The 2000 Prowler is a limited-production roadster with a unique aluminum-intensive chassis and rear transaxle layout. Most issues stem from its hand-built nature, small production volumes making parts scarce, and a semi-automatic transmission that demands precise service intervals.
AutoStick Transaxle Failure (Rear-Mounted Unit)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh shifting between gears, especially 1-2 or 2-3, Clunking from rear during acceleration or deceleration, Limp mode or refusal to shift out of second gear, Transmission fluid overheating (cooler lines or cooler itself fail)
Fix: The rear-mounted AutoStick is basically a four-speed automatic with manual gate. Fluid and filter every 30k mi is non-negotiable—most failures trace to neglected service. Cooler replacement adds 2-3 hours. Full transaxle rebuild or replacement: 12-16 hours due to rear location and driveshaft removal. Used transaxles are scarce; expect remanufactured units.
Symptoms: Heavy oil consumption (1 qt per 500-1,000 mi), Rod knock or bottom-end noise at idle or under load, Loss of compression on one or more cylinders, Coolant contamination in oil (head gasket failure)
Fix: The 3.5L in the Prowler is more stressed than in minivans due to weight and gearing. Piston ring land failure and bearing wear show up earlier than expected. Head gasket jobs run 10-12 hours; short-block or full rebuild is 20-28 hours in this chassis due to tight engine bay and accessories. Aluminum block means no overbore options—plan on sleeving or replacement block.
Estimated cost: $4,500-9,000
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing and Ball Joint Wear
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps or during turn-in, Wandering steering or vague on-center feel, Uneven inside tire wear on fronts, Excessive play visible during suspension inspection
Fix: The Prowler's double-wishbone front end uses pressed-in bushings and riveted ball joints. Arms are aluminum; bushings press out but ball joints often require arm replacement. NHTSA recall 00V180000 addressed some early failures. Both sides typically need doing together. 4-6 hours labor for both control arms, alignment mandatory afterward.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Fuel Pump and Filter Premature Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start or extended cranking when hot, Stumble or hesitation under wide-open throttle, Fuel pump whine audible inside cabin, Stalling after sitting in hot weather
Fix: In-tank pump fails earlier than typical Chrysler products, possibly due to heat soak in the low-slung chassis. Filter is inline under the car and often overlooked—clogged filter kills pumps. Pump replacement requires dropping the tank (3-4 hours). Filter service every 30k mi prevents most issues. NHTSA recall 01V087000 covered some '97-'01 units for pump connector.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting into reverse or drive, Vibration felt through shifter or center console at idle, Visible sagging or cracking of rubber mount
Fix: The rear transaxle uses a large rubber mount that deteriorates faster than typical due to weight and torque reaction. Replacement is straightforward: 1.5-2 hours with the car on a lift. Letting it go causes driveline misalignment and accelerates U-joint or CV axle wear.
Estimated cost: $300-550
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion and Fastener Seizure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: White powdery corrosion around body fasteners or seams, Difficulty removing panels for service (seized stainless bolts), Panel fit issues after removal/reinstallation
Fix: Aluminum panels are hand-fitted and use dissimilar-metal fasteners that corrode if exposed to road salt or moisture. Not a mechanical failure but complicates any body work. Anti-seize on reassembly is mandatory. Replacement panels are dealer-only or used; expect long lead times and high cost. No labor estimate—depends on extent of corrosion.
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid and filter every 30,000 mi—this is the single biggest factor in transaxle longevity
Replace fuel filter every 30k mi to protect the pump; most owners skip this
Inspect front lower control arms and bushings at every alignment; replace proactively at 60k mi
Use quality synthetic oil and monitor consumption closely—this engine does not tolerate neglect
Budget for NVH: worn mounts, bushings, and U-joints make the driving experience miserable in a lightweight roadster
Join Prowler owner forums before buying—parts availability is the real challenge, not wrenching difficulty
Buy only if you have access to a specialist or are comfortable with scarce parts and hand-built quirks—budget $2k/year for deferred maintenance, but they're irreplaceable when sorted.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located in trunk; specific mounting bracket required
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Every control module on the 1997-2001 Plymouth Prowler — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Body Control Module (BCM)1.5 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.5 hr▸ programming details
📍 Behind center console, driver side kick panel area
🔧 DRB-III + MDS subscription
⚠️ Controls lighting, wipers, power accessories; VIN and vehicle configuration must be programmed
📍 Left front fender well, behind inner fender liner
🔧 DRB-III + MDS subscription
⚠️ VIN programming and theft system integration required; aftermarket tools (Autel, Launch) may perform flash but SKIM pairing often requires DRB-III/MDS
⚠️ Mileage programming required; odometer stored in cluster; VIN must be written to new cluster
Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Controller (HVAC)0.9 hr R&Rno coding
📍 Center console, integrated with climate control panel
⚠️ Plug-and-play replacement; no programming required
Airbag Control Module (ACM)0.8 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Center console, below shifter assembly
🔧 DRB-III or aftermarket scan tool
⚠️ Crash data must be cleared; no programming required for replacement module
Radio / Audio System (RAD)0.7 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Center console, integrated into dash
🔧 DRB-III or radio code entry
⚠️ Anti-theft radio code required after battery disconnect or replacement; code on card with owner's manual
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
CERTAIN TIGAS FUEL PUMP MODULES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AND P/NOS. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES ARE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.
Consequence: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-461-1834.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · 06E022000
2006-03-13
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · 03V034000
2003-02-05 · EA02033
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION THAT CAN RESULT IN ACCELERATED WEAR AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.
Consequence: A BALL JOINT THAT HAS SEPARATED MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH MODIFIED ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2003. 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 OR CHECK ON-LINE AT HTTP://WWW.CHRYSLER.COM/WEBSELFSERVICE/CHRYSLER/INDEX.JSP
CHILD SEAT · 00V366000
2000-11-09
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.
Consequence: 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.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
15mpg
Highway
21mpg
Combined
18mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Two Seaters
Wiper blades
Roadster with retractable soft top. Both blades same length.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2000 Plymouth Prowler 3.5L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.