Problems with 2001 Chrysler Sebring ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. in addition, there was smoke coming from under the hood. the dealer advised the contact that the recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 00v299002 (engine and engine cooling: engine) was not associated with the contact's vin. a local mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that antifreeze leaked into the engine, causing the vehicle to stall. the failure and the current mileage was 138,000.

This was the second failure of chrysler's 2.7 v-6 engine. neither engine failure warranty was upheld by providers. first one was at 49000 miles and failed due to engine sludge, extended warranty was not honored due to owner neglect, even though i provided all receipts for all oil changes required. this problem seems to be common for premature failure of this engine. i purchased a new engine and 3 years and 14000 miles another failure occurred. this time no reason could be found for the failure and in spite of mechanics statement that all fluids were present at time of engine removal to be shipped for inspection, it was determined to be owner caused and warranty not honored. currently engine is being examined by a third party independent facility to determine cause for a future legal action. *tr

While driving my newly bought 2001 chrysler sebring, i started hearing some rattling sounds and saw smoke coming from the engine. i was in the middle of the highway and i prayed that it would die on me as i tried to exit to the next gas station. luckily i managed to exit and parked at the station. i quickly took out my two sons and my wife from the car because i didn't know what was going to happen. i then called a mechanic and had the car towed to a chrysler dodge dealership. i was told that the car needs a new engine at a cost of $5000. i am still in shock. looking online i found out that there are thousands of people who have reported similar engine problems on this particular 2.7l engine. i think that chrysler should be held accountable for their inadequate standards especially with this kind of engine. my family's life was in danger and i hope that you will help me resolve this issue. i don't have any money to buy a new engine. thanks. *tr

On friday june 11, 2010, i was involved in an automobile accident. my car, a chrysler 2001 sebring lxi failed to stop when the brakes were applied. i steered the car away from rear-ending the vehicle in front of me avoiding a crash. however, i steered my car between two lanes of stationary traffic.while going into traffic exiting off highway 270. i tried to apply the brakes but the car wouldn't stop. the engine revved up and the car wouldn't stop. my car made contact with a mini van. my passenger side view mirror struck the mini van causing damage to both the mini van and my car. i contacted my insurance company immediately. the driver of the mini van and i exchanged information and i called a tow truck to tow my car to my home. the following wednesday june 16, 2010.. farmers insurance adjuster paul gallagher contacted me. i received a rent-a-car from enterprise leasing. today, june 16, i contacted the chrysler coporation to voice my complaint and i was told that a contact investigator would contact me within 3 days. i told them i need authorization for a rent-a-car while they investigate the crash. i asked that a supervisor contact me to advise about the rent-a-car. shortly after, i was contacted by the supervisor and he told me to get my car fixed and i would not receive any assistance from chrysler. i went online and contacted your agency and found that chrysler knew that my 2001 chrysler sebring lxi, was on the recall list since november 2000. i would like your assistance with this matter because my granddaughter, the driver of the mini van, and myself could have been seriously hurt. i need cooperation from chrysler corporation. i will contact my adjuster to inform him of the recall notice that i discovered on your website. i'm afraid to drive that car and my car only has 68,000 miles and is in mint condition. i have records of every oil change and other repairs that have been made. i need help. *tr

S10 appropriate handling-letter from regarding 2001 chrysler sebring *tgw the consumer stated when he turned the steering wheel to the left or the right, he could hear a grinding sound. the dealer found the left lower ball joint was worn, which was the cause of the noise. also, the front struts, oil pan and cooler lines were all leaking, and the drive belts were cracked. the heating and air condition controls were not performing as designed. *jb

2001 chrysler sebring turns off while driving - the exact same problem as the hundreds of thousands of chryslers recalled last year. everyone wants to try a body control module, fuel pump, new crank shaft but the problem keeps occurring - perhaps because they were not aware of this recall/problem as not even my local chrysler dealership knew. this has happened to me frequently over the past 1.5-2 years or so, it comes and goes. i was rear ended once but it was light enough (thank god) that it did not cause any damage. extremely dangerous. almost a quarter of a million chrysler vehicles were recalled last year for this problem. as of right now, i believe just van/crossover models - why not all models with this same problem? please leave your complaints on the message boards alone and bring them to nhtsa so that chrysler can be held accountable for these issues. *kb

