2003 Chrysler 300m

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles; the median is 62,036 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling3
000
Structure2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor2
000
Engine2
000
Electrical System2
010
Air Bags2
101
Wheels › Rim1
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Jun 23, 202091,000 milesCA

THE STEERING AXLE ATTACH TO THE RACK OF PINION KEEP COMING OFF. WHEN THAT HAPPEN THE WHEEL FELL TO THE GROUND. IN MY CAR THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT HAPPEN. *TR

Engine
Filed Jan 3, 201788,600 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,600.

Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2017WA

THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Air Bags
Filed May 27, 2016134,000 milesAL

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V567000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2015175,335 milesGA

CAR IS JERKING AS IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR AT 55+ MILES PER HOUR. IT IS ALSO SLUGGISH LIKE IT IS WORKING HARDER TO JUST DRIVE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON BUT AAMCO TRANSMISSION AND GP AUTO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WORK WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. GP AUTO TELLS US IT IS THE APS BRAKE SYSTEM THAT IS LOCKED UP THUS MAKING THE CAR DRIVE LIKE THE PARKING BRAKES IS ON HOLDING THE TRANSMISSION BACK FROM SHIFTING. CURRENTLY HAS 175,365 MILES ON A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M

Power Train
Filed Aug 29, 201475,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK, SURGE FORWARD, AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 31, 201481,100 milesMI

CAR INTERMITTENT POWER -TRYING TO GET IN GEAR. ELECTRIC NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CODE AT DEALERSHIP INDICATED CAM SHAFT SENSOR.. *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Apr 5, 201155,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V035000 (SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: RECLINER) IN 2003 AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINER BOLT FAILED AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT A SECOND TIME BUT THE BOLT FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AROUND A BEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME FOR THE REPAIR AND THE DEALER AGAIN, REPAIRED THE SEAT BOLT YET THE SEAT BOLT FAILED A FOURTH TIME AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BOLT FAILED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE FIFTH FAILURE ON MARCH 15, 2011 AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE APRIL 7, 2011. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY OF THE PART. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 7, 201162,036 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY; HOWEVER IT WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION VALVE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,549 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,036. UPDATED 03/22/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 11, 2010100,000 milesPR

THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE CARPORT DURING THE NIGHT. AT ABOUT 5:25 IN THE MORNING THE CAR START TO BURNING BY ITSELF AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN ELECTRICITY FAILURE HAS HAPPENED. THE CAR BURNED ALL THE FRONT PARTS FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE DASH. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 4, 2010NC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CAM SENSOR WHICH WAS NOT LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF; YET, HE THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE LATER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 23, 200991,000 milesIL

HAD JUST GOTTEN CAR BACK FROM DEALERS GARAGE FOR AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR. HAD DRIVEN LESS THAN ABOUT 10 MILES SLOW CITY DRIVING 35MPH MAX. WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO FULL THROTTLE INSTANTANEOUSLY. HIT BRAKES, TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS, STEER OUT OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. FINALLY TURNED OFF THE KEY TO THE ENGINE. TURNED ON TWICE TO SEE IF ANY IMPROVEMENT. NONE. WHEN MECHANIC ARRIVED WITHIN ABOUT AN HALF HOUR AND TURNED ON ENGINE NO PROBLEM EXCEPT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED BUILD UP OF PRESSURE IN TRANSMISSION CODE OF SOME KIND AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE HUB HAD BROKEN. TRANSMISSION NEEDED REBUILT OR REPLACED. HAD NOT THOUGHT TO REQUEST DEALER HOLD OLD PARTS BUT JUST CALLED TO REQUEST THEM TO HOLD . *TR

Structure
Filed May 18, 200918,000 milesCA

THE DASH AREA ABOVE THE GLOVE BOX ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS DEVELOPED A CLEAN SLIT NOW IN EXCESS OF 6" LONG EXPANDING TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD. IT APPEARS TO BE PART OF THE BREAKAWAY PORTION OF THE DASH IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE UNSIGHTLY APPEARANCE OF THE DASH, THAT IT MAY INTERFERE WITH OR TRIGGER AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND MAY THEREFORE BE A SAFETY HAZARD. WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 4 300M'S AND THREE OF THE FOUR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TWO (1999 AND 2001) WERE REPAIRED UNDER THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THE 2003 IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 13, 200938,000 milesIL

