Chrysler 300 Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2006 draws 6.64 complaints per run and the 2018 2.45, a 2.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 82.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 1,398 complaints, typically at 5.2 years.

Chrysler 300 years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chrysler 300 — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2023	1	6	6	too new
2022	1	5	5	too new
2021	1.58	19	12	too new
2020	1.29	9	7	yes
2019	1.5	57	38	yes
2018	2.45	152	62	yes
2017	1.81	78	43	yes
2016	1.47	72	49	yes
2015	2.07	91	44	yes
2014	3.21	225	70	yes
2013	2.9	287	99	yes
2012	4.91	403	82	yes
2011	4.65	172	37	yes
2010	2.45	115	47	yes
2009	1.46	76	52	yes
2008	4.79	676	141	yes
2007	4.75	456	96	yes
2006	6.64	936	141	yes
2005	6.22	746	120	yes

ROWS 19·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 300 asks a median $4,995, against $3,300 for a 2007, the next model year: 51% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 8 Chrysler 300 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2005, 2012; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2013, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chrysler 300 — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	296	6.6%	covered
1 year	231	11.7%	covered
2 years	252	17.4%	covered
3 years	349	25.1%	you pay
4 years	414	34.4%	you pay
5 years	425	43.8%	you pay
6 years	558	56.2%	you pay
7 years	477	66.9%	you pay
8 years	384	75.4%	you pay
9 years	384	84%	you pay
10 years	343	91.6%	you pay
11 years	169	95.4%	you pay
12 years	90	97.4%	you pay
13 years	66	98.9%	you pay
14 years	39	99.7%	you pay
15 years	12	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 17.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 82.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 30% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Electrical System at 5.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chrysler 300 — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	1398	5.2 yrs	26	93
Air Bags	1087	7.5 yrs	123	6
Power Train	885	5.7 yrs	38	5
Engine	470	6.9 yrs	13	24
Unknown Or Other	354	6.5 yrs	18	8
Fuel/propulsion System	245	8.5 yrs	3	5
Service Brakes	209	4.6 yrs	20	8
Steering	190	4.8 yrs	10	3

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the 300's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Kia K5 3.08 and the Hyundai Sonata 9.75, against 4.11 for the 300.

FIG.05·Chrysler 300 — rivals in the same class
Same class as the 300	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026
Porsche Panamera	111	93	2010–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chrysler 300

Recalls86 campaigns Fuel economy23 mpg best Common problems6,174 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space24 cu ft Used prices1,468 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1999–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler 300 reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.11 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which 300 years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2006, 2005, 2012. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2013, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do 300 problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 5.2 years, followed by Air Bags.

Will the warranty cover 300 problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 17.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 30% of the complaints here.

Is the 300 more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 4.11 complaints per production run for the 300 against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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