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring lxi. while cruising at speeds of less than 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. he was unable to restart the vehicle. the dealer stated that the water pump caused the radiator fluid to leak into the engine. he would also need to replace the engine. there were no recalls for the failure. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the failure and currently mileages were 137,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring convertible. while driving 75 mph on the freeway, the engine shut off and the vehicle lost all power. the contact pulled the vehicle over and had it towed to an independent mechanic. after inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic noticed sludge build-up. he also observed leaks in the head gasket and radiator, and engine and transmission failure. the contact feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive because a crash could have occurred on the freeway. the current and failure mileages were 98,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. while driving 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated and completely shut off. the vehicle would not restart and was towed to an auto service shop. the technician stated that the 2.7 liter engine failed, which was a common issue. the dealer has not been notified and the vehicle has not been repaired. the vehicle is still at the repair shop and will cost $6,000 to repair. the failure and current mileages were 117,000.

Oil light started coming on when car was idling or driving slow, kept oil changed regularly and had no leaks or anything. engine went out while driving down road almost causing an accident. *tr

I have a 2001 chrysler sebring lxi 2.7l v6 sedan. on february 28, 2009, engine overheated and failed on highway i-77 north. i pulled out of traffic as asap. engine locked up and would not start. engine ruined. car had to be towed from hwy. car ran perfectly before going on the hwy. i have service records to prove the oil was changed with synthetic oil every 3,000 miles. i have a receipt to prove i topped off the coolant prior to the engine failure. my extended warranty denied the claim on march 3. i found that extended warranties either reject these claims automatically or pay them and then cancel your coverage. after denial, i researched the problem and found that this chrysler model has had numerous complaints due to engine and cooling defects, including the engine itself, the water outlet/coolant arm, and head gasket. engine failure happens frequently to consumers driving 60 mph or faster (highway conditions). consumers report that this problem occurs despite proper maintenance of the car. there is no warning prior to engine overheating and failure. you don't know there's a problem until smoke starts. my car smoked long before the temperature gauge showed red hot. the hand was still in the middle when smoke first started. local mechanics, salvage yards, and even chrysler master techs confirmed these problems and that you cannot foresee them. chrysler should have issued a recall regarding these problems but never did. the only engine-related recall actually issued was for the harness for the crankshaft position sensor. obviously, chrysler has tried to avoid such costly replacements. a new, remanufactured engine (without the original defects) costs around $6200 in my area. my problem came from chrysler defects. chrysler should be required to install a brand new, remanufactured engine and all other damaged parts at no charge to me. chrysler should also pay for the towing of my car to a chrysler service shop and reimburse me for the previous tows. *tr

2001 chrysler sebring 4.7liter engine. had oil changed two weeks ago. the next morning oil was all over top of engine. returned to shop and determined that oil pressure low. making loud knocking noise when idle sounds like diesel engine! mechanic stated engine fixing to go.it has only 92,000 miles. understand that there is a design issue with engine and has still not been recall. chrysler is well aware of this continuous issue and assume they feel its the consumers problem now since you purchased it. will never buy another vehicle from chrysler. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. intermittently, the vehicle experiences catastrophic engine failure. the vehicle also locks up without warning. the contact's son is a mechanic and inspected the vehicle with the oil dipstick. he started the engine and heard a knocking sound, and then the vehicle shut off. the manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic; however, the contact would be responsible for the expenses. the failure mileage was 60,100.

I have a 2001 chrysler sebring that stopped running on the express way and come to find out it was my motor that had failed. the only thing that happened prior to the engine blowing was a slight noise and then it quit. i changed my oil every 3000 miles like recommended but obviously that didn't matter. i've replaced my whole engine with a rebuilt one but i'm extremely disappointed in chrysler. *tr

My son bought his fist car, a used 2001 chrysler sebring with the 2.7 engine. day two of driving the car he blew the motor. dealer says he can't find a replacement motor so i talked to my mechanic about it and he said the 2.7 chrysler motor has a problem with oil sludge that causes the motor to fail. it is a very common problem. now my son is making car payments on a car that isn't fixable. *tr

