Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chrysler Sebring owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
(1) the course of action when leaving my employment workplace on Thursday, July 21, approximately 6:00 p.m. Cst: I started my 2001 Chrysler Sebring with my remote start (which I have done daily since 2002), got into the car to leave the parking lot, secured my seat belt, and depressed the brake in order to put the car into drive (no cars were parked in front of mine). (2) the moment I put the car into gear (drive) it took off like a bullet without any acceleration. The car was accelerating independently (runaway) and headed toward a 4-lane, busy street. Braking had no effect on slowing the car but I could steer. I turned to avoid entering the busy street but crashed into the corner of a brick building. Elapsed time from the point of failure to the crash was very short; I estimate it to be 5 seconds. I was injured and hospitalized with a fractured heel bone, ankle bones, and ribs. …
Tl* 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 brakes depressed, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and the contact crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries. The dealer was contacted and informed her that a valve needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
I have a 2001 Chrysler Sebring lx sedan. I have had problems in the beginning as far as the digital odometer skipping, and other electrical problems with it. I have called the dealership, and have had it in there for inspection, but they claimed they never found anything. The dealership also never told me about the recalls. I noticed several months ago that the cruise control was causing me to speed without control, so I turned it off and never used it again, thinking I would take it in when I was able, due to the fact that the dealership fluctuated back and forth whether I had 3-year/36K bumper-to-bumper, or 7-year/70K powertrain, although it was with my understanding that the salesman offered both of the warranties. Last week, my son was asking me about the cruise control and he turned it on. He experienced the lack of control with the speed. …
I was driving west on jefferson ave in detroit. There are traffic signals at both ends of a short bridge where it passes over I-375. I stopped at the first and, when the light changed, started forward, the second traffic signal turned red. The vehicle in front of me stopped, but, when I took my foot off of the accelerator and put it on the brake, the car continued accelerating and, although I was literally standing up on the brake, it had no effect and I hit the stopped vehicle in front of me going about 25 or 30 miles an hour. The air bag did not deploy. Similar events have occurred a half dozen or more times before, but never with the same consequences. …
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. …
We we on interstate 55 in memphis tn, headed south, traveling at 55 when the car accelerator began to stick and the car increased in speed, so I stayed on the brakes until I could smell the brakes, so at the southhaven exit we turned the engine off, and coast until we could stop, and turn the motor back on and the car was still idle, and suddenly went back to normal. We drove all the way to water valley, ms we the car did the same thing and we followed the same procedure until we made it home at 456 county road 176, water valley, ms. My husband had just left the hospital in memphis where he had back surgery.
On 3/4/01 my husband was driving the car with his foot on the brake going around 15 MPH when the car accelerated, he put the car in neutral to get it to stop. On 5/25/01 I was driving 45 MPH when I went to accelerate and the car would not, it felt like the car was in neutral and it was in drive. On 5/25/01 I went to pull into a parking spot with my foot on the barke when suddenly the car accelerated and was out of control. I went over 2 sets of parking blocks hit a sign and crashed into a parked car. After I hit the car my son who was a passenger in the car put the car in neutral to stop it.
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 displays will start up. The suspension problem is the noise of metal and banging in the suspension. The air bags, horn do not work as well as cruise control. The A/C fails to work most of the time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Sebring. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the issue recurred numerous times in the same day. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown. Updated 1/21/16
Engine surges and dies out. Standed on interstate, no accident. After replacement of camshaft and crankshaft sensors, determined that problem was with wiring harness. Identified recall notice from NHTSA, 00v29902. After contacting Chrysler several times, they do not have any information on the recall nor acknoledge any recalls for my vehicle.
Acceleration complaints in other Sebring years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2001 Chrysler Sebring?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2001 Chrysler Sebring, 6% of the model year's 387 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chrysler Sebring acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2001 Chrysler Sebring, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Chrysler Sebring acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.