1999 Chrysler 300M Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Chrysler 300M most often describe a cracked dashboard cover around the passenger airbag, chrome wheel rims that corrode and slowly lose air, and power steering that intermittently drops out. Complaints also cover engine stalling, transmission and interlock problems, and several smaller electrical and trim issues, mostly appearing between roughly 40,000 and 110,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cracks around passenger airbag

   • 85 complaints (24%)
   • median 64,552 mi at 5.5 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe a split or crack in the dash cover, usually just to one or both sides of the passenger airbag, that often starts small and lengthens within weeks. Some say the material split along the airbag seam by itself, and a few report an oily film around the crack. According to the complaints, dealers and body shops frequently declined to repair it, citing liability or the airbag, and owners were told warranty would not cover it. Mostly reported between about 34,000 and 115,000 miles, with several owners noting the car was garaged or driven in hot or humid conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the dash cover closely on both sides of the passenger airbag for cracks or splits, and ask whether the dash has ever been replaced. Note that shops may be reluctant to repair this area because of the airbag.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a '99 Chrysler 300M. The dash has develop a 10 vertical crack on the dash above the air-bag. I spoke with several other owners of similar 300M's, all have experienced this problem. I feel thesis a flaw in manufacturing and a major safety issue that needs to be corrected.”

   NHTSA complaint #10153062, filed 2006-03, 85,000 miles

   “I recently noticed a crack in the dashboard of my 1999 Chrysler 300M over the passenger airbag. The crack is about two inches long and getting bigger. There is also an oily substance surrounding the crack. I feel that this is a safety concern and may compromise proper deployment of the airbag resulting in bodily harm or possible death in the event of an accident. I am concerned that if I were to repair the crack it would it would further compromise the deployment of the airbag. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093623, filed 2004-10, 75,992 miles
2. 2
   Wheels

   Chrome wheels corrode and lose air

   • 26 complaints (7%)
   • median 78,900 mi at 5.6 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2008

   Complaints describe tires losing pressure repeatedly because the chrome plated rims corrode and scale along the bead edge, so the tire no longer seals; some owners report flat tires overnight and frequent refills. Several say a dealer or tire shop identified the rims as the cause, and some report flaking metal, hairline cracks or a valve stem that keeps leaking. A few complaints mention wheel bolts or studs failing, including one where the wheel separated. Typically reported from about 40,000 to 125,000 miles, often after years of slow leaks that owners had been topping off.

   What to check: Check each rim's inner bead edge for corrosion, peeling chrome or cracks, ask how often the tires need air, and confirm lug nut torque and stud condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The wheels of our 1999 Chrysler 300M have been leaking for over two years. The problem seems to be the chrome plating over the aluminum. It is scaling and corroding along the edge of the rim, so an air seal is almost impossible. We have had occasion when employees have taken the car and found it to swerve to the left or right - only to find that the air pressure has been depleted to 10-15 PSI.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032890, filed 2003-08, 57,000 miles

   “I have had multiple wheel problems with the wheels on my 1999 Chrysler 300M. The wheels have corroded and as a result the tires continually go flat. The valve stems have been replaced numerous times only to leak around them again. Yesterday I took my car to the tire service center because it was leaking again. This time to my surprise there was a hairline crack amid the corrosion necessitating replacement of the wheel. I was told that the chrome wheels corrode and all should to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10137145, filed 2005-09, 103,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or will not restart

   • 28 complaints (8%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2020

   Several owners describe the engine cutting out without warning, sometimes at highway speed or mid-turn, and then restarting or refusing to start until it cools or is towed. Complaints mention no stored fault codes, repeated dealer visits without a diagnosis, and one case where a crankshaft sensor was identified. Related complaints describe the car surging forward at a stop after transmission fluid service. Reported from about 60,000 to 170,000 miles, with several owners noting the behavior was intermittent over months.

