Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chrysler 300M owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My passenger vehicle has a crack developing in the dash on the left side of the passenger air bag. This crack is about 5-6 inches long and appears to be growing. It is in line with what appears to be a slight depression where the air bag is located. This cannot be repaired by any cosmetic means due to the possibility of rendering the air bag ineffective. The dealer says it is not covered by any warranty or service recall. They will replace it for a mere #1100.00 plus. I don't understand why the safety devices are required to be installed in the cars when they are new but they are not covered by any warranty standard that requires the devices to be functional beyond the day you purchase the vehicle? For me as a customer this neither protects me by assuring my personal safety nor does it protect me financially. This is a rip off. …
It is seemingly impossible to align a 1999 Chrysler 300m, and this has been quite an alarming recent experience for me, having just bought a used one and having changed a lot of front-end suspension parts before aligning and re-aligning. I feel so horrible for the people who bought and continue to buy these 300 cars today. In comparison to my other cars, (a 1993 Pontiac firebird and even an older Chrysler product, a 1986 daytona) which can be easily aligned if all the right parts are in and work well, the 300m simply cannot be aligned it seems, no matter what parts are changed. What a shame for America manufacturing! Shame!
I recently noticed a crack in the dashboard of my 1999 Chrysler 300m over the passenger airbag. The crack is about two inches long and getting bigger. There is also an oily substance surrounding the crack. I feel that this is a safety concern and May compromise proper deployment of the airbag resulting in bodily harm or possible death in the event of an accident. I am concerned that if I were to repair the crack it would it would further compromise the deployment of the airbag. Having researched this online it appears that many of the other identical models have the same problem.
After parking my car in my heated garage for most of the winter in sw pa, I got into it in the spring and noticed a small crack in the dashboard on the passenger side where the airbag is. Since then, that small crack has grown to about 8 and another one appeared on the right side that is now about 4 . I am afraid my airbag will accidentally deploy on even a small bump in the road. My car currently has about 53K on it. I will soon be contacting my local Chrysler dealer to complain! Any hints you can provide on handling this will be appreciated!
Soon after warranty on my 1999 300m expired a crack developed on driver side of vehicle. I complained to the dealer and nothing was done. No repair shop would attempt to fix it because they would not want to be responsible for airbag. Months later a split developed on passenger side near airbag. I am very concerned that the airbag May or May not deploy. I now have a 12 inch split on driver side and a 8 inch split over the passenger airbag. It is unsightly and unsafe and effects the resale of the vehicle.
The dashboard had developed a cut or tear, where the passenger side air bag is installed. This could result in premature deployment of the passenger side air bag. The dealership indicated that the tear is a cosmetic issue and it is not covered under warranty. The tear cannot be repaired because it's a safety hazard, so the entire dashboard needs to be replaced. Consumer heard from other service dealers that the tear was due to the thinning of the dashboard to make the deployment of the air bag easier.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chrysler 300m. In June of 2009 when he attempted to open the left drivers door he noticed that the handle was broken. The dealer stated the estimated cost for repair was $190.00 which did not include labor at an estimate of $90.00 an hour. The manufacturer stated that there were no related recalls and due to the age of the vehicle they would not assist with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 138,000.
Dt: the vehicle has a split in dashboard around the passenger airbag. The dashboard has been replaced in 2002 for the same reason. The dealer replaced it free of charge the first time. This replacement was as result of a conversation the vehicle owner had with the manufacturer in detroit. The manufacturer or dealer will not replace it this time. The owner feels this could result in a premature deployment of the airbag. The split appeared six weeks ago, and continued to grow.
Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle's dashboard had developed a small crack to the right of the front passenger side air bag. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that nothing could be done to repair the cracked dashboard unless the entire dashboard was replaced. The crack grew larger with time and went from top to bottom. The contact believed this to be a safety defect because it could obstruct the passenger side air bag. Updated 7/18/2006 -
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chrysler 300m. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed a crack in the dashboard near the passenger side air bag. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the dashboard was resurfaced; however, two weeks after the vehicle was repaired the failure recurred. There were no prior warnings. The failure mileage was 70000 and the current mileage was 72000.
Body complaints in other 300M years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Chrysler 300M?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Chrysler 300M, 14% of the model year's 351 complaints. The component named most often is body (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chrysler 300M body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Chrysler 300M, though it has 3 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 1999 Chrysler 300M body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure 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.