Engine failure only 67,000 mi. caused by defective engine 2.7l. *tr

Engine failure driving in traffic- just luck i was not hit by another vehicle... was able to pull over to curbside with forward momentum and then get vehicle towed. could have been catastrophic on a busy day or on a more crowded highway. *tr

Tl*the 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 stop working whenever the check engine indicator illuminates. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 82,000. updated 11/28/08 *bf the consumer believed the camshaft sensor was rubbing the wiring causing it to heat the wiring under the protective shield and slowly grounding out the electrical system. updated 12/02/08.*jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. the contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine while driving. she had a mechanic perform an oil change and remove all of the sludge in the engine. two days later, while driving 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. she was relatively close to her home at the time of the failure; therefore, some of her peers pushed the vehicle back to her house. the mechanic inspected the vehicle and stated that there was a continuous issue with sludge build up and they also noted that the timing chains were failing. the dealer stated that her vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 00v299002 (engine and engine cooling:engine). the manufacturer did not provide any assistance. the failure and current mileages were 71,000.

My sebring died today literally 6 seconds from home. i pulled out into traffic from the local mijer and it died! i just sank a bunch of cash into it to which makes this really great. around last june i noticed a rattling that kind of made the car sound like a diesel semi. trouble was it would happen during initial starting and kick out and go back to normal after 5 - 10 min. so naturally no professional ever heard this rattle as by the time i got it into a shop it seemed fine!!! even better, in the last couple of months a new problem cropped up you might be familiar with the flickering low oil pressure gauge at idol? that's just the beginning. it gradually required higher rpm to make it fade away and eventually always on. well $200.00 replaces the oil sensor but don't expect that to fix the problem you just get to start the process all over again!!! two days ago i had it in again for a cam shaft sensor another $200.00 and the mechanic warns me not to invest too much more into this pos because the rattling and the low oil pressure are probably a sign that the engine is going. "it could be two months it could be two years but it's going go." how about two days. engine failure!!!!!!! to any one willing to give it a try, i wish i did if only for feeling proactive is you can purchase a pure one purelite oil filter which will add 5lbs of pressure to the system and run a thicker oil. this advice i received from chrysler's head mechanic! a busy man im guessing. he said that the rattling was because low oil pressure was not pushing it up into the (technical mumbo jumbo) im no pro. for the record i did not do this. it's winter here! and this fancy oil filter is not sold any where i know short of ordering online. the best part is i was planning to figure it out tomorrow on my only day off in two weeks! my wife's ford has twice the miles my sebring does and at least it still runs!!!! a ford!!!! *tr

I drive a 2001 chrysler sebring. i am still under the extended warranty (fewer than 80,000 miles). the engine, 2.7l, failed on 2/7/08 with absolutely no warning. it was towed to the dealership and i was told that it was my fault because i did not properly maintain the vehicle. chrysler has already publicly admitted that this engine is faulty which can cause premature engine failure. yet, chrysler is quick to point the finger at me. i was told to gather all of my oil-change receipts (from 2002 - 2008) and forward to chrysler for reconsideration. first of all, if the engine is faulty from the beginning, how can i be judged for properly maintaining an inferior product? what type of guidelines does one follow for taking care of a faulty engine? *tr

Smoking (oil burning everywhere) oil pressure switch failed apr. 07. had major tune up done in aug. 07. then had battery trouble car died had towed to shop, mec. checked battery and recharged it said to replace it soon, then the next day heard a ticking noise and a big clunk on my way to work but went to the shop instead they found intermix through-out, head gasket failure. *tr

The 2001 chrysler sebring with the 2.7l engine burnt out. it has 55,000 miles on it. the first problem was with the oil light coming on. i took it to kasing dodge in hermitage pa. and they said that it was a wire and fixed it for almost 200 dollars. a week later the engine made noise that sounded like it would explode. i had to towed to kading dodge again and they said that the crankcase bearing broke from oil starvation. they said that it would be over 4000 dollars to put a new engine in. what they did instead was a fix of the broken bearing which cost me another 250 dollars and told me that may work for awhile but they would not guarantee that work. well it did not work. why did they only do same jobs that cost me money when they all know that chrysler is having a possible class action lawsuit against them for this very engine? *tr