   What to check: Ask for any repair history on sensors, ignition and fuel components, and take a long enough test drive to include a cold start, a stop-and-go stretch and a highway run.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car for no reason stalls and leaves no codes. It has been checked out at the dealers 2 times and a mechanic once, they both say they cant fix it if it isn't broken. The dealer said drive it until it fails for good, my problem with that is if it stalls in say the outer lane of the interstate going 70 MPH and I have no power to get out of the way from a 70 MPH semi what do I do then bodies all over the interstate and whos at fault then?”

   NHTSA complaint #10649730, filed 2014-10, 170,000 miles

   “Car started on the evening of august 12th, driven approximately 17 miles, stopped for 10 mins, restarted & driven 5 more miles. I went to start it again after about a half hour, would turnover but would not start. Car towed by mechanic 8/13/2014. As of 9/26/14, car has been in mechanic's care & unable to fix. Car being towed back to me with no further information on how to fix it. Mechanic has had vehicle on 2 separate diagnostic machines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10639240, filed 2014-09, 122,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out or steering rack wear

   • 37 complaints (11%)
   • median 86,292 mi at 6.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,197 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners describe the power assist dropping away, sometimes for a few minutes and sometimes for good, making the car hard to turn at low speed or in a parking maneuver. Several complaints mention steering rack and inner tie rod replacement, and one owner said a dealer had already replaced the rack and could not promise the replacement would last. Some also report front-end parts that would not hold an alignment. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 140,000 miles, with failures described as sudden rather than gradual.

   What to check: Ask whether the steering rack or tie rods have been replaced, listen for steering noise on a test drive, and have a shop check for play and check the alignment before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It is seemingly impossible to align a 1999 Chrysler 300M, and this has been quite an alarming recent experience for me, having just bought a used one and having changed a lot of front-end suspension parts before aligning and re-aligning. I feel so horrible for the people who bought and continue to buy these 300 cars today. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10157903, filed 2006-05, 104,000 miles

   “While attempting to make a right turn into a shopping mall the power steering on my 1999 Chrysler 300M went out.(note: this is the first time this had happened) I had to use most of my strength to complete the turn. I pulled into a nearby parking space with the same difficulty and ran my errand. When I re-entered the car the steering was back to normal until I got to my house about 5 minutes later when the power steering again went out. I left the car parked until the next morning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10262665, filed 2009-03, 108,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter can leave Park without the key

   • 23 complaints (7%)
   • median 54,750 mi at 5.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2008

   Complaints describe the floor shifter moving out of Park with the key removed, or the key coming out while the shifter was not in Park, and one owner reported the car rolling down a driveway as a result. Owners also report being told parts for the interlock recall were unavailable, and others describe transmission slipping, sensor failure leaving only one gear, and a child being able to move the shifter. Reported from very low mileage up to about 110,000 miles, with interlock complaints concentrated shortly after the recall was issued.

   Recall 04V0210002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether recall 04V021000 was completed, and check on a test drive that the shifter will not move out of Park with the key out and the brake released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently purchased a used 1999 Chrysler 300M. I had no problems with the car for the first couple of months. After about 3 months I noticed the interior lights began to turn on and off by themselves. Shortly after that my factory stereo went out. The next thing I noticed was the transmission slipping. After that my driver and passenger side speakers went out. After that my headlights began turning on and off by themselves when the car was parked and turned off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10217516, filed 2008-02, 112,809 miles

   “1. Normal everyday driving 2. Input/output sensor on transmission failed. Speedometer read zero (0) when moving. Only 2nd gear available. Had to drive side streets at low speed to prevent engine from revving too high as it was taken to the dealer. 3. Out of warranty repair; replaced input/output sensors on transmission. Cost $173.90.”

   NHTSA complaint #10139083, filed 2005-10, 46,401 miles

Buying note. On a car this age, condition and records matter more than the model year itself: verify recall work on the shifter interlock and look closely at the dashboard, wheels and steering before deciding. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the front end, tire sealing and a cold start is worth the cost.

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.