Chrysler 300 problems
424 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.
- 1 fatality report and 26 fire-related complaints on the electrical system
- Powertrain: 74 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 43,300–78,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
First sign was it kept saying low power mode activated. I took it in to dealership but they said everything was fine. A month later I was driving on the highway and everything electrical turned off (steering, ABS, battery, etc.) and the car started smoking heavily. My car…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. While driving approximately 3 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and there was an eight second delayed response. The failure recurred ten times while driving at low speeds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer twice and…
This vehicle has very poor lighting output from the headlights. The projector lamps are terrible. There are no high beams. There is some type of shutter that moves to redirect the light. The high beams are worse than the low beams. Worse headlights I have ever had on a car I…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that when the hood of the vehicle was opened, the alternator was smoking, however there was no fire present. The…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2012 Chrysler 300 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 424 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Chrysler 300 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2012 Chrysler 300?
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Chrysler 300 is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 26 fire-related complaints on the electrical system; Powertrain: 74 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 43,300–78,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Chrysler 300?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 181 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 71,394 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 71,394 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Chrysler 300 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Chrysler 300?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 424 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.