2012 Chrysler 300 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2012 Chrysler 300 has a complaint index of 83, the 4th-worst among 19 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Electrical System problems dominate at 52% of complaints, with 9 recalls including 3 do-not-drive campaigns for airbags.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 83/100
- #4 of 19 300 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 426
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 24
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 34
- Injuries
- 13
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 1
Top 2012 Chrysler 300 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System221 (52%)
- Airbags83 (19%)
- Transmission & Powertrain79 (19%)
- Engine76 (18%)
- Brakes51 (12%)
- Steering28 (7%)
- Other24 (6%)
- Fuel System11 (3%)
- Structure & Body10 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe the alternator overheating or catching fire under the hood, often with a burning smell and black smoke.
- The dashboard shows a 'battery saving mode' message while the radio shuts off and instrument panel lights flash erratically.
- Vehicles stall or lose power at highway and city speeds, sometimes with the steering wheel locking up.
- Airbags fail to deploy in front and side collisions, even in crashes severe enough to push the hood into the windshield.
- The steering wheel or rack and pinion seizes during low-speed turns, requiring dealer replacement.
- Brakes reportedly fade near stop signs, with the ABS light illuminated before the loss of stopping power.
2012 Chrysler 300 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V018000Jan 15, 2019Airbags1,413,222 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
- NHTSA 18V021000Jan 9, 2018Airbags328,177 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
- NHTSA 17V435000Jul 10, 2017Electrical System442,214 vehicles
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.
2012 Chrysler 300 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other 300 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Chrysler 300 reliable?
- Compared to other 300 model years, 2012 ranks poorly. Its complaint index of 83 is the 4th-worst of 19 model years tracked, and NHTSA lists 9 recalls, 3 of them do-not-drive.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Chrysler 300?
- Electrical System issues lead complaints, making up 52% of the 426 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles. Alternator fires and stalling are common themes in owner reports.
- Does the 2012 Chrysler 300 have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls for this year, including two do-not-drive campaigns (19V018000 and 18V021000), plus an earlier recall (13V118000) to replace seat airbag wiring harnesses.
- How does the 2012 Chrysler 300 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 83, 2012 is worse than most other 300 years except 2005, 2006, and 2008. Later years like 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 earn Best verdicts with much lower complaint indexes.