Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Chrysler 300 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Limited edition 75th anniversary mopar. Continually blows the 25 amp fuse for the acc, anti-sway, & and systems. Alternator has caught fire on on one occassion. Chrysler either doesn't care or does not possess the expertise to resolve the problem. Battery & alternator replaced after fire. 4091 miles later I am experiencing the same blown fuse problem. Chrysler "independant" investigator from eaa (mike sobiecki) filed report to Chrysler a few weeks ago. No call from Chrysler to me regarding this issue (there is a Chrysler case number on this). I need help. I work out of state and I-ve already broke down during interstate travel on I-10.
While driving on parkway, battery light saver comes on car, instrument panel goes hay wire just starts lighting up gauges going crazy. Steering wheel locks up car cuts off, lucky I was the only vehicle on the road manage to stop car bye hitting a embankment, when I pulled over black smoke was coming from the hood. Could smell something electric burning. Car cut off and would not start had toed to the dealer.
I was driving my vehicle on a city street when suddenly it started to act strange. The vehicle stability warning light went on and I began to quickly lose power and control of the vehicle. A burning smell was detected and the powertrain began to make unusual noises. Other warning lights began popping randomly and the wipers started on its own. The vehicle then stalled and came to a complete stop. All electrical systems completely shut down. Smelled like something had burned up under the hood. I immediately contacted Chrysler roadside service and had the vehicle towed to a local Chrysler dealership. The Chrysler service department later examined the vehicle and said the alternator had burned up. The alternator also caused damage to my battery. The service department indicated it would cost approximately $1,000 to repair both. …
Since 2013 I have been experiencing electrical issues with my car. First in 2013 it was very sporadic. The Bluetooth and radio would not turn on approximately once every 2 to 4 months so I would turn off the car and restart it and it would connect. This year in January 2016 the fan was not blowing and there was not heat in the vehicle. I turn the car of and restarted it and the fan began to blow immediately. Last week my steering wheel felt like it was not going to complete my left turn and got really tight. Yesterday as I was driving my accelerator and brake began to feel very tight as if they were both getting stiff and the suspension started getting very tight then as I was backing into a parking space my backup camera started flickering like poltergeist. I took the vehicle to check it I needed a battery or a new alternator and they said nope. …
This is the 2nd time I am sending a complaint about the 2012 Chrysler 300's and the safety issues associated. My vehicle has some sort of electrical issue. This electrical issue used to sporadically affect my vehicle in various way, however lately the issues have become more frequent and aggressive. The frequent and aggressive activity are as follows: sometimes my Bluetooth will not connect so I would turn off and restart the vehicle and the Bluetooth would immediately connect. Sometimes the power seats will not heat. I would pull over turn off the car and restart the vehicle and it would start heating up. Sometimes the back-up camera flickers and has a severely distorted image. Sometime the image of the camera is perfectly crystal clear. The main concern is my power steering is electric and I do not have a power steering pump. …
On several occasions over the past few weeks, as the car heats up, the ABS fuse seems to lose contact. When this happens, ABS/ESP (stability control), forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise disable. It has happened both while stationary and moving. If using adaptive cruise control, acceleration and speed maintenance will stop, and could result in an accident (though it has not yet). A similar Chrysler case has been opened and linked to the police variant of a car on the same platform with same engine. Police cars use Dodge chargers with Hemi v8, which is the same platform as the Chrysler 300 with a Hemi v8, with mostly cosmetic issues. The fuse is not blown, and upon the car cooling down, the system is restored, however, on journeys in which the engine heat rises, the system goes offline. …
Was driving down the road on a 90 plus degree day with my air on and radio and all of a sudden the radio shuts off the air shuts off and the heat comes on max all by its self.the winsheild wipers come on . I tried to turn them off but I couldnt. Try to roll the window down but it wouldnt work . Lost my power steering. Try to turn but I couldnt went to next drive way where it was wide enough and turned the car was trying to start while all this was going on. I finally got the car where I tried to stop it but it would not so I push the emerency brake and held the brake while I did that also tried to put the car in gear but it would not allow me to in the message area it read service shifter. Finally the car was dying down and all of a sudden it just shut down. …
(p60/NHTSA 14v-634) I own a 2012 Chrysler 300. While driving about 5 MPH in a parking lot, the radio stated cutting on and off, the battery icon flashed on and off and I lost all power to the vehicle. I opened the hood and smoke was coming from the alternator. Aaa came and tried to jump -start the vehicle, but the battery was completely dead. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery was the cause of the failure. The batter and the alternator were replaced. In 2015, a letter was sent to certain Chrysler 300 owners whose vehicle was equipped with a 3.6l engine and a 160 amp alternator to take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer and get the alternator replaced, free of charge. Those of us with a 180 amp alternator did not qualify. Those of us with the 180 amp alternator did not qualify. …
While driving about 30mpr, car suddenly loss all inside lights, including indicator lights. Within one minutes later, power dropped and car was barely driving. Within the two blocks I had to drive to get home, power continued to drop. No way to control the car; unable to turn off .ignition or put car in park it suddenly began to smoke profusely. Looked like all fluids leaked and car became hot. Then all dash lights came on flashing violently. Car smoked for about 20 minutes or more before it became quiet. Gears would not engage, so it remained in drive the whole time. I kept my foot on brake due to uncertain about what the car would do. It was completely dead but continued to smoke more than 30 more minutes. Was unable to control anything. Could not even operate trunk. I am totally afraid of this car. Towed to dealer. Alternator cost >$1100. Mileage is just over 68000. …
Transmission service warning & engine service lights come on with transmission going out of gear while the vehicle is at speed. Renders the vehicle inoperable and creates a dangerous situation to oncoming and surrounding motorists. Has happened multiple times. Reported to the dealer on three separate occasions. Requires a shut down and restart/reboot with diminished transmission ability. Yellow service engine light and ABS & traction control lights are in the constant on, lighted. Chrysler service codes detect no coded issues. Happening on a greater frequency now, started before 30,000 miles, vehicle now has 43,000 miles on it. Happens in motion, after being parked, just before parking. Frequency is such that I am afraid to drive the vehicle. Chrysler dealer(s) state that do do not have a fix resolved yet for the 2012 models.
Traction Control complaints in other 300 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2012 Chrysler 300?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2012 Chrysler 300, 6% of the model year's 426 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Chrysler 300 traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2012 Chrysler 300, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Chrysler 300 traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.