2012 Chrysler 300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
426 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 301 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 188 of 426 complaints (44.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 177 | 41.5% |
| Engine operation | 74 | 17.4% |
| Braking behavior | 71 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 9.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 39 | 9.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 188 |
| Air Bags | 83 |
| Power Train | 77 |
| Engine | 58 |
| Service Brakes | 28 |
| Steering | 28 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
Electrical System: 188; Air Bags: 83; Power Train: 77; Engine: 58; Service Brakes: 28; Steering: 28; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 24; Unknown Or Other: 24
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 53 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 87 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 75 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 30 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 53; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 75; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 15
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 125 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 61 |
| 2016 | 108 |
| 2017 | 85 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2011: 1; 2012: 12; 2013: 11; 2014: 26; 2015: 61; 2016: 108; 2017: 85; 2018: 40; 2019: 34; 2020: 14; 2021: 6; 2022: 12; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 177 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 74 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10467692 · 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE WIRING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471290 · 2012-08-17 (August 17, 2012)
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. AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHT IS COMING BACK ON, NOW ALSO THE KEY SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514302 · 2013-05-30 (May 30, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATE 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPM INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIGITAL CONSOLE AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,614 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,081. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,614 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598889 · 2014-06-17 (June 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, STRONG PERSISTENT SMELL OF ACID WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ONE OF THE BATTERY LINES WERE SERVERLY CORRODED AND WOULD NEED TO REPLACE. THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444556 · 2012-01-19 (January 19, 2012)
AFTER RIDING THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO EXIT THE CAR WASH. YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE ON THIS CAR TO SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO DO THIS , THE CAR WENT INTO PARK ON IT'S OWN AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK FOR OVER TEN MINUTES, NO MATTER WHAT WE DID. THIS RESULTED IN A SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE CAR WASH, AND OUR CAR WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND US. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER AT ALL LEVELS. THEY TELL ME THE CAR IS WORKING AS DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10484059 · 2012-11-12 (November 12, 2012)
WHEN SWITCHING FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL MY FOOT HITS THE PLASTIC SURFACE ON THE UPPER PART OF THE FOOT WELL. THIS CAN DELAY THE TIME IT TAKES TO HIT THE BRAKES. I REMOVED THE CHRYSLER ISSUE FLOOR MAT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH PEOPLE WITH SHOE SIZE OVER 11. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10526138 · 2013-07-22 (July 22, 2013)
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS NO MATTER THE SPEED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW 11/26/12 AND I STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASE THE 2012 CHRYSLER 300S AWD. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN THE DENVER AREA AND THEY ALL SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE ON THEIR COMPUTER EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN HEAR THE NOISE WHEN DRIVING IT. I ALSO RECORDED A VIDEO BC ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532481 · 2013-07-29 (July 29, 2013)
PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2012 300 CHRYSLER LIMITED FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. TOOK DELIVERY AND AS SOON AS I GOT IN GARAGE I HEARD THIS GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AS I PARKED THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND PROVIDE A REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THEY HEARD NOTHING OTHER THAN NORMAL SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN AS I MADE A TURN AND THOUGHT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455205 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
2012 CHRYSLER 300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL FILTERS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD WANDER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS ESC. *JB ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CHRYSLER DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE ALIGNMENT, IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATION. UPDATED CONSUMER LETTER 10/18/12. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE TO THE HIGHEST GEAR. UPDATED 01/12/13. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. UPDATED 06/24/13
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10455205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785314 · 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAP ON THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE ELECTRIC OUTLETS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. ...UPDATED 12/03/15 BF. UPDATED 12/10/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS BEING UNCOOPERATIVE. UPDATED 10/17/2017*JS UPDATED 05/18/18* JB
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022722 · 2017-09-11 (September 11, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (NORTHTOWN CHRYSLER/JEEP IN TONAWANDA, NEW YORK) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL 08/16/2017, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER NORTHTOWN CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALER THREE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022722 at NHTSA ↗