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2001 Chrysler Sebring Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 242 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chrysler Sebring, most often about the engine (38% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sebring model year since 2000 and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2001 Chrysler Sebring problems
Engine
91 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
2001 Chrysler Sebring with a 2.7 liter engine prematurely failed at 74,000 miles. Started having problems at 64,000 miles with excessive engine noise and smoke from the tail pipe. This car was purchased new by myself and maintained per the service schedule in the Chrysler manual. The engine gave out about 4 blocks…
Dt: while driving my Chrysler Sebring the engine just stopped. It starting making a loud noise and then the consumer heard a crunch. When the consumer opened the hood the timing chain had cut a slice out of the plastic value cover. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic where it was confirmed that the timing chain did…
Suspension
29 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Upper ball joint in passenger side rear suspension failed causing the wheel to fold inward with an associated temporary loss of vehicle control. New part was installed and upon inspection, the old ball joint appeared rusty and corroded.
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…
Air bags
29 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Sebring. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop to have the shock absorber replaced and the mechanic noticed that the air bag light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The day before, the contact made a right turn in the vehicle and heard a crackling noise accompanied by the…
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.
Electrical
23 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator, starter assembly.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Sebring. The vehicle is experiencing electrical failure. The lights in the passenger compartment and instrument panel flash on and off and the radio shuts on and off as well. The contact took the vehicle to a lot and they were unable to find any failure. Days later, when he removed the…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Sebring. Whenever the contact comes to a complete stop, the vehicle will suddenly shut off. Occasionally, the vehicle does not immediately restart. He also noticed that the vehicle would suddenly stall while accelerating past 60 MPH. In addition, the radio and instrument panel lights…
Transmission
20 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
: the contact stated there was a puddle under the vehicle. The dealership determined the cooler hose needed to be replaced. There is a NHTSA recall, # 01v011002, regarding the transmission cooler hose. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the…
While driving and without warning transmission fluid leaked, making it hard for consumer to shift the gears. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Wheels and tires
20 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: rim, hub.
The design of the center hub cap on the 2001 Sebring with the chrome wheels is defecient. I have replaced 4 wheel hub caps in 51,000 miles of driving due to it departing the car while in motion.
Owner was changing tire and cut hand on rim. Owner found chrome plating peeling away from the back of all four rims upon further inspection. Pieces are metal chards >2 inches which are peeling away around weld of spoke (backside of rim). Could cut or injure a person or cause tires to puncture if metal fragments were…
Brakes
18 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: foundation components, pedals and linkages, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
When the brakes were applied the pedal went to the floor which resulted in extended stopping distance. The dealer was notified. . The dealer inspected the brakes system and stated everything was fine.
While driving approximately 30 MPH brake pedal fell apart, causing vehicle to hit a temporary concrete wall in a construction zone. Upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries to the head and arms. The rubber grip on the brakes popped off when brakes were applied. Consumer noted the air…
Speed control
18 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
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…
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Sebring. The contact was driving 45 MPH when applied the brakes and they failed. The contact tried to press harder on the brake pedal, but the vehicle accelerated abnormally. The vehicle then decelerated independently. On a separate occasion while entering a parking space with the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Chrysler Sebring recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began july 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Mitsubishi motors north america, inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 chrysler sebring and dodge stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Mmna will notify their owners, and chrysler will notify the chrysler and dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2015. Owners may contact mmna customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mmna's number for this recall is sr-15-005. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r30.
Full defect summary
Mitsubishi motors north america, inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 eclipse vehicles manufactured april 5, 1999, to december 17, 2004, 2001-2005 eclipse spyder vehicles manufactured january 19, 2000, to march 18, 2005, 2001-2005 chrysler sebring vehicles manufactured april 17, 2000, to february 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 dodge stratus vehicles manufactured april 17, 2000, to february 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
Transmission: cooling unit and lines
Risk: Fluid leakage from the cooler hoses can cause transaxle driveability problems and smoke if the oil contacts the front exhaust pipe.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transaxle oil cooler hoses. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A hose manufacturing process allowed the reinforcement yard to breach the inner layer of some automatic transmission hoses weakening the inner wall which could result in leakage of the automatic transmission fluid.
Seats
Risk: In the event of a crash, the bolts may not properly secure the seat and could cause increased injury to the driver of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat mounting bolts and then replace the bolts if necessary. Owner notification began february 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A number of incorrect driver side seat mounting bolts were installed into vehicles.
Child Seat
Risk: In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly attaching a child restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorage.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: This hose is considered to be inadequate.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel return hose.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The outer layer only of this 3-layer fuel return hose does not contain the desired ozone protection due to a processing error.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A separated air bag door could injure a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Passenger air bags were built with suspect aluminum extrusion sections which may not retain the air bag door during an air bag deployment event.
Engine
Risk: Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die-out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
Body and structure: underbody shields
Risk: Smoke inhalation could be harmful to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will remove the insulation pad from behind both rear map lights.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Through degradation of the bond between the silencer pad and a sheet metal panel (quarter inner upper), the pad may fall onto the map light located in the rear seating area near the c-pillar trim panel (lh and rh). This contact could cause the pad to melt, creating a hot smell and/or smoke during long periods of illumination.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Safety belt cinching latch plate
Summary
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).the information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
Questions about the 2001 Chrysler Sebring
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chrysler Sebring?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (91 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); suspension (29 complaints, typically around 82,500 miles); air bags (29 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Chrysler Sebring have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 3, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Chrysler Sebring?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sebring model year since 2000, with 242 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.