2013 Chrysler 300 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2013 Chrysler 300 has 306 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 72, ranking 6th worst of 19 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by Electrical System complaints (47% share, 144 complaints) and two do-not-drive airbag recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 72/100
- #6 of 19 300 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 306
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 19
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 16
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 17.5 city / 27.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2013 Chrysler 300 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System144 (47%)
- Transmission & Powertrain58 (19%)
- Engine50 (16%)
- Airbags32 (10%)
- Brakes30 (10%)
- Other26 (8%)
- Steering13 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (3%)
- Fuel System8 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Electrical systems fail progressively, sometimes starting after an alternator recall repair, alongside suspension problems.
- Front lower control arms separate from the vehicle due to rust, causing loss of steering control and crashes into guardrails.
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including a 20 mph impact into a building and a 35 mph t-bone collision.
- Alternator assemblies catch fire under the hood, in one case triggering a brake warning light before flames were noticed.
- Brakes and throttle behave unexpectedly, with one owner reporting the car stalled and lost speed control while braking during an intersection crossing.
- Vehicles lose power and brake response suddenly at highway speed, leading to a crash and rollover in one reported case.
2013 Chrysler 300 recalls
6 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.
2013 Chrysler 300 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,350
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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.
2013 compared with other 300 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Chrysler 300 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 306 complaints for the 2013 Chrysler 300, giving it a complaint index of 72 and a Caution verdict relative to other 300 model years. It ranks 6th worst out of 19 years covered.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Chrysler 300?
- Electrical System complaints are the largest category, with 144 complaints making up 47% of all reports, including 16 reported fires.
- Does the 2013 Chrysler 300 have any do-not-drive recalls?
- Yes. Two of its six recalls, both involving airbags (campaigns 19V018000 and 18V021000), are labeled do-not-drive by NHTSA until repaired.
- How does the 2013 Chrysler 300 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 72 is lower than 2005-2008 and 2012 (all Avoid, indexes 78-100) but higher than 2009-2011, 2014-2015, and 2016 onward, which score Good or Best.
- What is the median mileage for failures on the 2013 Chrysler 300?
- Across the top complaint areas, median mileage at failure ranges from 18,000 miles (suspension) to 76,000 miles (fuel system), with electrical and engine failures both centered around 42,000 miles.