2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible: engine failure

Filed Feb 22, 2013 · Engine · 80,000 miles · OH

Car started making engine noise so it was pulled over and then would not restart. I was told by my mechanic it needs a new engine.

Filed Oct 1, 2012 · Engine · 92,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring convertible. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and after inspecting the failure, the mechanic advised that the engine was destroyed because there was not enough oil in the engine. The engine oil had become sludge as a result of oil build-up. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they could not replace the engine and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jun 2, 2011 · Engine · 56,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 chrysler sebring convertible. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the engine stalled without prior warning. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and the engine was replaced. Three years later, the identical failure recurred and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect and they were unable to provide further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.

Filed May 26, 2011 · Brakes, Engine · 74,000 miles · OR

This is another example of the oil sludge issue with the chrysler 2.7 l engine. I bought the car used with low miles, and had my tension arm go out a few months later due to sludge buildup. This second instance came up pretty quickly. The started knocking on hard acceleration, then 2 days later started missing badly going uphill on my way home form work. The engine dies on the downhill side of the most dangerous road in portland (germantown rd.). This is a very steep extremely curvy road and I came all too close to not being able to make the first turn with no power steering or brakes. Making my way down the remainder of the hill was a bit frightening, to say the least. After getting towed and finding out the damage was blown bearings and replace the engine, it was suggested I look online for chrysler 2.7 l engine to find that this should have been considered a defect and the engine should have been replaced or repaired by chrysler, but chrysler claims the engine is fine, it's the owner's fault.

Filed Mar 22, 2011 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MO

2001 chrysler sebring, convertible 2.7, VIN [xxx] engine failure, no warning. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 10, 2011 · Engine · 50,000 miles · VA

Http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.carcomplaints.com%2fchrysler%2fsebring%2f2001%2fengine%2foil_sludge_resulting_in_engine_failure.shtml&h=08196 this happened to my sebring twice! It failed the first time, and we put a new engine in it, then this engine failed. Chrysler knows about this and is refusing to acknowledge that the defect is their engine! I spent $8000 on the new engine, now I am in debt for a new car because it failed again! Please help! There are class action lawsuits but not in my state - va. Thanks you! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 29, 2010 · Engine · 72,315 miles · NJ

I went to the local 7-11 less then 1 min. By car to get something. Car was quiet & smooth running like it should be - since I maintained my car & took extra special care of it since it is my car & has my handicap plates on it. I pulled out of the parking lot of the 7-11 - came to a red light, was 1st car at red light- light changed to green, went to apply gas, car stalled - was able to get the car restarted- when it did restart, the car was now making a funny noise coming from the front end. Went to apply gas, could feel that the car wanted to stall again - was able to slowly apply gas, and then be able to coast down the little hill to my side street & able to get the car safely into my driveway. I was very lucky I wasn't rear ended at the light- the road on which it stalled they have a 40 MPH speed limit- I was also very lucky my child wasn't in the car with me. The failure of this only happened once- because the car was towed from my home to the dealership - where it still sits almost 1 year later - this engine failure is a chrysler issue - they are the ones that are responsible to pay for the car repairs & replace the engine - considering the fact they have known of this problem with their engines for many many years & still continue from what I have read by doing google searches on this 2.7l v6 engine. You are the national highway traffic & safety commission and have the pwer to recall these engines before someone dies from driving these cars with these engines or before a child is seriously injured or worse-.

Filed Sep 21, 2010 · Engine · 83,200 miles · FL

2001 chrysler sebring conv - lxi , 2.7 liter 83,000 miles , water pump quit as working on it realized the pump blew most of the water in to the engine , replaced the timing idler , flushed the engine out , replaced the oil , ran the engine , then replaced to fresh oil , few day later noticed the car was showing low oil causing the light to turn on , checked the oil came out being fine 5 quarts as its supposed to have , replaced oil and filter to be sure all was 100% fine oil light kept coming on at idle moments after the engine be gone to make a very loud rattling sound ,called chrysler they said this is a typical issue with the model engine and since the car was out of warranty they were not obligated to repair or replace the engine as I researched the internet I notice I am not alone with this same issue there is a very high amount of owners of the 2.7 liter engine with the same issue of the loud rattling in the bottom of the engine , chrysler claims it's due to improper oil changes and the engine breaks down due to sludge , I would like to let my car be used as an example for a fare recall as I have no engine sludge and have a valid track record of oil changes at 3,000 or before 3,000 miles with wal-mart here in my town my car was well maintained and has been all over the USA and never once had a major issue of any sort till the pump malfunctioned as it does in many other cars out there but since this issue has come to the car has been parked.

Filed Aug 19, 2010 · Engine · 103,000 miles · MO

Engine failure- I have a 2001 chrysler sebring limited with the 2.7 ltr engine of which I have faithfully had serviced. The engine, with no warning, went out just as I am seeing with other complaints on the web.

Filed Aug 12, 2010 · Engine · 56,000 miles · DC

I bought my 2001 sebring lxi convertible in dec 2003, with just over 500 miles on the odometer. It had suffered a transmission failure at the original dealer, had never been sold to a customer, was returned to chrysler for a replacement, then sat on a back lot for nearly two years before being resold to another dealer. I bought it with a new car warranty and bought the extended (7 year/70,000 mile) warranty. After initial problems with the transmission control module, heater and warped brake rotors (all fixed by the dealer), the car served me very well for 50,000 miles--no serious issues at all. At each service after roughly 20,000 miles, I would tell the chrysler service dept that the oil pressure light was coming on intermittently. They would duly check the oil level and tell me not to worry. Then I took it to a chrysler dealer (rosenthal, arlington, va) for the 50k service and told them that the oil pressure light had been coming on frequently at idle or very low rpms for the past 10,000 miles or so, but the oil level was fine, and also that the engine had begun to use oil at about 1 quart every couple of thousand miles. The dealer service manager told me not to worry, that this particular engine (2.7l) with that much mileage tended to use oil. He said just to keep it topped up. I kept checking and adding oil for the next 5,000 miles. Just before I intended to take the car in for another oil change, the engine blew without warning on an inter-state highway. I had it hauled to the nearest chrysler dealer and paid to have the oil pan pulled and assessed. The mechanic said the engine was blown and the cause was sludge build-up, and that my extended warranty did not cover that cause for engine failure.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Engine · 92,400 miles · VA

The engine failed on my 2001 sebring convertible. The oil light flickered on and off and then the car stopped running. The car was towed to the local dealer who kept the car for 2 weeks in dec , but could not find any thing wrong with the car. Three weeks later the motor has major damage from a oil pump failure.

Filed Feb 2, 2010 · Engine · 183,000 miles · KS

Was driving my 2001 chrysler sebring convertible that I had only owned for 2 mos. For my delivery job. When I noticed that the engine compartment was smoking bad and also started running really rough when stopped at traffic lights. Added quart of oil after letting the engine cool and it seemed to run fine. Tried to use for work the next day and it did the same thing + died 2x. Took to mechanic and was informed that one of the head gaskets had blown and was also leaking coolant into the engine and a lot of sludge. After getting a quote of $850 I left it at his shop he did further research & called to inform me that the 2.7 dohc v6 in the sebring convertible has a history of problems like this and the only sure sort of long term solution was to replace the engine. Also have found out after my own research that chrysler is doing nothing to remedy this defect. I would very much like to see chrysler recall these piece of junk engines and do something about this defect.