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Chrysler 300C Problems

Are you having problems with your Chrysler 300C? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Chrysler 300C issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Chrysler 300C in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

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Chrysler 300C 2014: Reversing camera not working

It could be that the camera is covered with crud, and only needs cleaning, or it could be a fault with the camera itself or maybe the wiring.

 

BMW, Mazda, FCA, Citroen and Peugeot models recalled
Manufacturers including BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Peugeot and Citroen have issued recalls via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
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Best replacement for a Calais

With local production shutting down the big-car choices are getting fewer and fewer, but right now you can still buy a Calais if that's what you like. You can also buy an equivalent Falcon or Toyota Aurion. There are more expensive cars, from the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi etc. that would suit, but they come with a much higher price tag than a Calais. Others you could try are a Skoda Superb, a Honda Accord V6 Luxury if you're prepared to give up a little in size, and there's also the Chrysler 300C.

Deadly Takata airbag recall nears 1.2 million in Australia
Only a fraction of the 1.2 million cars on Australia roads with airbags that can spray shrapnel have been fixed, new figures show.
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Used Chrysler 300C review: 2005-2012

Mainstream sedans are traditionally on the sedate side in style and are aimed at sensible souls who don't want to stand out from the crowd. Not so the Chrysler 300C, this big American machine is aimed at grabbing attention from any angle and it comes as no surprise it's been labelled 'gangsta car'.

Now approaching its tenth year in Oz, the big Chrysler's 300C matured with the introduction of an all-new model in July 2012, less gangsta, more mainstream – though you still wouldn't use the sedate word about it. This gen-two 300C got a major facelift in July 2015, adding some interesting details at the front. It obviously won't be covered in this used-car feature.

As befits a car with an outstanding shape many 300C buyers add individual touches, huge wheels with ultra-low profile tyres being featured on many.

Chrysler shipped us only sedans when the first boats arrived here in November 2005. Butch looking station wagons began to arrive in June 2006 and were immediately welcomed as being something right out of the ordinary, perhaps even more so than the sedans.

The original Chrysler 300C can be awkward to drive until you become accustomed to it. You sit a long way from the front of the car, looking over a large dashtop, then through a smallish windscreen, over a long bonnet. The 300C's tail is also a long way away and the sedan's bootlid is not visible from the driver's seat. Thankfully, rear parking sensors provide handy assistance. The 2012 edition of the 300C is better laid out and simpler to manage.

The 300C has good legroom, headroom and shoulder space for four adults, but interior volume isn't as good as that of our homegrown Commodores and Falcons. There's sufficient width in the centre of the rear seat for grownups but the transmission tunnel steals a lot of space.

There's a huge boot in the tail of the sedan that's well shaped so that it can manage bulky items. However, there's a long stretch under the back window to reach the far end of the boot. The rear-seat backrest can be folded down to permit long loads to be carried. Chrysler 300C wagon's luggage area is reasonably large, but again, not as good as in the Ford and Holden.

Australian 300Cs have what Chrysler calls an 'international' specification suspension. However, there are more traces of the traditional American softness than some like. Try for yourself on your private road test. The upside of the softish setup is comfortable cruising, even on rough and ready Aussie backroads. An exception to the suspension is the 300C SRT8 with its muscle car setup.

The 300C's V8 petrol engine is an old-style pushrod, two-valve unit, but good cylinder-head design and an up to date electronic engine management system makes it work nicely. The V8 can cut-out four cylinders during easy running. It produces plenty of punch and sound and isn't excessively thirsty.

If the 5.7 litres of the first 300C V8s isn't enough then go for a 6.1-litre SRT (Sports & Racing Technology) version. Not only do you get more grunt, but also a sports chassis to further increase driving pleasure. The V8 engine was lifted to 6.4 litres in the new 2012 SRT8.

A lower cost SRT called the SRT Core was introduced midway through 2013. It retains the sporty features, but has cloth trim instead of leather; a basic audio system with six speakers not nineteen; standard, not adaptive, cruise control is; and standard, not adaptive suspension damping. The new price of the Core was reduced by $10,000 compared with the full-on SRT, making it a real bargain.

For those who want less performance, such as limousines owners, there are V6 turbo-diesel and V6 petrol engines on offer. Big numbers on the clock may be a clue a used 300C has lived the limo life, on the other hand they are usually driven sensibly and serviced strictly by the book.

Chrysler is reasonably well represented in Australia, though most dealerships are in metro areas. Chrysler was connected with Mercedes-Benz for a while, these days its controlled by Fiat. You may find a crossover in technical knowledge of the European marques at some dealerships.

Spare parts for Chrysler 300C cost more than those for Commodores and Falcons, though not outrageously so.

These big cars have good underbonnet space so working on them is easy. Amateur mechanics can do quite a bit of work due to the simple layout and components.

