2006 Chrysler 300

Showing the 2006 300 Limited. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 18, 2026.

Fuel economy
18–21 mpgcombined; city 15–18, highway 22–26; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,470–$18,050U.S. average; Ohio $13,820–$16,120 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
1,749filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 300. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 1,749 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 300. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine4256114
Power train369410
Fuel/propulsion system299313
Air bags29627132
Fuel system, gasoline238100
Electrical system1593114
Unknown or other94201
Steering86102
Engine and engine cooling80300
Vehicle speed control58907
Service brakes36314
Structure257110
17 more parts
Service brakes, hydraulic24211
Exterior lighting22010
Suspension22000
Electronic stability control (ESC)13000
Seat belts12307
Tires12000
Equipment9001
Visibility9000
Wheels7200
Seats6202
Visibility/wiper5000
Interior lighting3000
Latches/locks/linkages3100
Parking brake3100
Back over prevention1000
Equipment adaptive/mobility1000
Traction control system1000
What the columns count

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 20061,749
  2. 2007624
  3. 2008757
  4. 200995
  5. 2010137
  6. 2011225
  7. 2012441
  8. 2013341
  9. 2014248
  10. 2015111
  11. 201683
  12. 201786
  13. 2018153
  14. 201961
  15. 202010
  16. 202120
  17. 20225
  18. 20236

Every 300 year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 300 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 16V352000 · reported May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Do not drive until repaired

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.

Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 15V313000 · reported May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Do not drive until repaired

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic

NHTSA campaign 06V149000 · reported May 3, 2006 · 44,367 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE TUBES FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. A CLIP WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE BRAKE TUBES TO THE RIGHT FRONT SHOCK TOWER TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE TO THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7 LITER ENGINES AND MK25E BRAKING SYSTEMS MAY EXHIBIT INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE. CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBES AND EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION TUBE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE TUBES TO WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.

Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A DECREASE OF BRAKING FORCE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 05V460000 · reported Oct 6, 2005 · 256,409 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND INSTALL A BRACKET TO ENSURE THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT IS RETAINED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 42RLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE CUP PLUG THAT RETAINS THE PARK PAWL ANCHOR SHAFT MAY BE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE SHAFT MOVES OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 'PARK' POSITION.

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 90 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 300, the latest on Nov 18, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (21), equipment (19), engine and engine cooling (18), power train (16), structure (11).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA21002
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes
Air bagsSep 17, 2021Open
NHTSA's record and documents
Engineering analysis EA15001
Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 16 makes
Air bagsFeb 24, 2015Open
NHTSA's file lists recall 15V313000, 16V352000 with it
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE14016
Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 16 makes
Air bagsJun 11, 2014Closed Mar 2, 2015
NHTSA's summary names recall 14V343000, 14V344000, 14V348000, 14V351000, 14V353000, 14V655000, 14V700000, 14V701000, 14V752000, 14V763000, 14V770000, 14V773000, 14V787000, 14V802000, 14V817000
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE13016
Engine Stall · covers 2 makes
Fuel system, gasolineMay 9, 2013Closed Feb 10, 2014
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 300.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2006 Chrysler 300s for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: large cars. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
300
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 6 cylAutomatic 4-spdRegular Gasoline18 / 26 / 21
300
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic 4-spdRegular Gasoline17 / 25 / 20
300
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline17 / 24 / 20
300
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 23 / 18
300C
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 22 / 18
300C
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 22 / 18

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data