The 2001 Chrysler 300M has 4 safety recalls and 91 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is steering (31 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints91filed by owners
Crashes · fires3 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
NHTSA recall 03V035000 · Feb 5, 2003 · 1,066,000 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
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.
Structure › Frame and members
NHTSA recall 01V273000 · Aug 2, 2001 · 282,470 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: 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."
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.
Child seat
NHTSA recall 00V366000 · Nov 9, 2000 · 1,211,756 vehicles
Problem: 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.
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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2001 Chrysler 300M 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
300 M
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S4) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Steering Rack and pinion; Linkages › Tie rod assembly
31
1
1
1
63,700 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter
11
0
0
0
74,327 mi
Air bags Frontal
10
1
0
1
65,000 mi
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
9
0
1
0
83,500 mi
Seats Front assembly › Power adjust; Front assembly › Recliner
8
0
0
0
73,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Disc › Pads
8
1
1
1
52,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Cooling system
7
0
0
0
53,000 mi
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
6
0
0
0
60,000 mi
Unknown or other
6
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front; Front › Macpherson strut
5
0
0
0
65,744 mi
Structure Body › Door; Body
5
0
0
0
53,500 mi
Wheels Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
3
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 1, 2017 · 82,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD RANDOMLY REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS, BUT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…
Apr 9, 2018Unknown or other 2001 CHRYSLER 300M SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. CHANGED O RINGS AND NO VISABLE LEAKS. BAFFLING MECHANIC..... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Nov 11, 2015 · 100,000 milesFuel/propulsion system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Oct 20, 2015 · 75,000 milesAir bags I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE AIR BAG RECALL RESOLVED ON MY CAR. I CHECKED IN SEPTEMBER AND AGAIN OCTOBER 16 AND TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WHEN I GO ON THE CHRYSLER WEB SITE FOR RECALL INFORMATION, IT SAYS THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER, OR THE DEALER, ARE NOT GIVING ME TOP PRIORITY. IN THE MEAN TIME, I AM AT RISK. I CHECKED THIS OUT AGAIN TODAY WITH THE SAME RESULT.
Sep 1, 2015 · 164,000 milesAir bags MY SON WAS DRIVING TO COLLEGE ON THE INTERSTATE AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, HIT AN ANIMAL OR HIT A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. MY SON WAS NOT INJURED, HE WAS STILL ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ME TO INFORM ME WHAT HAPPENED AND ASK WHAT TO DO. AS HE WAS CLOSE TO HIS COLLEGE I TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL BUT CONTINUE ON TO SCHOOL, I WOULD CALL HIS UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND THEN LET HIM KNOW WHAT TO DO AFTER HIS CLASS WAS OVER. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY BROTHER. MY BROTHER SAID TO HAVE HIM DRIVE IT TO HIS SHOP SO HE COULD LOOK AT IT. THE…
Apr 6, 2015 · 135,450 milesFuel/propulsion system VERY VERY STRONG GAS SMELL WHILE DRIVING CANNOT FIND LEAK AFRAID OF FIRE FOUND SUGGESTIONS ON FORUM ON LINE SAYS NEAR DRIVER SIDE EXACTLY WHERE IT SMELLS. STILL SMELLS 35 MIN AFTER DRIVING. *TR
Dec 8, 2012 · 60,000 milesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Aug 22, 2014 · 17,508 milesPower train WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR DURING ACCELERATION. NOTE: THIS WAS ALSO EVIDENT BY AN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPM'S ON THE TACHOMETER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF IN 2001. IT HAS ONLY 17,508 MILES ON IT!. CHECKING OF THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT REVEALED A P0601 TROUBLE CODEI. THIS IS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOTED BY OTHER 2001 CHRYSLER 300 M OWNERS, UPON CONDUCTING A SEARCH ON THE COMPUTER. SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS! *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE03010 · opened Feb 27, 2003 · closed Sep 2, 2003THROTTLE CONTROL FAILURE 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.