KnownCarProblems2000 Chrysler 300M Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 242 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Chrysler 300M, most often about the steering (22% of complaints, typically around 61,000 miles). It is the most complained-about 300M model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2000 Chrysler 300M problems
Steering
53 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, linkages, hydraulic power assist, steering wheel/handle bar.
Premature failure of the safety related steering equipment has occurred on my 2000 year Chrysler 300M. The rack and pinion failed and I am now scheduling repairs at my cost as the warranty is expired. I took the vehicle to a dealer numerous times for over a year without satisfaction on their review. They initially…
The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler 300M. While the vehicle was parked the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated the steering bolt fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had previously experienced a failure with the steering and the tie…
Body and structure
39 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Passenger side dash has a vertical crack that extends for about 4" where the passager side airbag is. The car was not in any kind of accident or situation that would have casued this problem. I am concerned about the functionality of the airbag in the passenger side due to the cracked dash. My son cut his finger on…
The passenger's side dashboard where the air bag was located cracked on both sides. Consumer was concerned that the air bag will be affected.
Air bags
29 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
2000 Chrysler 300M, front impact with 1,600 lbs steer, at 55 MPH. Totaled car and severely injured driver. Air bags did not deploy. This happened at 1 a.m., cow was a black angus that ran out of ditch directly in front of car. Back of cow crashed through entire windshield, stopped car immediately on impact.
A slit has opened in the dashboard, apparently on the left hand side (when viewed from inside the car) of the passenger side airbag. Chrysler initially denied any responsibility for this, saying it must have been our problem. Follow up conversations with the local dealer suggest that Chrysler now knows it is a problem…
Wheels and tires
29 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: rim, hubcap/cover, sidewall, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
Complaint is with the alloy wheels on the 2000 Chrysler 300M sedan. The design of the alloy wheels apparently is open and is very prone to winter roadway salt which over time creates pitted areas on the wheels resulting in the loss of tire pressure. Over the past year or so, I have experienced this 4 times with…
Chromed wheels on 2000 Chrysler 300M corrode such that safe tire pressures can not be maintained. Even new performance tires (as suggested by Chrysler) do no hold pressure.
Doors and locks
18 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: doors, trunk lid.
Buzzing noise from drivers side front/rear doors when pressing the locking mechanism. This also occurs when the doors automatically lock after reaching a certain speed. This noise does not occur when unlocking the vehicle, only when locking.
Right front and left rear door lock/release selanoid went out at the same time. Once locked, the passenger(s) cannot manually unlock the door to normally exit, escape a fire or drowning, etc. The driver or front passenger has to use the front door electric release button to get the malfunctioning (selanoid) lock to…
Seats
15 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
After slamming on brakes the force of impact caused consumer's back to slam against the back of the seat. Seatback broke off on one side. Consumer feels it may be a bolt. Please provide any further information.
: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver side seat adjuster failed and the seat back fell backwards. The vehicle was taken to the sales/service dealer. The manufacturer was notified.
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, power window devices and controls, rearview mirrors/devices, glass, side/rear.
There have been repeated stress cracks in the windshield. I have on two occassion experienced the same crack. It starts under the seal on the drivers side about 4" off of the bottom, travells out about two inches, turns towards the top and travells to the sun visor area. It has not been caused by a strike to the…
I was unaware until recently that my car had side mirrors that were to automatically "swing down" when car is placed in reverse. Whether they always did or it was not noticed because I didn't look into them while backing. About 5 months ago I occasionally noticed my side mirrors being misaimed. It was most…
Electrical
14 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, starter assembly.
I own a 2000 Chrysler 300M for about 4 months ago. When I first bought it, the passanger rear side power window wasn't working and I fix it, then recently begining this year I found out it wan't moving again? I wonder what is the problem? At the same time, this happened last year winter 2002 while I was driving during…
Vehicle will shut completely off, as if the key were turned to the off position. Very random in occurrence. This problem seems prevelent among the owners of other 300M vehicles I have spoken with. This is an issue as it has occured while driving at highway speeds and during city driving as well.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Chrysler 300M recalls
Seats: recliner
Risk: If the seat back unexpectedly reclines while the car is being driven, it could result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the recliner bolts. Owner notification began on april 23, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, seat back recliner bolt breakage can occur resulting in the seat back reclining unexpectedly.
Body and structure: frame and members
Risk: In the event of a crash, there is a potential for injury if the occupant's head were to contact the b-pillar.
Fix: Owners will be sent a storage bin accessory unit that can be attached to the b-pillar along with installation instructions. However, if an owner wishes, the dealer can perform the installation. Owner notification began december 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles (non-sunroof only) fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact."
Child Seat
Risk: In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly attaching a child restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorage.
Seat belts
Risk: The affected mounting bolts may not withstand sufficient force to function properly in certain impact situations, increasing the risk of injury to a belted occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the shoulder belt height adjuster mounting bolts.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt shoulder height adjustable turning loop (atl) top mounting bolt was inadequately manufactured.
Seat belts: retractor
Risk: If this occurs in a frontal crash situation, driver protection from the seat belt may be reduced, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left front retractor assemblies.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The molding flash on the primary lever may prevent the operation of the g-lock and tilt lock functions on some of the driver's side retractors.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: This condition could increase the risk of a passenger occupant injury under certain accident conditions.
Fix: Dealers will replace the air bag module with a correct module.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The passenger air bag inflator assembly contains an incorrect inflator charge amount.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Throttle control failure
Summary
Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. See attached report for additional information.
Questions about the 2000 Chrysler 300M
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Chrysler 300M?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (53 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles); body and structure (39 complaints, typically around 59,500 miles); air bags (29 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Chrysler 300M have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 5, 2003 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Chrysler 300M?
- It is the most complained-about 300M model year since 2000, with 242 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.