CarComplaints.com Notes: Since the Chrysler 200 first hit the streets, owners across the U.S. have complained about how their “dream car” quickly turned into a complete nightmare because of how the engine dies suddenly while driving.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,438 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chrysler 200 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Chrysler 200 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Jun 012015

200

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The light for the airbag malfunction on the dash stays on all the time. When I first start the car it dings as it comes on. This car only has 12,000 miles on it now, but only 5,000 when this started. I am afraid of a malfunction if I have an accident. They light stays on all the time until you shut the car off. This started last June of 2015 and has happened every day since.

- Corsicana, TX, USA

problem #27

Oct 132015

200

  • 69,500 miles
One morning, while driving, I discovered that the lights were on but the switch was on off. The fog and bright lights would not function. The blinkers did not function. The windshield wipers, nor solvent would function. Took the car to the dealer and they had to reprogram the tipm. No explanation as to why it had to be reprogrammed.

- Booneville, MS, USA

problem #26

Jul 172015

200

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 200. Upon starting the vehicle, the alternator and battery warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000. The VIN was not available.

- Wilson, NC, USA

problem #25

May 292015

200

  • 64,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Wipers sometimes do not turn on when I need them to. Highly dangerous, I have pulled over in the ran before because my wipers on a four year old car will not engage. Additionally, wipers will turn on randomly sometimes during the day when I don't want them to. Not as dangerous, but still very annoying. Chrysler tipm issue, the same one as previous issue 18 months ago. Wipers turn on randomly, sometimes won't turn on when needed. Replaced the tipm 18 months ago, and Chrysler refused to pay (started a ticket with their national customer care). Issue has returned completely 100% identically as before. I'm bringing it back to the dealership, and I've reopened the ticket. They said they will "see what they can do"

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #24

Jul 012015

200

  • 42,125 miles
Car died will driving. Had diagnose and was told alternator was bad. Heard Chrysler had problems with 300 model. My sons 200S model has same motor and alternator as 2011 300 model but Chrysler said 200S model is not affected. I believe different because the 200S has the 3.6L motor and 160 amp alternator. Same motor and alternator that the 300 has. I believe Chrysler is not standing behind their faulty products.

- Fort Dodge, IA, USA

problem #23

Jul 182013

200

  • 70,000 miles
My steering wheel became hard to turn. It was like driving manually. I took my Chrysler 200 to pep boys and they replaced the power steering pump. The steering was fine for a day then it went back to being hard to turn. I took it back to pep boys and they replaced the pump again. It lasted for three days and it went back to being hard to turn. I again retuned to pep boys and they then said that my rack in pinion had to be replaced. I could not afford to get the work done. I was told by Chrysler, that my warranty had expired and I would have to pay out of pocket. My car was not yet 2 years old. This was ridiculous. No one wants to take responsibility for the front end. I was told by a pep boys mechanic that they had worked on over 100 cars (Chrysler 200's) through enterprise rental and they had so many cars with the steering issue that they stopped working on them and just do the tune ups. If Chrysler knows about this then they should have repaired it. My car is still in this position. I have not been able to get repairs due to lack of funds. I still do not feel that I should have to pay for something that is wrong with a new car. Now I am having an issue with my turn signal. When I turn on my left turn signal, the dashboard lights dim. When I turn the right turn signal on, the dome lights come on. I, again repeat, this is a new car and I should not have to deal with these occurrences. I have had to change the battery in its second year, and replace the alternator. I look forward to hearing from someone. Thank you.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #22

Apr 022015

200

  • 69,850 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled several times and the contact had to make multiple attempts to get the vehicle to restart. The vehicle was towed several times due to the fact that it would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop who replaced the battery and the alternator, but the failure recurred. As the failure progressed, all of the various warning lamps, sensors, and gauges flickered on and off. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: (air bags, electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,850.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #21

