2005 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe air bag warning lights staying on and, in some cases, air bags deploying without a crash, plus a recurring problem getting the gear shifter out of Park. Fuel-system complaints cluster around stalling soon after a fill-up, and electrical complaints describe flickering lights, intermittent power loss and repeated battery replacements. Reports span a wide mileage range, from very low-mileage cars to examples well past 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear shifter stuck in Park

   • 166 complaints (20%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (144 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2024

   Owners report the shifter will not move out of Park after starting the car, sometimes after several attempts, and some describe the vehicle rolling when Park did not hold. Dealers commonly replaced the shifter assembly or the shift interlock lever, and some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by the related campaign. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 180,000 miles, often appearing without warning on an otherwise regularly serviced car.

   Recall 05V4600002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car and shift in and out of Park several times, including on a slight slope. Ask whether the shifter assembly or interlock lever has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have never had a problem with my Chrysler 300 up until this morning as I started my car for work. My car was stuck in park . As I researched this deficiency online it I noticed that it has been an ongoing occurrence with chryslers of all type. I called many Chrysler dealerships and found that this is a problem that has been repaired on a normal basis. My complaint is there is no recall on this deficiency and this is costing consumer too much money that we don't have to spend on this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10349892, filed 2010-08, 136,000 miles

   “The vehicle cannot be moved into any gear out of park because the park interlock system or pink thingy is broken. Apparently Chrysler has issued a recall on some vehicles for this problem but my VIN was not included according to the customer service.”

   NHTSA complaint #10464310, filed 2012-07, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on / unwanted air bag deployment

   • 79 complaints (10%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 10.1 yrs old (60 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $745 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2026

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying lit after startup, sometimes on vehicles that had the recall repair done. Several owners report the side or driver air bag not deploying in a collision, and a few describe an air bag deploying without an impact while driving at low speed. Dealers diagnosed air bag faults but in some cases said parts were unavailable. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 200,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 14V7700001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the open air bag recalls were completed and with which parts, and whether the air bag warning light has ever come on. Have any used car scanned for stored air bag codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car I am writing about is a Chrysler 300c. That car is not an option in the selection. My 300c is equipped with front and side air bags. When the car was hit on the passenger side by a gmc jimmy the front bags deployed but the side ones did not. Shouldn't the side bags have opened as well? That is my concern.”

   NHTSA complaint #10157777, filed 2006-05, 24,500 miles

   “Since the vehicle was delivered we have had electrical problems plus a recurrent air bag light problem. The vehicle which is leased and used by our mayor has been back for the same air bag light a minimum of 8 times. The vehicle is presently at the dealer again for the same problem. We have even taken it to a different dealer with the same results.this vehicle is a 2005 Chrysler 300c.”

   NHTSA complaint #10112409, filed 2005-03, 500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Flickering lights and intermittent electrical power loss

   • 75 complaints (9%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2023

   Complaints describe headlights and dash lights flickering, power windows and door locks working intermittently, repeated battery replacements, and occasional loss of power steering, brakes and accessories while driving with the engine still running. Some dealers found no stored codes; others traced door lock and window faults to the door modules. Reported from around 48,000 to 137,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 04V3340003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that battery cables are tight and ask about battery and alternator history; test all lights, windows and door locks, and look for any warning lights at idle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Last summer I was driving toward my grandson's ballgame. I slowed to make a left turn. Suddenly, I lost power steering, power brakes and air conditioning. However, my motor was still running. The next day I took the vehicle to a dealer and was told there were no code showing anything had happened. It is very dangerous, particularly for my wife who would probably panic or not have the strength to control the vehicle. Others have had this problem from reading complaints. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10269666, filed 2009-05, 50,000 miles

   “In july, I was stopped at a stop sign. My car went dead - engine stopped, lights, radio went off. I put it in park and restarted. Next occurrence was about a month later at a stop sign again. Last occurrence was september 22, 2014 - this time the car felt like it was decelerating on the interstate at approx. 60 MPH - the malfunction light flashed and the esp bas light came on. After I got off the highway, the car completely shut off at a stop sign. I put it in park and restarted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10638667, filed 2014-09, 106,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Stalling after refueling

   • 83 complaints (10%)
   • median 97,550 mi at 9.4 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2026

   Owners describe the engine stalling or running rough right after filling the tank, at stops and sometimes at speed, until the fuel level drops. Some complaints mention a strong fuel smell or a leaking tank, and one repair involved the valve on the tank. A service bulletin describes a fuel tank replacement for a stall just after fill-up, but several owners say the repair was not done on their car. Reported from about 15,000 miles to over 115,000 miles, typically immediately after a fill-up.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank was replaced under the related service action, and check for a fuel smell around the tank and filler area.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car stalled in the middle of the freeway while driving at 65mph!! It is a miracle no other car crashed into us and killed us. It also stalls on the streets and after filling it up with gas. Sometimes it starts up again and sometimes it doesn't. The car is a safety hazard to my son and me!! It is a 2005 Chrysler 300 2.7l.”

   NHTSA complaint #10731988, filed 2015-07, 115,577 miles

   “In the begining my car stall after filling the tank up with gas. It would stall at low idle like for instance when I come to a stop. But it also have done it when I've been on the highway when I release the gas pedal which is very dangerous to me and everyone around me. Especially on a major city highway like atlanta. I;ve been trying to get this resolve since early last year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405871, filed 2021-03, 15,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine stalling and rough running

   • 143 complaints (17%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (119 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,450 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2026

   Owners report the engine cutting out at speed or at stops without warning, sometimes with the check engine light flashing and the car failing to restart. In some cases the dealer or an independent shop could not find a stored code, and one owner was told the engine needed replacement. Concentrated from roughly 45,000 to 160,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for a scan of stored engine codes and a test drive from cold through warm-up, and check oil level and condition before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving slowly, under 10 miles per hour, when it just up and died on me. Tried to restart, but would not. Let it sit for 5 minutes, pushed the gas pedal and held it half way down and vehicle started. But would not idle. Tried to hold pedal and put it in drive.to limp it home, but died when engaging drive. Long story short, it wont start or run unless you give it gas, will not idle in park, neutral, reverse or drive, and there have been hundreds of complaints for this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11277281, filed 2019-10, 192,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler 300. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated and the check engine and parking assistance warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10693687, filed 2015-03, 160,000 miles

Buying note. Check the recall and service history first, especially the air bag inflator campaigns and any fuel tank work, since several complaints describe these being open or unavailable. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a code scan and a shifter test in and out of Park will show most of what owners report.

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.