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 stalled out in the middle of the highway and I had to push it to the side of the road. Very very scary to lose all control of…
2012 Chrysler 300 electrical problems
critical 181 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
181
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
26fires
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 181 electrical complaints filed for the 2012 Chrysler 300, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Electrical accounts for 43% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 181 electrical 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.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
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 vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the vehicle was functioning as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v634000…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact was notified of NHTSA campaign number: 14v634000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
While driving, the vehicle warning lights indicated systems starting to shut down---warning lights for ABS, traction control, battery low, check engine, etc. Then "brakes" red light started flashing, and car felt like brakes were on. Car systems lost all power and car stalled, and I could not even run the "blinker" warning lights or any lights at all. I was able to swing car to side of road…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the "battery save mode" message suddenly displayed. Also, the radio turned off, the traction control and anti lock brake indicators illuminated, and the vehicle suddenly stalled. The battery was later replaced. When the vehicle was started, smoke appeared from the alternator. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 14v634000 (electrical system); however, the parts needed to do the repair were unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue.
I recently ran into some mechanical issues that have concerned me. I was driving my vehicle october 9th 2019 on the highway with an average speed of 70mph 'speed limit' and without any warning the vehicle cut off while still in motion. There were no warning lights or any indication that I was having any issues mechanically. I was able to pull over safely and the vehicle would not start. After…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the alternator and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v634000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
Had electrical trouble with your 2012 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 electrical problem on the 2012 Chrysler 300?
It's a serious issue. 181 complaints have been filed, including 2 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 137 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 50,000 and 88,000 miles, with the median around 71,642. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 88,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2012/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.