Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Chrysler 3 Series problems

Owners filed 33 complaints about the 2003 Chrysler 3 Series with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jun 2020. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (9).

Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling9
  2. Air bags4
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Power train3
  5. Equipment3
  6. Wheels2
  7. Engine2
  8. Seats2
  9. Structure2
  10. Vehicle speed control2
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  12. Fuel system, gasoline2
  13. Fuel system, other2
  14. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20038
20041
20055
20060
20072
20082
20094
20102
20112
20120
20130
20142
20151
20161
20172
20180
20190
20201

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

9 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CAM SENSOR WHICH WAS NOT LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF; YET, HE THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE LATER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10328811

Air bags

4 reports1 crash
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V567000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2016Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10871293

Electrical system

3 reports1 fire
“THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE CARPORT DURING THE NIGHT. AT ABOUT 5:25 IN THE MORNING THE CAR START TO BURNING BY ITSELF AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN ELECTRICITY FAILURE HAS HAPPENED. THE CAR BURNED ALL THE FRONT PARTS FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE DASH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2010Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10335853

Power train

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK, SURGE FORWARD, AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2014Power trainODI 10629395

Equipment

3 reports
“THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. ALSO THE RED "AIR BAG" LIGHT ON THE DASH IS LUMINATED. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE SYMPTOMS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING. CHRYSLER HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. IT APPEARS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER 300M. IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT A HORN THAT WORKS AND I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THAT IT IS NOT WORKING EITHER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2009EquipmentODI 10257633

Wheels

2 reports
“THE STEERING AXLE ATTACH TO THE RACK OF PINION KEEP COMING OFF. WHEN THAT HAPPEN THE WHEEL FELL TO THE GROUND. IN MY CAR THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT HAPPEN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2020Steering, WheelsODI 11330391
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.