Is the 2008 Chrysler 300 a bad year?
728 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 300 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Chrysler 300 are in line with other 300 years. Electrical system and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 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 83,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 507 (70%) | 58k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 186 (26%) | 46k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 71 (10%) | 65k–111k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 30 (4%) | 18k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 23 (3%) | 37k–103k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 20 (3%) | 44k–93k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 13 (2%) | 47k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 13 (2%) | 43k–95k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 12 (2%) | 58k–118k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (1%) | 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 83,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 728 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 21 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Ignition switch issue is still not resolved. I called Chrysler and they told me that there is no eta on when they are going to receive the parts to get my vehicle fixed.
The cooling fan broke off a blade which put a hole in the radiator and blew the alternator.
We have 5 Chrysler 300'S used for transporting our residents in and around our community 4 out of 5 of these vehicles have had the same issue.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 83,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Chrysler 300: 4
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.
In the affected vehicles, the ignition key (FOBIK) may not return to the "ON" position after being rotated to the "START" position, instead sticking between the two positions. If the ignition stays between "START" and "ON" positions it could cause loss of certain electrical functions.
The torque retention crimp feature was missed during the manufacture of one lot of rear axle hub nuts. This could cause the nuts to loosen and allow the halfshaft to disengage from the wheel hub. This could cause the vehicle to lose power and result in a crash without warning.
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: 44
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 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
UConnect and Voice Recognition Inoperative
Drivers And/Or Passenger Front Power Door Locks And Windows Inoperative U0200 Lost Communication With Passengers Door Module U0199 Lost Communication…
Dodge: lost communication between drivers and passenger power door locks and windows are inoperative, and possibly need to be replace, if necessary…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2007 300: 508 complaints, consider selling · 2009 300: 84 complaints, keep it.
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 2008 Chrysler 300 a bad year?
728 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 300 years. At 83,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chrysler 300?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (507), air bags (186), engine (71), transmission and drivetrain (30), brakes (23).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chrysler 300 have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-567), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 08V-295). 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.