2000 Chrysler 300M Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe steering problems — clunking, play in the wheel, and in some reports a rack-and-pinion or tie-rod fastening failure that left the car hard or impossible to steer — along with cracks in the passenger-side dash near the airbag cover and door locks that stop working electronically. Many of these appear between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, though some came much earlier in the car's life; reports of worn ball joints, tie rods and suspension parts, corroded chrome wheels that lose tire pressure, and frontal airbags that did not deploy in a crash also recur across the sample.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering rack and tie-rod failure (clunking, loose steering)

   • 49 complaints (20%)
   • median 57,337 mi at 7.2 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners describe clunking or popping noises over bumps, noticeable play in the steering wheel, and a wheel that feels like it binds or sticks mid-turn. Several complaints say a mechanic found the rack and pinion worn out, or that bolts holding the rack and tie rod had sheared or backed out, leaving the car unable to steer. In some cases the repair was done at the owner's expense after the dealer called the condition normal or declined because the warranty had expired. Reported from about 19,000 to 180,000 miles, with many between 45,000 and 100,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, listen for clunks over bumps and check for play or binding in the wheel; ask whether the rack, tie rods or their mounting bolts have been replaced, and have a shop inspect the steering linkage before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving aprox 10 MPH into to school pick up and drop off area, to pick up children as school was letting out. I lost all steering functions, I had to have car towed back to my residence. My husband found that a bolt had broke off the tie rod ((right side) going into the rack and pinion and the (left side) bolt to the tie rod had back out of the rack and pinion. Their were no warning signs that something was wrong with the steering. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10502069, filed 2013-03, 180,000 miles

   “Premature failure of the safety related steering equipment has occurred on my 2000 year Chrysler 300M. The rack and pinion failed and I am now scheduling repairs at my cost as the warranty is expired. I took the vehicle to a dealer numerous times for over a year without satisfaction on their review. They initially would say the condition was normal . I have found an independent repair shop and will be having them replace the rack and pinion. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10060008, filed 2004-02, 59,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Cracks in the dash around the passenger airbag

   • 42 complaints (17%)
   • median 50,233 mi at 4.9 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2009

   Complaints describe a vertical split appearing in the passenger-side dashboard, often directly over the airbag cover, sometimes extending several inches; a few mention wearing through above the driver's airbag too. Owners frequently worry whether the crack affects airbag deployment, and reports say the dealer or manufacturer often declined coverage or said the whole dash would need replacing. Mostly reported between about 34,000 and 72,000 miles, often on cars a few years old.

   Recall 01V273000

   What to check: Inspect the dash on both sides of the passenger airbag for splits or lifting, and ask whether the dash has been replaced or repaired and whether a related campaign was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One week ago a 3 split appeared in the passenger side dashboard vinyl near the air bag. My concern is that this is in someway related to, or is going to affect, the operation of the air bag deployment. I understand this is beginning to occur in many 1999 and 2000 300M's. Four years seems much too early for a problem like this to occur. The vinyl is still resilient and pliable, not hard or brittle. My local Chrysler dealer (allen jay) tells me they have never heard of it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10043816, filed 2003-10, 57,100 miles

   “Passenger side dash has a vertical crack that extends for about 4 where the passager side airbag is. The car was not in any kind of accident or situation that would have casued this problem. I am concerned about the functionality of the airbag in the passenger side due to the cracked dash. My son cut his finger on the edges of the crack when he was investigating it as small children tend to do. I called the dealer I purchased the car from because I bought the extended warrenty from Chrysler. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10074906, filed 2004-06, 61,458 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door lock actuators fail (buzzing, door will not unlock)

   • 17 complaints (7%)
   • median 48,013 mi at 4.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2011

   Owners report a loud buzzing or grinding from a door lock that then will not unlock electronically, so the door has to be unlocked by cycling the switch and manually lifting the lock, or opened only from outside. Several say the problem moved from one door to another over time, and that the fix was a new lock actuator at their own cost. Reported from about 42,000 to 84,000 miles, often within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Lock and unlock every door with the switch and the key fob and listen for buzzing; make sure each door opens from both inside and outside, and ask whether any lock actuators have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The inside drivers door latch broke where the latch mechanism connecting the rod attaches. I can only open the door from the outside. The handle assembly is molded I can't open the door quickly in the event of an emergency. The repair has not been completed, the door panel is on backorder.”

