65 of the
1,130 complaints filed about the Chrysler 300M
are about the braking system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE RANDOMLY OCCURRING AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10881272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR IS JERKING AS IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR AT 55+ MILES PER HOUR. IT IS ALSO SLUGGISH LIKE IT IS WORKING HARDER TO JUST DRIVE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON BUT AAMCO TRANSMISSION AND GP AUTO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WORK WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. GP AUTO TELLS US IT IS THE APS BRAKE SYSTEM THAT IS LOCKED UP THUS MAKING THE CAR DRIVE LIKE THE PARKING BRAKES IS ON HOLDING THE TRANSMISSION BACK FROM SHIFTING. CURRENTLY HAS 175,365 MILES ON A 2003 CHRYSLER 300M
NHTSA complaint #10781791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRAGGING OF THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING. TIRES GET HOT TO THE TOUCH. RELEASING GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT ROLL, IT STOPS ABRUPTLY...WHEN EX CELEBRATING, THE RPMS GOES UP, BUT CAR NOT GOING SPEED LIMIT....BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO PRESS
NHTSA complaint #10731372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. IT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. IT REALLY NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHEN BRAKE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED BUT VERY NOTICEABLE AT SPEED OVER 40 MPH. ALSO THE BRAKE SEEMED TO FADE. I NEVER GOT SATISFACTION IN CAUSE OR REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED WITH SLOTTED ROTORS AND BARE PADS ON ALL BRAKES. IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT NEVER PERFECT. NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND AIR AND ALSO HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN HOPE AGAINST HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE. STILL NO BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10445185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH A "WHOOSH" SOUND AND FLUID SPILLED ALL OVER THE GROUND DUE TO A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED AND UPON SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION ALL LINES WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT (THE ADJACENT FUEL LINES WERE TOTALLY FINE). REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1200+. GIVEN THE SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE FUEL LINES WHICH WERE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONDITIONS BUT WITHOUT SIMILAR CORROSION, PERHAPS THERE WERE IMPROPER MATERIALS USED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 60K MILES ON IT, GOOD OVERALL CONDITION, MAINTAINED, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10328567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES APPLIED WITH OUT THE APPLICATION FROM THE DRIVER THEN RELEASED .THIS OCCURRED TWO TIMES DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED. THE DEFROST AND HEAT CAME ON AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT ILLUMINATED BOTH TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10268214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES APPLIED WITH OUT THE APPLICATION FROM THE DRIVER THEN RELEASED .THIS OCCURRED TWO TIMES DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED. THE DEFROST AND HEAT CAME ON AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT ILLUMINATED BOTH TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10268214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DECEMBER 20TH 2008 ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. INNER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE ALONG WITH TWO TIRES AND BRAKES. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS IN A 180 DEGREE POSITION WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10254176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO A TRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND NO PROBLEM. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IF HANDS WERE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10175497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TODAY I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH. I WAS COMING UPON A INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED RED. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ALONG THE ROAD IN THE SAME AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I WAS. THERE WERE TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. APPROXIMATELY 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME COMING UP TO THE LIGHT. AS I BEGAN TO STOP MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I TRIED PUMPING THEM, BUT GOT VERY LITTLE HELP FROM MY BRAKES. THINKING QUICKLY I MOVED INTO THE SECOND LANE, THAT HAD NO OTHER VEHICLES. HOWEVER IT WAS VERY CLOSE FOR ME TO HAVE REAR ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. I THOUGHT MAY BE MY BRAKES WERE WET. SO I CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT WAS CAUTIOUS. AS I CAME UP TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO STOP, I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS TIME, SMOKE CAME BILLOWING FROM MY HOOD. I HAD ABOUT 3 MORE MILES TO MAKE IT HOME, SO I CONTINUED HOME AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. HOWEVER MY HUSBAND INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS BURNT BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HE SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THEY BRAKE LINE WAS INSTALLED TO CLOSE TO THE CONVERTER. HE FELT THIS WAS A HAZARD. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY, HAD I HAD HIT ANOTHER DRIVER. LUCKILY WE WERE SAFE AND NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HOPE CHRYSLER RECOGNIZES THIS DEFECT AND NOTIFIES OTHER OWNERS, AS PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT WITHOUT BRAKES!!