OUR 2003 CHRYSLER 300M AIRBAG LIGHT AND DTC CODE P 0581 BOTH WENT ON APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. P0581 INDICATES CRUISE CONTROL MULTI-FUNCTION INPUT A CIRCUIT HIGH. THE CAR HAS 38,000 MILES. I SPOKE WITH A CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TWO OCCURRENCES INDICATED A BAD 'AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING COIL'. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON CHRYSLER LLC MINIVANS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, ALSO THAT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING IN OTHER CHRYSLER MODELS. BECAUSE THIS SEEMS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER LLC VEHICLES, IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS? ALSO, THE DTC CODE P0420 INDICATING 1/1 CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CHRYSLER LLC SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SAFETY AND EMISSIONS. *TR

Equipment
Filed Feb 5, 200997,000 milesIA

THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. ALSO THE RED "AIR BAG" LIGHT ON THE DASH IS LUMINATED. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE SYMPTOMS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING. CHRYSLER HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. IT APPEARS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER 300M. IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT A HORN THAT WORKS AND I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THAT IT IS NOT WORKING EITHER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 22, 200824,969 milesOH

THE PRESET DRIVERS SEAT AND MIRROR DOES NOT GO TO THE PRESET POSITION WHEN THE KEY FOB HAS BEEN PUSHED(UNLOCKED) IT WORKS SOMETIMES,(50%). *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 11, 2008OH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK THREE GUARD RAILS. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE SUSTAINED SEVERE HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES AND COULD NOT MOVE HIS RIGHT ARM. HE ALSO SUSTAINED A SEVERE WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANYONE OTHER THAN THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Sep 9, 200718,013 milesNM

PURCHASED 2003 CHRYSLER 300M IN AUG 05, WITH 9,500 MILES. FROM THE BEGINNING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WAS RESET; IN ADDITION, GAS GAUGE AND LIGHT FLICKER. IN AUG 2006, ON A TRIP TO CA LIGHT CAME ON AND AT ONE POINT CAR WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY. STOPPED AT PASO ROBLES DEALER WHO RESET CODE. ON I!0, OUTSIDE SAN BERNADINO, IN THE THIRD LANE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CAR DIED WITH ON WARNING OTHER THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DUE TO THE ALERTNESS OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK DRIVER ON MY RIGHT, I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING A MASSIVE PILEUP. ONCE HOME I HAD THE ORIGINAL DEALER REPLACE THE SENSOR. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A HAUGHTY YOUNG MAN - CHRYSLER WILL NOT PAY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE O2 SENSOR AND NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS GONE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO COVER THESE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY DEALER FOUND A WAY TO COVER THE SENSOR AND NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IN THE MEANTIME MY CAR SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY, UTTERLY USELESS. IN ADDITION, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS: DODGE LANCER STOPPED ON TWO OCCASIONS ON LIGHTLY TRAVELED HIGHWAY. REPLACED TWO O2 SENSORS ON TWO SEPARATE INTREPIDS AND A DODGE CARAVAN. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION SPED SENSORS ON THE 97 INTREPID AND THE 00 CARAVAN. THE SNIPPY PHONE CALL WAS THE LAST STRAW. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THEIR PRODUCT OR IN SATISFYING THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM THROUGH WITH CHRYSLER AFTER THIRTY YEARS! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 7, 200796,800 milesVA

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE STARTED HESITATING AT RANDOM TIMES. CODE READOUT INDICATED FAILURE OF CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WHEN THIS WAS REPAIRED, MECHANIC STATED THAT CODES WERE ALSO PRESENT INDICATING FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (1 PER EXHAUST LINE). THESE SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING NORMAL USE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 27, 2005100,000 milesCA

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE FREEWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING ONLY FIVE FEET IT BEGAN CLANKING VERY LOUD. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN TRANSIT TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. *AK

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200471200Routine
2003 — this page33110Routine
200283231Fatalities reported
200191420Routine
2000242750Above average
1999351461Fatalities reported
19980100Routine
19941000Routine
19933000Routine

Compare every 300m year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.