2018 Chrysler 300 Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 152 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 4 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2018 Chrysler 300 receives a 3.3/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 152 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 4 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 30,500 miles (IQR: 25,000 – 47,500 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
76 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
4 Active / Free Remedies
2018 300 Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“The vehicle's LCD screen has become delaminated which causes the control of the radio, air conditioning, navigation, and other features controlled by the "radio" portion of the car to become dysfunctional. The car will randomly beep, change air temperatures, start radio channe...”
“Vehicle suddenly stalled at a red light and did not turn back on. Everything shut down. Also The factory-installed backup camera has failed completely. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the infotainment screen remains blank or black. This failure significantly reduces ...”
“Date: February 22, 2026 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL FCA US LLC Customer Care P.O. Box 21-8004 Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004 RE: FORMAL COMPLAINT – Safety Defect (Rearview Camera Failure) Vehicle 1: 2012 Chrysler 300S (VIN: ... ) Vehicle 2: 2018 Chrysler 300S (VIN: ... ) To the Chrysler C...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Vehicle suddenly stalled at a red light and did not turn back on. Everything shut down. Also The factory-installed backup camera has failed completely. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the infotainment screen remains blank or black. This failure significantly reduces ...”
“Date: February 22, 2026 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL FCA US LLC Customer Care P.O. Box 21-8004 Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004 RE: FORMAL COMPLAINT – Safety Defect (Rearview Camera Failure) Vehicle 1: 2012 Chrysler 300S (VIN: ... ) Vehicle 2: 2018 Chrysler 300S (VIN: ... ) To the Chrysler C...”
“There were 2 separate incidents that occurred. The first one we were backing out of our driveway and the car just stopped running. We were unable to start it again after a dozen attempts. We had the vehicle towed to a local shop and when they got in the car, it started right u...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The door paneling has warped on all 4 doors of the car. I purchased the car a year ago from a Lexus dealership here in Tucson I am concerned about safety of my airbags in the car doors”
“The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the seat belt module had failed and ne...”
“The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that the interior door panels on all four doors were unsecured and separated from the door frame. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was concerned that during a collision the door panels might e...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“There were 2 separate incidents that occurred. The first one we were backing out of our driveway and the car just stopped running. We were unable to start it again after a dozen attempts. We had the vehicle towed to a local shop and when they got in the car, it started right u...”
“I started having problems with acceleration, I would go to pull out and the car would choke. When I put my car in reverse I would get an error message telling me to put my car in park and then desired gear. When I did that it would not go into reverse, I would have to shut my ...”
“iNSIDE DOOR PANEL WARPING PEELING AWAY FROM WINDOW CAN interfere with the side airbag deployment. They can also prevent the door locks and anti-theft systems from activating, or mess with the heating and cooling systems.”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Chrysler Model 300s Vehicle, 2018, repair service by an authorized Chrysler dealer in Puerto Rico, certified the replacement of original manufacturer parts of the power steering (Rack-Pinion) on three occasions, which does not accept the programming of technical support by the...”
“The radio control screen that has all controls on it is failing it turns things like heat/ air off and on at random cannot bring up the vehicle info and setup turning the system off doesn’t help it. The front screen is bubbled. This is a safety hazard as it’s scrolling through...”
“Noticed water damage on rear driver side pillar had mechanic look found water comming in from sunroof track. the drain hose was still attached and unclogged water began to leak behind the rear grab handle and light. This seems to be a defect by manufacturer and have seen alot ...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“THE COMPUTER ISSUE HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR A WHILE. THE COMPUTER SCREEN JUMPS AROUND ON ITS OWN CHANGES AIR AND HEAT SETTINGS, RADIO SETTINGS, BLANKS OUT ON THE REAR VIEW SITE WHILE IN USE. TRANSMISSION SKIPS ON TAKE OFF AND BUMPS WHEN CHANGING GEARS PARTICULARLY REVERSE AND PAR...”
“WHEN IN MOTION THE BRAKES COME ON. ON DASH BOARD IT SAID IN BOLD RED LETTERS [ !BRAKED ] THEN ONSTAR COME ON. I DONT HAVE ONSTAR. THE CAR STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. WAS I HACK,”
“ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FREQUENTLY FAILS TO WORK AS DESIGNED. VEHICLE WILL FREQUENTLY FAIL TO DETECT VEHICLES (IN ALL CONDITIONS, AND ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES) IN FRONT OF IT AND NOT ONLY FAIL TO SLOW OR STOP, BUT INSTEAD ACCELERATES. THIS HAS REQUIRED MANUAL BRAKING MU...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“THE COMPUTER ISSUE HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR A WHILE. THE COMPUTER SCREEN JUMPS AROUND ON ITS OWN CHANGES AIR AND HEAT SETTINGS, RADIO SETTINGS, BLANKS OUT ON THE REAR VIEW SITE WHILE IN USE. TRANSMISSION SKIPS ON TAKE OFF AND BUMPS WHEN CHANGING GEARS PARTICULARLY REVERSE AND PAR...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (4)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2018 Chrysler 300
Before purchasing a used 2018 Chrysler 300, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2018 Chrysler 300
Is the 2018 Chrysler 300 a reliable used car?
The 2018 Chrysler 300 earns a 3.3/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 152 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2018 Chrysler 300?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 30,500 miles (IQR: 25,000 – 47,500 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2018 Chrysler 300?
Yes, the NHTSA records 4 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.