Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Transmission came out of park without the key being in the ignition. As a result, vehicle rolled down the driveway crashing into the neighbor's garage. Consumer stated two days later she received a recall for the transmission.
I recently purchased a used 1999 Chrysler 300m. I had no problems with the car for the first couple of months. After about 3 months I noticed the interior lights began to turn on and off by themselves. Shortly after that my factory stereo went out. The next thing I noticed was the transmission slipping. After that my driver and passenger side speakers went out. After that my headlights began turning on and off by themselves when the car was parked and turned off. After that my heating unit would come on automatically whenever I would start the car. I've noticed a slight burning smell inside the car once I've started it up. My heated seats work when they want to. There's a whistling noise underneath the hood. My engine sounds loud now. There's a strange noise coming from the rear wheel on the driver side. It sounds like something electrical is shorting out. …
1999 Chrysler 300m, driving along freeway at 60 MPH, sudden deceleration. Big scare for wife coming home in rush hour. Speedometer read zero, and the transmission was stuck in first gear. Could not get car to shift into another forward gear, still would go into reverse. Had to call tow truck to tow through houston, 65 miles to home on west side. $165.00 for tow alone. This issue, I see, is common with this car. Why doesn't Chrysler address this problem??? TCM transmission control module, or transmission solenoid pack May be to blame, I think it's the transaxle output speed sensor, since speedo is not working. Transmission had no prior sign of problems. Love those computers. Sure do hate them in my car.
Dt: the contact owns a 1999 Chrysler 300m. He says that on May 15th ,2005 he started vehicle and tried to put it in drive, and the shifter broke from the welding. Shifter is on the floor not on the steering column. He noticed that on May 13th 2005 it would not go in drive. It was like it was locked. He pulled the shifter really hard and it released. He drove vehicle and it was fine until May 15th 2005. The mechanic said that he never had any problem like this. He thought someone had tried to steal the car. Mechanic said that the cable looked like it was getting hot and it might break really soon so he would have to replace it.
The car was in the park position with the engine running. When the car was shifted into the drive position, it suddenly surged forward at a great and uncontrolled rate of speed. The car struck the rear side of the recreational vehicle, becoming impaled on it. The recreational vehicle was hit with such force that it was turned about thirty degrees counterclockwise. The recreational vehicle then struck a neighbor's parked vehicle. All three vehicles sustained significant damage. Additionally, both the driver and passenger airbags failed to deploy.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chrysler 300m. While parked in the driveway, the vehicle shifted out of park. When engaged, the gear shift does not remain in the park position. The manufacturer stated that the recall repair was previously performed; however, the failure has recurred. The contact is aware of the safety risk involved because the vehicle must be parked on a hill and will not remain in the park position. The failure mileage was 118,000 and current mileage was 120,000.
Vehicle surged out of park in reverse with throttle wide open and crashed into a dumpster and then went forward 200 ft into a tree. Dealer states nothing wrong with vehicle. Owner states a definate hazard to drive car without full investigation. Several other similar incidents reported on this site with no investigation of nhsta reported. Legal advisory of case action.
Consumers has a gear shift lock that is considered a safety feature. Consumers son took the gear shift out of park & rolled across the street into a brick wall. Dealer isn't assisting the consumer in this matter & feels the consumer should be at fault. The key is suppose to be turned or started & the foot on the brake before puuled out of gear.
1. Normal everyday driving 2. Input/output sensor on transmission failed. Speedometer read zero (0) when moving. Only 2nd gear available. Had to drive side streets at low speed to prevent engine from revving too high as it was taken to the dealer. 3. Out of warranty repair; replaced input/output sensors on transmission. Cost $173.90.
Speedometer drops to 0, transmission stuck in 2nd gear, engine light comes on. This has happened twice in the last 6 months. A/C keeps going out. Thought it was a freon leak, but then the evaporator had to be replaced. A/C has now gone out again. Right, rear power windows are also not operating at this time.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock May fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock May also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on June 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports cannot be determined due to missing or incomplete information.the fatality incident involved an…
Transmission complaints in other 300M years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Chrysler 300M?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Chrysler 300M, 9% of the model year's 351 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chrysler 300M transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Chrysler 300M transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain 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.