2005 Chrysler 300 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2005 Chrysler 300 ranks 3rd worst of 19 model years with a complaint index of 89 and 825 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags are the top problem area (31% of complaints, 255 total), backed by 7 recalls including 2 do-not-drive campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 89/100
- #3 of 19 300 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 825
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 37
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 14
- Injuries
- 36
- Top issue
- Airbags
Top 2005 Chrysler 300 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags255 (31%)
- Transmission & Powertrain189 (23%)
- Electrical System122 (15%)
- Engine116 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires95 (12%)
- Fuel System81 (10%)
- Other45 (5%)
- Steering43 (5%)
- Structure & Body27 (3%)
- Brakes24 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed frontal and rear-end collisions, even with warning lights off beforehand.
- Rear seats have collapsed forward in head-on crashes, breaking latches and putting pressure on rear-seated passengers.
- Electrical failures include non-functioning horns, malfunctioning odometer display buttons, and engine-area fires shortly after purchase.
- Steering rack-and-pinion and stabilizer bar have broken during low-speed driving, leading to bent rims and sheared bolts.
- Power steering fluid reservoirs have cracked and leaked after minor front-end impacts, causing loss of steering assist.
- Brakes have reportedly failed to engage during stop-and-go traffic, resulting in rear-end collisions.
2005 Chrysler 300 recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V352000May 24, 2016Airbags4,648,270 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
- NHTSA 15V313000May 26, 2015Airbags4,077,169 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
- NHTSA 14V770000Dec 3, 2014Airbags250,896 vehicles
Air bags
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerÂs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all other vehicles, Chrysler notified owners and the recall began on February 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P40 Expanded. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall 16V-352. This recall superseded the passenger air bag portion of recall 14V-354.
2005 compared with other 300 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Chrysler 300 a good year to buy?
- No. NHTSA data gives the 2005 Chrysler 300 a complaint index of 89, the 3rd highest among 19 model years, resulting in an Avoid verdict relative to other 300 model years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chrysler 300?
- Airbags are the top complaint area, making up 31% of the 825 total complaints (255 complaints), followed by transmission and powertrain issues (23%) and electrical system problems (15%).
- Does the 2005 Chrysler 300 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2005 Chrysler 300, including 2 do-not-drive airbag recalls related to inflator defects.
- At what mileage do 2005 Chrysler 300 problems typically appear?
- Median mileage at failure for the 2005 Chrysler 300 overall is 74,981 miles, though airbag complaints show a median of 73,156 miles and suspension complaints show a much lower median of 17,700 miles.
- How does the 2005 Chrysler 300 compare to later model years?
- The 2005 model's complaint index of 89 is much higher than later years like 2017 (22) and 2020 (17), which earn Best verdicts, showing steady improvement over time.