Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v634000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2011 Chrysler 300 airbags problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 25 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Chrysler 300, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
Owners have filed 25 airbags 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.
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 Chrysler 300 has been subject to multiple Takata airbag inflator recalls since 2013, with critical safety hazards involving inflator rupture and metal fragment ejection; owners report extended delays in parts availability that left vehicles unrepaired for months or years, and documented cases of airbags failing to deploy during actual crashes.
The 2011 Chrysler 300 has faced a persistent Takata airbag inflator defect spanning multiple recall campaigns from 2013 through 2016 (campaigns 13V118000, 14V634000, 16V352000, and 18V021000). The core hazard: Takata-supplied inflators can rupture during deployment and scatter metal fragments into the cabin, creating a life-threatening condition rather than the protective function airbags should provide.
Owners report a systemic problem: parts shortage. Dealers repeatedly told owners that replacement airbag assemblies were unavailable for extended periods—sometimes exceeding six months from recall notification. Some owners waited over six months without a repair date; one reported being told parts might not arrive until Q1 2017. This forced drivers to operate safety-defective vehicles indefinitely.
Two owners reported airbag non-deployment during actual crashes. One owner struck three vehicles at 74,218 miles with no airbag activation; another went through a fence, jumped a retainer wall, and hit a building during a lane-change accident—again, no deployment.
Separately, several owners report persistent airbag warning lights on the dashboard that remain illuminated even after recall repairs or dealer attempts to tighten wiring. One owner paid $600 to a Chrysler dealer for what was supposed to be a recall repair only to have the warning light stay on and be told the real issue was something else.
Same Chrysler 300 airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator defect
Takata-supplied airbag inflators that can rupture and expel metal fragments during deployment, posing serious injury or death risk to occupants.
When: Recall notifications began in 2013 (campaign 13V118000) and continued through 2016 (campaign 16V352000); failures have not been reported to occur at specific mileage intervals.
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms prior to potential crash deployment; Hazard is latent until airbag activation
Codes mentioned: 16V352000, 18V021000, 14V634000, 13V118000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repairs require replacement of Takata airbag inflators; however, replacement parts remained unavailable for extended periods during 2013–2016 recall campaigns, forcing owners to drive with unrepaired safety defects for months or years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-352, Manufacturer Recall S343; multiple campaigns issued (13V118000, 14V634000, 16V352000, 18V021000); however, parts shortage severely delayed repairs and left vehicles unrepaired indefinitely.
Airbag warning light illumination without deployment failure
Airbag system warning light remains illuminated on the instrument cluster, indicating an electrical or sensor fault in the airbag system.
When: Reported as early as 1,500 miles; one case at 85,900 miles after recall service attempt.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator light stays illuminated; Light persists after dealer tightening of wiring connections; Light remains on after recall repair completion
Codes mentioned: 18V021000
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer tightened loose airbag wiring connections but the warning light remained illuminated; another recall repair at 85,900 miles failed to extinguish the light; no diagnostic codes or specific repair outcomes provided in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 18V021000 performed by authorized dealer (James Ceranti Motors, Greenville, MS); remedy did not resolve the warning light condition.
Airbag failure to deploy in accident
Airbag system fails to deploy during crash event when deployment should have occurred.
When: One case at 74,218 miles; one case during a multi-vehicle collision; circumstances and timing variable.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle accelerated independently; Airbags did not deploy despite multi-vehicle crash; Vehicle struck three vehicles; no airbag activation; Vehicle struck storage building and fence after lane-change accident; airbags did not deploy
Repairs/costs cited: Two cases of non-deployment during crashes; no repairs documented; vehicles were not diagnosed or repaired in the reported incidents.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Takata recall: I am amazed that a recall that can cause injury or death is treated so very lightly. It greatly upsets me that I could be in an accident and die but not from the accident. I am a 30 year retired aviation maintenance officer, we didn't fly our aircraft if known safety defect could cost death of our pilots are aircrew. I remain greatly disappointed and angry over this issue. How…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 300. The contact stated the air bag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times regarding the failure. The dealer stated the air bag wiring connection was loose. The dealer tightened the air bag wires; however, the air bag light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Tool confirms parts…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13v118000 (air bags). The manufacturer and dealer were contacted and stated that the part was not available for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 12/30/13*cn updated 01/14/14
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Chrysler 300?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 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?
Based on the 25 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 35,445 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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.
Related
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/2011/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.