Dec 042014

200 6-cyl

  • 21,000 miles
Over the past 4 months, our parents vehicle has been in to the dealership for servicing 6 times due to the vehicle being completely dead. The car never sat longer than 2 - 3 days without being driven. They were told the problem was due to the license plate light, then the glove box light not turning off, then they weren't sure. On 2/26, the vehicle would only start and run, while connected to the jumper. The dealership took the car in and had it for 2 full weeks. The dealership could not diagnose the problem. Mom & dad picked up the vehicle on March 14th, no explanation as to the cause of the problem. Went back to the dealership on March 19th to find out if any further information had been determined... nothing! they were then advised the car has to be driven all the time, to avoid dying because the computer system never shuts off and therefore, drains the battery when the car is idle. They were further advised to purchase and use a battery tender trickle charger and to keep it connected to the vehicle whenever the vehicle is not in operation. This is very inconvenient as our parents are in their 80's and don't get around so easy anymore. This is not an acceptable solution. They've had this vehicle for almost 4 years, if the computer issue as described by the dealer were accurate, why did it work properly for the first 3.5 years and now has issues? the vehicle is still under warranty however, without accurate diagnosis, nothing is being done. The last communication we've had with the dealer was Friday March 27th. Telling us if the car doesn't die again by this coming Friday (April 3, 2015), they'll be closing the case. The problem has not yet been diagnosed or resolved. Is there anything we can do, any information you can provide, to help our parents get this issue resolved?

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

problem #20

Sep 132014

200 6-cyl

  • 39,000 miles
While traveling on a New York state highway, all of the sudden all the dash warning indicators flashed on/off, the transmission shifted to low gear, the radio, ac and other electronics turned off. The car stalled right there in traffic. We had tried shifting gears, pushing the accelerator, and could not get the car to respond to anything. We did manage to coast to the side of the road. After a minute, we attempted and were able to start the car but it stalled out almost immediately. Further attempts to restart the car were not successful. After approximately 20 minutes, we were able to restart the car, and drive it to a garage less than 1 mile away. It did stall on us again, but in the driveway of the garage. The mechanic at the garage tested the battery, and the battery was fine ? we were able to drive to the garage luckily because the battery charge had the power to get us there. However, once we got the car running, idling, again; a volt-meter showed that the alternator was not charging the battery. It was very disappointing; but we had to replace the alternator. The new alternator is part # rl801624ad. We have done some research and have found Chrysler recall P60. This recall affects vehicles with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. While my 200 model is not on the recall list, I believe it should be added to the recall. My car has the same 3.6L engine and 160 amp alternator as the other models affected. In reading the description(s) of the recall and the failure I believe I experienced this same problem. This same failure happened to me again the other day, after I have replaced the original alternator. I got in my vehicle to drive home, started the car, pulled out of the parking lot and just as I got onto the road (busy, city street) my car stalled with all the same symptoms ? flash of the warning indicators, loss of all power.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #19

Nov 272014

200 6-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
While driving on the road to my destination my car battery light came on. Drove it another 15 miles before the car began to die. I brought it to the dealership where it was determined my alternator had drained the battery and was no longer usable.

- Hartland , WI, USA

problem #18

Nov 252014

200

  • 33,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Failure of alternator was indicated by battery warning light while driving on highway in heavy holiday traffic.it was necessary to keep driving slowly for next safe pullover location due to lack shoulder areas on elevated highway through city area at that point. Within a couple of miles multiple system failure warnings appeared(ABS, traction control, airbag) and car quickly began to fail engine and transmission functions with barely enough time to safely pull over on first available shoulder area. (this issue appears to be very similar to alternator failures on similar 3.6L V6, 160 amp alternator equipped Chrysler vehicles listed in recent Chrysler P60 recall.)

- West Hartford, CT, USA

problem #17

Oct 092014

200

  • 51,842 miles
The alternator of the vehicle failed as I was driving and caused the vehicle to stop operating.

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #16

Jul 012014

200 4-cyl

  • miles
Letter from congressman garrett on behalf of constituent re Chrysler recall notice. 2011 Chrysler 2011. The consumer made an appointment with the dealer. However, they cancelled the appointment. The consumer referenced recall # 13V282000.

