2016 Chrysler 200 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes with a message to shift into park and restart, and many report the engine using oil between changes without a low-oil warning. Airbag warning lights that come and go, especially when the passenger seat is used, are also common, along with hesitation or loss of power around the transmission.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 85 complaints (25%)
   • median 47,750 mi at 3.6 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at various speeds, from parking-lot maneuvers to highway driving, often accompanied by a dashboard message asking the driver to shift into park and restart. Owners report losing power steering and power assist for braking at the same time, and say the car sometimes restarts only after several attempts or a wait. Several say dealers could not duplicate the failure or offered no repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to over 100,000, at both low and highway speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the PCM software updates tied to the emissions recall were applied, and whether any stalling incidents were diagnosed. A test drive should include stops, turns and a stretch at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I drove the vehicle off the lot located in modesto, ca I drove to my home address which is located in antioch, ca. On my way home the car started jerking when I notified the dealership they said they will fix it and to drop it back off. They had the vehicle for 7 days and did not fix a thing because the vehicle cuts off any power and gas control on the freeway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325352, filed 2020-05, 111,573 miles

   “Car stalls cuts completely off no matter speed when happens you can not operate the. Vehicle I was in the middle of a 5 lane freeway where my car stalled then does I had 2 stop completely there in middle of interstate put the vehicle in park then try to start multiple times before it finally started and 2 just do the exact same not even a minute later and as of now that's all the vehicle will do it's not drivable at all up to date.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329757, filed 2020-06, 128 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, often with passenger seat use

   • 82 complaints (24%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,800 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe a red airbag or "Service Airbag" message that appears intermittently, frequently when someone sits in or moves the front passenger seat. Owners say dealers diagnosed an open circuit or a loose under-seat wiring connector and quoted replacement of seat harnesses or an airbag sensor; some say the light returned after repair. A number report being told the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Reported from about 27,000 to 132,000 miles, with no clear weather pattern; often intermittent.

   What to check: With the ignition on, watch whether the airbag light stays lit, and have someone sit in and shift in the passenger seat to see if the warning changes. Check for service records on the under-seat harness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One minute the airbag light will be on then the next it will be off. It's something with the passenger side every time someone sits there or move the passenger seat. It continues to go on and off. I have searched on the internet for any recalls but didn't see any. I did notice that other people are also having problems with this on either both, or just one side of the car. It's not just me having a problem with the airbag. I think this should be a safety hazard and needs to be recalled to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406881, filed 2021-04, 34,980 miles

   “Airbag light is on the diagnostic came back as in open circuit in the passenger squib dealership says have to replace both seat harnesses.the dealer says it's not a safety issue”

   NHTSA complaint #11185106, filed 2019-03, 52,500 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation, revving and loss of power (transmission)

   • 64 complaints (19%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (53 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the car revving without picking up speed from a stop, jerking or surging, and sometimes losing motive power at speed with a transmission warning light. Some complaints say dealers updated transmission software or replaced the module, and in some cases the problem returned. Typically reported between about 20,000 and 90,000 miles, both from a stop and while cruising.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether transmission software updates or the 948TE bushing service were performed, and drive from several stops to feel for delayed or harsh engagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Several complaints to repair issue with acceleration and deceleration on vehicle. Randomly the vehicle will hesitate to accelerate from a stationary position. Engine, motor mounts and transmission have been replaced and issue remains. Vehicle will also hesitate to start causing me to have to try again to start the vehicle. Battery has had to be replaced twice.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363533, filed 2020-10, 21,161 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the RPM fluctuated, and the engine revved without the vehicle accelerating. The transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,466.”

   NHTSA complaint #11491286, filed 2022-10, 87,466 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine uses oil between changes

   • 33 complaints (10%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the engine consuming oil well before the next scheduled change, with no low-oil message on the dash, so the level is only noticed by checking the dipstick. Some describe adding oil repeatedly or having the engine stall or fail to start once the level dropped. Complaints mention that dealers ran oil consumption tests or replaced engines in some cases. Most often noted between roughly 35,000 and 100,000 miles, reported at all times of year.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and ask whether an oil consumption test or the 2.4L warranty extension applies to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bought the car used in march of 2019. It is now spetember and I have had to change the oil 5 times just to keep the car running. It gives no indication of low oil. If I wasn't checking the fluid levels I most certainly would not have figured this out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353393, filed 2020-09, 89,600 miles

   “The engine in our Chrysler 200 loses oil at an alarming rate. The car eventually stalls and will not restart. We are told every time 'no oil shows on the dipstick. It is again in the shop having been towed there because it lost so much oil it would not start. The dealer is defiant because the government has refused to act and recall the 2016 for the same reasons that prompted a recall of the 2015 Chrysler 200. Is it going to take consumer fatalities before the nhsta acts. Tecall these cars now !”

   NHTSA complaint #11043248, filed 2017-11, 35,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and electrical flicker / no-start

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe dash lights flickering, all warning lamps lighting at once, lights that stay on after the key is removed and drain the battery, and repeated hard starts. Some owners report replacing the battery more than once; dealers in some cases traced it to the battery sensor or charging system. Reported from very low mileage up to about 130,000, often noticed at startup or after the car sits.

   Recall 18V3320003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery replacement history and whether the intelligent battery sensor and charging-system bulletins were addressed; check that no lamps remain lit after the key is removed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the side air bag did not deploy after my car was wrecked into . It totally destroyed the back door on the passenger side of my car and hit the front passenger door also. I was making a left turn and a car tboned me in the passenger side of my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10984584, filed 2017-05, 33,000 miles

   “When I accelerate from a stop sign or from a stopped position the vechicle will rev high and not pick up speed. It will stall in the middle of an intersection or as I am driving. This has been occurring since I purchased the vehicle in march 2016. When the vehicle is being started, the car engine and electrical system flickers uncontrollably. All of the lights on the dash board goes off and on the dials goes up and down. The engine shacks as it would like to start but doesn't. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406373, filed 2021-04, 48,500 miles

Buying note. Pay most attention to the engine's oil level history and any records of stalling or software updates, since those come up most in owner complaints. A thorough test drive plus a check of open recalls and service bulletins is worthwhile before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.