Insurance is moderately priced. Some companies charge quite a bit more for the SRT8, but there's a fair bit of difference from company to company in these sporting variants. Shop around, but make sure to study the fine print before opting to a lower premium.

Look for a car with a lot of wear in the rear seat and the boot, which may be a sign of hire car use.

Uneven tyre wear is probably a sign of hard driving, perhaps even burnouts or doughnuts. Check inside the rear wheel wells for evidence of rubber.

Watch out for a Chrysler 300C that has been customised to the max as it may have been driven hard, though many are used only as good looking cruisers.

Lowered suspension and/or huge wheels may have led to a Chrysler 300 crunching on kerbs or bottoming on speed bumps. If unsure, get a professional to put the car on a hoist.

Look for crash repairs: paint that doesn't quite match and a ripply finish are the easiest to spot. If there's the slightest doubt call in an expert – or back off and find another one. There are quite a few on the market these days.

Make sure the engine starts easily. The V8 will have a slightly lumpy idle – beautiful! – but if a V6 petrol or diesel doesn't idle smoothly there may be hassles.

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Ford Falcon: What's a good replacement for towing?

If you like the Falcon, why not get another one? It's not dead yet and a new one will serve you well for some years. Otherwise, look at the Chrysler 300C.

Chrysler 300C engine mileage

I'm afraid it's not possible to say, but the Chrysler engine is a quality-built unit and with proper maintenance it should run for several hundred thousand kilometres I can't be any more exact than that.

Used Chrysler 300C review: 2010-2011

In a sea of similarity the imposing looks of the Chrysler 300C stood out and appealed to many buyers who wanted to be seen driving something fresh and different.

NEW

Chrysler was allied with Mercedes-Benz when the 300C was launched here back in 2005, but that relationship was terminated some time ago and the carmaker is now part of the Fiat empire. There has long been a hankering for American cars in this country and the 300C was warmly welcomed when it hit our shores with its blend of bold styling and V8 power.

Its muscular looks appealed to many buyers tired of the sameness of the cars coming from Europe, and the quirky styling of Asian models. It was different; it was tough, and appealed to many Australians.

Inside, it had everything you could want, with leather, woodgrain and chrome, and a host of features. The seats were comfortable and there was ample room for five adults, and there was a sizeable boot as well.

The V8 engine has an enduring appeal with car buyers, it equates with prestige and status, and Chrysler offered two big V8s in the 300C. For those who were happy to do without the excess there was a V6 and a turbo-diesel.

The 3.5-litre V6 powered the entry model and delivered all the zip you could want, while the common-rail turbo-diesel extended the distance between fuel stops for those seeking a more economical ride. But the V8s were the stars of the show.

At 5.7 litres and 6.1 litres, both were big capacity engines and offered the smooth punch that is characteristic of a sizeable V8, but they also delivered the fuel economy of a smaller engine. That was the result of Chrysler's cylinder shutdown system (MDS) that switched off as many as four of the eight cylinders under light throttle cruise conditions to save fuel.

All engines were mated to five-speed automatic transmissions, and the final drive was through the rear wheels. The size and weight of the 300C became evident on the road, but it was smooth and comfortable at all times, and handled with surprising aplomb.

NOW

The American car industry fell well behind the rest of the world in terms of build quality, its cars were often shoddily built, and there were complaints about the 300C even after Mercedes-Benz took control of the company and began to apply its standards.

Fit and finish was the focus of most of the critical comments, there was little adverse comment about the car's reliability. The 300C is generally reliable and potential used car buyers can approach them with reasonable confidence. Still, it's well worthwhile getting your chosen car tested before you do the deal.

You could test it yourself if you're confident of being able put it through its paces and identify any issue it might have. If you're not that confident have a mechanic experienced in working on the brand go over it for you. Always check the service record to make sure your chosen car has been maintained properly with regular oil changes.

SMITHY SAYS

A worthy prestige choice, providing you are comfortable with the fuel consumption.

Chrysler 300C 2010-2011
Price: $39,990 to $64,990
Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 183 kW/340 Nm; 5.7-litre V8, 250 kW/525 Nm; 6.1-litre V8, 317 kW/569 Nm; 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, 160 kW/510 Nm.
Transmission: 5-speed auto, RWD.
Economy: 10.5 L/100 km (3.5 V6), 11.9 L/100 km (5.7 V8), 14.2 L/100 km (6.1 V8), 7.7 L/100 km (DT)
Body: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
Variants: V6, Hemi, SRT8, CRD
Safety: Front, side and curtain airbags, ABS brakes, stability control.

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Used Chrysler 300C review: 2005-2012

For some reason the guys and gals at Chrysler Australia don’t like their 300C being called the ‘gangster car’. Which we can’t quite understand because it sounds like a great selling point to us. Just look at the love-it-or-hate it shape of the first model and see what you think.

For the record, when the 300C was launched in Australia in November 2005 we immediately ticked the ‘love it’ box.

