2016 Chrysler 200 brakes problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners report complete brake failure, erratic parking brake engagement while driving, and loss of braking power at various mileages starting as low as 13,000 miles. Brake booster issues linked to oil contamination from vacuum line appear chronic, and Chrysler has not issued recalls despite safety-critical nature of failures.
Owners of the 2016 Chrysler 200 report critical brake system failures across multiple failure modes, all tied to safety-critical stopping and control loss.
Brake assist failure dominates complaints. At low and highway speeds, owners describe complete loss of stopping power—brake pedal goes hard, unresponsive, or requires full floorboard pressure. One owner reports the vehicle continued rolling at 10 mph even after depressing the pedal; another experienced the failure 15+ times. Low-mileage vehicles show the problem: as early as 13,000 miles. Owners and mechanics link this to the brake booster, with one second opinion identifying oil leaking from the engine into the vacuum line assembly, contaminating and disabling the booster. Chrysler denies the issue warrants a recall despite the owner noting the same defect appears in a Dodge Dart recall (R63).
Parking brake engages unpredictably while driving, immobilizing vehicles at low speeds and highway speeds alike. Once engaged, drivers cannot disable it with normal controls; the brake releases only after engine shut-off. One rental vehicle crashed into a second car. Service shifter warnings also trigger automatic parking brake engagement.
ABS failures include intermittent illumination and complete starting failure when the warning is active.
Dealership diagnostics have been inconclusive or incomplete. One owner faced a $717 vacuum line upgrade cost; another spent time replacing pads and bleeding brakes to no effect.
Same Chrysler 200 brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster and vacuum line failure
Oil leaking from the engine is contaminating the vacuum line to the brake booster, causing booster malfunction and loss of brake assist. One owner reports the vacuum line assembly needed upgrade due to oil ingestion into the booster.
When: 29,000 miles; also reported at 13,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal requires extreme pressure or pushing to the floorboard; Vehicle rolls even with foot on brake; Complete loss of braking power; Brake warning light on dashboard; Service electronic braking system warning
Repairs/costs cited: $717 repair cost cited for vacuum line upgrade; dealership recommended brake booster replacement; second opinion recommended vacuum line upgrade due to oil leaking into booster
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler claimed the issue was not a safety issue; one owner noted the same issue occurred on Dodge Dart recall R63 related to brake booster oil contamination
Brake failure under normal driving
Multiple reports of complete brake failure where the vehicle will not stop despite brake pedal being depressed to the floorboard. Owners report needing to shoulder merge at highway speeds or requiring maximum physical effort on dual-foot braking.
When: 13,000 miles; 70 mph highway driving; low-speed situations
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not stop or stop distance increases to 3-4 car lengths at 10 mph; Brake pedal goes hard or unresponsive; Failure repeated 15+ times in at least one vehicle; Audible pop heard before brake failure in one case; ABS and parking brake warning lights on
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle had front suspension loose and rotors with uneven wear; adjustments made but vehicle not repaired; another owner replaced brake pads and bled brakes with no resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealership (Hooman Chrysler) performed frame bolt adjustments and rotor adjustments; case number 30790480 assigned but vehicle remained unrepaired; manufacturer notified but no recall issued
Parking brake unwanted activation while driving
Parking brake engages automatically and unpredictably during normal driving without driver input. Once engaged, the brake cannot be turned off normally and dramatically affects vehicle handling and control.
When: 5 mph parking lot speeds; randomly during normal driving; low mileage conditions (18,000-30,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake engages without driver activation; Steering becomes difficult or impossible due to brake engagement; Cannot disengage parking brake using normal controls; Brake resets only after engine shut-off; Vehicle continues to move slightly when brakes applied
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; one rental vehicle not repaired and incident reported to police
ABS malfunction with starting issues
ABS indicator light illuminates intermittently and causes vehicle starting failure when the light is on. Issue recurs randomly without clear pattern.
When: 30,854 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS indicator illuminates and extinguishes randomly; Vehicle will not start when ABS indicator is illuminated
Service shifter light triggering parking brake engagement
When the service shifter warning appears, the emergency brake automatically engages. Owner notes seeing same failure on a 2017 Jeep.
When: Parking lot conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Service shifter warning light appears; Emergency brake automatically engages when warning appears; Vehicle immobilized
Synthesized from 12 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 brakes problem on the 2016 Chrysler 200?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 14,000 and 30,854 miles, with the median around 29,764. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 30,854. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.