2003 Chrysler 300M Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chrysler 300M, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1127.5%
- Airbags410.0%
- Electrical410.0%
- Fuel system37.5%
- Other / unspecified37.5%
- Brakes37.5%
- Interior & seats25.0%
- Body & structure25.0%
- Driver assistance25.0%
- Transmission25.0%
- Powertrain (other)12.5%
- Steering12.5%
- Visibility12.5%
- Exterior lighting12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
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.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING FUEL SENSOR LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD FLASH DUE TO VAPOR LINE MELTING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
REAR BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC STATED THEY WORE OUT. *AK *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
DASHBOARD IS TWO COLORS. PH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHEN SITTING AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD AT TIMES AND OR BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING AND AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS HIT. *AK CHYSLER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND ACCELERATED INTO THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE. *SCC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT WINDSHIELD SHOWS A REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD. DRIVER'S VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S A POOR DESIGN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED SERVICE DEALER AND FOUND PROBLEM. PLEASE DISREGARD COMPLAINT. *AK *CB *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .