MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chrysler 300 years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2012, 2013 and 2014 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chrysler 300 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2012 vs model median 4.2×
Model median3× median
Electrical 97
Drivetrain 38
Airbags & Restraints 29
Avoid

2012 · 2013

Best

2019 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.42× 24 B
2011
2.29× 149 F
2012
4.19× 274 F
2013
4.04× 276 F
2014
2.81× 211 F
2015
1.00× 84 C
2016
0.94× 57 C
2017
0.53× 54 B
2018
1.09× 96 C
2019
0.52× 39 B
2021
0.26× 24 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2012 F 274 reports · median 50,500 mi

  1. Electrical 97

    The contact owns a 2012 chrysler 300c. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance where the technician advised the contact that the software would have to be updated under a voluntary manufacturer's… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 38

    The contact owns a 2005 chrysler 300c. The contact started the ignition and the gear selector failed to shift from the park position. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Airbags & Restraints 29

    Air bag light came on. Took it dealership, said it was a loose wire under driver's seat. Fault came on again in about 2 months, this time dealership order and replaced the wiring harness under the seat. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

10 crash · 18 fire · 4 injuries

2013 F 276 reports · median 32,095 mi

  1. Electrical 100

    Message "battery in safe mode" comes on at about 11 to 15 MPH. This is a two month old car with only 2100 miles. When I spoke to the dealership the person stated that it would come on at start up. It didn't. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 43

    The contact owns a 2013 chrysler 300 c. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to increase speed despite the accelerator pedal being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 25

    06/25/2013 vehicle stalled at 60 MPH, complete engine failure forcing me off road. 3485 miles on new vehicle towed to dealer, stated repaired gear ratio, test drove 25 mi and corrected problem. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

29 crash · 11 fire · 28 injuries

The best year for the 300

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring 300 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 88.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.26× 24 A
2019 0.52× 39 B
2017 0.53× 54 B

Recalls

24 campaigns on record, 4 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
18V332000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2014–2018 4,815,661
16V352000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 4,648,270
15V313000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 4,077,169
15V461000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. 2015 1,416,903
19V018000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2015 1,413,222
16V240000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) 2012–2014 811,290
17V435000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR 2011–2014 442,214
14V634000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR 2011–2014 435,081
18V021000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2013 328,177
24V198000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR 2018–2021 284,982
13V118000 AIR BAGS 2011, 2012 119,497
12V197000 SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2011, 2012 119,072

+ 12 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 50,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chrysler 300 years should you avoid?
2012, 2013, 2014 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chrysler 300 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chrysler 300?
2021 is the best-scoring Chrysler 300 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 88.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chrysler 300 have?
24 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chrysler 300 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 300
Complaints in window
274
Severity-weighted
484
Model median (weighted)
116
vs model median
4.19×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
15
Open investigations
1
Score 6.7 F