The audio system screen has become delaminated. This causes buttons to be selected at random by the unit. Climate control constantly changes. When in the phone mode, it will hang up current call and call other contacts listed on the attached phone. The radio switches stations and audio functions at random. Cannot use the GPS unit because it will change to previously used addresses.
2018 Chrysler 300 electrical problems
moderate 64 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 64 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Chrysler 300's UConnect touchscreen has a widespread delamination defect that causes phantom button presses, blacks out the backup camera, and triggers random climate and phone functions—creating serious distraction and safety hazards while driving. Replacement screens cost $800–$1,000+ and are often not warranty-covered; expect this issue within a few years of ownership.
The overwhelming issue in these complaints is UConnect touchscreen delamination. Owners report the LCD screen bubbling, peeling, and separating from the bezel starting a few months to a couple years into ownership. As the laminate breaks down, the touchscreen becomes hypersensitive—registering phantom touches constantly. This causes the system to randomly cycle through functions: climate control blasts heat or defrost without input, radio stations change on their own, navigation reroutes unexpectedly, and the car dials emergency services (911/SOS) or drops phone calls without the driver touching anything. Owners also report continuous beeping, loss of hands-free calling, and seat adjustments happening on their own.
The delamination also blacks out the backup camera display, eliminating rearward visibility when in reverse. Some owners describe the screen turning completely blue or showing distorted, scrambled images instead of the camera feed.
A handful of complaints mention secondary issues: wiring harness problems (daytime running lights and fog lights cycling on/off), adaptive cruise control failures (missing vehicles ahead, accelerating instead of braking, random panic braking), door panel separation, and sunroof leaks that have soaked the radio unit causing electrical chaos. One owner reported a software update that bricked the UConnect system mid-drive and drained the battery.
Dealers have told owners the issue is not warranty-covered and that replacement screens cost $800–$1,000. Repair attempts sometimes fail or the problem returns. Owners point to widespread complaints in Chrysler forums and describe this as a known defect affecting a large cohort of 2018 Chrysler 300 owners.
Same Chrysler 300 electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
UConnect Touchscreen Delamination
LCD screen in the center console begins to bubble, peel, and separate from the bezel. Laminate deterioration causes the digitizer to register phantom touches, making the screen malfunction uncontrollably and register inputs the driver did not make.
When: A few months to 2–3 years into ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Screen bubbling and peeling visible to the naked eye; Random, unintended screen selections (phantom touch); Climate control changing temperature and mode without driver input (heat blasting, then air, then defrost); Radio stations changing on their own; Navigation rerouting unexpectedly; Phone calls dropping or being initiated without driver input; Continuous beeping from the system; Loss of hands-free calling functionality; Seat adjustments happening automatically; Backup camera display blacking out, going blue, or showing scrambled/distorted image; Backup camera screen not disengaging (requires vehicle restart)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $800–$1,015 for replacement screen (part #Z8396531AC or equivalent). Labor typically 1 hour at ~$130. Some repairs fail or issue recurs shortly after.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler recall 24V-436 mentioned for rearview camera software (unrelated to delamination hardware). Dealers have informed owners screen replacement is not warranty-covered. Some dealers attempted temporary fixes (wiring harness repair) rather than replacement, which failed.
Backup Camera Display Failure
The infotainment screen goes blank, black, blue, or scrambled when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, eliminating the backup camera view. Related to both UConnect delamination and independent electrical issues.
When: Intermittent; sometimes immediate upon shifting to reverse, sometimes during the backup maneuver
Symptoms owners cite: Screen goes completely black or blank when backing; Screen shows blue color fill instead of camera feed; Screen shows distorted, scrambled, or bold colored lines; Backup camera view is intermittently unavailable; Screen does not automatically disengage from backup view (requires vehicle power restart)
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair costs cited. Owners report dealer inability to diagnose intermittent failures. FMVSS 111 mandates functional rear visibility; this failure violates federal safety standard.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler recall 24V-436 mentioned in formal complaint (February 2026) regarding rearview camera software. Dealers have been unable to repair intermittent failures.
Wiring Harness Intermittent Electrical Failures
Wiring harness problems cause daytime running lights, fog lights, and front parking sensors to cycle on and off unpredictably. Error messages appear on the dash intermittently.
