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FaultScore report

2001 Plymouth Prowler problems

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2001 Plymouth Prowler with NHTSA between 2003 and 2020. The largest single group is the suspension. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Plymouth Prowler All 2001 cars
D

FaultScore 78/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Plymouth Prowler.

How this is worked out

The numbers

23

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

4

Injuries reported

10,100 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

71%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 55 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 55
Against the median year of the Plymouth Prowler. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
26.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
71% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2001 compares with every other Plymouth Prowler

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2001 Plymouth Prowler

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 13 56.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 19,000 mi

Body & Structure 7 30.4%

Median failure at 1,600 miles

Airbags 2 8.7%

Median failure at 13,560 miles

Steering 1 4.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 88,000 mi

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Hinge AND Attachments 7 35.0%
Lower Ball Joint 5 25.0%
Shock Absorber 3 15.0%
Upper Ball Joint 1 5.0%
Lower ARM 1 5.0%
Sensor/Control Module 1 5.0%
Front 1 5.0%
Frontal 1 5.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 2 11.8%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 6 35.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 4 23.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 5.9%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 5.9%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 17.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 2003 peak 4 May 2020

NHTSA investigations into the 2001 Plymouth Prowler

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA02033 Opened 26 Nov 2002 Closed 10 Feb 2003 SUSPENSION

BALL JOINT SEPARATION

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATE AND CAUSE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND.DAIMLER CHRYSLER?S ASSESSMENT OF THE BALL JOINT FAILURES IS THAT THE JOINT FAILURE MAY BE PRECIPITATED BY THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION.THE LOSS OF LUBRICATION COULD RESULT IN ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLE JOINT SEPARATION. DAIMLER CHRYSLER BELIEVES THAT THE LOSS OF JOINT LUBRICATION IS THE RESULT OF LEAKS OR TEARS IN THE RUBBER BOOT THAT PROTECTS THE BALL JOINT.THESE LEAKS OR TEARS COULD BE CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH OTHER INTERNAL...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 88,000 miles Hudson, MI Crash

STEERING

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT CAME APART

NHTSA complaint #11000346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20 miles Bakersfield, CA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANISM WHICH HELD THE HOOD OPEN FAILED AND THE HOOD DROPPED DOWN ONTO HIS HEAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER THE FIFTH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 04/06/12*LJ UPDATED 05/31/12

NHTSA complaint #10450286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,100 miles Biloxi, MS Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*- THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE FONT SPANKING BALL JOINT HAS A RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE HAD MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ACCELERATED TO 16 MPH WHEN THE BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THAT HE WILL SAVE ALL PARTS AND THE REPAIR ORDER.

NHTSA complaint #10176365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,200 miles ELK Grove, CA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY 2001 PLYMOUTH PROWLER HOOD FELL ON MY LEFT WRIST WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAUSING A SEVERE BRUISE THAT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE WRIST WAS BROKEN BUT AN X-RAY SHOWED IT WASN'T.

NHTSA complaint #10106448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Springfield, IL 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WORKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH THE HOOD OPEN. HOOD STRUT RODS RELEASE ( HOLD THE HOOD OPEN AND THEN RELEASE SUDDENLY) THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HOOD SLAMS DOWN ON WHATEVER IS IN THE WAY. HIT IN THE HEAD TWO DIFFERENT TIMES CAUSING CONTUSIONS AND ABRASIONS TO MY HEAD. PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH 200 MILES ON THE CAR AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STRUT RODS AT 1300 MILES. THE NEW STRUT RODS ARE STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM. (DEALER KEPT THE ORIGINAL HOOD STRUTS.)

NHTSA complaint #10104656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 73,000 miles Slidell, LA

SUSPENSION

THE BALL JOINTS ARE WEAK. HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING. THE DON'T LAST AS LONG AS WITH OTHER CARS AND BREAK FAIRLY EASY. IT'S A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I WAS VERY LUCKY, MINE BROKE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A RESTAURANT. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE DOING HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #11325017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Hudson, MI Crash

STEERING

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT CAME APART

NHTSA complaint #11000346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,300 miles Mesquite, TX

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROADWAY, CITY STREET, THE RIGHT,LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE A-FRAME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING.. NOISE OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE. JUST THE POP OF THE FAILED BALL JOINT SEPARATING AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR SCRAPING ON THE PAVEMENT. OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA STEERED AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10995073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,300 miles Mesquite, TX

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROADWAY, CITY STREET, THE RIGHT,LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE A-FRAME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING.. NOISE OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE. JUST THE POP OF THE FAILED BALL JOINT SEPARATING AND THEN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR SCRAPING ON THE PAVEMENT. OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA STEERED AROUND ME TO AVOID A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10995073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10972001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20 miles Bakersfield, CA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANISM WHICH HELD THE HOOD OPEN FAILED AND THE HOOD DROPPED DOWN ONTO HIS HEAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER THE FIFTH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 04/06/12*LJ UPDATED 05/31/12

NHTSA complaint #10450286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,725 miles Coto DE Caza, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I OWN A 2001 CHRYSLER PROWLER AND ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2010 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A CAR SHOW AND THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE LOWER SUSPENSION "A" ARM COLLAPSED AND THE WHEEL CAVED IN. JUST AN HOUR EARLIER I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THIS BALL JOINT WAS THE REPLACEMENT FROM A RE-CALL FOR ALL PROWLER BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINT THAT FAILED WAS THE "NEW" DESIGN AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOO FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALLS JOINT UNDER THE PREVIOUS "RE-CALL" NOTIFICATION FOR THE SECOND TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10359386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,100 miles Darien, IL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PLYMOUTH PROWLER. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CLOCK SPRING AS THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,100. *AK UPDATED 05/04/07.

