2008 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report ignition and electrical problems most often: the car will not start, the key is hard to turn, or the engine shuts off while driving. Many of these complaints were filed while the ignition recall (14V567000) was still open and parts were unavailable, so the reports are spread from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles. The next largest group describes front air bags that did not deploy in a crash.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition key hard to turn, won't start, or engine shuts off

   • 333 complaints (47%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (253 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $678 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe the key being difficult to turn or sticking, the engine not starting until several attempts, and in some cases the engine cutting out while driving and restarting after shifting to neutral. Some say the key could not be removed or the car kept running after the key was pulled. According to complaints, dealers commonly diagnosed a failed ignition switch or wireless ignition node; many owners were told the recall parts were not yet available. Reported across a wide range of mileage, from under 10,000 miles to over 150,000, most often between roughly 50,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 14V5670003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall 14V567000 was completed and whether the invoice shows a full ignition switch or module replacement, not just a reflash. Try starting the car several times and check the key turns smoothly without sticking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time I put my car in park and turn off car key wouldn't come out had to start it back up and turn back off sometimes it did sometimes it didn't know my battery is bad I blame the ignition for that just after I started to have problems with the ignition my battery keep dying I took it to get charged I was told it was good by auto parts tested and everything for free put it back in the car now its died again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661369, filed 2014-11, 90,000 miles

   “When I attempted to insert the key (fob) into the wireless ignition node wireless control module, the car did not cut off when I removed the key. The car continued to run, I did not know how to cut the car off so luckily it didn't have that much gas and it just cut off after the gas ran out. This was very scary. I contact my local dealership and they said that they had recalls on some caravans ignition module the same year but not on my vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10746175, filed 2015-08, 209,100 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalls or loses electrical power while driving

   • 155 complaints (22%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (124 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $760 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at low speeds or at a stop, along with flickering gauges, warning lights, and windows or radio failing at the same time. In a few reports the car lost all power on the highway, including steering and brakes, and some say the car caught fire. Complaints mention dealers replacing the PCM, alternator, starter or power distribution module without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 170,000 miles, with several reports from cars over 100,000 miles.

   Recall 14V5670002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the car has a history of stalling or a replaced power module or alternator, and have a shop scan all modules for stored codes. A test drive that includes stop-and-go driving can help show warning-light flicker.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car will turn off when driving out of nowhere and I have to restart the car all over again. It has happened several times one time as I was turning into a street another time as I was switching lanes. This last time I was at a stop light and the car did it again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316454, filed 2020-03, 156,500 miles

   “I bought this vehicle, thinking it was great. I tried driving it home, and never made it. I lost all power on the highway in front of the semi. In return I did not have brakes, I didn't have steering, all lights turned off, and to top it off it wouldn't start again. I've replaced the PCM, starter, alternator, the power distribution, all the fuses/relays, and here I am still spending hundreds of dollars to try to get my vehicle to work again, and it's not seeming possible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11318875, filed 2020-03, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a crash

   • 208 complaints (29%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2024

   Complaints describe frontal or side impacts where the air bags did not deploy, sometimes with injuries reported. Several owners filed these reports while the Takata inflator recalls (15V313000 and 16V352000) were still open, and some noted the recall parts were not available. A few reports also mention the car catching fire or losing power before the crash. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 170,000, with many in the 48,000 to 150,000 range.

   Recall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer, using the VIN, that both air bag inflator recalls have been completed, and keep the repair paperwork. Ask whether the instrument cluster shows any air bag warning light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. The contact owned a 2008 Chrysler 300. While the contact's son was driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power without warning. As the vehicle was being coasted to the side of the road, the driver lost control and crashed into a guardrail. The vehicle caught fire. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The driver escaped by kicking out the driver side window before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The police and fire department were at the scene and the fire was extinguished. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10839762, filed 2016-03, 48,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The contact owned a 2008 Chrysler 300. T-boned on the driver's side frontal air bags failed to deploy transported by ambulance the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, suddenly a vehicle came out of a parking lot, the contact t-bone the vehicle on the driver side. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The diagnosis was back spasms, shoulder pain and whiplash. The contact was treated and released. The police was present an a police report was issued. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11321792, filed 2020-04, 150,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stall, knock and coolant loss

   • 44 complaints (6%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2018

   Complaints describe engine stalling at a stop, a knocking noise that grew louder before the engine seized, and coolant steaming from under the hood while the temperature gauge stayed normal. One owner reported a water pump failure that damaged the timing belt and was repaired under warranty. Another describes a plastic oil dipstick that seized in its tube and broke. Reported from about 42,000 to 115,000 miles, often on the highway at steady speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or staining around the water pump and hoses, and pull the dipstick to make sure it comes out intact. Ask about oil change records and any prior engine noise.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Odometer has 42,000.00 miles. Car was running fine at 2,200 rpms (on highway, 70 MPH with cruise control on) when out of no where I heard a faint knocking from the engine. Before I could get off at the next exit the knock was extremely loud. Before I could get home (3 miles) the engine seized. The oil was changed 700 miles ago and the oil level was full at the time of the incident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10302606, filed 2010-01, 42,311 miles

   “15 seconds after starting the car at 7:45 am the engine stopped with a big metallic noise. Called Chrysler assistance and 20 minutes after the towing are here and another 20 minutes late, the car arrives at the dealer garage. They called me afternoon and told me that the problem was the water pump blocked and causing the timing belt problem. They replaced the water pump and timing belt the same day under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10392244, filed 2011-03, 79,100 miles

Buying note. Verify that the open ignition and air bag recalls were actually completed on the specific car, since many complaints describe long waits for parts. A pre-purchase inspection that checks starting, stalling history and coolant condition is worth the cost on this model year.

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.