2001 Chrysler 300M Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD RANDOMLY REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS, BUT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11103955

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

82,000 mi

2001 CHRYSLER 300M SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. CHANGED O RINGS AND NO VISABLE LEAKS. BAFFLING MECHANIC..... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID

11092170

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10808219

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE AIR BAG RECALL RESOLVED ON MY CAR. I CHECKED IN SEPTEMBER AND AGAIN OCTOBER 16 AND TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WHEN I GO ON THE CHRYSLER WEB SITE FOR RECALL INFORMATION, IT SAYS THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER, OR THE DEALER, ARE NOT GIVING ME TOP PRIORITY. IN THE MEAN TIME, I AM AT RISK. I CHECKED THIS OUT AGAIN TODAY WITH THE SAME RESULT.

NHTSA ID

10783821

Incident

Oct 20, 2015

Mileage

75,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING TO COLLEGE ON THE INTERSTATE AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, HIT AN ANIMAL OR HIT A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. MY SON WAS NOT INJURED, HE WAS STILL ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ME TO INFORM ME WHAT HAPPENED AND ASK WHAT TO DO. AS HE WAS CLOSE TO HIS COLLEGE I TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL BUT CONTINUE ON TO SCHOOL, I WOULD CALL HIS UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND THEN LET HIM KNOW WHAT TO DO AFTER HIS CLASS WAS OVER. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY BROTHER. MY BROTHER SAID TO HAVE HIM DRIVE IT TO HIS SHOP SO HE COULD LOOK AT IT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STARTED A CLAIM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS INVESTIGATED AND DOES NOT BELIEVE IT WILL BE COVERED AS THERE WAS NOT A COLLISION OF ANY KIND AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING FOR NO REASON IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE. MY BROTHER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THESE ARE THE CODES THAT CAME UP: ACTIVE - "DRIVER SQUIB" AND "PASSENGER SQUIB", STORED - "ORC ACCELEROMETER", "DRIVER SQUIB #1 CIRCUIT OPEN", "PASSENGER SQUIB #1 CIRCUIT OPEN" AND "DRIVER SQUIB #1 SHORT TO GROUND". THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10766685

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

164,000 mi

VERY VERY STRONG GAS SMELL WHILE DRIVING CANNOT FIND LEAK AFRAID OF FIRE FOUND SUGGESTIONS ON FORUM ON LINE SAYS NEAR DRIVER SIDE EXACTLY WHERE IT SMELLS. STILL SMELLS 35 MIN AFTER DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705158

Incident

Apr 6, 2015

Mileage

135,450 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10662971

Incident

Dec 8, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR DURING ACCELERATION. NOTE: THIS WAS ALSO EVIDENT BY AN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPM'S ON THE TACHOMETER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF IN 2001. IT HAS ONLY 17,508 MILES ON IT!. CHECKING OF THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT REVEALED A P0601 TROUBLE CODEI. THIS IS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOTED BY OTHER 2001 CHRYSLER 300 M OWNERS, UPON CONDUCTING A SEARCH ON THE COMPUTER. SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10627525

Incident

Aug 22, 2014

Mileage

17,508 mi

OCT 2013 FIVE MONTHS AFTER I JUST HAD MY CAR FIXED . AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT I HEARD A NOISE LIKE GRINDING MY CAR STOPPED I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, I WAS STOPPED IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF A THREE LANE STREET I HAD TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS. I COULD NOT BE MOVE ONLY BY A TOW TRUCK. I HAD JUST HAD TIRE RODS CHANGED IN MAY 2013 AND RACK N PINION FIXED IN MAY WHICH THAT BROKE AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT HAD TO BE TOWED. AS I WAS TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD FIXED IT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED TIRE ROD BRACKET HAD BROKE AS HE WAS PUTTING CAR DOWN INTO PARKING AREA. SO WHAT I PAID TO GET FIX WAS BROKE AGAIN PART COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTED TIRE ROD BRACKET. WITH MY FAMILY I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551990

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

Mileage

155,005 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT SUSTAINING ANY INJURY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. JS

NHTSA ID

10534478

Incident

Aug 8, 2013

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT WAS AWARE OF ITS ENGINE PROBLEM AND DID NOT NOTIFY ME OR MAKE ME AWARE BEFORE THEY HAD THE ENHANCING PAPERWORK READY FOR ME TO SIGN A BINDING AGREEMENT ON A CAR THEY HAD ME BELIEVING WAS MECHANICALLY SOUND/. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522453

Incident

May 16, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL I HEARD SOMETHING POP THEN I COULDN'T TURN LEFT OR RIGHT I COULD ONLY GO UP OR BACK SO I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT HAD T O GET TOWED STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498307

Incident

Oct 18, 2012

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING WHICH DIDN'T CORRECT UNTIL I REDUCED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 50MPH. THE ISSUE PERSISTED WHENEVER I DROVE THE HIGHWAY, NO MATTER THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD OVER A WEEK'S TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477339

Incident

May 4, 2011

I HAVE HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. IT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. IT REALLY NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHEN BRAKE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED BUT VERY NOTICEABLE AT SPEED OVER 40 MPH. ALSO THE BRAKE SEEMED TO FADE. I NEVER GOT SATISFACTION IN CAUSE OR REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED WITH SLOTTED ROTORS AND BARE PADS ON ALL BRAKES. IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT NEVER PERFECT. NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND AIR AND ALSO HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN HOPE AGAINST HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE. STILL NO BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445185

Incident

Jan 23, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT WITHOUT INTENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WOULD ALSO PULL TO THE RIGHT SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10432864

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

Mileage

47,000 mi

2001 300M LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT IDLE. EXTEMELY NOISY PUMP. HAVE REPLACED PUMP 3 TIMES. DEALER CLAIMS NO REPORTS OF COMMON PROBLEMS. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MACHANICS MAY BE RACK AND PINION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397007

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS DECELERATING FROM 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10384532

Incident

Feb 25, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

CHRYSLER 2001 - 300 M WITH 65,774 MILES. ALL REQUIRED SERVICE AT DEALER ONLY. ON 24 NOV 10 CAR MADE "CLUNKING SOUND" PULLING INTO PARKING LOT AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. AAA TOW TRUCK CAME AND WHEN HE STATED TO PULL ON TRUCK ENTIRE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. HE LOOKED AT THE AREA AND NOTED THAT A BOLT IN THE CONTROL ARM WAS COMPLETELY GONE. SAID IF IT HAD HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLY ON FREEWAY, WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR. TOWED TO CHRYSLER DEALER WHO NOTED THAT "LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT APPARENTLY SNAPPED AND WENT AWAY, LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COMPROMISED." CALLED CHRYSLER CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 26 NOV 10 AND REPORTED. TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THIS WAS A PART FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUE. THEY OPENED CASE FILE. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED BACK ON 29 NOV 10 & SAID THEY NEEDED ONE MORE BIT OF INFORMATION FROM DEALER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK THAT DAY. NO CALL BACK TO DATE (06 DEC 10) DESPITE NUMEROUS FOLLOW UPS WITH THEM. PICKED UP CAR FROM DEALER ON 04 DEC 10. DUE TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE COST $2,717.84. THEY NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT DAMAGE AS CAUSE OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369346

Incident

Nov 24, 2010

Mileage

65,744 mi

WIFE BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING. DISCOVERED ONE BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF THE STEERING SYSTEM, CONSIDERED THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE OTHER BOLT HAD BACKED OUT. THE NIGHT BEFORE WE HAD JUST TRAVELED ON INTERSTATE 20 IN ALABAMA, RUNNING INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH A CHILD ONBOARD. . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING THE TRAVEL, NO DOUBT FATALITIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369216

Incident

Dec 4, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE RACK AND PINION WAS LOOSE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS BURNED AND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES IDENTICAL TO HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144000.

NHTSA ID

10348407

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

144,000 mi

COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH A "WHOOSH" SOUND AND FLUID SPILLED ALL OVER THE GROUND DUE TO A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED AND UPON SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION ALL LINES WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT (THE ADJACENT FUEL LINES WERE TOTALLY FINE). REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1200+. GIVEN THE SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE FUEL LINES WHICH WERE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONDITIONS BUT WITHOUT SIMILAR CORROSION, PERHAPS THERE WERE IMPROPER MATERIALS USED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 60K MILES ON IT, GOOD OVERALL CONDITION, MAINTAINED, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328567

Incident

May 2, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

2001 CHRYSLER 300M STEERING NOISE OVER BUMPS / PLAY ON STEERING WHEEL/ SEEMS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TIE RODS AS WELL AS I DID ALSO I ALSO REPLACED ALL SUSPENSION AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE IT IS DEFINITELY IN THE RACK AND PINION, IT FEELS LOSE AND LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THE RACK AND PINION MAY SHARE OFF AND CAUSE A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT I NEED THIS FIXED BEFORE IT HARMS ME OR SOMEONE RELATED TO YOU. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314697

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER 300 WITH 143,000. THE CAR STALLS WHILE GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND HAD MANY THINGS REPLACED INCLUDING CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS, REWIRED, AND FUEL PUMP AND THE CAR STILL STALLS. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD AND THIS CAR IS A HUGE ROAD HAZARD BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292933

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

143,000 mi

CHRYSLER 300M 2001, ON 7/9/09 -CAR WAS SEEN AND INSPECTED FOR ANY TROUBLE AT A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $200, TOTAL WORK COST $1,871. CAR RELEASED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. ON 7/31/09 TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CAUSING THE CAR TO TURN AND RUN UP ON SIDEWALK EVEN THOUGH DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. STEERING ROD BOLT HAD SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING IN BOTH WHEELS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST AT $1,675. CHRYSLER DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE STEERING ON ANY 300M CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279392

Incident

Jul 31, 2009

Mileage

93,122 mi

I HAVE A 300 M 2001 AND THE RACK AN PINION HAS WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. I LOST STEERING IN TOWN. THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE FRONT END THAT THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT FIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266055

Incident

Nov 20, 2008

Mileage

85 mi