2012 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Chrysler 300 most often describe sudden electrical failures, particularly alternator failures that can stall the car and cut off power steering and brakes, along with airbag warning lights and transmission gear-selector problems. Complaints cluster around 50,000-100,000 miles and many owners say dealers either could not duplicate the problem or told them their VIN was not covered by an existing recall campaign.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Alternator failure and sudden loss of electrical power

   • 192 complaints (45%)
   • median 71,850 mi at 4.9 yrs old (148 state mileage)
   • 30 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners describe the battery saver or battery warning light coming on, then the vehicle losing all power, stalling, or shutting down while driving, sometimes with a burning smell or smoke from the alternator area. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed a failed alternator and replaced it, while others were told there were no recall parts available yet or that their VIN was not included in the alternator recall. Some report paying for the alternator themselves despite having received a recall notice. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 miles to over 150,000, with many reports between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 17V435000Recall 14V6340002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the alternator was replaced and under which campaign, and check that the battery and charging system were tested. Look for a burning smell or scorched wiring near the alternator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2012 Chrysler 300 limited with a 3.6l v6 and 180 amp alternator. Failure occurred at 88000. Show very similar symptoms for recall number 14v634000 (low power mode, battery light, complete electrical system failure) was told by Chrysler that they would not cover it since the recall was for the 160 amp alternator. I had to replace out of pocket with total repair cost at 1200.”

   NHTSA complaint #10984784, filed 2017-05, 88,000 miles

   “While driving on interstate traveling 70 miles per/hour my 2012 Chrysler 300 dash warning light lit up followed by dash going white. We then lost all power in vehicle. No power steering no lights inside vehicle or outside. We were traveling at night so pulled off with some great effort. I am glad I was driving and not my wife. You could smell the electrical fire in vehicle. Had car towed to dealership. Paid almost 700 dollars for new alternator which was the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10826137, filed 2016-02, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear selector won't shift or won't hold Park

   • 55 complaints (13%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2024

   Owners describe the shifter refusing to move out of Park or Reverse, the car not engaging Park so it rolls on an incline, and warnings telling the driver to put the vehicle in Park or service the transmission. Some say the car revs but does not move, or that shifting requires cycling the ignition; dealers sometimes replaced the shifter or performed the gear-selector recall, and others could not find a cause. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 95,000 miles, often during parking or low-speed maneuvering.

   Recall 16V2400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Verify the monostable gear selector recall was performed for this VIN, then test shifting in and out of Park and Reverse on a slope. Ask whether the shifter assembly or transmission control software has been updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling down a busy street in atlanta. I came to a stop sign and when I tried to continue through the intersection, the car would not move. The engine was reeving up high but the car was not moving. It also would not let me put the car in park. I had to turn the car off and after a few minutes I was able to restart the car and continue on my trip. This has happened multiple times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297941, filed 2020-01, 59,000 miles

   “I press the start button my car and it came up service transmission, please put vehicle in park, my windshield wipers activated on their own (when they were in the off position), my heater continuously blew hot and I was unable to turn it off. I had to crawl through the backseat of my vehicle to open the trunk and disconnect it from the battery to cut the vehicle off. It also blind spot deter failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10790369, filed 2015-11, 62,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, or airbags not deploying

   • 73 complaints (17%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying lit, sometimes coming and going when someone sits on the passenger seat, and dealers describing a short or fault in the seat or harness wiring. Some complaints describe collisions in which airbags did not deploy, and others say a prior airbag recall repair did not stop the light from returning. Several owners say they were told their VIN was not included in an airbag campaign. Most often reported between roughly 45,000 and 95,000 miles, with some at much lower mileage.

   Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 13V1180006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag inflator recalls were completed for this VIN, and check that the airbag light goes out after the bulb check on a test drive. Ask whether the seat wiring or harness has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag light comes on and goes off when sitting/not sitting on passenger seat. Appears the seats connection to airbag is faulty. Now the air bag light stays on. Took to dealership previously (soon after purchased) they said something was under the seat messing with airbag cables. Now light appears when nothing is under the seat. Light comes and goes but mostly stays. This happens when driving and sitting in car while warming up. Afraid airbags might deploy because of faulty wiring in seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338366, filed 2020-07, 50,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the air bag warning indicators illuminated. The problem recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13v118000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 62,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10678870, filed 2015-01, 62,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist cutting out or stiff steering

   • 42 complaints (10%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the steering becoming very stiff or losing assist entirely, sometimes intermittently, and in some cases at the same time as an electrical shutdown. Others report a grinding or squeaking noise from the steering column that dealers described as normal or could not duplicate. Spread from very low mileage up to about 145,000 miles, with several reports in the 70,000-100,000 range.

   Recall 17V435000

   What to check: Test steering effort at low speed and listen for grinding or squeaking from the column; ask whether the electro-hydraulic power steering pump or alternator has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering went on the my 2012 Chrysler 300s with a 5.7l v8. The steering started getting stiffer and stiffer until you needed two have both hands firmly on the wheel to make it turn. The steering went from normal to totally manual and very difficult in about 5 min. I drove the vehicle to a repair facility, however steering was extremely difficult.”

   NHTSA complaint #10929803, filed 2016-12, 98,000 miles

   “Steering wheel makes a squeaking noise when making turns no matter the speed. I purchased this car brand new 11/26/12 and I started having this issue a couple weeks after I purchase the 2012 Chrysler 300s awd. I have brought my car to several dealerships in the denver area and they all say they are unable to duplicate the issue on their computer even though they can hear the noise when driving it. I also recorded a video bc on one occasion the dealer said they didn't hear anything. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10526138, filed 2013-07, 200 miles
5. 5
   Electronic stability control

   ABS, traction control and stability control lights

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the ABS and traction control warning lights staying on during normal driving, sometimes with the wipers running on their own or clicking noises from the front. Some say the dealer could not diagnose the cause, and several note their VIN was not covered by the ABS/ESC power distribution recall. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 80,000 miles in these complaints.

   Recall 12V197000

   What to check: Check that the ABS and traction control lights go out after startup and ask whether the ABS/ESC control module or power distribution center has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Has started visiting a friend in the hospital comma park the car in a parking garage and engage the parking brake. The car was stationary not moving and when I return and disengage the parking brake I noticed my ABS and traction control lights are on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10869971, filed 2016-05, 7,300 miles

   “Got up in the morning started my Chrysler 300 let it run for 3-5mins before pulling off to get coffee. No issues going and returning which took 10-15mins tops. Returned home to pick up and drop my girlfriend off at work approx. 20-25 miles away. Made it there with no issues. I pull away from her job turn a few corners I suddenly hear a faint whining the steadily grew louder and began to smell electrical burning. I stopped at a red light popped the hood looked at the engine saw nothing but still smelled electrical burning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11020341, filed 2017-08, 80,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a lot of electrical complaints, so a charging-system inspection and a check of open recalls by VIN are worth doing before purchase. Verify airbag and gear-selector campaigns were completed, and test the shifter, warning lights and steering assist on the test drive.

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.