   NHTSA complaint #10181480, filed 2007-02, 65,408 miles

   “When my Chrysler 300M was less than 2 years old, the lock on the front passenger door began making horrible grinding noises, and no longer opened electronically. I ultimately had to replace the entire locking mechanism at a cost of $228.99. Less than a year later, the rear passenger door lock began making the same grinding noise, and stopped working electronically. It's about time Chrysler recalled this and fixed it once and for all as I see that I'm far from the only person being inconvenienced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10062654, filed 2004-03, 43,398 miles
4. 4
   Wheels

   Corroded chrome wheels lose tire pressure

   • 22 complaints (9%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Complaints describe repeated slow leaks and flat tires traced to corrosion on the inside of the chrome-plated aluminum rims, where the bead seal breaks. Owners say cleaning and resealing the wheels only helped briefly, and that replacing the rims was suggested; some also mention the tire-to-rim seal separating while driving. Reported from about 15,000 to 128,000 miles, with many under 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Check tire pressures over several days and look at the inner bead area of each rim for corrosion or peeling chrome; ask whether the wheels have been resealed or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2000 chysler 300M. Myself and two neighbors have had this same problem numberous times this year. We are finding that the wheels are rusting/peeling and causing the seal on the tires to break, thus, causing constant flat tires. We've all had the wheels cleaned and re-sealed numerous times but feel this is a real safety hazard let alone a concern of owners finding flat tires all the time. Our dealer indicated no recalls have been made and that there were some problems with the manufacturer of the wheels. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10143122, filed 2005-11, 24,900 miles

   “I have a 2000 Chrysler 300 m that has chrome/aluminum wheels. About 8 months ago I noticed that I was losing substantial pressure in my tires on a regular basis. Thinking this was a problem with the tires, I took the car back to the store where I purchased the tires. Upon inspection, the service technician pointed out that my rims were corroding from the inside and that this affected the bead on the tire and caused it to lose pressure. He indicated that this was a big problem for Chrysler cars and that the rims were junk . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10204543, filed 2007-10, 87,200 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Front airbags did not deploy in a crash

   • 25 complaints (10%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2015

   Several owners describe frontal or front-angle collisions in which neither the driver nor passenger airbag deployed, with impact speeds reported from about 40 to 60 mph, and injuries in some cases. Complaints say Chrysler offered to inspect or repair only while the vehicle was under warranty, and some cars were totaled before any diagnosis was made. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 57,000 to 155,000 miles, and generally in the context of a crash.

   Recall 99V343000

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been inspected and whether any airbag-related campaign was performed; have a shop confirm the airbag warning lamp self-tests normally and that no fault codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag failed to go off in 2000 Chrysler 300M. I was hit head on by a small pick up. Witnesses says other driver doing 55/60 MPH. I was traveling at 45 MPH. Both obviously braking at impact but no driver side air bag deployed. My head hit the steering wheel. Lump and bad bruising as a result. Contacted Chrysler and they offered to fix air bags free if car still under warranty. Car was totaled so point is mute.”

   NHTSA complaint #10095639, filed 2004-10, 57,000 miles

   “2000 Chrysler 300M, front impact with 1,600 lbs steer, at 55 MPH. Totaled car and severely injured driver. Air bags did not deploy. This happened at 1 a.m., cow was a black angus that ran out of ditch directly in front of car. Back of cow crashed through entire windshield, stopped car immediately on impact.”

   NHTSA complaint #10174833, filed 2006-11, 65,000 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition matters more than reputation: have the steering rack, tie rods and suspension inspected on a lift, verify all four door locks work from inside and out, and look closely at the dash around the passenger airbag and at the inner bead of the wheels. Ask for service records showing whether any recalls or lock, wheel or steering repairs have already been done.

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.