Should I buy a 2008 Chrysler 300 with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2008 Chrysler 300 airbags problems

severe Owners of the 2008 Chrysler 300 have filed 88 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 63,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

airbags complaints on the Chrysler 300, by model year
Model year	airbags complaints
2005 300	272
2006 300	285
2007 300	138
2008 300 (this page)	88
2009 300	36
2010 300	55
2011 300	25
2012 300	55

12crashes

14injuries

When does it fail?

Of the 88 airbags complaints filed for the 2008 Chrysler 300, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.

0-25k

0 (0%)

25-50k

0 (0%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

0 (0%)

100-125k

1 (100%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.

What stands out

All 2 active airbags recalls on this vehicle are classified critical — based on documented crash, fire, or fatality outcomes in NHTSA's record.

No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

critical NHTSA 16V352000 May 24, 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.

critical NHTSA 15V313000 May 27, 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2008 Chrysler 300 airbag complaints focus on two critical issues: non-deployment in actual crashes and widespread parts unavailability for recall repairs.

Deployment failures: Owners describe multiple crash scenarios—side impacts, head-ons, and frontal collisions at speeds from 3 to 45 mph—where front airbags did not inflate. Injured occupants required ambulance transport and hospital treatment for whiplash, fractures, chest injuries, and back trauma in several cases. One crash involved an airbag that *did* deploy but caused burn injuries to the occupant's neck and hands. A separate complaint documented an airbag warning light that remained on and a lifted dashboard panel indicating internal system malfunction.

Recall complications: The biggest complaint pattern is parts unavailability. From 2014 to 2017, Chrysler issued multiple airbag recall campaigns (15V313000, 16V352000, and 15V352000) after Takata inflator rupture risks surfaced. Owners received official recall notices but dealers repeatedly told them parts were not in stock with no estimated arrival dates. One owner noted that Takata's bankruptcy filing made the supply situation worse. A few owners documented repeated airbag warning light faults (including a clock spring failure) requiring expensive dealer repairs. One original owner couldn't even confirm whether her side curtain airbags were Takata-made because the dealer wanted $384 to inspect them.

Owners felt stranded—unable to drive unsafe vehicles with unfixed recalls, paying insurance on unusable cars, and receiving no compensation or loaner vehicles from Chrysler.

Same Chrysler 300 airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010

Failure modes owners describe

Airbag non-deployment in crashes

Front driver and/or passenger airbags failed to inflate during impact events including side-impact, head-on, and frontal collisions ranging from low-speed (3 mph) to high-speed (45 mph) incidents. Owners report multiple crash scenarios where airbags did not deploy when they should have.

When: During crashes at various mileages (3,500 to 180,000 miles reported)

Symptoms owners cite: No airbag inflation during vehicle impact; Occupants sustaining injuries from unprotected crashes; Check engine warning light illuminating after some incidents

Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V313000, NHTSA 15V352000, NHTSA 16V352000

Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag inflators required per recall; parts often unavailable. One owner cited $384 dealer cost to inspect whether airbags were Takata-manufactured.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 15V313000 (driver airbag inflator rupture risk due to humidity exposure), NHTSA 16V352000, and NHTSA 15V352000 issued. Remedy status listed as incomplete in multiple complaints; parts distribution problems prevented repair completion.

Airbag warning light and horn malfunction post-repair

After factory recall repair for airbag issues (Campaign 15V313000), horn failed and airbag warning indicator remained illuminated. Two independent repair shops could not diagnose; problem required dealer evaluation.

When: Weeks after airbag recall repair completion

Symptoms owners cite: Horn non-functional; Airbag warning light stays on after repair

Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V313000, NHTSA 16V352000

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required dealer diagnostic testing; independent shops unable to resolve.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subsequent recall notification NHTSA 16V352000 issued but parts were unavailable for the second repair phase.

Airbag warning light and dashboard deformation without deployment

Airbag warning indicator illuminated and the dashboard strip above the glove compartment lifted on the passenger side, indicating potential internal airbag system malfunction, though no deployment occurred.

When: At approximately 35,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Passenger-side dashboard deformation (strip lifted above glove box)

Codes mentioned: NHTSA 14V567000

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by owner.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 14V567000 (electrical system) issued but parts unavailable.

Repeated airbag warning light reappearance and clock spring failure

Airbag warning light came on multiple times over several years, requiring two separate dealer repairs. First repair involved clock spring replacement in May 2014, but warning reappeared in March 2015 requiring additional $763.44 repair.

When: May 2014 and March 2015 at 59,700 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illumination; Recurring warning light despite prior repairs

Codes mentioned: Clock spring fault (inferred)

Repairs/costs cited: May 2014: $306 clock spring repair. March 2015: $763.44 for undisclosed airbag system work on vehicle with no accident history.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall mentioned; treated as warranty repairs.

Takata side-impact and side curtain airbag uncertainty

Original owner concerned about Takata-manufactured side and side curtain airbags equipped with the Protection Group option, but unable to confirm manufacturer. Dealer refused to identify airbag source without charging $384 to disassemble, complicating recall awareness.

When: 2008 model year vehicle purchase; concern raised after front Takata recall

Symptoms owners cite: No known failures but safety concern regarding unconfirmed Takata side airbags

Repairs/costs cited: $384 dealer charge to inspect and identify airbag manufacturer.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler declined to identify airbag maker without paid inspection. Takata bankruptcy filing raised additional concern about future recalls.

Airbag deployment with burn injuries

Airbag inflated during a crash but caused thermal burns to the neck and hands of the occupant. Vehicle was destroyed in the collision.

When: At 180,000 miles during crash at 30 mph

Symptoms owners cite: Burns to neck and hands from airbag deployment; Medical attention required

Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V313000

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no repair possible.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V313000 (airbag) issued but parts unavailable at time of crash.

Parts distribution failure preventing timely recall completion

Widespread pattern across 88 complaints where owners received recall notifications (primarily campaigns 15V313000 and 16V352000) but dealers could not supply replacement parts within reasonable timeframes. Owners reported indefinite waiting periods with no estimated delivery dates from manufacturers.

When: 2014–2017 timeframe during recall notification period

Symptoms owners cite: Received recall notice but unable to schedule repair; No specific ETA from dealer or manufacturer for parts; Vehicle sat unfixed during recall period

Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V313000, NHTSA 15V352000, NHTSA 16V352000, NHTSA 14V567000

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; parts unavailable indefinitely.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler and Takata stated parts were not available. Multiple complaints document 'parts distribution disconnect' status. One owner noted Takata bankruptcy filing exacerbated the supply crisis.

Synthesized from 88 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 2 most recent

airbags · 114,000 mi · filed 12/29/2015

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler 300. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v313000 (air bags) and 14v567000 (electrical system) but the dealer was unable to supply the parts to receive the recall repairs within a reasonable time frame. The contact was unable to determine when the recall repairs would be completed. The contact stated that while driving approximately…

airbags · filed 12/15/2017

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags). The dealer (gary mathews motors, 1100 ashland city rd, clarksville, tn 37040, (931) 552-7100) was unable to provide the parts from the manufacturer within a reasonable timeframe. The manufacturer was contacted to determine when the remedy and repair parts…

Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Chrysler 300? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Chrysler 300?

It's a meaningful issue. 88 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.

At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?

Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 40,000 and 92,035 miles, with the median around 63,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 92,035. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Chrysler/300. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.