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2009 Chrysler 3 SeriesRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 95 owner complaints for the 2009 Chrysler 3 Series. Most complaints involve air bags (38) and electrical system (32).

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Combined MPG
—
No EPA rating found
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jan 2018
Owner complaints
95
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
—
No EPA estimate
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V021000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.

Air bagsReported May 24, 2016NHTSA 16V352000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported May 27, 2015NHTSA 15V313000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

95 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2008 – Oct 2025
  1. Air bags38
  2. Electrical system32
  3. Engine15
  4. Steering8
  5. Vehicle speed control6
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Power train4
  8. Visibility/wiper3
  9. Fuel/propulsion system3

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

By model year

Complaints for each 3 Series model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1999351
2000249
200199
200296
200333
200471
20061,750
2007624
2008759
200995
2010137
2011200
2012427
2013306
2014237
201599
201676
201782
2018153
201961
202010
202121
20225
20236
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

38 reports2 crashes
“I'M [XXX] I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2010 THIS CAR IS A RECALL EVERY YEAR DONT PASS SMOG AND I HASTO EXPEND $600TO$800 DOLLARS IN ORDER TO PASS SMOKERS NOW IT'S IN THE SHOP ILICK POBLEM I HAS TO PAY $1900 TO FIX THE POBLEM I ALREADY EXPEND $1278 TO FIX OTHER POBLEMS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2021Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11405107

Electrical system

32 reports1 crash2 fires
“The OEM starter ignited a fire under the front end of my vehicle. Upon noticed, I immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher, and I put the fire out. I had my two young boys in the car at the time when it happened and I urged them to get out of the car immediately my young son has a fear from now on on getting in vehicles. There wasn’t any issuing warning lights that prompted any awareness. Initially started the car to run and get the juices flowing - seeing The car was parked. There wasn’t any movement to Initiate spark.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2025Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11648850

Engine

15 reports1 fire
“CAR HAD 98,474 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENGINE IS MERCEDES DESIGN AND GUARANTEED FOR 100,000. ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OR ANY KIND OF ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING 73 MPH ON I-10 WHEN I HEARD A LOW "KA-THUNK", ELECTRIC AND OIL LIGHTS LIT ON DASH, AND CAR BEGAN DECELERATING. AT TIME, I WAS BEING TAILGATED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HIT EMERGENCY LIGHTS, DRIVER BEHIND ME APPARENTLY GOT THE MESSAGE TO DRIVE AROUND MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH HE/SHE HAD PLENTY OF TIME PRIOR TO INCIDENT TO DO THIS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF SAFELY TO SIDE OF I-10 HIGHWAY AND PARK VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. AFTER RAISING THE HOOD AND CHECKING THE FLUIDS, THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS WERE PROPER AMOUNTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO LEAKAGE OF ANY KIND OF FLUIDS PRIOR TO OR AFTER INCIDENT. I SPOKE WITH A DEALER SATURDAY AT FORD PEACH MOTORS IN BREWTON, AL ABOUT THE SITUATION. SHE SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE HAD HAD A CHRYSLER 300 WHICH DID THE EXACT SAME THING WHEN IT GOT TO BE AROUND 98,000. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE 2006 CHRYSLER 300C HAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH THE MOTOR GETS AROUND 98,000 MILES AND THE MOTOR/ENGINE BLOWS WITH NO APPARENT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2020EngineODI 11354271
All 2009 3 Series problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Chrysler 3 Series as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 5157
05 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
07 —FAQ

2009 3 Series questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Chrysler 3 Series have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2009 Chrysler 3 Series problems?

Owners filed 95 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (38), electrical system (32), engine (15). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026