2008 Chrysler 300 Engine Problems

While stopped at a stop light, one of the radiator cooling fans (plastic) disintegrated, severely damaging the radiator beyond repair. Engine coolant was quickly lost. We pulled off to the side of the road. We had to replace the cooling fans and radiator.

WE DROVE THE CAR TO GEORGIA FROM MISSISSIPPI. AS WE PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS SOMETHING WAS CRUMBLING. WE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND NOTICED COOLANT ALL OVER THE GROUND. WE CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE FAN TORE UP AND CAUSED THE BLADES TO PUNCTURE HOLES INTO THE RADIATOR. IT WAS FIXED AND AS WE BEGAN TO LEAVE WE WENT ABOUT5-10 DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND WE SHUT IT OFF INSTANTLY AND ADDED COOLANT HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TRIED BOOSTING IT OFF AND IT STILL WON'T START. WE ARE BEING TOLD THE ENGINE SEIZED. WE HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON . CAR DROVE LIKE A PERFECT CAR. THEY DID SAY THE OIL WAS 1/2 QUART LOW. WE ARE GONNA TOW IT BACK TO MISSISSIPPI TO HAVE IT FIXED

PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, I LATER NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND. OPENED UP HOOD AND FOUND OUT RADIATOR FAN BLADE BROKE OFF AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR RESULTING IN HAVING TO REPLACE BOTH RADIATOR AND FAN ASSEMBLY. CHRYSLER ISSUED A CSN (CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTICE) THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN, BUT NO SAFETY RECALL ISSUED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE JOLTED AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT OPENEND THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THAT THE RADIATOR FAN FAILED AND CAUSED THE PARTS TO PIERCE THE RADIATOR WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,200.

MY 2008 CHRYSLER 300C SRT DESIGN WITH THE 5.7 HEMI DROPPED A VALVE SEAT AND BROKE THE #6 PISTON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENS ON SHORT DRIVING DISTANCES BUT HERE IS THAT ONE OCCURRENCE WHERE IT HAPPENED WHEN ENGINE WAS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT STARTING MISS FIRING WHILE DRIVING AND BY THE TIME WE COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP IT WAS BLOWING SMOKE LIKE CRAZY. THE CAR HAD 127,000 MILES ON IT BUT TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS IT WASN'T FROM LACK MAINTENANCE. I LOVE CARS AND TAKE EXTREMELY WELL CARE OF MINE. WHEN I PULLED THE VALVE COVER TO REMOVE THE HEAD IT WAS SO CLEAN IN THE VALVE TRAIN THAT EVEN MY FRIEND WHO IS TRIPLE MASTER ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID, " [XXX] THAT'S ONE OF CLEANEST ENGINES HE HAD EVER SEEN. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MANY DODGE AND CHRYSLER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME ISSUE, MAYBE JUST ANOTHER CYLINDER WHERE VALVE SEATS HAVE JUST DROPPED. TO MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S THE CHOICE IN MATERIAL THEY USED IN THE SEAT ITSELF AND THEN PRESSING IT INTO AN ALUMINUM HEAD IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. DIFFERENT METALS HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO HEAT WHERE ONE METAL SUCH AS ALUMINUM WILL HEAT FASTER THAN THEN THE METAL USED IN THE VALVE SEAT. CAUSING VALVE SEATS TO COME LOOSE AND DROP INTO THE CYLINDER CHAMBER CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN ENGINES. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND NOW I'M LOOKING AT $5000.00 TO GET A REMANUFACTURED LONG BLOCK AND THEN PAYING TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. I FEEL THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR VEHICLES THAT HAVE DROPPED VALVE SEATS. THERE'S NO WARNING AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN BUT REST ASSURED IF YOU OWN A 2003 TO 2008 5.7 HEMI CHANCES ARE IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU TOO. I WANT WHAT'S FAIR AND THAT'S TO BE REIMBURSED FOR COST OF A NEW ENGINE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I CHECKED MY OIL BEFORE LEAVING ON A 3 HR TRIP THIS PAST WEEKEND, BECAUSE I NOTICE THAT CENTRIPETAL FORCE WAS CAUSING MY OIL LIGHT LIGHT TO DING. I FIGURED IT MAY NEED TO BE TOPPED OFF. I CHECKED IT 3 TIMES TO BE SURE, AND THE DIPSTICK SHOWED I WAS AT THE MAX FILL LINE. WHEN THE ENGINE HAD OVERDRIVE ENGAGED, IT SUDDENLY DISENGAGED, LOSING ALL POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP. I TRIED TO ROLL IT TO DISENGAGE, NO JOY. HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPT (110 MILES) AND THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BONE DRY. CAN I SUSPECT THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH OIL SLUDGE, AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES?

