Is the 2005 Chrysler 300 a bad year?
836 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 193, 19× a quiet 300 year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 19× the complaints of a quiet 300 year, spread over 52k–119k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 300 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 255 (31%) | 22k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 193 (23%) | 52k–119k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 101 (12%) | 15k–109k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 86 (10%) | 51k–136k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 81 (10%) | 63k–119k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 34 (4%) | 55k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 26 (3%) | 47k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 20 (2%) | 14k–105k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 19 (2%) | 55k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 51 (6%) | 1k–40k miles · mostly behind | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| TiresSTANDS OUT | 45 (5%) | 14k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 44 (5%) | 4k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 14 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 13 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 836 complaints: 38 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 30 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Started car and tried to put it in gear. Could not get it out of park. A situation much talked about on line.
I was leaving work and started my cay and went to put it in reverse and nothing happen. It would not come out of park.
My car is stuck in park and had to be towed to a mechanic. The mechanic told me that the part needed was part of a recall.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Chrysler 300: 7
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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
On certain pickup trucks, sport utility and passenger vehicles equipped with 42RLE automatic transmissions, the cup plug that retains the park pawl anchor shaft may be improperly installed. If the shaft moves out of position, the vehicle may not be able to achieve 'park' position. If this occurs and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away and cause a crash without warning.
On certain passenger vehicles, the battery cable fasteners at the bulkhead stud may not have been properly tightened. A loose fastener can cause an instrument panel fire.
On certain passenger vehicles, the front shoulder belt adjustable turning loop (Atl) bolts may not have been properly tightened. This could cause shoulder belt separation in certain crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury to front seat occupants.
On certain passenger vehicles, a spot welding operation for the rear floorpan reinforcement may not have been performed. This could cause the rear seat belt anchors and/or the child seat anchors to separate in certain crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury to rear seat passengers.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chrysler: 34
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Chrysler 300. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment
Engine Stall Immediately Following Fuel Tank Fill-Up (X53 Lifetime Warranty Extension)
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
UConnect Hands Free Module Fails To Respond Due To Module Lock Up
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2006 300: 1,051 complaints, consider selling.
Every Chrysler 300 year
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All 300 years side by side
Other Chrysler models: Chrysler 200 · Chrysler 300C · Chrysler 300M · Chrysler Aspen · Chrysler Concorde · Chrysler Crossfire · Chrysler Crossfire Roadster · Chrysler PT Cruiser · Chrysler Pacifica · Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid · Chrysler Sebring · Chrysler Sebring Conv · Chrysler Sebring Convertible · Chrysler Town and Country · Chrysler Voyager. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Chrysler 300 a bad year?
836 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 193, 19× a quiet 300 year. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 19× the complaints of a quiet 300 year, spread over 52k–119k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chrysler 300?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (255), transmission and drivetrain (193), electrical system (101), engine (86), fuel system (81). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 52k–119k miles.
How many recalls does the 2005 Chrysler 300 have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-770), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 05V-460) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.