NHTSA complaint #10152493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON MARCH 10, 2006 MY FIANCE WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK. SHE HAD JUST STARTED MOVING WHEN A STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN. ABOUT 150 FEET DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE STOP LIGHT THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP BECAUSE OF A TRAFFIC JAM. WHEN MY FIANCE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR HAD NO BRAKES WHAT-SO-EVER. SHE REAR-ENDED A FORD ESCORT THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER. WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES TO THE FACT THAT 15 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL ON THE FLOOR. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, THE OFFICER WOULDN'T EVEN PUSH THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD WHEN WE TOLD HIM THAT IT HAD NO BRAKES. WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL A TOW TRUCK MOVED THE CAR FROM THE ROAD SURFACE. I AM NOW FACING AN INSURANCE CLAIM FORM MY CAR AND THE OTHER CAR DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CAR IS BEING TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP ON MARCH 13, 2006 WHERE I AM GOING TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE BRAKES. ONCE THE CAR IS REPAIRED I WILL THEM TAKE IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND HAVE THEM DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO THE BRAKES TO SEE WHY THE FAILURE HAPPENED. MY CAR IS A 2004 CHRYSLER 300M PLATINUM SERIES.
NHTSA complaint #10152514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CHRYSLER 300M LOSES ITS POWER BRAKES WHENEVER IT IS COLD AND IT SEEMS DAMP OUT SIDE. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP IT WORKS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRIVE BUT THE BRAKES ARE STILL SLUGGISH. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 MIN TO HALF HOUR THE BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO START WORKING OK. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE NO BRAKING WHEN THE CAR IS COLD SOMETIMES! AND A LOUD SUCKING SOUND COMES OUT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER WHEN ITS HANGING UP.
NHTSA complaint #10152128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 CHRYSLER 300M RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RACK BROKE. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10150801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CHRYSLER 300M (300M) PULLS TO EITHER SIDE (WILDLY TO VIOLENTLY DEPENDING ON BRAKING FORCE AND TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE). USUALLY AFTER PULLING DURING BRAKING, THE 300M WILL PULL IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN PROCEEDING FROM THIS STOP. THIS PULLING ACTION WILL CEASE AFTER THE ENGINE IS FULLY WARMED (ABOUT 15 MINUTES). THE INTENSITY OF 'PULL' HAS SEVERAL TIMES PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM MY GRIP. PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION....DURING FIVE TRIIPS TO DEALER HE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END (TWICE), ALL TO NO AVAIL. ALL RIDES WITH DEALER WERE FRUITLESS SINCE THE 15 MINUTE WARM-UP HAD OCCURED DURING MY DRIVE FROM HOME TO DEALER(ONE MECHANIC DID SAY HE OBSERVED PULLING BUT LATER HEDGED ON STATEMENT. SINCE I DRIVE THE CAR EVERYDAY FROM A COLD START, I ALWAYS EXPERIENCED PULLING; TO LET THE DEALER OBSERVE A COLD ENGINE, I LEFT THE CAR WITH HIM FOR 3 (MAY HAVE BEEN 4) DAYS TO DRIVE AS HIS PERSONAL CAR. AFTER THE TIME PERIOD HE CLAIMED NOT TO HAVE EXPERIENCED PULLING (AN UNBELIEVEABLE STATEMENT SINCE I ALWAYS DID). IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT THIS PULLING PROBLEM EXISTS ON MY DAUGTHER'S MERCEDES 230?? AND HER FRIEND'S MERCEDES V12 AND ON THE CHRYSLER SEBRING (2006 ???) I AM RENTING FROM ENTERPRISE AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10147805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DEAR SIRS, ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE THREE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BELOW: (1) SQUEAK IN FRONT BRAKES, NOTED ONE DAY PRIOR TO TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. (2) FRONT ROTORS WERE WORN BEYOND REPAIR IN SLIGHTLY OVER 20K MILES. (3) I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, $328.41 AND I AM ASKING CHRYSLER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I HAVE HE DEFECTIVE ROTORS IF INSPECTION IS NEEDED. I OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER 300M SPECIAL, VIN [XXX]. YESTERDAY (10-5-05) I NOTICED A SQUEAK WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING. I WAS ALMOST SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I THEN LOOKED AT MY ODOMETER AND IT ONLY READ A LITTLE OVER 20,500 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE WITH CHRYSLER DISK BRAKES TOLD ME IT WAS WAY TOO EARLY FOR THE PADS TO BE WORN. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SUPERSTITION SPRINGS CHRYSLER JEEP, 6130 E. AUTO PARK DR., MESA, AZ 85206. