Your vehicle report
2001 Chrysler Sebring
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 242
- Received Feb 2001 to Aug 2017
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes17 complaints · 7.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes13 complaints · 5.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine knocking from rod or main bearings12 complaints · 5.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #16V401000Mitsubishi 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.
- Recall #15V338000Mitsubishi 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 21 crashes, 5 fires, 22 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 242 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 17 | 7.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 5.4% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 12 | 5.0% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 9 | 3.7% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 8 | 3.3% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 8 | 3.3% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 2.9% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 2.9% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 6 | 2.5% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 6 | 2.5% | – | |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 6 | 2.5% | – | |
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 6 | 2.5% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 5 | 2.1% | – | NHTSA recall #00V299002 |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 2.1% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 3 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #16V401000June 3, 201616,315 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
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.
If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #15V338000June 2, 2015443,442 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
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.
If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #01V011002January 16, 200128,439 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
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.
Fluid leakage from the cooler hoses Can cause transaxle driveability problems and smoke if the oil contacts the front exhaust pipe.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #01V005002January 8, 200120 vehicles affected
seats
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A number of incorrect driver side seat mounting bolts were installed into vehicles.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #00V366000November 9, 20001,211,756 vehicles affected
child seat
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.
In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
NHTSA recall #00V320002October 27, 20003,480 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
This hose is considered to be inadequate.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel return hose.
NHTSA recall #00V306000October 12, 2000419 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
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.
A separated air bag door could injure a vehicle occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag.
NHTSA recall #00V299002October 2, 2000554 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
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.
Remedy
Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
NHTSA recall #00V278000September 18, 20004,504 vehicles affected
structure: frame and members: underbody shields
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.
Smoke inhalation could be harmful to vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the insulation pad from behind both rear map lights.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN