2012 Chrysler 300: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
40%
145 of 360 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
40% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Chrysler 300 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 53% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 81 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
ENGINE07/25/2025FIRE1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the temperature gauge had independently increased levels. The contact managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road and was able to restart the vehicle as a temporary repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed…
POWER TRAIN05/27/2016CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED BACK IN REVERSE AND KNOCKED THE CONTACT TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DUMPSTER ACROSS THE STREET. THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD FROM THE IMPACT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE D…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS09/06/2026
Vehicle received passenger airbag inflator recall service at Viva CDJR in El Paso, TX. The dash disassembly disturbed adjacent wiring/BCM connections, and after driving, vibration caused a short/ground fault, creating runaway wipers, A/C failure, transmission limp mode, check engine and power steering lights while in t…
Three of 145 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (9)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 30…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. …
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-201…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2012 Chrysler 300
Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
9 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