Buyers of cars like this are seldom satisfied with following the boring crowd and the moment they buy the car they start to add individual touches, some of them outrageous - which ticks another box for us.

Only sedans came off the boats in November 2005, the first station wagons arrived in Oz eight months later, in June 2006.

Though there’s no doubting that the all-new model introduced in July 2012 is a Chrysler 300, its appearance has been toned down from that of the original. It’s far from being mainstream, but the our much-loved gangster look has gone, sob.

The big Chrysler has good legroom, headroom and shoulder space for four adults. There's sufficient width in the centre of the rear seat for another person, though the transmission tunnel steals a fair bit of comfort from that position. As is often the way, four adults and a smallish child is a better load.

There's a huge boot in the tail of the sedan, and it has a nicely regular shape so can carry bulky items with ease. However, there's a long stretch under the back window to reach the far end of the boot. The rear-seat backrest can be folded down, in a 60/40 split, to permit long loads to be carried.

Chrysler 300C wagon’s luggage area is reasonably large, but not to the expansive extent as that of our homegrown Commodore and Falcon.

The original edition of the Chrysler 300C isn’t particularly easy to drive. You sit a long way from the front of the car, staring over a large dashtop, then through a small letter-box windscreen, and over a very long bonnet. The 300C’s tail is also a long way away and the sedan’s bootlid is not visible from the driver’s seat. Standard rear parking sensors relieve the problem. The new model of 2012 answers many of these criticisms.

The 300C's V8 petrol engine is an old-style pushrod, two-valve number, but good cylinder-head design and a sophisticated engine management system that can cut-out four cylinders during easy running. It produces plenty of V8 punch and sound without being excessively thirsty.

If the 5.7 litres of the first 300C V8s isn’t enough why not go for the 6.1-litre SRT (Sports & Racing Technology) models? Not only do you get more grunt, but also a sports chassis to further increase driving pleasure. The SRT engine was lifted to 6.4 litres in the new 2012 SRT8.

For those who want less performance(!!) there are V6 turbo-diesel and V6 petrol engines on offer. It comes as no surprise that the V8 Hemi engine is by far the most popular. If you do find a turbo-diesel on the used-car scene, be aware it may have been a hire limo in a previous life.

Australian 300Cs have what Chrysler calls ‘international’ specifications in their suspension. However, there are still traces of the traditional American softness. The upside is comfortable cruising. The exception is the SRT8 with its muscle car setup.

Chrysler is reasonably well represented in Australia with, naturally enough, most dealerships being in metro areas. Chrysler was connected with Mercedes-Benz for a while, these days its controlled by Fiat. You may find a crossover with the European marques at your local dealership, we suggest asking the question before proceeding with purchase

Spare parts for the 300C cost more than those for Commodores and Falcons, but aren’t outrageously expensive. These big cars have good underbonnet space so working on them is easy. Amateur mechanics can do quite a bit of work due to the simple layout and components.

Insurance isn’t overly expensive. Some companies charge quite a bit more for the SRT8, others only increase their premiums by a modest amount. As always, make sure you study the fine print before making your final decision on insurance.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Quite a few 300Cs do time as limousines and are favourites with those bored with the usual German and Australian limos. Diesels tend to be the more popular choice with the limo companies despite the ‘V8 gangster car’ image. Look for a car with a lot of wear in the rear seat and the boot.

Watch out for a Chrysler 300C that has been customised to the max as it may have been driven hard to prove some sort of a point. Then again, many are used only as cruisers.

Uneven tyre wear is probably a sign of hard driving, perhaps even burnouts or doughnuts. Check inside the wheel wells for evidence.

Lowered suspension and/or huge wheels may have led to a Chrysler 300 crunching on kerbs or bottoming on speed bumps. If unsure, get a professional to put the car on a hoist and do a complete inspection.

Look for crash repairs: paint that doesn’t quite match and a ripply finish are the easiest to spot. If there’s the slightest doubt call in an expert - or call off the car...

Make sure the engine starts easily. The V8 will have a slightly lumpy idle - beautiful! - but if a V6 petrol or diesel doesn’t idle smoothly there may be hassles.

CAR BUYING TIP

Check logbooks for evidence of routine maintenance. Also, compare the distance travelled in these books with the reading on the car’s odometer. We’ve seen more than one car that’s done a lot more miles on paper than shown on the speedo...

CHRYSLER 300C
Engine: 3.2-litre V6, 183kW/340Nm, 3.0-litre 6 cylinder diesel 160kW/510Nm, 5.7-litre V8 265kW/528Nm, 6.1-litre V8, 317kW/569Nm
Body: four-door sedan
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, RWD
Thirst: from 10.5L/100km (diesel) to 14.2L/100km (STR-8)
 

 

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Chrysler 300 premium unleaded

You can run 91-octane regular unleaded without any ill effects, but to get the best out of the car it's better to run Premium unleaded.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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