2007 Chrysler 300C Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a shifter that will not come out of Park, along with delayed or harsh transmission engagement that shows up early, sometimes in the first few thousand miles. A second cluster involves the engine shutting down while driving and the dash lights and gauges dropping out, reported at a wide range of mileages from very low to well over 100,000.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear shifter stuck in Park (shift interlock)

   • 28 complaints (25%)
   • median 59,635 mi at 6.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report starting the car and finding the gear lever will not move out of Park, sometimes with the brake pedal pressed. Several say a small plastic part or spring hook inside the shifter assembly broke, and repairs described in the complaints involve replacing the whole shifter assembly or using a screwdriver or cable pull to release it. Some mention a prior service campaign (K39) for this part that their vehicle was not covered by because of its build date, and dealers varied from replacing the assembly to saying the problem could not be reproduced. Reported from about 12,000 miles up to roughly 108,000 miles, often with no warning beforehand.

   What to check: With the engine running, press the brake and move the lever through Park, Reverse and Drive several times; ask whether the shifter assembly has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was out of town and stopped at a parking lot, and when I started to leave my car would not move out of park. I called the dealer and was told that when the shifter breaks the car must be towed for repair. Just after I called the wrecker a pick-up in the same parking lot caught on fire. The business tried to evacuate the parking lot, but I was not able to leave until the wrecker arrived. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461253, filed 2012-06, 37,241 miles

   “The shift level is stuck in park. With the brake pressed, it will move right but not down into gear. If I take my foot off the brake, it will not move to the right at all. The recognition of the brake be depressed appears to be working. I was 120 miles from home so I took the console apart around the gear shifter and found a cable that I could pull backwards and then was able to shift out of park.”

   NHTSA complaint #10496397, filed 2013-02, 85,060 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts down while driving

   • 18 complaints (16%)
   • median 84,028 mi at 7.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners describe the engine quitting at speed, at a stop, or shortly after pulling away, sometimes with all dash lights coming on, gauges dropping to zero and the power steering assist cutting out. Many say the car restarts afterwards and that dealers found no stored codes or could not reproduce it; some had the control module replaced without a lasting fix. Spread from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles) to over 90,000 miles, with several reports in the 44,000 to 85,000 mile range.

   What to check: Ask for any stored or history fault codes and whether the battery and charging system have been tested; a long test drive including idling and stops may help reveal it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were on the freeway and in the space of several seconds, we lost rpms, the check engine light came on, then the traction light, then all of the lights, then it died just as we got onto the shoulder. The mechanic had to replace timing belt and water pump just to get it running enough to run the codes. Mechanic reports that there are bent valves and 4 of the cylinders are misfiring.”

   NHTSA complaint #10576463, filed 2014-04, 101,000 miles

   “While driving my car just stalled twice once at a red light and took a while to restart and then when making a left turn on the road it just stalled and again it took a couple of times to restart during irma I went outside to move my jeep wrangler to a safe spot and the car would not start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11030148, filed 2017-09, 66,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Delayed or harsh transmission engagement

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe a pause of several seconds when shifting from Reverse to Drive or when accelerating, followed by a lurch as the transmission catches; some also note a shudder or rumble at low speed or in fuel-saver mode. Owners say dealers could not duplicate the problem, updated software codes without effect, or suggested work on the torque converter. Mostly reported between roughly 11,000 and 55,000 miles, often noticed within the first year or two of ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: During the test drive, shift between Reverse and Drive a few times and note any delay or clunk; ask whether the transmission control software has been updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have also pressed down on the accelerator and nothing has happened and then all of a sudden it shifted!! Another complaint I have is that when driving in town and the car is in drive and the fuel saver mode their is a shudder in the transmission between 45 and 52 kilometres per hour!! This does not happen if it is not in the fuel saver mode or when you manually shift it into 4!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10324999, filed 2010-04, 70,000 miles

   “I've noticed when shifting into drive there is a noticeable delay. It also occurs when shifting from reverse to drive and vise-versa, there's is also a pause/delay that occurs when attempting to accelerate. Noticeable when trying to attempt a u-turn and in the middle of traffic while waiting for the transmission to catch. Once it does catch there's a instant lunge/acceleration, causing everyone in the vehicle whip flash and has caused me to be extra vigilant. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10455534, filed 2012-04, 54,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Dash lights and gauges flicker or drop out

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Owners report all warning lights flashing, the speedometer and tachometer swinging or dropping to zero, and in some cases the engine stalling or losing power at the same time, often returning to normal after a restart. Complaints describe dealers seeing multiple faults but not identifying a cause, and repairs such as control module replacement did not always resolve it. Reported from about 13,000 to 90,000 miles, intermittently and often shortly after a start or during steady-speed driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any warning lights or gauge issues have been logged, and have an independent shop scan all modules for stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All the warning lights on the dash were flashing and speedometer and tachometer was pulsating from 0 to actual, no loss of power however scared the stuff out of me. Stopped and turned engine off. Was ok, by the way, we were on canada 1 and had to get back to the us. Almost got home and it all started again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10261119, filed 2009-03, 33,000 miles

   “While traveling at speed engine stalls, all dash warning lights illuminate, all gauges drop to no reading and headlights go out, vehicle will restart and show no signs of stated incident, this has happened at least 9 times. Check engine light will only illuminate when failure occurs that is stated above....updated 11/13/15 the consumer stated the failure occurred four times on 8/21/15. Updated 8/21/15 updated 1o/27/2017”

   NHTSA complaint #10730339, filed 2015-06, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Engine stalls after refueling (fuel tank valve)

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 41,327 mi at 8.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe the engine dying at low speed, at a stop light, or as the car pulls away from the gas pump, often just after filling up, and sometimes with the fuel gauge still reading a quarter tank. Owners say dealers or independent mechanics traced it to a valve or flapper inside the fuel tank and that repairs involved replacing the tank. Reported across a wide range from near-new to about 170,000 miles, most often in the 36,000 to 45,000 mile range.

   What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and see how the car idles and pulls away afterwards; ask whether the fuel tank has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Just filled up with premium 93 gas. Was heading to work & stopped at a light. Car idle became rough. Rpm's dropped & the car stalled. It took 2 tries to restart it while I was sitting at the light with traffic behind & in front of me. Once started it ran fine. No obd2 codes could be found. It has done this 4 times in the last year. Brand of gas doesn't matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #10511880, filed 2013-05, 41,327 miles

   “Car dies right after filling the gas tank. This has happened numerous times while driving at a low speed, idling away from the gas pump, or stopped at a stop sign or traffic light. Last time this happened, I was almost hit in the rear at a traffic light when the car stalled. Local Chrysler dealership acknowledged the problem was a faulty part that is molded into the 19 gallon fuel tank but said my car wasn't covered. My mechanic verified that the rollover valve in the tank was indeed faulty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11110319, filed 2018-07, 170,000 miles

Buying note. Because the shifter and transmission complaints appear at low mileage, check the shifter operation and shift quality carefully on a test drive, and ask for service records showing whether the transmission software updates and any shifter replacement were done. The airbag inflator recall listed for this model year should be confirmed as completed by VIN.

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.