With its advanced safety features, great gas mileage, and upscale interior, it’s no wonder the Chrysler 200 remains a popular pick in the midsize car segment. But just like any other vehicle, issues and problems are bound to arise regardless of how reliable the Chrysler 200 is.
How Reliable Is the Chrysler 200?
RepairPal gives the Chrysler 200 a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, ranking it 12th out of 24 midsize cars. The annual repairs and maintenance for this model typically cost around $549 compared to the average $652 for other models, which means it has lower than average ownership costs. Owners of the Chrysler 200 usually bring in their vehicles for unscheduled repairs 0.3 times a year compared to the average 0.4 with a 12% probability of needing a major fix.
Top Chrysler 200 Problems
As dependable as the Chrysler 200 is, it may develop problems over time. Below are some of the model’s most common issues found across different model years:
Random Deployment of Active Head Restraints
The active head restraints (AHR) in some 2011-2017 Chrysler 200s have been reported to deploy randomly due to a factory defect. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the AHRs were manufactured using a plastic material that breaks due to stress or fatigue instead of deploying upon a rear-end collision. Because of this, many drivers have reported suffering minor injuries and concussions.
Excessive Oil Consumption
Some 2015-2016 Chrysler 200s with 2.4L Tigershark engines have been reported to consume too much oil. The owners of the affected models have complained that their vehicles tend to consume a quart of oil every 1,000 miles and that the low oil pressure warning light doesn’t turn on when the oil level drops to 3.5 quarts or lower.
According to reports, the piston rings inside the engine were not compatible with the cylinders, causing oil to leak and burn off in the compression cycle. Keep in mind that low oil levels will prevent moving parts in the engine from getting lubricated properly. This could cause various components to wear prematurely and result in a series of drivability issues if left unaddressed.
Transmission Failure
Transmission failure is one of the most common 2015 Chrysler 200 problems reported by many drivers. The owners of the affected vehicles have reported that their cars automatically shift to a lower gear despite having a new transmission. Many drivers have also complained that they can’t use their brakes and parking brakes, which led them to coast to a stop. While some were able to stop their vehicles safely, others got into minor accidents because of this problem.
Many owners have also reported that their vehicles would jerk and kick forward when they step on the brake pedal. This led to some headlights falling out of their casings and rear tires coming off their rims while driving.
Some 2015-2017 Chrysler 200s with a nine-speed transmission have been reported to have a couple of issues when shifting gears. The affected vehicles would lurch through gears, and they would sometimes shut down or automatically shift to neutral. According to the automaker’s findings, this issue was caused by a terminal crimping issue with 26-way connectors on the sensor cluster harness assemblies.
In 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recalled certain 2015 Chrysler 200 vehicles equipped with a nine-speed gearbox because they tend to shift into neutral when in motion. This led the NHTSA to issue the recall notice, as unexpected shifting can increase the risk of a crash.
Engine Stalls While Driving
Both generations of the Chrysler 200 have had widely reported problems of stalling without warning. In 2012, the NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation after 15 units of 2011-2013 Chrysler 200s stalled during low-speed deceleration, such as braking for a stop sign or traffic light. After further investigation, it was revealed that a defective powertrain control module (PCM) initiated a purge monitor check whenever the vehicles were idling or slowing down. This resulted in an overly rich vapor condition that caused the engines to stall.
Electrical Issues
One of the many advantages of owning a late-model Chrysler is its totally integrated power module (TIPM). The TIPM is the gateway for the vehicle’s entire electrical system that takes commands from switches and modules. It converts the commands into voltage or ground. The TIPM, however, doesn’t come without faults.
Some owners of first-generation Chrysler 200s have reported issues like the fuel pump failing to send fuel to the engine and airbags deploying randomly because of a defective TIPM. No recalls were made for the affected Chrysler 200 units. But other FCA-owned makes, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, have been recalled for an extended warranty on fuel pump repairs and reimbursements for previous TIPM replacements.