Approximately 2 years ago, i had my oil pan gasket replaced (at the advice of the chrysler dealership in fredericksburg, va). when the oil pan was removed, there was sludge at the bottom of it (which was cleaned out). the new gasket and pan were replaced (which seemed to fix any problems my car was having). now, my car is burning oil and coolant and stalls when i slow down. my spark plugs were replaced yesterday and everything seemed okay as it sat idling in the driveway; however, this morning, my car stalled while i was turning through a busy intersection! i have the 2.7l engine and am concerned that my car falls into the same category as the rest of the 2.7l engines (that have sludge build-up from coolant getting into the engine oil). i don't want my engine to seize up before i can afford to purchase a replacement (which will not be another chrysler) since i can blatantly read that no one is getting any satisfaction out of chrysler in replacing their faulty engines. i'm sending this as a preventable measure. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. the vehicle has had engine failure due to sludge. there were no warning indicators prior to the engine failure. the contact noticed the failure when she started the vehicle and it made a terrible sound. the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new engine due to improper maintenance. the contact stated that her vehicle was routinely serviced for scheduled maintenance. through research, she discovered numerous complaints on the same failure, but no recalls. the vehicle is currently at the dealer and has not been repaired. the vin, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. the failure and current mileages were 17,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. while driving 65 mph, the engine seized without warning. the contact noticed smoke rising from underneath the hood. a local mechanic stated that the head gasket appeared to have failed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that there was a crack on the cylinder wall and the engine needed to be replaced. the powertrain was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 103,000.

While driving my 2001 chrsyler sebring all of sudden knocking and tapping noise started. proceeded to pull over and turned the car off. attempted to restart vehicle and it would not start. call towing company and had it towed to chrsyler dealership. paid for diagnostics and was told that it was engine failure due to oil slug. car is inoperable. this 2.7l engine has been known for engine failure and chrsyler indicated that it was due to lack of maintenance. oil changes were made according to the owners manual and this should not have occurred.*cn

My 2001 chrysler sebring just stopped running while i was driving down the highway motor had seized up and was junk. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring. while driving 35 mph, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the vehicle. the vehicle is currently at the garage and the cause of failure was diagnosed as the timing chain and housing. the powertrain was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 53,813.

2.7 liter chrysler engine declared destroyed by sludge buildup. *ak

No events leading up to failure - engine failure - coolant in engine - 2.7 liter engine chrysler sebring 2001 chrylser wants $7000 to fix. they know these are bad engines and they are allowed to sell them . *ak

The dodge/chrylser 2.7l engine failure. engine failed without warning premature. estimated cost of new engine that will also fail, $7400.00. car that failed was a 2001 chrysler sebring with 91000 miles. *ak

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. (chrysler) were only offering us a very small portion of the cost to replace the engine, so we are out a lot of money, besides the fact that they drugged their feet in this matter ,and our daughter has been without a car since 3/28. i just believe that therewas a definite engineering problem with this engine , from what all i saw. and chrysler needed to take a little more responsibility! we will be having a jasper engine installed shortly.*ak

While driving, car stalled in the middle of the boulevard; restart and drove to nearest parking lot. had vehicle towed to automotive shop. upon investigation found water in oil, 544 other cases filed 2001 chrysler sebring weak engine block failure after 34k miles, we lucked out after 66k miles. *nm

Tl* - the contact stated that the water outlet housing failed and all of the water in the engine came out along with a lot of steam. the contact stated that the water pump was replaced and that the gaskets were worn and leaking oil.

2.7 liter engine of sebring lxi seized up without warning. had changed oil 1400 miles prior to failure. purchased vehicle from auto auction within last 2 months. *nm

Going to town about two miles from home when the engine made a noise and stopped. the engine would not recrank so had the car towed. find out that the timing chain jumped time and ruin the engine. have not repaired yet. finding that the 2.7 eng has a mutitude of problems. *nm

Since i bought my vehicle in 2001 i had problems with my window, steering clicking, power train computer and transmission computer, tapping in the engine, engine failure, crankshaft, now servere knocking. i will not advice anyone to purchase a sebring from chysler. it's sad that chysler not helping correct the problems that their vehicle has. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 50 mph, the vehicle's engine blew up on the highway. the contact suffered minor injuries. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic shop who determined that the cause of the engine blow out was due to oil sludge build up and the engine would need to be replaced. the dealer was notified.