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, GENE LANGEN, TOLD ME WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THAT FRONT BRAKES GOING OUT AT 20,000 MILES WAS VERY COMMON FOR THE 300M. LATER TODAY IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN WORN BEYOND REPAIR BY THE PADS. THE SQUEAK I HEARD WAS THE SPRING THAT HOLDS THE PADS IN PLACE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR. THERE WAS STILL BRAKE PAD MATERIAL ON EACH PAD. THERE WAS NO METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR. I INSPECTED THE REAR DISK BRAKES AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH THEM, JUST AT A SLOWER RATE. IF THIS IS COMMON TO HAVE ROTORS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AT 20,000 MILES THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR PRODUCT. EITHER THE ROTORS ARE TOO SOFT OR THE BREAK PADS ARE TOO HARD OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. I FEEL THE COST OF THE NEW ROTORS THIS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER. SINCE THE REAR BRAKES SEEM TO BE HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FRONT, I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE TO THEM SO I WON'T BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER $300.00 PLUS IN A FEW MONTHS. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10139076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DEAR SIRS, ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE THREE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BELOW: (1) SQUEAK IN FRONT BRAKES, NOTED ONE DAY PRIOR TO TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. (2) FRONT ROTORS WERE WORN BEYOND REPAIR IN SLIGHTLY OVER 20K MILES. (3) I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, $328.41 AND I AM ASKING CHRYSLER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I HAVE HE DEFECTIVE ROTORS IF INSPECTION IS NEEDED. I OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER 300M SPECIAL, VIN [XXX]. YESTERDAY (10-5-05) I NOTICED A SQUEAK WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING. I WAS ALMOST SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I THEN LOOKED AT MY ODOMETER AND IT ONLY READ A LITTLE OVER 20,500 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE WITH CHRYSLER DISK BRAKES TOLD ME IT WAS WAY TOO EARLY FOR THE PADS TO BE WORN. I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SUPERSTITION SPRINGS CHRYSLER JEEP, 6130 E. AUTO PARK DR., MESA, AZ 85206. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, GENE LANGEN, TOLD ME WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THAT FRONT BRAKES GOING OUT AT 20,000 MILES WAS VERY COMMON FOR THE 300M. LATER TODAY IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ROTORS HAD BEEN WORN BEYOND REPAIR BY THE PADS. THE SQUEAK I HEARD WAS THE SPRING THAT HOLDS THE PADS IN PLACE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR. THERE WAS STILL BRAKE PAD MATERIAL ON EACH PAD. THERE WAS NO METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR. I INSPECTED THE REAR DISK BRAKES AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH THEM, JUST AT A SLOWER RATE. IF THIS IS COMMON TO HAVE ROTORS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AT 20,000 MILES THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR PRODUCT. EITHER THE ROTORS ARE TOO SOFT OR THE BREAK PADS ARE TOO HARD OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. I FEEL THE COST OF THE NEW ROTORS THIS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER. SINCE THE REAR BRAKES SEEM TO BE HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FRONT, I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE TO THEM SO I WON'T BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER $300.00 PLUS IN A FEW MONTHS. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10139076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKES AND ROTORS CONTINUED TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *AK THE ROTORS WERE WARPING DUE TO HARSH COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE PAD. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. THERE WAS PULSATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 60 MPH, THEREFORE THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN, THE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AGAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONSUMER FELT AS IS HE WERE GOING TO GET THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE PULSATION. THE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CHANGED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10117406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONSUMER WAS COMING OUT OF A PARKING GARAGE AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED OUT INTO TRAFFIC. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHECK THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10108706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER STATES THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10107329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.