Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chrysler 300M owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was stopped at a red light vehicle behind me did not stop and rear ended me. Both front seats in my car let loose and the seat backs went fully reclined. My wife and I were both laying on our backs with heads on the back seat. The car was still moving, it was hard for me to get upright and stop the car. Chrysler told me the seats are designed this way. Here is what they said "the seats in your vehicle. Our design to progressively tilt just during a rear impact collision. The idea behind that, is that it does lesson injuries to the front seat vehicle occupants once that happens so that would be a normal occurrence for your vehicle in a rear end collision". I say [redacted]. If someone was in the back the seat would have broken their legs. It was not a"progressive" tilt, they flew back. They air bags did not deploy.
Air bag failed to go off in 2000 Chrysler 300m. I was hit head on by a small pick up. Witnesses says other driver doing 55/60 MPH. I was traveling at 45 MPH. Both obviously braking at impact but no driver side air bag deployed. My head hit the steering wheel. Lump and bad bruising as a result. Contacted Chrysler and they offered to fix air bags free if car still under warranty. Car was totaled so point is mute.
2000 Chrysler 300m, front impact with 1,600 lbs steer, at 55 MPH. Totaled car and severely injured driver. Air bags did not deploy. This happened at 1 a.m., cow was a black angus that ran out of ditch directly in front of car. Back of cow crashed through entire windshield, stopped car immediately on impact.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH the contact hit another vehicle from the rear and the frontal airbags did not deploy. The vehicle sustained frontal damage and a police report was filed. Although the dealership was alerted, no appointment for inspection has been made. Updated 4/11/2006 -
One week ago a 3" split appeared in the passenger side dashboard vinyl near the air bag. My concern is that this is in someway related to, or is going to affect, the operation of the air bag deployment. I understand this is beginning to occur in many 1999 and 2000 300m's. Four years seems much too early for a problem like this to occur. The vinyl is still resilient and pliable, not hard or brittle. My local Chrysler dealer (allen jay) tells me they have never heard of it. They suggested I see about having repaired by someone who does vinyl repair. In my opinion this would further affect the deployment of the air bag. Thank you for your time.
The dashboard cover is cracking in two places which are directly above the drivers side air bag. The air bag appears to be expanding underneath the dash cover. The air bag May not properly deploy if there is a collison. Auto is out of warranty and Chrysler has refused to inspect or repair this situation although there was a recall for the same vehicle with slightly different assembly dates. Chyrsler owner's manual warns against any repairs to the air bag except by their authorized dealers. I have seen this condition in the same model and year of manufacture, and there are several reports in the NHTSA data base.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chrysler 300m. The contact stated that the clock spring failed to work and the air bag warning lamp illuminated when the failure occurred. Also, the contact mentioned that the horn failed to work and the cruise control malfunction. The vehicle was not inspected and diagnosed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 99V343000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
About a year and a half ago, I noticed that on the passenger side dash, a 1" crack had started to develop around the air bag of my 2000 Chrysler 300m. I am the crack is now on both sides of the air bag and each are at least 10" long. I am concerned that the airbag will not deploy properly. My local Chrysler dealer said to fix it with a vinyl repair kit, but it would be unsightly. I am very disappointed to have such a new car have this dash condition.
On aug. 4, 2004 I was in a crash that resulted in my 2000 Chrysler 300m being totalled. I was going approximately 35-40 MPH when a oncoming truck turned in front of me. My airbags did not deploy. I am wondering if they should have the VIN # is [redacted]. Updated 07/25/2012
A slit has opened in the dashboard, apparently on the left hand side (when viewed from inside the car) of the passenger side airbag. Chrysler initially denied any responsibility for this, saying it must have been our problem. Follow up conversations with the local dealer suggest that Chrysler now knows it is a problem .
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The passenger air bag inflator assembly contains an incorrect inflator charge amount.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag module with a correct module.
Airbag complaints in other 300M years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Chrysler 300M?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Chrysler 300M, 12% of the model year's 242 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chrysler 300M airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-343 (frontal, Dec 2, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chrysler 300M airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries to air bags 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.