Engine failure, oil light comes on. chrysler has installed a mitsubishi engine in sebring model 2001. this engine has had numerous problems associated with oil blockage. they call it sludge. this is a design failure in the ability for the engine to maintain reliable oil pressure to the total engine components and has cause numerous engine replacements. it is a hazard for these vehicles to be on the road. mitsubishi has a voluntary program to support replacement from what i understand. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55 mph on a dry highway, a very loud noise that sounded like the engine revved was heard. the oil light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. there were no lights illuminated prior to the noise. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the engine needed to be replaced. there were no problems with the vehicle prior to the incident. the oil changes were maintained every 3,000 miles. updated 10/4/2006 - the wheels corroded causing the tires to lose air. each time the tires were rotated the wheel caps came loose and fell off. the caps have been replaced twice. *nm

I have a 2001 chrysler sebring with 2.7 liter engine that has failed. *tr

I am another 2001 sebring owner with a 2.7l engine that has died. my wife was on her way home on the interstate when the motor died with no warning and approximately 10 miles from the nearest exit. having seen chrysler's lack of concern for the thousands of complaints, i now have a worthless automobile that is worth about $250-500 for a trade or a $4000-8000 engine replacement. it seems that whether you have maintained this car or not, there is no promise of satisfaction from chrysler. my promise to chrysler is that we will never buy another of their vehicles! *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle is at an idle, the engine intermittently stalled without warning. the vehicle restarted without any problems. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. there is a nhtsa recall #00v299002 regarding the engine. the vin was not included in the recall. the manufacturer was alerted.

Car overheated, mechanic says a new engine is needed, no repair at this time not drivable. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent shop for an oil change when the lube specialists heard a knocking sound and suggested that vehicle be inspected by a mechanic. the vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics who determined that the engine was failing and that it had to be replaced. problems with the vehicle's engine increased and the vehicle had to be towed to the service dealers for the parts to be replaced. the contact viewed online that the vehicle was experiencing similar symptoms of recall.

Purchased a 2001 chrysler sebring new with 101 miles in aug 2001. vehicle currently has 42,000 miles and the engine failed due to sludge build up in the engine. the chrysler's 2.7l engine has many internet documents showing this is a common problem. not covered by chrysler or extended warranty. was driving vehicle 65 mph on a highway at 8:00 am when the car just died. fortunately (although rush hour) no one was directly behind the vehicle. car has not been repaired as chrysler wants $6,000 to fix the engine and the vehicle is only worth $8,800. car is still sitting at dealership. chrysler has not made any changes to this engine so even if repairs are made this problem will keep occurring. *nm

Timing chain failure causing engine failure on my 2001 chrysler sebring my only solution is to let the car sit for the two years i owe on it because the only solution is to replace the engine because it is apparently a design flaw. *nm

I was driving down the road when i heard a loud knocking noise. my car stalled. i was able to restart the car and drive home. i was informed that the rod bearing had gone out and the motor would have to be replaced. after a few days of talking to chrysler they told me to take it to one of their dealerships so they can look at it at my cost. the car had 82,121 miles on it so there was no warranty. chrysler gave me the run around for about a week. they wanted to charge me 200 to 400 $ just to look at it. i was told that chrysler would not pay for any thing because of excess sludge in the motor. need less to say i went to a different company to put in a remanufacture motor. these 2.7 liter apparently has a lot a defects. *ak

I was driving down the road when i heard a loud knocking noise. my car staled, i was able to restart the car and drive home. i was informed that the rod bearing had gone out and the motor would have to be replaced. after a few days of talking to chrysler they told me to take it to one of their dealerships so they can look at it at my cost. the car had 82,121 miles on it so there was no warranty. chrysler gave me the run around for about a week. they wanted to charge me 200 to 400 $ just to look at it. i was told that chrysler would not pay for any thing because of excess sludge in the motor. need less to say i went to a different company to put in a remanufacture motor. these 2.7 liter apparently has a lot a defects. *ak