- Glen Rock, NJ, USA

problem #15

May 152014

200

  • 42,000 miles
Car is a Chrysler 200, 2011, I was making a right turn, and the car stalled, the speed was around 10 mph, I contacted the Chrysler dealer near my home and they told me that " do not know why the vehicle stalled " I explained, I was driving make a right turn and car stalled, and nothing works, car die, told me to bring the vehicle and I will be charge for it. I when to this site and I found out that is a known issue with this car, why the dealer told me that " and why the NHTSA do nothing about, is very dangerous, I could be involve in an accident, could be injury or a fatal. NHTSA waiting to be fatality in order to get involved????? why we have to die " to take actions.please fix this terrible issue.

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #14

Mar 122013

200 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Car has gone dead when slowing down to make a turn. Brake light on dash flashed and when I tried to break at an upcoming stop sign my breaks went to the floor. Air bags did not deploy when this happened.

- Chatsworth, GA, USA

problem #13

Dec 202013

200 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Upon picking my 2011 Chrysler 200 limited convertible up from the dealer after it was there for a few days for a recall for the head restraint (N38) and had an engine cylinder head replaced I noticed that the driver's side heated seat light was off. So far the heated seat itself seems to be working ok. I called the dealership (danbury, ct) and let them know of the issue, they want to charge me even though to me and to any logical person this is a direct result of work they did to my Chrysler, and may or may not be related to some sort of other problem. For it to happen immediately following computer updates, engine cylinder head replacements and other work they did is not a coincidence. I am unemployed and in grad. School and cannot, nor should not, pay for additional work done to this lemon of a car. Please look into this issue regarding the heated seat light. And to all prospective Chrysler buyers - run.

- Danbury, CT, USA

problem #12

Sep 172013

200

  • miles
My check engine light had been coming on. They checked it when I got my oil changed on 9/13 but it turned off that morning. It came back on the morning of 9/17 and later that afternoon when I was pulling into a restaurant the car shut off while I was going through the parking lot. I was able to turn it right back on and the check engine light was off again. If I had been crossing into traffic when this happened I would have been hit. I was lucky to be in a quiet parking lot at the time.

- Addison, MI, USA

problem #11

Jun 242011

200 4-cyl

  • 500,000 miles
Was sitting still in a medium and was rear ended. There was no deployment of airbag, other system requirement or notification.

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #10

Jun 192013

200 4-cyl

  • 39,164 miles
The problem: Popping #33 fuse (switch bank/diagnostic link connector/PCM), have been replacing fuses each and every time so I can go on with my business. I find that it happens between shifting gears. It does not matter if you are in drive/automatic mode or auto-stick mode. Did not turn my car in right away (now I wish I would have) because I would have felt silly if I had my car towed and the tech. Found that a $.25 fuse was blown. This is a very serious issue with a risk factor through the roof because the drive train completely shuts down. No power steering, no power brakes. At highway speeds you pucker up and hope you can make it to the side without getting into an accident before your car comes to a complete stop. First time it happened, it just rained heavily and I thought something got wet - entering the freeway up shift from 2nd-3rd 34084 miles second time, turning into my driveway downshift from 2nd to 1st - coincidence? 35028 miles third time, abrupt stop downshift from 6th to 1st 36013 fourth time - pulling into work downshift from 3rd to 2nd 37112 fifth time - slowing down on expressway downshift 5th to 4th 38223 sixth time - slowing to a stop downshift 2nd to 3rd 38,764 seventh time - during rush hour stop and go traffic (the last straw) up-shift 2nd to 3rd 39,134 eighth time - within 15 minutes of seventh time stopping at a stop light. Downshift 2nd to 1st 39,146 ninth time - next morning on my way to the dealership - up-shift from 4th to 5th 39,164 went to dealership and made an appointment. Luckily I am conscious of my surroundings and was able to get out of harms way every time. I will not let my wife drive this car, for her safety, until it is fixed. Is there a documented fix for this?

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #9

Jun 142013

200

  • 20,960 miles
When I was making a gradual right hand turn (curve to the right) at approximately 15 mph, on flat land, I experienced total engine shutdown, electrical shutdown, and loss of power steering in a split second - without warning. After I gathered my composure, I put the car in park, turned the ignition off, then turned the ignition back on and I was on my way without issue since. My 2011 Chrysler 200 (4 cylinder) has only experienced this 1 time, but once is definitely enough for me!

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

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