Reliability
Chrysler

300 (2003)

2003 · Full-Size Sedan · 1 engine
33 NHTSA Complaints
1 Recalls
1 Fire Reports
2 Crash Reports
View all 7 generations of the Chrysler 300 → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

7.3 / 10

Reliability score

About as many owner complaints as similar full-size sedans

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 14 powertrain complaints. A typical full-size sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 14.

Scores this low have often eased: the three years after looked about 0.8 points better in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall14 complaints against about 14 for similar vehicles
7.3
Last three years
n/aNot enough data
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

3.5-V6-Gas

3.5L 6-cyl
25 complaints 25.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
8
cooling
6
transmission
3
safety systems
3
other
3

Same engine used in

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Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chrysler 300, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Engine: 11 owner complaints
Cooling System: 9 owner complaints

Recalls (1)

09E012000Apr 7, 2009serious
Exterior Lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Alternatives in Full-Size Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2003-2003 Chrysler 300 complaints?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300. The systems they name most often are the engine, the cooling system and the safety systems.

Is the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300 a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300 have?

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file for the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300 as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2003-2003 Chrysler 300?

NHTSA lists 1 recall covering some 2003-2003 Chrysler 300 vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Chrysler 300?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the cooling system and the safety systems, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the 300 have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2003 Chrysler 300. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 33 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: moderate. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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