2013 Chrysler 300

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chrysler 300 has 402 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: 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. when i said there were several cases reported on the forums, such as the 300c forum, reporti. ⚠️ 22 fire reports filed.

22 fire reports 25 crash reports 24 injuries

402

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

131 complaints

33%

• 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. WHEN I SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON THE FORUMS, SUCH AS THE 300C FORUM, REPORTI
• ELECTRONIC SHIFTER FREQUENTLY, UNABLE TO CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE IN A TIMELY MANNER. SITUATION: STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, AUTO IN DRIVE, TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE MUST SHIFT INTO REVERSE. OFTEN RESULT: 1(FOOT MUST BE ON BRAKE, THEN D>P, OR D>N, OR D STAYS D, OR A
• THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CHRYSLER 300C ARE TERRIBLE. ON HIGH BEAM THEY ARE IN THE TREES, LOW BEAM THEY ARE STRAIGHT AHEAD NO SIDE LIGHTING. NOT A SAFE SITUATION. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 16 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“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. WHEN I SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON THE FORUMS, SUCH AS THE 300C FORUM, REPORTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

58 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. IN MULTIPLE INCIDENCES, I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO MY ABRUPT LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. IN THE FI
• TL* 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. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE
• FROM JUST AFTER A FEW DAYS OF PURCHASE, ON ALL THE SUSPENSION PARTS, THERE IS TONS OF RUST EATING AWAY AT THE SUSPENSION OF MY BRAND NEW CAR. THIS ISSUE IS ON EVERY SINGLE CHRYSLER 300 BEING SOLD. AND EVERY SINGLE CHRYSLER 300 IS IN DANGER. THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IS ON A TICKING TIME BO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. IN MULTIPLE INCIDENCES, I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO MY ABRUPT LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. IN THE FI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

38 complaints

• 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. 07/18/2013 4000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER WITH 2 AND 4YR OLD CHILDREN IN BACKSEATS,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN INITIALLY STARTING THE ENGINE. THE TICKING NOISE WAWS MORE PROMINENT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES AND COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN ACCEL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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. 07/18/2013 4000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER WITH 2 AND 4YR OLD CHILDREN IN BACKSEATS, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

32 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING ON KEERANS STREET ON FORT BRAGG, NC AT APROX 30MPH WHEN I WAS HIT BY A 2012 CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 DUE TO HIS FAILURE TO YIELD AT APPROX 25MPH. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE WHIPLASH CAUSED NECK INJURY AND BACK INJURY. CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THAT IT REQUIRES A MINIMUM SPEED OF 20MPH TO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 11 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING ON KEERANS STREET ON FORT BRAGG, NC AT APROX 30MPH WHEN I WAS HIT BY A 2012 CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 DUE TO HIS FAILURE TO YIELD AT APPROX 25MPH. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE WHIPLASH CAUSED NECK INJURY AND BACK INJURY. CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THAT IT REQUIRES A MINIMUM SPEED OF 20MPH TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

27 complaints

• TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300 EQUIPPED WITH A WEBASTO HOLLANDIA SERIES 740 AFTER MARKET SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS
• THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW) DOES NOT WORK. INFO I HAVE RECEIVED IS THAT FCW WAS PART OF THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) AND ONLY WORKS AS PART OF THAT SYSTEM. THE CHRYSLER MANUAL DOES NOT SAY THAT THE ACC HAS TO BE ON FOR FCW TO WORK. FCW IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPIC FROM ACC IN THE
• ON 05/10/2015 DURING THE AFTERNOON I TURNED ON MY AC AND IT BLEW WARM AIR. I DON'T USE MY AC VERY MUCH DUE TO INCREASE FUEL USAGE BECAUSE I DRIVE 76 MILES TWICE A DAY 4 DAYS A WEEK, BUT ON THAT DAY WHEN I REALLY NEEDED IT IT WASN'T WORKING. I BOUGHT MY 2013 CHRYSLER 300S NEW ON 06/02/2013 AND THE ON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 300 EQUIPPED WITH A WEBASTO HOLLANDIA SERIES 740 AFTER MARKET SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 402 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 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. WHEN I SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL CASES REPORTED ON THE FORUMS, SUCH AS THE 300C FORUM, REPORTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. IN MULTIPLE INCIDENCES, I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO MY ABRUPT LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. IN THE FI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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. 07/18/2013 4000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER WITH 2 AND 4YR OLD CHILDREN IN BACKSEATS,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS DRIVING ON KEERANS STREET ON FORT BRAGG, NC AT APROX 30MPH WHEN I WAS HIT BY A 2012 CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 DUE TO HIS FAILURE TO YIELD AT APPROX 25MPH. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE WHIPLASH CAUSED NECK INJURY AND BACK INJURY. CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THAT IT REQUIRES A MINIMUM SPEED OF 20MPH TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)