NHTSA complaint #10187751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,100 miles Biloxi, MS Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*- THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE FONT SPANKING BALL JOINT HAS A RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE HAD MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ACCELERATED TO 16 MPH WHEN THE BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THAT HE WILL SAVE ALL PARTS AND THE REPAIR ORDER.

NHTSA complaint #10176365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Camillus, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

FRONT SHOCKS AND HOOD LIFT SUPPORTS FAILED (4) TIMES

NHTSA complaint #10124431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,020 miles ELK Grove, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THE FRONT SHOCKS ON THE 2001 PROWLER ARE LEAKING THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7,020 MILES AND IS LESS THEN 3 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA complaint #10113884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,020 miles Bayshore, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO CRASHES OR INJURIES. NORMAL DRIVING SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE. THE FAILURE OF THE "CLOCK SPRING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO BE DISABLED, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED ALSO.THE "CLOCKSPRING" PROVIDES THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND SWITCHES IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK THE REPAIR REQUIRES AN EXPENSIVE PART ($150.00) PLUS SHOP LABOR REQUIRING REMOC\VAL OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #10112439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,802 miles Bayshore, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

THIS VEHICLE HAS FREQUENT FAILURES OF THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS.THEY ARE PRONE TO LEAKING SUSPENSION FLUID ONTO THEMSELVES AND THE SURROUNDING CHASSIS, BRAKE ,EXHAUST AND ENGINE COMPONENTS. IT IS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND HAS FEW MILES. THERE IS NO DECERNABLE CAUSE TO THE FAILURE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE EITHER POORLY MADE OR OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 2000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 8000 MILES. THIESE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY.THEY ARE NOW LEAKING AGAIN AT 16000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10111821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,200 miles ELK Grove, CA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY 2001 PLYMOUTH PROWLER HOOD FELL ON MY LEFT WRIST WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAUSING A SEVERE BRUISE THAT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE WRIST WAS BROKEN BUT AN X-RAY SHOWED IT WASN'T.

NHTSA complaint #10106448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

2001 PROWLER HOOD SHOCKS FAILURE...HOOD SLAMS SHUT WITH NO WARNING. 8JB

NHTSA complaint #10104931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,800 miles Centennial, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

HOOD SHOCKS DO NOT SUPPORT HOOD WEIGHT. I HAVE HAD THE HOOD CRASH DOWN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. OTHER OWNERS OF PLYMOUTH/CHRYSLER PROWLERS HAVE REPORTED CHANGING THE HOOD SHOCKS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED BEING HIT ON THE HEAD WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HAVING INJURED THEIR WRISTS AND FINGERS FROM HOODS CRASHING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10104643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Springfield, IL 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WORKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH THE HOOD OPEN. HOOD STRUT RODS RELEASE ( HOLD THE HOOD OPEN AND THEN RELEASE SUDDENLY) THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HOOD SLAMS DOWN ON WHATEVER IS IN THE WAY. HIT IN THE HEAD TWO DIFFERENT TIMES CAUSING CONTUSIONS AND ABRASIONS TO MY HEAD. PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH 200 MILES ON THE CAR AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STRUT RODS AT 1300 MILES. THE NEW STRUT RODS ARE STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM. (DEALER KEPT THE ORIGINAL HOOD STRUTS.)

NHTSA complaint #10104656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beverly Hills, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

HOOD SHOCKS DO NOT SUPPORT HOOD WEIGHT. I HAVE HAD THE HOOD CRASH DOWN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. OTHER OWNERS OF PLYMOUTH/CHRYSLER PROWLERS HAVE REPORTED CHANGING THE HOOD SHOCKS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. *AK SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED BEING HIT ON THE HEAD WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HAVING INJURED THEIR WRISTS AND FINGERS FROM HOODS CRASHING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10104575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,600 miles Escondido, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

HOOD SHOCKS DO NOT SUPPORT HOOD WEIGHT. I HAVE HAD THE HOOD CRASH DOWN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. OTHER OWNERS OF PLYMOUTH/CHRYSLER PROWLERS HAVE REPORTED CHANGING THE HOOD SHOCKS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED BEING HIT ON THE HEAD WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HAVING INJURED THEIR WRISTS AND FINGERS FROM HOODS CRASHING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10104586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

SIX MONTHS AGO CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V034000; CONCERNING CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS. DEALER STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO FIX THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10046361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

SIX MONTHS AGO CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V034000; CONCERNING CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS. DEALER STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO FIX THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10046361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stevensville, MD

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER REGARDING RECALL REMEDY 03V034000. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT SEND ADVANCE PARTS FOR REMEDY, AND PARTS CAN ONLY BE ORDERED ONCE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10016043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,500 miles Marrero, LA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE TOOK A NOSE DIVE INTO THE PAVEMENT AND SUDDENLY DRIFTED TO THE LEFT HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #10004255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.