2000 Chrysler 300M Interior & seats Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO SUDDENLY RECLINE TO A FULL HORIZONTAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A PLASTIC GEAR TO THE SEAT MOTOR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO REMEDY WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,387.

NHTSA ID

10630287

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

104,387 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WENT FROM AN UPRIGHT TO RECLINING POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549656

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT STOP AND REAR ENDED ME. BOTH FRONT SEATS IN MY CAR LET LOOSE AND THE SEAT BACKS WENT FULLY RECLINED. MY WIFE AND I WERE BOTH LAYING ON OUR BACKS WITH HEADS ON THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING, IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GET UPRIGHT AND STOP THE CAR. CHRYSLER TOLD ME THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID "THE SEATS IN YOUR VEHICLE. OUR DESIGN TO PROGRESSIVELY TILT JUST DURING A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE IDEA BEHIND THAT, IS THAT IT DOES LESSON INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT VEHICLE OCCUPANTS ONCE THAT HAPPENS SO THAT WOULD BE A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR YOUR VEHICLE IN A REAR END COLLISION". I SAY [XXX]. IF SOMEONE WAS IN THE BACK THE SEAT WOULD HAVE BROKEN THEIR LEGS. IT WAS NOT A"PROGRESSIVE" TILT, THEY FLEW BACK. THEY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10477340

Incident

Sep 25, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V035000 ( SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TWO BRACKETS THAT HELD THE SEAT IN PLACE WERE DISINTEGRATED AND THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,934. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10392141

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

48,934 mi

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, RADIO AND COMPASS LIGHTS FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY OR BECOME VERY BRIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN BECOME VERY DIM FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THIS OCCURRENCE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE IN USE. DURING THIS EVENT, THE HEADLIGHTS ALSO APPEAR TO BECOME BRIGHTER OR GO DIM AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378555

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

48,212 mi

BUZZING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT/REAR DOORS WHEN PRESSING THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AFTER REACHING A CERTAIN SPEED. THIS NOISE DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE, ONLY WHEN LOCKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378553

Incident

Jan 4, 2011

Mileage

48,512 mi

THE UNLOCK MECHANISM ON BOTH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS IS "STRIPPED." IN ORDER UNLOCK EITHER OF THOSE DOORS, I MUST FIRST CYCLE THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON - EITHER FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OR THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, THEN GET INSIDE THE CAR AND MANUALLY RAISE BOTH OF THOSE LOCKS BY HAND. NEITHER DOOR WILL OPEN WITHOUT THIS PROCESS. WHEN USING THE AUTOLOCK BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THERE IS A HORRIBLE, LOUD, GRATING NOISE, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE GEARS ARE STRIPPED INSIDE THE DOOR. THERE IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD, AS ANYONE INSIDE THE CAR CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FIRST USING THE BUTTON, WHICH DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361883

Incident

Dec 17, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*(THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT INVOLUNTARILY RECLINED RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PERSON WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10335525

Incident

May 30, 2010

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT TURNED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,820.

NHTSA ID

10280983

Incident

May 17, 2009

Mileage

110,820 mi

THE INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR LATCH BROKE WHERE THE LATCH MECHANISM CONNECTING THE ROD ATTACHES. I CAN ONLY OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS MOLDED I CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR QUICKLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, THE DOOR PANEL IS ON BACKORDER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181480

Incident

Nov 29, 2006

Mileage

65,408 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILED AND THE SEAT BACK FELL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10175761

Incident

Dec 6, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY WIFE PURCHASED HER 300M IN 2003 WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND NOT UNLOCK. NOW A YEAR LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND CANNOT BE UNLOCKED UNLESS YOU CYCLE THE LOCK SWITCH AND MANUALLY RAISE THE LOCK. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE READ SO FAR IT IS FAR FROM A ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10127164

Incident

Feb 11, 2005

Mileage

84,000 mi

THE PASSENGER'S REAR DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE LOCK MECHANISM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106853

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK BURNED OUT. *TC THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO HIT THE FRONT AUTO LOCK AND THE BUZZER, THEN GO AROUND AND OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER MAKES AND MODELS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10103886

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

THE REAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE 1ST RIGHT REAR AT 46000 AND THE NEXT LEFT REAR AT 62000. THE FIRST TIME THE LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME VERY NOISY,K AND I HAD IT REPLACED BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE AT A COST OF 220.00 AT THE DEALER, OFF WARRANTY. THE NEXT WAS THIS PAST WEEK AT 62000. THIS TIME THE LOCK COMPLETELY FAILED AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THIS TIME IT COST 340.00 I CONSIDER BOTH FAILURES AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE AS A SIGN THAT THIS LOCK MECHANISM IS VERY DEFECT PRONE AND THE FACT THAT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN IN ANY WAY A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100615

Incident

Nov 26, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK/RELEASE SELANOID WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. ONCE LOCKED, THE PASSENGER(S) CANNOT MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR TO NORMALLY EXIT, ESCAPE A FIRE OR DROWNING, ETC. THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER HAS TO USE THE FRONT DOOR ELECTRIC RELEASE BUTTON TO GET THE MALFUNCTIONING (SELANOID) LOCK TO UNLOCK TO THE HALFWAY POSITION. THIS THEN ALLOWS THE PASSENGER TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE LOCKING BUTTON FULLY AND OPEN THE DOOR. A PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAN NOT USE MANUAL FORCE TO OPEN HIS/HER DOOR, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OR CHILDREN WHO MAY TRY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKED DOOR MAY BE OPEN EXTERNALLY BY USE OF THE KEY. THE AUTOMATIC KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE WILL NOT WORK (OPEN) ON THESE DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WILL COVER THE REPAIR, WITH A DEDUCTIBLE, HOWEVER I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS SINCE THE PASSENGER OR A DRIVER WILL DEFINITELY BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE IF THEY NEED TO GET OUT. ALSO, I AM A RETIRED POLICE SUPERVISOR AND HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS EXPERIENCE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A LOCK MALFUNCTION IN THIS MANNER. IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD LET ME KNOW PRIOR TO GETTING MY LOCKS REPAIRED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10078277

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

47,515 mi

WHEN MY CHRYSLER 300M WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD, THE LOCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN MAKING HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISES, AND NO LONGER OPENED ELECTRONICALLY. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LOCKING MECHANISM AT A COST OF $228.99. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BEGAN MAKING THE SAME GRINDING NOISE, AND STOPPED WORKING ELECTRONICALLY. IT'S ABOUT TIME CHRYSLER RECALLED THIS AND FIXED IT ONCE AND FOR ALL AS I SEE THAT I'M FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON BEING INCONVENIENCED. IN ADDITION, SHOULD THERE BE AN ACCIDENT AND IMMEDIATE NEED TO EVACUATE THE VEHICLE. PRECIOUS MOMENTS WOULD BE WASTED TRYING TO GET THE BACK DOOR LOCK RELEASED TO THE BUTTON CAN BE MANUALLY RAISED, AND THE DOOR OPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062654

Incident

Apr 2, 2003

Mileage

43,398 mi

2000 CHRYSLER 300M DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND FEAR THE HOOK-UP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SPEED CABLES AND DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR MAY CREATE A DEADLY SITUATION. ON DECEMBER 13, 2003 COWLES NISSAN CHRYSLER REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR LATCH ASSEMBLY DUE TO IT MALFUNCTIONING. THREE WEEKS LATER THE LEFT FRONT LOCK ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND REQUIRES REPLACING. MY DEALER COWLES NISSAN CHRYSLER, WOODBRIDGE, VA REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE OR ASSIST WITH CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REMAINING DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. THE N.H.T.S.A OFFICE OF DEFECTS REPORT ON THE 2000 CHRYSLER 300M FOUND THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 1.LINKAGE 2.CABLES 3.ACCELERATOR PEDAL

NHTSA ID

10058537

Incident

Dec 13, 2003

REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOOR TO ENTER/EXIT THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057803

Incident

Feb 6, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE DOOR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THERE IS A BUZZING SOUND WHEN THE POWER LOCK IS PRESSED AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR REACHES 15 MPH AND LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE FRONT PASSENGER WOULD BE DENIED AN IMMEDIATE EXIT. THE DEALER SAYS IT APPEARS TO BE ACTUATOR FAILURE AT A COST OF $250.00 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND A THREAT TO THE WELFARE OF ANYONE RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. RECALL SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054590

Incident

Dec 14, 2003

Mileage

46,500 mi

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST THE SEAT. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BROKE AND THE CONSUMER FELL BACKWARDS. *PH

NHTSA ID

10056111

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY FLICKERED. WHEN THE LIGHTS FLICKERED THEY FULLY ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051753

Mileage

8,000 mi

DOOR LOCK BUZZING AND FAILURE TO UNLOCK DOOR. OCCASIONALLY DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE UNTIL THE ELECTRIC LOCK IS TOGGLED A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE MANUAL BUTTON IS PULLED UP. OFTEN TIMES THE BUTTON WILL NOT PULL UP UNLESS THE ELECTRIC SWITCH IS TOGGLED FIRST. I HAVE EXITED CAR ON OCCASION TO HAVE THE DOOR STILL BE LOCKED WHEN I ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT (DOOR SHOULD UNLOCK UPON OPENING FROM INSIDE). TALKED TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO "POSSIBLY PLAYING WITH THE LOCKS BY MY CHILDREN" FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THEN ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045193

Incident

Sep 23, 2001

SEAT WOBBLES AND LEANS FORWARD / AFTER WHEN ACCELERATING DECELERATING. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045191

Incident

Aug 11, 2002

WHEN MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M WAS UNDER WARRANTY, MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THERE WAS A BUZZING OR SCREECHING SOUND WHEN YOU TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY, WITH THE REMOTE, OR WHILE DRIVING WITH THE 15 MPH AUTO LOCK FEATURE. THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. ON 10/10/03, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST ME $220.96 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT ACTUATOR. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, WHEN IS CHRYSLER GOING TO RECALL THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS? *LA

NHTSA ID

10041653

Incident

Oct 10, 2003

Mileage

456,650 mi