IllustrationTHE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THIS CONNECTS ALL THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIRBAG TO THE CAR'S SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM HERE IS A SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENTS-THE PART IS ON A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER. IT WOULD SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE. *TR
2002 Chrysler 300M
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chrysler 300M do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 52.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 300M years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
725–50K
1350–75K
1075–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
54 reports with mileage · 29 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
9 reportsMY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND MADE THIS GRINDING, SCRAPPING SOUND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THEN SOMETHING POPPED WHERE MY AIRBAG IS AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY HORN WILL NOT WORK. YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE SCRAPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING OR BACKING UP. *TR
REAR END ACCIDENT APPROX 35-40 MILES PER HOUR, CAR TOWED FROM SCENE, APPROX $6000 DAMAGE TO FRONT END, AND DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SUSTAINED, BACK, NECK AND LEG INJURES, THEY STATED WIRING COULD OF BEEN CORRODED. *TR
I PARKED MY CAR AT AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT. LOT WAS FULL AND I HAD TO VALET PARK. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION GAVE KEYS TO THE ATTENDANT. LEFT LOT IN VAN FOR AIRPORT. ATTENDANT STARTED CAR ROLLED TO THE GATED EXIT. WHEN WAITING FOR THE GATE TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. DRIVER SIDE BAD …
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I PARKED MY CAR AT AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT. LOT WAS FULL AND I HAD TO VALET PARK. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION GAVE KEYS TO THE ATTENDANT. LEFT LOT IN VAN FOR AIRPORT. ATTENDANT STARTED CAR ROLLED TO THE GATED EXIT. WHEN WAITING FOR THE GATE TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. DRIVER SIDE BAD DID NOT DEPLOY. DASH DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT $4000. I TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY TOOK TWO DAYS TO ANALYZE THE CAUSE. THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD CONTROL MODULE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THEY DID NOT OFFER RELIEF FOR THE PARTS OR WORKMANSHIP CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. *TR
AT FAULT ACCIDENT. AREA OF IMPACT WAS FRONT DRIVER SIDE. FAILURE OF AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSED SERIOUS BRUISING TO MY CHEST, ARMS AND LOWER ABDOMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY.
I OWN A 2002 300M CHRYSLER AND ON MAY 17, 2005 WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FROM RECEIVING SOME MAINTENANCE WORK A DRIVER OF A TOYOTA 4RUNNER T-BONED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CAR WAS EQUIPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS AS INDICATED ON THE SALES ST…
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I OWN A 2002 300M CHRYSLER AND ON MAY 17, 2005 WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FROM RECEIVING SOME MAINTENANCE WORK A DRIVER OF A TOYOTA 4RUNNER T-BONED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CAR WAS EQUIPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS AS INDICATED ON THE SALES STICKER, HOWEVER ALL AIR BAGS FAILED TO WORK IN THIS ACCIDENT SITUATION. HAD MY SIDE BAGS DEPLOYED I COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY PREVENTED SEVERE BRUISING TO MY LEFT SIDE, GLASS INJECTED INTO MY LEFT ARM AND FORHEAD AREA, AND POSSIBLY PREVENTED LOSS TIME FROM WORK, NOT TO MENTION MY PAIN AND SUFFERING DUE TO THE INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORT HAS STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE OTHER DRIVER FAILING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FIVE CAR PILE UP. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SEVERE GASH ON THE HEAD, CUTS AND BRUISES. *SC
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE ANIMAL THEN LOST CONTROL AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ARM. *AK *NM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH, STRUCK A TREE HEAD-ON AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
103V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Feb 5, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE03010 · 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.