Chrysler 300: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chrysler 300 problems by model year, from 1,924 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2014 (49%, 106 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (42%, 28 drivetrain complaints) and 2012 (40%, 145 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 10 Chrysler 300 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (15%), 2017 (19%) and 2019 (22%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2016 (42%) to 2017 (19%), down 23 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (145 of 535 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chrysler 300 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 300 | high | 40% | 31 | 137 | 4/10 | 7 |
| 2011 300 | no elevated signal | 26% | 48 | 225 | 7/10 | 7 |
| 2012 300 | high | 40% | 145 | 441 | 3/10 | 9 |
| 2013 300 | elevated | 36% | 103 | 341 | 6/10 | 6 |
| 2014 300 | high | 49% | 106 | 247 | 1/10 | 8 |
| 2015 300 | elevated | 37% | 33 | 110 | 5/10 | 5 |
| 2016 300 | high | 42% | 28 | 83 | 2/10 | 3 |
| 2017 300 | no elevated signal | 19% | 14 | 86 | 9/10 | 2 |
| 2018 300 | no elevated signal | 15% | 20 | 153 | 10/10 | 4 |
| 2019 300 | no elevated signal | 22% | 7 | 60 | 8/10 | 2 |
| 2020 300 | too few to score | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 |
| 2021 300 | too few to score | – | 6 | 20 | – | 2 |
| 2022 300 | too few to score | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 |
| 2023 300 | too few to score | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chrysler 300 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chrysler 300 transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Chrysler 300 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 23 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2013 | 13V610000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V240000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2012–2014 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V097000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2014–2017 |
| May 2018 | 18V280000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018 |
| Jul 2018 | 18E053000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014–2016 |
18 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V420000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V200000 | electrical system: ignition: module | 2010 |
| Oct 2010 | 10V475000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2010 |
| Jan 2012 | 12V004000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2012 |
| May 2012 | 12V197000 | service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module | 2011–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V118000 | air bags | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V634000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| May 2015 | 15V313000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V461000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V352000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V435000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V741000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2014 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V021000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| May 2018 | 18V332000 | electrical system: wiring | 2014–2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V018000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2015 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V203000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V198000 | air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator | 2018–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chrysler 300
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chrysler 300
What are the worst years for the Chrysler 300?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chrysler 300 years are the 2014 (49% of relevant complaints, high), the 2016 (42% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2012 (40% of relevant complaints, high). 6 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chrysler 300?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Chrysler 300 years are the 2018 (15%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2019 (22%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Chrysler 300 have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 535 of 1,521 relevant NHTSA complaints (35%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Is the Chrysler 300 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 10 Chrysler 300 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 35% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chrysler 300?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chrysler 300 years we track, out of 23 in total: 17V097000 (Feb 2017, 2014–2017), 18V280000 (May 2018, 2018), 18E053000 (Jul 2018, 2014–2016), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.