2014 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Chrysler 300 most often describe electrical glitches — stalling, dead or flickering instrument panels, no-start conditions and alternator-related warnings — and trouble with the eight-speed automatic's shifter and gear engagement, with many reports filed at low mileage. A second group of complaints clusters around the Pentastar V6 oil filter housing and leaks, and around weak headlight performance, with the drivetrain and shifter complaints spanning everything from near-new vehicles to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter/transmission gear engagement problems

   • 58 complaints (24%)
   • median 22,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe the vehicle shifting out of drive or park on its own, refusing to engage a gear, lagging or revving without moving, and showing service transmission or service shifter messages. Some owners report the vehicle rolling after being placed in park. Several complaints reference the eight-speed monostable shifter recall and say the condition returned after the recall repair; dealers sometimes reported the vehicle was operating to specification. Reported from 100 miles to about 184,000, but many owners report it early — often under 10,000 miles.

   Recall 16V2400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm recall 16V240000 was performed, then test shifting through drive, reverse and park on a slope with the brake applied, and watch for service shifter or service transmission messages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I pulled into my driveway at home and placed the vehicle in park. At the time I placed it in park a reading came on the dash that said 'service trans press brake when stopped key off engine to engage park'. From what I could see the vehicle was already in park. As I tried to place the vehicle into drive it would go directly back into park as soon as I got off the brake pedal.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341732, filed 2020-07, 94,967 miles

   “I purchased this Chrysler 300 in 2014 and paid cash 25,000 and only have 17,000 because I fear for my life to drive it. On several occasion my vehicle has stopped while in motion without warning and the gear slips from drive to park. While exiting my vehicle after I have parked my car slips into drive causing me to stumble. On two separate occasions I had to call a tow truck to aid me because my vehicle would stop with warning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10967618, filed 2017-03, 17,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and electrical/voltage faults

   • 54 complaints (23%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners describe the engine cutting out while driving, sometimes with the instrument panel, radio and gauges going dark or the warning lights flashing on and off. Some vehicles then fail to restart or fail to shut off, and several owners relate the events to alternator or battery-charging concerns. Complaints mention that the dealer could not duplicate the failure, that batteries were recharged or replaced without resolving it, and that parts for an alternator-related recall were unavailable at the time. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 150,000, with many between roughly 20,000 and 90,000; several owners note the problem recurred after battery or alternator service.

   Recall 14V634000Recall 17V741000Recall 17V4350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether both alternator recalls (14V634000 and 17V741000) were completed and whether the battery and charging system were checked; have a scan for stored codes done before purchase and note any history of no-start or stalling events.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “45000 miles the dashboard cluster all of dash goes total out no speed no tachometer, no gas, all temp gauges and traction control go out. The radio and the rest of the console go black as well. Car will not turn on also you can not use alarm system to enter vehicle. Dome light does come on. Tried to jump start doesnt effect car as its not the battery its some other computer issue. As tow truck hauled car the car came back to life from the jolt of road bumps. Dealership states can't find anything wrong with car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10972336, filed 2017-04, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the back-up camera and radio were inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317060, filed 2020-03, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Oil filter housing leak / oil loss

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe oil dripping underneath the car, sometimes in large amounts, traced by the dealer or shop to a cracked or leaking oil filter housing or cooler assembly. Some complaints note the part was on back order and that the vehicle was left unrepaired. A related concern is engine noise or vibration tied to valvetrain wear. Mostly reported between roughly 90,000 and 140,000 miles; a small number of owners describe engine noise or a knocking sound at lower mileage.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect under the engine and around the oil filter housing for oil residue, check the oil level, and ask whether the filter housing or adapter has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It was noticed that the vehicle was suddenly leaking oil as in a quart on the pavement where I had parked. Took it to a service center and the oil filter housing cooler is cracked. He advised to not drive it as the oil is pouring down the top of the motor and could cause a fire or other electrical problems. Upon trying to order the part, it would seem that a lot of other people are having the same issue. The manager at our service center was told it was on backorder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11398652, filed 2021-03, 108,000 miles

   “Driving the car under normal load,s tarted to notice a knock from the engine. Over the next few weeks it progressively got worse. Pulled plugs, checked oil. Gas, put a boroscope down the spark plug holes looking for engine damage. Finally had to have the car sent to the shop. When they got the motor torn down the bad lifter was discovered. Upon seeing that & doing some research there are quite a few posts on forums about the mds lifters on the 5.7 & 6.4 hemis going bad & destroying a cam. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11325874, filed 2020-05, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Focus a pre-purchase inspection on the charging system, the shifter and the eight-speed transmission, and on oil leaks around the filter housing, and confirm which of the open recalls for this year were actually completed. Service records showing completed recall work and a recent charging-system check are more useful here than mileage alone.

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.