Defective Heater
Many 2012 Chrysler 200 owners have complained about a defective heater on the passenger side. Most report that the issue recurs even after flushing the heater core and replacing the radiator. A replacement heater core typically costs around $60 to $100, while the price for a new radiator is between $200 and $800 plus labor costs.
Engine Automatically Shuts Down
There have also been several reports of the 2012 redesign shutting down without warning. The owners of the affected units report losing steering and braking control before the engine died. While most were able to get their vehicles running after unhooking the negative battery terminal for a few minutes, some were unable to do so even after replacing the fuel pump.
Even a model as reliable as the Chrysler 200 is bound to develop issues that could affect its drivability and performance as it racks up mileage. So it’s important to watch out for symptoms that may indicate a faulty part. It’s also a good idea to keep track of recalls issued by the NHTSA, so you can resolve your vehicle’s issues before they escalate to bigger problems in the future.
Replacing the Parts of Your Chrysler 200
There’s no doubt that the Chrysler 200 is one of the most reliable vehicles on the market. However, like any other vehicle, it could develop issues as it racks up mileage. Some of these problems can make driving risky or a hassle.
On the bright side, it’s easy to get replacements that fit your vehicle with the help of CarParts.com. Our selection includes accurate and detailed fitment information, so you’re sure to get exactly what your Chrysler needs to get back on the road.
We make it a point to get our parts from the most reliable names in the industry, each carefully vetted by our team of professionals to guarantee quality and durability. Use our vehicle selector to start shopping, and funnel the catalog results according to your preferences using the search filters.
Shop now and take advantage of our unbeatable prices.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
In March, of 2020 I purchased a 2015 Chrysler 200 with only 48,000 original miles. Being a single female without much knowledge of what to consider when looking for a dependable, reputable used automobile I was impressed by the 200’s style & comfort not to mention the low mileage! Long story short, 4 mo’s later the engine had to be replaced after it began stalling while in motion. Shortly after the “MIL” came on & diagnostics showed a small leak in the EVAP system & also the ESIM was replaced at that time. This past Winter the drivers heated seat would not come on, & shortly after that the seat module is barely functioning now only works occasionally in the forward/back function. I have NEVER had so many issues with a used car as this one & wish I’d known then what I know now!
Don’t forget the rocker arm death tap. Engine develops a tap (mine was 107K miles). The roller bearings on the rocker arms fail, the bearing drops, and then slaps the vam. Also the body of the rocker starts riding directly on the cam lobe and destroys it. If your Pentastar 3.6L suddenly develops a tap, STOP DRIVING it immediately and get the rocker arms & lifters replaced. If your engine does eat a cam, they add $400/ea to the repair.
I bought my wife 2016 200C AWD wanted car good in michigan winters, loaded pick up 2018 16,000 miles, Mopar car care sent me car warranty so I bought 5 years/ 80,000 warranty 2,500 dollars.
Well passenger side are bag light kept coming on, dealership told me where problem was price was 2500 dollars for replacement Airbag in seat but, I fixed problem, guys at dealership were very specific on problem, loose wire in wiring harness under seat.
Car was not shifting right long lag in between shifts 35,000 miles on car, so they checked it out was bad differential gear in rear, that was defective from F.C.A but replaced differential 2 half shafts, full length drive shafts and shaft from transfer case, 5,000 dollars, warranty pick-up cost, I only payed 100 dollars.
Only time I ever bought warranty on a car, WORTH IT.
Have a 2015 200. Have had a lot of small problems including being delivered with 4 bad tires that leak when the temperature gets below 70F. Now a large number of diagnostic messages showed up at once. Change Oil, ABS bad, Parking Brake bad, Transmission needs servicing. They tend to replace the most expensive item first at the dealership so I am asking if anyone else has seen this.
I got a 2011 Chrysler 200 last year n now I am regretting it it is going up in rpm I just had 2 cam sensors on it what they said was the problem no still doing what it was doing after the 2 cam sensors was put on I wish I knew u could Google n find out about a car before I bout this pos 🙄🙄🙄🙄 I am so over this car