NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
351 reports56,512 miles · Oct 2, 2004
Air Bags
I HAVE A CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS APPROX. 10" LONG. I HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THE CRACK IS A DEFECT IN THE DASHSKIN MATERIAL OF MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CRACK MAY ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY TOO STRONGLY OR THAT THE REPAIR OF THE DASHSKIN MY RESTRICT …
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I HAVE A CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS APPROX. 10" LONG. I HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THE CRACK IS A DEFECT IN THE DASHSKIN MATERIAL OF MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CRACK MAY ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY TOO STRONGLY OR THAT THE REPAIR OF THE DASHSKIN MY RESTRICT THE PROPER OPERATION OF MY PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS ALSO UNSIGHTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10093498
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlCrashFireInjury
WHILE SITTING AT INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBU…
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WHILE SITTING AT INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTOR INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094312
103,000 miles · Sep 24, 2004
Power TrainCrash
TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY CRASHING INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE. CONSUMER STATED TWO DAYS LATER SHE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094255
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2004
Exterior Lighting
THERE IS A FILM THAT COVERS THE HEADLIGHTS. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD REPLACE THE LENS FOR A TOTAL OF $1,000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094253
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING, OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC I COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10093999
60,000 miles · Sep 21, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT SURGED FORWARD WHEN FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN VEHICLE STALLED, AND ACTS AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. …
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WHILE DRIVING AND UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT SURGED FORWARD WHEN FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN VEHICLE STALLED, AND ACTS AS IF IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10092904
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2004
Air Bags
A LITTLE UNDER 50,000 MILES WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A MONTH LATER TWO VERTICAL CRACKS APPEARED ALONG THE SEAMS OF WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS.*AK A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNEW SOMEONE WHO HAD CRACKS IN THEIR DASH TOO...IN THE SAME LOCATION! I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS UNUSAL. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT …
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A LITTLE UNDER 50,000 MILES WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A MONTH LATER TWO VERTICAL CRACKS APPEARED ALONG THE SEAMS OF WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS.*AK A FRIEND INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNEW SOMEONE WHO HAD CRACKS IN THEIR DASH TOO...IN THE SAME LOCATION! I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS UNUSAL. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WASN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER 300M OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS USED. I CALLED REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH IT (DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG/ LEGAL ISSUES) I'M AFRAID THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY AND WILL CAUSE BODILY INJURY TO A PASSENGER IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED .
NHTSA ODI #10090842
60,000 miles · Sep 3, 2004
Power Train
RECALL 04V021000 CONCERNING FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AS WELL AS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS BEING TOLD THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO DEFINITE DATE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090360
84,600 miles · Sep 1, 2004
Air Bags
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090181
65,000 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES. THE FIRE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PER INSPECTION. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087093
NHTSA investigations
2EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure
Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
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