2013 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report electrical problems, especially alternator failures that can leave the car dead, smoking, or without power steering and brakes; many say their vehicle was outside the alternator recalls. Transmission complaints come next, typically jerky or harsh shifting, sudden stalling, and trouble getting the car into or out of park. Lights are a recurring theme: headlamps that owners find too dim and high beams that flicker.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Alternator failure (battery saver message, smoke, stalling)

   • 96 complaints (31%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners report a "battery saver mode" or "check battery" message on the dash, followed by dimmed lights, smoke or sparks at the alternator, and loss of power steering, brakes and gauges. Some say the car died while driving or filled with a burning smell, and several describe a dead battery alongside the failed alternator. According to complaints, dealers often replaced the alternator and battery, and some owners say their VIN was not covered by the alternator recalls even though the symptoms matched. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 85,000 miles, often at highway speeds or shortly after startup.

   Recall 17V435000Recall 14V634000

   What to check: Ask whether the alternator recall work (17V-435 or 14V-634) was completed and get it in writing; check for a battery-saver warning on a test drive and have the charging system tested.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In november 2014 I received a safety recall p60 / NHTSA 14v-634 indicating the alternator diodes have an issue, causing failure to engine, or possible fire. I have been unable to get the alternator repaired, or replaced. The dealer, and manufacture is telling me they do not have the parts, and I am afraid to drive my car. Please assist is getting this issue fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10704289, filed 2015-04, 7,000 miles

   “No apparent driving problem. Message came on dash battery saver mode . Comments on internet about others having this issue may indicate alternator to fail and car engine cuts out unexpectedly. This did not happen to me yet but I am concerned and will contact Chrysler as soon as holiday is over.”

   NHTSA complaint #10661126, filed 2014-11, 21,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh shifting, stalling or not staying in gear

   • 67 complaints (22%)
   • median 40,825 mi at 3.8 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe big jolts and harsh or delayed shifts, the car slipping between gears with the engine revving, and occasionally stalling or dropping into limp mode. Some owners report the gear selector moving on its own or the car refusing to shift into or out of park, and a few say the engine would not shut off. Dealers sometimes found a torque converter issue, reprogrammed modules, or could not duplicate the problem. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 80,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   Recall 16V240000Recall 13V6100003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test a cold start and several shifts through all gears, and confirm the gear selector warning recall (16V-240) was addressed; ask whether any transmission software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had so many complaints with this car and the dealership always says it is our problem. Upon driving we will smell something burning and now the AC or heat do not work properly. The gear will jump out of place when driving or trying to park. Than you try to put it in drive or reverse and the gear will not move sometimes. No matter if its on the highway or street we have these same problems. I put it happen it january 2017 but these things been happen way before than”

   NHTSA complaint #11022404, filed 2017-09, 30,000 miles

   “We were driving and suddenly ABS brake and alert light came on and we got msg on dash board that say service transmission ,shut off engine to engage park , we pulled out of traffic and stopped on the side of road and pushed the turn off button but the engine do not cut off and the gear will not dis engage from drive and nor shutt off , we were scared we dont know what to do as we cannot shut off the car and if we jump out of car the car is still running and in drive driving so we keep on pushing the power off and finally it turned off and we …”

   NHTSA complaint #10891795, filed 2016-07, 30,400 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or bags not deploying

   • 28 complaints (9%)
   • median 52,500 mi at 4.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on after startup or after recall work, and in a few cases air bags that did not deploy in a collision. Some describe renewed warning lights following inflator recall service. Complaints note that dealers had not always diagnosed the light at the time of filing. Reported from about 40,000 to 150,000 miles, both in normal driving and after collisions.

   Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVE1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the passenger inflator recalls were completed by VIN, and check that the air bag light does not stay on after the bulb check at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took it in for air bag recall when I got it back it now makes a clicking noise under the dash. While I drive or idle it starts to click for about one minute and stops.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306472, filed 2020-02, 125,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11510840, filed 2023-03, 70,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine misfire and rough running

   • 18 complaints (6%)
   • median 47,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2020

   Complaints describe the check engine light with misfire codes, shaking at idle, hesitation, and occasional stalling. Some owners were told an injector, lifter or camshaft needed replacement, and a service bulletin describes camshaft lobe and roller lifter wear causing noise, rough idle and misfire. Reported across a wide range, from about 50,000 to over 120,000 miles, at idle and during steady driving.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for recent service records and a scan for stored misfire codes; listen for ticking or tapping from the engine at idle on a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My engine light has turned on and the reading says it's cylinder #2 misfire. It came out of no where and from what I've seen and heard it is a common issue. My car is basically brand new and very well taken care of but it has needed every recall and for some reason something this serious and common is not covered. It shakes while it idles it's not running great and this could bring on many more problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10915666, filed 2016-10, 52,000 miles

   “Diagnostic shows misfire in cylinder 8. Vehicle has 123,000 miles on it. I am told it is a lifter or cam and that I need a new engine. This vehicle is 7 years old and has been maintained. After reading reviews the hemi engine is known to break down. The estimated cost for a new engine approximately $ 7,000. Vehicle all of a sudden idled very rough took in and major work needed to be done. Wish Chrysler would back their vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373904, filed 2020-11, 123,000 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Dim headlamps and flickering high beams

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe low beams that light only a short distance ahead, leaving blind spots on curves and unlit rural roads, with high beams adding little. Some also report the high beams flickering or one headlamp quitting. According to complaints, dealers said there was no adjustment available, and a service bulletin describes installing jumper wires at the headlamp connectors for flickering high beams. Reported at low mileage in many cases, from a few thousand to about 40,000 miles, mostly while driving at night.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car at night on an unlit road before buying, and ask whether the high-beam jumper-wire bulletin was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The lighting is so poor on rural roads that you must drive with the brights on. The low beams only work for the first 15 feet or so and then when going down a slight decline the far distance or night horizon just disappears like a curtain dropped down from the top of the windshield. You literally lose sight of the road. Same situation when turning. Its really scary. I spoke with the service manager and he said he drove one home and almost ran off the road. He agrees with my problem. I'm told there is no fix. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10520664, filed 2013-06, 3,000 miles

   “There was no crash but there is a huge safety issue. The headlights on the car are the worse I've ever encountered (owner 12 cars). When you turn the corner on a un lit street there is a big blind spot left and right. I have almost already hit 3 parked cars close to the cornet because you cannot see them nor the curb. Even driving on a road it looks like there are blinders on the lights left and right. Checked with the dealer and there are no adjustments to be made. I don't understand how this huge safety issue escaped everyone's attention. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10520667, filed 2013-06, 5,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check the charging system and alternator recall status first, then test the transmission through several shifts and scan for engine codes. Confirm by VIN which air bag and gear selector recalls were completed, and drive the car at night to judge the headlights.

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.