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2012 Chrysler 300 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
40% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Chrysler 300 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 81 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2012 Chrysler 300 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 145 of 360 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Chrysler 300 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%), and the largest group is filed under power train (80). For comparison, the 2011 scores 26% and the 2013 scores 36%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Chrysler 300 years
Of the 10 Chrysler 300 years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (40%). The worst is the 2014 (49%), the best the 2018 (15%). By volume, the 2012 drew 441 complaints (145 drivetrain), against 225 for the 2011 and 341 for the 2013.
Chrysler 300 years to avoid and best years →
2010 300 problems · 2011 300 problems · 2012 · 2013 300 problems · 2014 300 problems · 2015 300 problems · 2016 300 problems · 2017 300 problems · 2018 300 problems · 2019 300 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Chrysler 300
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Chrysler 300 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 145 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Chrysler 300 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Chrysler 300 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is…
Risk: Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to mitigate the risk of vehicle rollaway, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
8 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Chrysler 300? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Chrysler 300
Does the 2012 Chrysler 300 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 145 of 360 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Chrysler 300 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chrysler 300?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Chrysler 300 is electrical system: 219 of 441 complaints (50%) name it, followed by air bags (83) and power train (80). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 40% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Chrysler 300 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 40% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Chrysler 300 years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Chrysler 300?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Chrysler 300 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 16V240000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chrysler 300 years are better?
Among the Chrysler 300 years we track, the 2018 (15%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2019 (22%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (40%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chrysler-300
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.