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Chrysler 300C problems (2005–2010)

The only engine of the Chrysler 300C that we have documented, the OM642, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the version it is fitted to: «With caution».[1][2]

Outside the engine: Beyond the engine, the German press points to the following on the 2005 to 2010 Chrysler 300C: play in the control arms, ball joints and track rod ends (which the TÜV often criticises), worn «Hardy» joints on the driveshaft, brakes that are barely big enough and electrical faults such as the xenon headlights or heated seats. The ADAC also reports more defective batteries from the third year.[3][4]

Chrysler 300C (2005–2010)
Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468105.0out of 10

Chrysler 300C rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 10 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: it is based on few sources or few documented faults, so it is not included in the rankings. Having few documented faults does not mean it is reliable: it may simply be little studied. How it is calculated

  • Engine2.85 faults
  • Gearbox8.61 fault
  • Suspension7.91 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Brakes7.51 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering5.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 2.0 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system8.22 faults
  • Headlights and lights7.7Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.2 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the Chrysler 300C

  1. 1Critical severity: Broken swirl flaps in the intake manifoldOM642 engine · repair €600–€1,200
  2. 2High severity: Oil cooler seal leak (between the cylinder heads)OM642 engine · repair €1,500–€2,200
  3. 3High severity: Wear and failure of the Bosch piezo injectorsOM642 engine · repair €4,500–€6,500
  4. 4Critical severity: Rear timing chain wear and tensioner failureOM642 engine · repair €3,500–€5,000
  5. 5Medium severity: Emissions defeat device (AdBlue/EGR) and software update campaignOM642 engine

Documented engine

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

7 sourcesHow we work

OM642

Mercedes-Benz OM642 (3.0 V6 CDI / BlueTEC) · Diesel

In the 300C
2006–2010[5]
Name
300C 3.0 CRD
Faults that affect it
5 · 4 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
72
High risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • It shares all the typical OM642 weak points (oil cooler, intake flaps, injectors) and, according to one specialist source, it is the generation with the most documented cases of the less durable oil cooler seal and of chain tensioner failure. It is worth checking the service history and the condition of these parts before buying.[1][2]

Faults that affect the 300C

  1. Critical severityFrequency: CommonIntakeBroken swirl flaps in the intake manifoldYes: the plastic rods of the intake manifold's swirl flaps become brittle and can break at around 100,000-200,000 km. If a loose flap is sucked into a cylinder, it can hit the piston and destroy the engine; this is why removing them preventively is recommended.Repair (garage): €600–€1,200Appears at around 100,000 km
  2. High severityFrequency: Very frequentLubricationOil cooler seal leak (between the cylinder heads)Yes: the OM642's oil cooler, between the two cylinder heads, has seals that harden with heat and eventually leak oil. It is the engine's most frequently cited weak point, especially before 2009-2010, and the repair is expensive because the intake manifold, turbo and several injectors have to be removed.Repair (garage): €1,500–€2,200Appears at around 120,000 km
  3. High severityFrequency: CommonInjectionWear and failure of the Bosch piezo injectorsThe OM642's Bosch piezo injectors can fail from around 150,000-200,000 km, especially with poor-quality diesel; they cannot be repaired, only replaced. Because it is a V engine, those on the rear bank are harder to reach, which pushes up labour costs.Repair: €4,500–€6,500
  4. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingRear timing chain wear and tensioner failureThe OM642's timing chain, at the rear next to the gearbox, usually lasts a long time: normal stretch begins at around 300,000-350,000 km. On older units (up to 2009) cases of premature tensioner failure have been documented, uncommon but serious if the chain skips.Repair (garage): €3,500–€5,000Appears at around 300,000 km
  5. Medium severityFrequency: Very frequentEmissions controlEmissions defeat device (AdBlue/EGR) and software update campaignGermany's KBA found indications of emissions manipulation in cars with the OM642 engine (alongside the OM651): AdBlue dosing and the EGR changed between the test bench and the road. Mercedes-Benz denied it, but in 2018 it recalled hundreds of thousands of diesels in Europe.

300C OM642 pageAll versions and faults of the OM642

Faults of the Chrysler 300C outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Chrysler 300C

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 1,481 inspections of 597 cars registered between 2005 and 2010, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 11.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 10%.

    Average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 19.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 11.3%.

    More defects than average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.7%.

    More defects than average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 25.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 28%.

    Average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.5%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 5.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 5.4%.

    Average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 12.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 10%.

    More defects than average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 4.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 6%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 18.8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 17.8%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Chrysler 300C

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the OM642 (2006–2010)

Broken swirl flaps in the intake manifold

Critical severity

Oil cooler seal leak (between the cylinder heads)

High severity

Wear and failure of the Bosch piezo injectors

High severity

Rear timing chain wear and tensioner failure

Critical severity

Emissions defeat device (AdBlue/EGR) and software update campaign

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Chrysler 300C

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

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Buying a Chrysler 300C?

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler 300C reliable?

The only engine of the Chrysler 300C that we have documented, the OM642, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the version it is fitted to: «With caution». Beyond the engine, the German press points to the following on the 2005 to 2010 Chrysler 300C: play in the control arms, ball joints and track rod ends (which the TÜV often criticises), worn «Hardy» joints on the driveshaft, brakes that are barely big enough and electrical faults such as the xenon headlights or heated seats. The ADAC also reports more defective batteries from the third year.

What problems does the Chrysler 300C have apart from the engine?

Beyond the engine, the German press points to the following on the 2005 to 2010 Chrysler 300C: play in the control arms, ball joints and track rod ends (which the TÜV often criticises), worn «Hardy» joints on the driveshaft, brakes that are barely big enough and electrical faults such as the xenon headlights or heated seats. The ADAC also reports more defective batteries from the third year. The most important documented faults are: play in the suspension control arms, ball joints and track rod ends (suspension, medium severity), wear of the driveshaft flexible couplings («Hardy» joints) (gearbox and clutch, medium severity), 12 V battery failures from the third year of use (electrical system, medium severity) and warped brake discs and undersized brakes that wear quickly (brakes, low severity).[3][4]

What faults does the Chrysler 300C have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: broken swirl flaps in the intake manifold (OM642, critical severity), oil cooler seal leak (between the cylinder heads) (OM642, high severity), wear and failure of the Bosch piezo injectors (OM642, high severity), rear timing chain wear and tensioner failure (OM642, critical severity) and emissions defeat device (AdBlue/EGR) and software update campaign (OM642, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Chrysler 300C?

According to our rating by year, the best is 2005 (7.3/10); the worst rated is 2006 (5.0/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Mercedes OM642 : fiabilité, pannes fréquentes et coûts d'entretienAutoCopilot · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  2. Mercedes OM642: Zuverlässiger Dauerläufer oder Kostenfalle?Gebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  3. Chrysler 300C im GebrauchtwagentestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 16 March 2012 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  4. Chrysler 300 (2004)Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
  5. Mercedes-Benz OM642 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. Motor diésel Mercedes V6 OM642Motordinámico · Motoring press · published December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Daimler muss 774.000 Fahrzeuge zurückrufenKleine Zeitung · General press · published 11 June 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German