MY RADIO HAS A HOLE IN IT. THERE WAS A POP NOISE AND THEN EVERYTHING LEAKED OUT THE CAR WAS ONLY JUST STARTED, NOT OVER HEATING I STOPPED TO TALK TO A NEIGHBOR WHEN WE HEARD THE POP NOISE AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC WAS STICKING OUT OF THE FAN AREA I LATER LEARNED IT WAS FROM MY FAN ASSEMBLY. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH LESS THEN 56,000. MILES THAT GOES TO DEALERS FOR SERVICE, THIS CAR IS A LEMON. THEY HAD TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AT 27,000. MILES, BRAKES AND ROTORS LAST YEAR FOUR NEW TIRES, AND THAT DEALER SAID I WAS GOING TO NEED FRONT END WORK, I HAVE BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS AND DON'T FEEL I CAN TRUST ANY OF THEM . THEY SEEM TO FIND THINGS TO DO EVEN IF NOT NEEDED . I DON'T THINK MY TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING WHEN THEY SAID IT WAS EITHER I WOULD HAVE SEEN IT ON THE GROUND AS IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEAKING WHEN I LEFT THERE,AS THERE NOT GOING TO CHANCE ME BRINGING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE . THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I SHOULD GET A FULL REFUND. WITH ALL RECALLS NEEDED NEW TIRES AND ROTORS BRAKES ETC, LAST YEAR AND THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FRONT END WORK WILL BE NEEDED . SERVICE DEPTS, ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY WHEN I TOOK IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE SIX MONTHS LATER IT HAD NO OIL HOW IS THAT HAPPEN. DO THEN NOT FILL IT UP SO DO I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO BE CHECKED AFTER AN OIL CHANGE AT LESTER GLEN CHRYSLER NOT TO SPEAK OF THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR. UPDATED 10/04/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COOLING FAN FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND, WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THERE WERE THREE FAN BLADES MISSING, WHICH SCRATCHED AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE FAN BLADES MISSING, WHICH SCRATCHED AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE CAR WON'T START AT ALL DUE TO THE FAULTY IGNITION IN THE 2008 CHRYSLER 300 WHICH HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2014. IT IS THE P57 RECALL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE OUR VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. AND CHRYSLER NOR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES/DEALERSHIPS HAVE OFFERED US ANY FIX BE IT TEMPORARY, PERMANENT OR BY JUST LOANING US A CAR. WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AND REALLY IS A HARDSHIP FOR A MOTHER WITH AN INFANT AND 5 YEAR OLD WHO GOES TO SCHOOL. *TR

MY CHRYSLER 300 OIL DIPSTICK COULDN'T BE REMOVE TO CHECK OIL LEVEL. DIPSTICK IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND BY IT BEING EXPOSE TO HIGH TEMP STICK SEIZE IN IT'S HOLDER AND COULDN'T BE REMOVE WITHOUT IT BREAKING. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND STILL WANT TO CHARGE IT CUSTOMERS 90.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEW DIPSTICK IS MADE OF PLASTIC ALSO. *TR

GETTING OFF OF THE BELTWAY AND THE CAR STOPPED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL ON THE SIDE AND RESTART THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FOUR OTHER TIMES. ONCE PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION INTO TRAFFIC, SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. THIS IS NOT SAFE. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL WITH NO PART ON HAND YET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MEANWHILE AN 82 YEAR OLD WOMAN HAS TO DRIVE HER CAR NEVER KNOWING WHEN IT WILL JUST SHUT DOWN. CHRYSLER IS MAKING NO ATTEMPT AT OFFERING RENTAL CARS OR AS I SEE IT GETTING THE PART TO THE DEALERS TO FIX IT. WHY SHOULD THE OWNER INCUR RENTAL FEES BECAUSE THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.? I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS REREAD THE RECALL LETTER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE AND THAT CHRYSLER HAD NO INTENTION OF SUPPLYING ANYONE WITH A RENTAL CAR THAT HAS HAD THE CAR SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,117.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

MY WIFE HAD TAKEN OUR 2008 CHRYSLER 300 IN FOR SERVICE WHEN WHILE SITTING IN THE SERVICE LANE AWAITING A SERVICE ADVISOR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT IDLE ONE OF THE FAN BLADES BROKE AND WENT INTO THE RADIATOR. WE FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # CSN-L08. WE COMPLIED WITH SENDING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN TO CHRYSLER AS INSTRUCTED. AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS AFTER SENDING THE DOCUMENTATION INTO CHRYSLER, WE CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED DUE TO SOME KIND OF SALES CODE. WHEN WE ASKED WHAT THAT WAS WE WERE NEVER TOLD AND KEPT BEING TOLD THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS DENIED DUE TO A SALES CODE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT THAT WAS AND THERE IS NO SUCH SALES CODE MENTIONED ON ANY OF THE PAPERWORK AND THE SERVICE BULLETIN DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY SALES CODE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DOUBLE TALK SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REIMBURSED. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. WE ALSO HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS PER CHRYSLER RECALL # P57. THIS WAS STILL NOT FIXED. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS DUE TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE. WE ARE BRAND LOYAL CUSTOMERS BUT THIS IS CHANGING OUR OUTLOOK FOR THE CHRYSLER BRAND. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHRYSLER'S REACTION TO THIS ISSUE.

HEATER CORE BLEW IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT IF I'D STILL BEEN DRIVING, THE FLUID THAT DISPELLED WOULD HAVE BURNT MY LEGS AND FEET AS I WAS WEARING SHORTS AND FLIP-FLOPS. THIS INCIDENT WAS FURTHER EXASPERATED BY THE FACT THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN & OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP (PRESTIGE IN LAS VEGAS) MARCH, APRIL, MAY & JUNE OF 2014 FOR SEVERAL ISSUES AND A LOT OF THEM HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH TEMPERATURE SENSORS, GAUGES, WATER LEAKAGE, ETC. I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THE CAR DURING THOSE TIMES. AT ONE POINT, THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 33 DAYS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM!! HAVING THE HEATING CORE WHERE IT IS AND HAVING IT BLOW THE HOT FLUID OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FROM UNDER THE DASH IS THE MOST LUDICROUS THING I'VE EVER HEARD. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR OR I'M SURE I WOULD HAVE HAD 3RD DEGREE BURNS FROM MY KNEES DOWN OR WORSE. *TR

2008 CHRYSLER 300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER FILLED UP THE TANK AND THE VEHICLE RE-STARTED. HOWEVER, THE GAUGE READ 3/4 FULL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB