2006 Chrysler 300 steering problems
moderate 86 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Of the 13 model years of Chrysler 300 we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 86.
Owners have filed 86 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Chrysler 300 exhibits widespread steering and powertrain control issues that consumers report as safety hazards: post-fuel stalling with loss of power steering and brakes, premature tie rod wear (sometimes multiple failures on the same vehicle), and unpredictable engine stalling with no diagnostic codes. Expect significant out-of-pocket repair costs, especially once warranty expires.
Owners of 2006 Chrysler 300s report a cluster of steering and engine-control failures that are difficult to diagnose and expensive to repair. The most common complaint is engine stalling shortly after refueling—sometimes within a few miles—causing sudden loss of power steering and power brakes. This happens at traffic lights, during merges, and in turns; drivers lose the ability to steer and brake without excessive force. Dealers cannot always replicate the problem and often find no diagnostic codes.
Tie rod wear is another recurring headache. Owners report inner and outer tie rods failing at low mileage (as low as 6,000–50,000 miles), with some needing replacement multiple times on the same vehicle. A 6-month national backorder on one tie rod part in 2009 left owners stranded with undriveable cars.
A smaller subset of owners experienced unpredictable stalling at any speed without fuel-related triggers, steering wheel seizure or lock-up during driving, and engine noises suggesting rocker arm failure. Dealerships have struggled to diagnose these problems; some owners spent thousands on parts replacement without resolution. Extended warranties covered some costs but left owners with deductibles. Out-of-warranty owners faced denial of assistance or partial goodwill repairs. One mechanic's workaround—not filling the tank completely—does not address the underlying defect.
Same Chrysler 300 steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Stalling After Refueling (Post-Fuel Stall)
Vehicle stalls shortly after refueling, particularly when tank is filled to capacity. Stalling occurs at various speeds—at red lights, during acceleration, while merging onto interstates, or during turns. Loss of power steering and power brakes accompanies stalling, making vehicle control difficult or impossible. Engine restarts but problem recurs until approximately 2 gallons of fuel are burned.
When: Occurs within minutes to few miles of refueling; happens repeatedly across multiple fill-ups; mileage range: 50K–150K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls shortly after refueling; Loss of power steering (heavy steering); Loss of power brakes; No warning lights or codes, or intermittent check engine light; Difficulty restarting after stall; Vehicle hesitates or 'sputters' between stalls; Problem resolves after burning 2 gallons of fuel
Codes mentioned: U0100, P0700, P0038, P0058, P0052, P0032
Repairs/costs cited: Chrysler Service Bulletin 08-34-05 (June 2015) addresses this issue. Some owners report tank replacement ($1800–$2000) suggested by dealers. Owners cite Chrysler fuel tank warranty coverage; some dealers offer goodwill partial repairs. No parts cost specified in narratives; labor often declined. Workaround: do not fill tank completely.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler issued alert letter (referenced in narrative) informing owners to take vehicle to dealer for fuel tank replacement. NHTSA Campaign PE13016 (referenced in complaint): Chrysler response letter (dated Aug 9, 2013) acknowledges stall-after-refuel condition and states steering and brakes remain functional, but concludes issue poses 'minor risk.' Complaint from retired mechanical engineer disputes this risk assessment. Chrysler acknowledges vent valve design change for 2007 model year, implying design flaw in 2006. Partial goodwill repairs mentioned (two parts only, not labor); vehicle out of warranty denied coverage.
Tie Rod Wear/Failure (Inner and Outer)
Inner and outer tie rods wear prematurely or fail, sometimes requiring repeated replacement. Failures occur at low mileage (6K–50K+ miles). Left and right tie rod ends fail, and replacements fail again within 3K–10K miles. Some owners report tie rods rusted or fractured; one tie rod fractured after previous replacement at 30K miles.
When: Low mileage: 6K–50K miles typical; some failures as low as 6,000 miles; premature recurrence within 3K–10K miles of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration in steering wheel during braking or turning; Vehicle pulls to one side when braking at 25–30 MPH; Difficulty steering without warning; Steering wheel locked or very stiff; Vehicle veers into adjacent lane during turns; Loose or play in tie rod (0.5 inch reported); Shaking of front wheels when brakes applied; Tire wear issues
Repairs/costs cited: Part number 68028831AC (inner tie rod) cited in one narrative as on 6-month national backorder (over 3,100 units on backorder as of June 2009). Replacement cost over $2,000 for multiple suspension components (strut bushings, rocker arm assemblies, tie rod ends) in one case; extended warranty covered most costs but not deductible. Standard OEM tie rod replacement available but owners report same failures recur. Chrysler offered 'upgraded replacement with lifetime warranty' option mentioned by one mechanic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No formal recall issued for tie rod defects per narratives. Chrysler dealer acknowledged 'this is a common problem' to one customer and noted seeing failures before 36K miles. One dealer's parts manager reported part on national backorder; Chrysler customer care declined assistance (customer out of warranty at 92K miles). Extended warranty coverage available for some owners; others denied coverage. One dealership technician stated they 'are investigating' but offered workaround: 'just don't fill it all the way up' (referring to fuel tank issue, not tie rod).
Intermittent Engine Stalling (No Fuel/Code Relationship)
Vehicle stalls without warning at various speeds and conditions (parked, idling, highway speeds 65–80 MPH, city driving, during turns, during acceleration). Stalling unpredictable and recurring. Engine restarts, often with hesitation. No diagnostic codes found despite multiple dealership visits. Some narratives report stalling only on partial tank or specific fuel conditions; others report stalling regardless of fuel level.
When: Occurs at all speeds and driving conditions; mileage range 30K–150K miles; some stalls happen within days of purchase; recurring over months or years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning at any speed; No codes or intermittent codes (U0100, P0700 reported); Check engine light flashes or comes on intermittently; Loss of power steering and brakes during stall; Difficult or delayed restart after stall; Rough idle; vehicle hesitates or 'sputters'; Oil sensor light illuminates during stalls; Check fuel light comes on but check engine light often does not
Codes mentioned: U0100, P0700, P0038
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to replicate or diagnose problem despite multiple visits (3–4 visits typical). Replaced parts per owner attempts: fuel injectors cleaned, spark plugs replaced (copper type, per manufacturer suggestion), ignition coils replaced all new; stalling persisted. One mechanic suggested bad gas or bad oil change; issue continued after oil change. Crankshaft sensor replacement suggested but not guaranteed by dealer. No confirmed repair found in narratives; owners adapt by not filling tank completely.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler Service Bulletin 08-34-05 (June 2015) cited as addressing stalling issue. Service bulletins acknowledged by dealers but stalling problem remains unresolved for owners. Warranty coverage denied for out-of-warranty vehicles. Goodwill gestures mentioned in one narrative: Chrysler offered to pay for 2 parts only (not labor) to customer at 56K miles; supervisor declined written response to complaint.
Power Steering Loss / Seizure
Power steering fails intermittently or locks up completely without warning. Steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn, heavy, or locked solid. Failure typically coincides with engine stall events, causing loss of power-assist steering. In some cases, steering wheel seizes mid-drive or remains locked in park position.
When: Occurs during stalling events or independently; mileage range 48K–109K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fails; steering becomes very heavy; Steering wheel seizes or locks without warning; Loss of steering control during turns or lane changes; Difficulty steering vehicle to safe location; Steering wheel locks while key in ignition; key will not turn; Whining and clunking noises from power steering; Steering wheel turns freely when key not in ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement diagnosed by independent mechanic in one case (90K miles); not repaired. One narrative mentions steering wheel seizure and engine replacement quote at $7,000–$9,000 (engine failure, not steering), but steering loss was associated symptom. Power steering fluid leak mentioned once (transmission fluid issue, separate).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler did not provide specific response to power steering complaints in narratives. Dealership in one case unable to detect problem. Owner of another vehicle (purchased used) took dealer's suggestion to 'not fill tank all the way' as workaround, but steering issue remained unresolved.
Engine Cylinder/Rocker Arm Failure
Engine develops ticking noise typical of failed lifter or worn rocker arm. Both sides of engine rocker arm assemblies failed; replacements performed. One narrative reports engine stall event followed by diagnostic finding of collapsed cylinder requiring engine replacement ($7,000–$9,000). Another reports ticking from upper right side of engine.
When: Mileage range 30K–150K miles; one failure with no prior warning at ~150K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine ticking noise (upper right or both sides); Stalling event followed by no-start/no-crank condition; Engine noise and steering wheel noise during independent start in park; Loss of power during highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Both rocker arm assemblies replaced (labor and parts cost included in $2,000+ bill, covered by extended warranty in one case). Engine replacement quoted at $7,000–$9,000 for collapsed cylinder; owner refused due to vehicle value and existing loan ($13,000 owed on $10,000 book value). Well-maintained vehicle with regular 3,500-mile oil changes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage or recall mentioned for rocker arm or cylinder failures. Extended warranty covered most costs in one case, but deductible still applied.
Strut Bushing Wear
Front strut bushings wear prematurely and require replacement. Discovered during diagnostic work for other issues. Replacement of bushings necessitated front-end realignment.
When: Discovered at ~30K miles during routine maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Identified during alignment check after strut bushing replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Strut bushings replaced; cost included in larger $2,000+ repair bill covered by extended warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response; issue discovered during dealer maintenance visit.
Synthesized from 86 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Chrysler 300?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 86 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 79 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 42,000 and 96,800 miles, with the median around 66,430. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,000; a quarter make it past 96,800. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.