When: Intermittent failures; car parked or in use
Symptoms owners cite: Daytime running lights turn on and off at random; Front fog lights cycle on and off unexpectedly; Front parking sensor stops working intermittently; Error message appears on dashboard for failed sensor; Features resume working without repair (intermittent nature)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted repair of wiring harness; owner states problem returned. Owner believes harness should have been replaced, not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owner the wiring harness issue was 'something that was not done correctly when the car was made.' Problem recurred after repair, requiring multiple service visits.
Adaptive Cruise Control System Malfunction
Adaptive cruise control fails to detect vehicles ahead and instead accelerates, requiring manual emergency braking. System also triggers panic braking when no vehicle is in the lane (false detection of vehicles in adjacent lanes).
When: During cruise control use
Symptoms owners cite: Fails to detect vehicles ahead in all road conditions; Vehicle accelerates instead of braking when vehicle is ahead; Vehicle requires manual emergency braking to avoid collision; Panic braking triggered with no vehicle in the lane; False vehicle detection from adjacent lane vehicles; Occurs on straight and curved roads, flat and variable elevation
Codes mentioned: U0402, U0402PD, P1DD2
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle threw three transmission/sensor codes. Went into limp mode during casual driving. Vehicle was in shop on 4/26 (date not specified in full).
Door Panel Separation from Frame
Door panels on all four doors independently separate and hinge away from the door frame. Center console also begins to separate.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Door panels visibly separating from door frame on all four doors; Center console separating from mounting; Potential obstruction of airbag deployment (owner concerned)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer informed owner there are no recalls for this issue. Owner referred to NHTSA.
Sunroof Water Leak and Secondary Electrical Damage
Sunroof leaks water into the electrical system, specifically soaking the radio/UConnect unit. Water damage causes the touchscreen to malfunction, triggering phantom functions.
When: Ongoing after water intrusion
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof leaking water; Water entering radio/UConnect unit; Touchscreen goes haywire after water exposure; Defrost activates unexpectedly, fogging windshield; Phone system calls people randomly; Windshield fogging caused vehicle to drift into oncoming traffic; Hanging up calls required driver to take eyes off road
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer refused repair, citing out-of-warranty status despite multiple service visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer decline to repair.
Sunroof Drain Hose Defect
Sunroof drain hose design or installation allows water to accumulate and leak into the vehicle interior, particularly behind rear pillar trim and grab handle.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Water damage on rear driver side pillar; Water leaking from sunroof track; Drain hose attached but unclogged, allowing pooling; Water leaking behind rear grab handle and light; Potential electrical short hazard from water in headliner area
UConnect Software Update Failure and Battery Drain
An over-the-air software update initiated while driving stalled at 44% completion, causing the battery to lose charge rapidly and eventually die.
When: During attempted software update while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Software update initiated on screen while driving; Update stalled at 44% completion; Battery began losing charge immediately after stall; Battery died after a few days; Vehicle required jump-start; UConnect and dealership did not assume responsibility; owner told to pay
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer initially refused to cover cost. Owner was assigned a UConnect case number; vehicle held for 5 days.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer declined to cover; UConnect assigned case number.
Center Console Light Flashing On and Off
Center console light cycles on and off repeatedly while driving. Problem recurs after vehicle restart.
When: At approximately 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Center console light flashes on and off; Problem temporarily resolves with vehicle restart; Problem returns soon after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer notification made by owner.
Fuel Gauge Inaccuracy
Fuel gauge fails to read correctly. Tank filled multiple times but gauge shows only 3/4 full consistently.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge displays 3/4 tank after multiple full fills; Inaccurate fuel level reading
Synthesized from 64 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The screen is bubbling or delaminating on the radio/head unit. It will randomly select or unselect any item on the screen. Sometimes when using the backup camera it is very hard to see. Sometimes it does not disengage from the backup screen, you will have to shut car off and restart when that occurs. This has been going on for about 1 year.
The vehicle's LCD screen has become delaminated which causes the control of the radio, air conditioning, navigation, and other features controlled by the "radio" portion of the car to become dysfunctional. The car will randomly beep, change air temperatures, start navigation, cause the loss of hands-free communication. This is a safety hazard as it causes the driver to be distracted in order to…
Screen is delaminated. Will make random calls and do random functions. very distracting while driving.
The vehicle's LCD screen has become delaminated which causes the control of the radio, air conditioning, navigation, and other features controlled by the "radio" portion of the car to become dysfunctional. The car will randomly beep, change air temperatures, start navigation, cause the loss of hands-free communication. This is a safety hazard as it causes the driver to be distracted in order to…
Had electrical trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Chrysler 300?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 64 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 64 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 37,564 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 $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/2018/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.