The 2001 Chrysler Sebring has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “2.7L engine failure from oil sludge and timing chain.” Chrysler's Oil Change Indicator tracks engine load and duty cycle, then messages when oil life is used up — capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (300, Pacifica, Town & Country, Voyager) is long-interval by design: spark plugs at 100,000 miles and no timing belt. Minivans in family duty count as 'severe service' more often than owners think — frequent short trips shorten the oil indicator's countdown, and that's the system working correctly.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2001 Chrysler Sebring.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
87 NHTSA complaints · 2004-05 → 2016-08
“2.7 LITER CHRYSLER ENGINE DECLARED DESTROYED BY SLUDGE BUILDUP. *AK”
“ENGINE FAILURE ONLY 67,000 MI. CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ENGINE 2.7L. *TR”
“2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2.7L 24V DOHC ENGINE FAILURE- COMPLETELY DEAD AND LEFT ME ON HIGHWAY. WATER PUMP FAILED, TIMING CHAIN INSIDE ENGINE BROKE RUINED ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE FOR $8000.00. *TR”
POWER TRAIN
10 NHTSA complaints · 2003-12 → 2013-08
“TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH OUT WARNING. *JB”
“2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING COUPE LXI NEEDS REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT 63,000. THE COST $2000.*AK”
“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. *AK *NM”
WHEELS
11 NHTSA complaints · 2004-02 → 2012-02
“DT CONSUMER STATES THE WHEELS ON HIS VEHICLE HAVE CORRODED AND CAUSED AIR TO LEAK OUT. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER THEY STATED IT WAS FROM THE ROAD SALT DURING THE WINTER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY *TT”
“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.*AK”
SUSPENSION
23 NHTSA complaints · 2004-06 → 2017-08
“DT: CALLER SAID THE WHEEL FELL OFF IN DRIVEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE TOP UPPER BALL JOINT GAVE WAY, LEAVING THE BOTTOM BALL JOINT TO HOLD THE TIRE. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER HAS NOT HAD IT FIXED. *AK”
“WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE, AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM”
“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”
AIR BAGS
15 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2017-01
“STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT LITE UP AND I HEARD A CHIME, AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS IT WENT OFF AND THEN KEPT REPEATING THIS CYCLE. *TR”
“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. *JB”
“THE CLOCKSPRING RECALL ISSUE APPEARS TO EXTEND TO THE 2001 MODEL YEAR (EARLY PRODUCTION)”
AIR BAGS
7 NHTSA complaints · 2003-11 → 2016-04
“CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS BEFORE THE COLLISION. *AK *PH *NLM”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN ANIMAL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
“MY WIFE WAS IN A FRONTAL CRASH WITH ENOUGH IMPACT TO NEARLY PUSH THE ENGINE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
20 NHTSA complaints · 2004-04 → 2014-06
“NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK ON THE DASH. SUCH AS THE ODOMETER THE GAS GAUGE,THE RADIO. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. FOR THIS IS A USED CAR. *TR”
“2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING LXI CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DASH LIGHTS DIED ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A SOLDER DEFECT IN THE DASH, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED A MELTDOWN IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. *JB”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Change oil when the indicator message appears — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L uses 0W-20; PT Cruiser's 2.4L uses 5W-30. Short-trip city driving will trigger the indicator well before 10,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate every 8,000 miles or at every oil change. Front-heavy minivans (Pacifica, Voyager) chew front tires quickly without rotation.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Loaded minivans and the heavy 300 wear rear pads faster than expected — check both axles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
PT Cruiser's 2.4L is a timing-belt engine: replace around 100,000 miles (check your manual's exact interval for the year). Do the water pump and tensioner in the same job — the labor overlaps almost entirely.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$935–$1175
Shop
~$655–$825
DIY
Pro only
On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Minivans (62TE six-speed): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles under family duty. 300 with the ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed: Chrysler lists no normal-service interval, but specialists recommend fluid service around 60,000-100,000 miles. ATF+4 or the specified 8-speed fluid only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Pentastar 3.6L: iridium plugs at 100,000 miles. PT Cruiser 2.4L: roughly every 30,000 miles with conventional plugs — check the manual for your year.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Replace every 30,000 miles. On the Pentastar it's a quick top-of-engine job; inspect sooner in dusty climates.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on evidence of cracking or glazing. A failed belt on the Pentastar takes the water pump drive with it — don't run it to destruction.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 20,000 miles — behind the glovebox on Pacifica, Voyager, and 300. Family-hauler duty (pets, gravel school lots) argues for yearly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Stellantis OAT coolant: first replacement at 10 years or 150,000 miles per the schedule; many shops suggest refreshing by 100,000 miles. Use OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing types gels the system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually once the battery passes 3 years old. Pacifica's stop-start system uses a pricier AGM or dual-battery setup — weak batteries throw confusing electrical faults first.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
200 crashes 1990–2024
How the 200 occupant deaths break down
149
driver deaths
51
passenger deaths
200
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
22
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring reflects Chrysler's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.