2018 Chrysler 300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Chrysler 300 report infotainment screen delamination as the dominant concern, with the separating touchscreen triggering phantom inputs that alter climate, navigation, and communications while driving. Transmission roughness and airbag-related complaints round out the most frequently reported problems, with screen issues appearing across a wide mileage range and transmission complaints typically surfacing under 30,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Touchscreen delamination and phantom inputs

   • 88 complaints (58%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the center LCD screen separating internally, after which the system registers phantom touches that autonomously change climate settings, switch radio sources, launch navigation, and place calls to contacts or emergency services without driver input. Owners report the screen cycling rapidly through functions and emitting persistent beeping that cannot be silenced. According to complaints, dealers confirmed the delamination but often declined to repair under warranty, and some owners were told the repair would be out-of-pocket. Reported across a broad range of mileage, from around 15,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, with many complaints filed at unknown mileage, suggesting the issue is not tightly tied to a specific age threshold.

   Recall 18V3320007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the infotainment screen has ever shown discoloration, layering, or responded to touches that were not made. Inspect the screen carefully in a dimly lit environment for any sign of internal separation or color shifting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The navigation system screen is jumping all over the place and changing things I have not touched like the heat/AC, heated seats, stereo, bluetooth, aux and anything else that is controlled by he screen. I have no way to stop it. All of this while the vehicle is sittig still.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399275, filed 2021-03, 50,000 miles

   “The touchscreen that controls everything is going nuts. Cant get the music to work anymore, air blows then heat. back vizor goes up an down. yes i'll take it wherever Its distracting It can be taken anywhere to verify this I dont know who to take it too but i can cant see the warning messages cause its off majority”

   NHTSA complaint #11588290, filed 2024-05
2. 2
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Backup camera failure linked to screen delamination

   • 20 complaints (13%)
   • median 39,039 mi at 3.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the rearview camera going blank, displaying a pixelated or distorted image, or showing the camera-not-detected message when shifting into reverse. Complaints connect this failure to the broader infotainment screen delamination, with the reverse image either disappearing entirely or shifting to the top of the screen. Dealers diagnosed screen delamination as the cause but in several cases declined to repair at no charge. Reported from around 15,000 miles through approximately 90,000 miles, with several complaints filed at unknown mileage.

   What to check: Test the backup camera by shifting into reverse and verify the image is clear and stable; check whether the screen shows any discoloration or ghosting that may indicate delamination beginning.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Top of all my door panels are popping up. Also, backup camera is not working...it was starting to turn red and now it is black and says camera not detected.”

   NHTSA complaint #11387519, filed 2021-01, 15,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while reversing, the backup camera failed to operate due to the Uconnect System malfunctioning. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,078.”

   NHTSA complaint #11489033, filed 2022-10, 21,078 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission rough shifting, jolting, or engagement noise

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the transmission jolting or jerking the vehicle when accelerating from a stop, shifting hard into second gear, grinding or howling at around 40 mph, and surging unexpectedly when moving from park to reverse or at highway speeds. Some owners report the vehicle failing to engage drive after audible noises. According to complaints, dealers were unable to replicate the condition in several cases and did not repair the vehicle. Most complaints reference mileage under 30,000 miles, with several occurring between 8,000 and 26,000 miles.

   Recall 18V2800007 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, pay attention to shifts at low speed and from a stop, particularly into second gear and when moving between park and reverse; ask whether any transmission-related service bulletins have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 845re transmission is causing problems of grinding noises and a howling,and feel of grinding on the gas pedal at 40 MPH no power and the car stutters in the morning at first start in drive while moving, I've had it at lucas smith in festus mo 3 times and can't find what's going wrong, this has happen in my 2016 Chrysler 300 and no solutions were found,,,in my research of this problem no one else has this problem but me that's strange!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11271740, filed 2019-10, 8,700 miles

   “I have found that going at lower speeds, like accelerating from stop, or driving thru a parking lot, the transmission jolts the entire car. Like it is slipping in and out of gear. It also seems to shift really hard in to second gear, not all the time but is just getting worse. The vehicle only has 26000 miles on it and has been serviced at the correct intervals. Also electrical issues with passenger side window motor, it does not want to roll up. This has happened 4 or 5 times in the last 2 weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376965, filed 2020-11, 26,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and non-deployment concerns

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 11,500 mi at 1.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints include the airbag warning light illuminating and returning after repair, as well as reports that airbags did not deploy during collisions at highway speeds. One complaint describes a seat belt module failure as the diagnosed cause of the warning light. Separately, owners have reported receiving notice of recall 24V198000 concerning curtain airbag inflator rupture but being unable to get the repair completed due to unavailable parts. Non-deployment complaints were filed at low mileage around 1,500 to 19,000 miles; warning light complaints appear at higher mileage around 115,000 miles.

   Recall 24V1980001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Verify whether recall 24V198000 for the side curtain airbag inflators has been completed, as parts availability has been an issue; check that no airbag warning light is present and ask for documentation of any prior airbag system repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owned a 2018 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving about 65 MPH, the vehicle in front crashed into a stationary vehicle, causing the contact's 'vehicle to stop abruptly and was rear ended by the vehicle behind. As a result, the vehicle then crashed into both crashed vehicles in front. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The contact's vehicle was totaled and was towed to the contact's residence. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11209555, filed 2019-05, 19,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler 300. While driving 55 MPH, the contact's vehicle was cut off by another vehicle. The contact swerved off the road and crashed into two trees. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver and passenger sustained unknown injures that required medical attention. A police report was filed with the state police. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 4,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11152541, filed 2018-11, 4,000 miles

Buying note. The most widespread concern with the 2018 Chrysler 300 is infotainment screen delamination, which affects climate control, navigation, and the backup camera and has proven difficult to resolve under warranty. Prospective buyers should inspect the screen closely, confirm the curtain airbag recall (24V198000) has been completed, and check door panels for separation before purchasing.

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.