or dropouts. Ask whether the battery, alternator and ignition switch have been checked or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On friday, april 16th I noticed my battery light on in my car as I drove home. That evening we drove my car to a friends and noticed the light stayed on. When we got there, 3 people looked at my car and noticed that my alternator was smoking and smelt hot, the wire that goes into the alternator was burnt completely in two and was seperated from the alternator. It was thankfully touching just enough to keep my car running. The next day, they took my alternator out of my car and one side was completely melted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10067577, filed 2004-04, 40,000 miles

   “2001 Chrysler Sebring - defected door handle, cutting off each time you stop w/o topping it off. The car was in the shop 4 times, october, november, december and january-2002. Recently, april 15-18,2003, it started cutting off. Not under warranty I bought a new battery and then had to by a new auto computer system. I want haynes jeep Chrysler and plymouyh to refund me all of my money and take the car back. My mother and I are handicapped, she has lupus and I just had major surgery as a kidney donor to my uncle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10016447, filed 2003-04, 45,183 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front suspension ball joint failure

   • 12 complaints (5%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2017

   Complaints describe upper ball joints and control arms letting go, sometimes with a loud bang, the wheel folding or becoming loose, and brief loss of control. Several owners say they had asked a dealer about popping or clunking noises beforehand and were told the front end was tight, only for the joint to fail shortly after. Some note the failed parts looked rusty or corroded. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 105,000 miles, often noticed as noise before failure.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect both upper ball joints and control arms for play, rust and torn boots before buying, and ask whether they have ever been replaced. Treat popping or clunking from the front suspension as a reason for inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in rush hour traffic on a busy interstate, the right front ball joint failed catastrophically and the front end began to shake violently. Fortunately I was able to stop quickly and pull into the median. I had the car at the dealership only 2 months prior with popping noises in the front suspension. The service department performed an inspection and said all front end components tight and sound /no failures detected . Less than 2,000 miles later, the ball joint failed! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10147251, filed 2006-01, 63,192 miles

   “Front top ball joint snapped when pulling out of a parking spot. No warning, had to be towed for repair. Found damaged control arms on both sides when replacing both front top and bottom ball joints. Only 53,000 miles on the car! Intend to write to Chrysler.”

   NHTSA complaint #10127112, filed 2005-06, 53,190 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or won't restart (sensors and wiring)

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine surging and stalling at speed or when slowing down, then failing to restart, sometimes traced to the crankshaft or camshaft sensor wiring harness. One owner linked the problem to a harness recall for the crankshaft position sensor and said the manufacturer had no record of it for the vehicle. Others report stalls with no warning lights beforehand. Reported from about 40,000 to 100,000 miles, often while driving at highway speed or in traffic.

   Recall 00V299002Recall 01V0110021 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft position sensor harness recall was completed for this VIN, and whether sensors or wiring have been replaced. Take a test drive that includes deceleration and idling to check for stalling or surging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On turning into a main street in our town from a driveway, the inner and outer tie rod ends on the right front wheel on my car pulled apart, resulting in a complete loss of steering control. Due to the low speed involved, I was able to force the car to the curb with no further damage. I had been driving on interstate highway I-89 earlier, and had this failure occurred then, complete loss of control, and the possible death or injury to my wife and I would have occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10153167, filed 2006-03, 62,285 miles

   “When I park my car or stop at intersection it does not move when I give gas, I give more and more gas then car start moves. What could be the problem I don't know. Dtc is p0007 showing transaxle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10379556, filed 2011-01, 208,156 miles

Buying note. Look for documented oil change history and a pre-purchase inspection of the engine, front suspension and air bag system, since those are where owners report the most trouble. Confirm open recalls were completed for the VIN and budget for potential engine or suspension work given the age of these vehicles.

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.