IllustrationTHIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES FOR A RECURRING TRANSMISSION LEAK. ONE OF WHICH WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY OCCURRED ON 4/25/03, 4/30/03 AND 10/03/03. *LA
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 reportsFRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPED
WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM DRIVE SHAFT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND COLLIDE INTO A TREE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT BUMPER HIT THE CURB WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR SAT TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE CLIP IS LOOSE, THE FRONT BUMPER WOULD COME OFF. CLIPS GETS CAUGHT ON ALL PARKING BUMPERS. *PH *JB
THE CAR HAS ON THE LATEST BEING, THE FOURTH OCCASION NOTED BEING ABLE TO GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.*AK
THE HEAD LIGHTS DISPLAYED POOR VISIBILITY. *JB THERE APPEARED TO BE A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE THAT PRESENTED A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SO LOW THAT THERE WAS AN AREA OF COMPLETE DARKNESS ON THE ROAD BETWEEN THE TWO HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCAS…
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THE HEAD LIGHTS DISPLAYED POOR VISIBILITY. *JB THERE APPEARED TO BE A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE THAT PRESENTED A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SO LOW THAT THERE WAS AN AREA OF COMPLETE DARKNESS ON THE ROAD BETWEEN THE TWO HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATS AND SHUTS OFF. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE IT.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, SHE HAS HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES, AND THE MECHANIC CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY. VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP, AND MECHANIC IS NOT TELLING HER THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS IN AUTO LAND 170 ROUTE 22, SPRINGFIELD, NJ 07081 973 476 2900.*AK
CHRYSLER 300M 2002, 13000 MILES FRONT STRUT BOLTS AND WASHERS CORRODED. TWO WASHERS FRACTURED AND BOLTS WITHOUT SUPPORT. OTHER TWO WASHERS SHOW SIGNS OF CORROSION. FAILURE OF OTHER 2 BOLT WASHERS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. CORROSION IS PROB…
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CHRYSLER 300M 2002, 13000 MILES FRONT STRUT BOLTS AND WASHERS CORRODED. TWO WASHERS FRACTURED AND BOLTS WITHOUT SUPPORT. OTHER TWO WASHERS SHOW SIGNS OF CORROSION. FAILURE OF OTHER 2 BOLT WASHERS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD. CORROSION IS PROBALY CAUSED BY INCOMPATIBLE METAL SELECTION OF WASHER AND BOLT, AND/OR TOO HIGH STRENGHT STEEL FOR WASHER AS IT FRACTURED IN ABOUT 15 BITS. OTHER WASHER SPLIT IN TWO.
FAULTY BREAKING SYSTEM. *NLM
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.