IllustrationCHRYSLER 300M 2002 DASHBOARD BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE LOSING POWER. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, HE OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BATTERY POST HAD A HIGH PROPENSITY FOR FIRES. *JB
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
What owners actually said
83 reportsWHILE DRIVING 25 MPH BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE FIRE WAS THE CAUSE OF ONE OF THE TERMINALS ON THE BATTERY. *TT
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
ORIGINALLY THE DASH ON THE CAR WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. FOR THE LAST 16 MONTHS THE NUMBER 7 FUSE BLOWS AND TAKES OUT THE DASH AND THE TAIL LIGHTS. IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT IT BECOMES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALERS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM A DOZEN TIMES OR MORE AND IT HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. *AK
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 TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, A FEW MONTHS LATER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER DEFECTIVE AT 41,944 MILES UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FIRST TIME AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. LIGHT CAME BACK ON 50 MILES AFTER CAR WAS RETURNED. REPAIRED BY DEALER WITH NO HASSLE. VERY GOOD SERVICE POWER OUTLET IN INTERIOR CONSOLE CRACKED AND FELL INTO CONSOLE …
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER DEFECTIVE AT 41,944 MILES UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FIRST TIME AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. LIGHT CAME BACK ON 50 MILES AFTER CAR WAS RETURNED. REPAIRED BY DEALER WITH NO HASSLE. VERY GOOD SERVICE POWER OUTLET IN INTERIOR CONSOLE CRACKED AND FELL INTO CONSOLE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . PART SHOULD HAVE NOT CRACKED. IS THIS DUE TO HEAT? *JB
THERE IS RUST INSIDE THE TRUNK LID AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS, CAUSING THE DOORS AND TRUNK LID NOT TO LATCH PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER NOTED IT WASN'T THE RUST BUT A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR NOT TO CLOSE. THE PAINT WAS CHIPPING AND PEELING. THERE WERE , TWO DIFFERENT COLOR WHITE FINISH…
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THERE IS RUST INSIDE THE TRUNK LID AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS, CAUSING THE DOORS AND TRUNK LID NOT TO LATCH PROPERLY. *AK CONSUMER NOTED IT WASN'T THE RUST BUT A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR NOT TO CLOSE. THE PAINT WAS CHIPPING AND PEELING. THERE WERE , TWO DIFFERENT COLOR WHITE FINISHES. THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED. *PH
PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED; HOWEVER, DEALER STATED THAT PARTS TO REPAIR PARKING BRAKE WERE UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. ALSO, ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND ABS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A 180* TURN, HITTING A GUARD RAIL TWICE. *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.