2023 Chrysler 300: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about this car. The 6 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

2023

Owner complaints: 5
Recalls: 1
Crashes reported: 2
Reliability: Good; 75/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/6 checked

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2

01Confirm the other recall listed below shows as completed for this VIN. A Chrysler dealer can look it up for free.
02Ask for service records showing any steering, brake, or tire pressure repairs and what the dealer did.

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

03Back slowly toward a trash can or cone and confirm the rear parking sensors beep well before contact.

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1

04Check each tire's pressure, then recheck days later to spot slow leaks.

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2

05Press the brake pedal hard at a stop and walk away if it sinks toward the floor.
06Drive on straight and curved roads and make sure the steering feels steady and responds normally.

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Reported on other 300 years with the same design

These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.

2022 300

5 owner complaints

Airbags 2

Worth adding to your 2023 checks

Turn the key and confirm the air bag warning light comes on briefly, then goes off and stays off.
Have a shop scan the air bag system for stored fault codes before you buy.
Run the VIN through federal recall records and confirm any open air bag work is complete.

Open the 2022 checklist

2021 300

18 owner complaints

Airbags 8
Seat belts 3
Engine 2

Worth adding to your 2023 checks

Run the VIN through the federal recall lookup and confirm whether the air bag inflator repair is done or still waiting on parts.
Start the car and confirm the air bag warning light goes out after the startup bulb check.
Pull both front seat belts all the way out and look for frayed webbing, split seams, or cuts near the metal hardware.

Open the 2021 checklist

2020 300

10 owner complaints

Airbags 4

Worth adding to your 2023 checks

Inspect the steering wheel, dash, headliner, and roof pillars for signs of a deployed, replaced, or damaged air bag.
Pull a vehicle history report and look for prior crashes or air bag deployments.
Check both sun visors and the headliner around them for scorch marks, melting, or a burnt smell.

Open the 2020 checklist

Which 300 is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Chrysler 300. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

Version	Drive	EPA rating
3.6L 6-cyl	AWD, RWD	21–23 mpg
5.7L 8-cyl	RWD	19 mpg
6.4L 8-cyl	RWD	18 mpg

The 2023 Chrysler 300 was sold in three versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A 300 that averages well under the EPA 18 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Where the 2023 fits in the 300's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2023 is the 13th model year of the 300's second generation (2011–2023).

It includes the 2015 update.

What changed for 2015

Facelift introduced
New technology features

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Chrysler dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

24V112000BrakesFeb 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger vehicles. The parking brake may be improperly adjusted, which can result in a vehicle roll away. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems.".
Risk: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will properly adjust the parking brake, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 29, 2024. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 01B.

Also looking at these instead of a 300?

Cars shoppers compare with the Chrysler 300, with their own 2023 checklists.

2023 owner complaints, side by side