Chrysler 300 years to avoid (and the best years)

1,778 NHTSA owner complaints and 24 recalls across 11 model years, 2010 to 2021. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

1,778complaints
24recalls
116reported crashes
70reported fires
84reported injuries
1reported deaths

Which Chrysler 300 years should you avoid?

By NHTSA owner complaints, the Chrysler 300 years to avoid are 2012 and 2013. The typical Chrysler 300 year has 122 complaints on file.

2012: 426 complaints, 3.5 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (50% of complaints) and the airbags (19% of complaints).
2013: 306 complaints, 2.5 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (43% of complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (19% of complaints).

What are the best Chrysler 300 years?

The Chrysler 300 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2021 (20), 2019 (60) and 2016 (76). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2021	20	0.2×	2	0	0	Few red flags	Airbags
2019	60	0.5×	2	5	3	Few red flags	Airbags
2018	153	1.3×	4	6	7	Few red flags	Electrical system
2017	82	0.7×	2	2	2	Few red flags	Electrical system
2016	76	0.6×	3	9	5	Few red flags	Electrical system
2015	97	0.8×	5	9	6	Few red flags	Transmission and drivetrain
2014	236	1.9×	8	22	15	Some concerns to check	Electrical system
2013	306	2.5×	6	19	17	Approach with caution	Electrical system
2012	426	3.5×	9	24	13	Approach with caution	Electrical system
2011	200	1.6×	7	7	5	Some concerns to check	Electrical system
2010	122	1.0×	7	13	11	Some concerns to check	Airbags

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 350 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Electrical & infotainment140 (40%)
Airbags & seat belts90 (26%)
Engine & powertrain65 (19%)
Other systems19 (5%)
Brakes15 (4%)

Recalls (24)

Airbags · 24V198000 · Mar 2024 · model years 2018, 2019, 2021
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.
Body & glass · 21V516000 · Jul 2021 · model year 2021
A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 19V203000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2019
Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.
Airbags · 19V018000 · Jan 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 18V524000 · Aug 2018 · model year 2018
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18E053000 · Jul 2018 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 18V332000 · May 2018 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V280000 · May 2018 · model year 2018
If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 18V021000 · Jan 2018 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 17V741000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 17V435000 · Jul 2017 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Transmission · 17V097000 · Feb 2017 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V352000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Transmission · 16V240000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014
Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
Safety · 15V461000 · Jul 2015 · model year 2015
Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 15V313000 · May 2015 · model year 2010
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 14V634000 · Oct 2014 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 13V610000 · Dec 2013 · model year 2013
The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'.
Airbags · 13V118000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2011, 2012
In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 12V197000 · May 2012 · model years 2011, 2012
THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Tires · 12V004000 · Jan 2012 · model year 2012
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
Steering · 10V475000 · Oct 2010 · model year 2010
LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Electrical system · 10V200000 · May 2010 · model year 2010
THE RESULT OF THE DEFECT COULD LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE THE KEY MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH (WIN MODULE) PRIOR TO PLACING THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Safety · 09V420000 · Oct 2009 · model year 2010
WHILE DRIVING, A TIRE AND WHEEL SEPARATION COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.