Chrysler has been delivering vehicles across various segments and for their compact sedan, the brand has the Chrysler 200. For a starting price of $19,695, the car is much more affordable than a few other similar cars on the market. The 2013 Chrysler 200 happens to be a very reliable sedan with sturdy performance. The sales for the sedan have crossed over 122,000 units and that represents how dependable the vehicle is. Users have been facing issues with the battery and a faulty airbag that was said to have a manufacturing defect. The 2013 Chrysler 200 carries a total of 547 complaints and 5 recalls but the majority of complaints are with lack of parts to fix a recalled vehicle or weak electronics in the car. The Chrysler faces completion from the Dodge Avenger, the Toyota Camry, and the Hyundai Sonata.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Battery – The car is said to struggle when the users try turning the ignition on and they also stated that the electric power is lost when driving, turning functions like the infotainment, radio, and AC off. The dealers suspected a dead battery but upon inspection, it was found that an electrical short has damaged the alternator. This resulted in the battery not being recharged and the users had to replace the battery.
- Windshield wipers – The wipers stopped working all of a sudden while it was raining, making it hard for the driver to maneuver the car safely. It was said that the wiper motor failed due to water damage that was caused by the rain and the unit had to be replaced.
Electrical Problems
- Engine – The car started misfiring and users weren’t able to drive as the engine stalled abruptly. This issue was found to be reported multiple times and the dealers inspected the engine to find out a blown head gasket. It was confirmed that this was the reason why the engine hesitated to accelerate and replacing the gasket fixed the issue.
- Fuel system – Users reported seeing a fuel leak underneath the car and the car had to be taken to the mechanics. It was said that the fuel filler neck had to be replaced as there was a small fracture that let the fuel escape.
- Powertrain – The users stated that the gearshifts were being delayed and they were able to experience the transmission slipping. The dealers found it to be a powertrain control module failure that needed to be replaced.
- Brakes - The users complained that the brake pads would wear out way too soon and needed frequent replacements. It was suspected that the materials used to manufacture the brake pads are of poor quality.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt - Users received a recall notification but the dealers claimed that the parts weren’t available and pushed the repair further.
- Airbag – Numerous cars were recalled due to a faulty airbag module by Takata installed in the car. The affected vehicles needed a new airbag module and the recall process took a long time as there were other models recalled as well.
Exterior Problems
- Headlights – The low beam was said to be weak and failed to illuminate the road enough. The drives at night are often considered dangerous and all that dealers did was adjust the drop-down lenses of the projector lamps.
2013 Chrysler 200 recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
10th October 2017 |
17V640000 |
Active headrests may not deploy in a crash. |
A component within the occupant restraint controller may fail and prevent the active headrest from deploying. |
Dealers will replace the ORC as necessary. |
|
2. |
15th September 2016 |
16V668000 |
Airbags/ seatbelt pretensioners may be disabled. |
The OCR module may face a short circuit that can deactivate the airbags and pretensioners. |
Dealers will replace the OCR. |
|
3. |
6th November 2013 |
13V552000 |
Loss of oil pressure may result in an engine stall. |
Due to abrasive debris in the balance shaft bearings, the engine may experience a loss of oil pressure, possibly resulting in an engine stall. |
Dealers will replace the engine balance shaft module. |
|
4. |
2nd July 2013 |
13V282000 |
Non-deployment of head restraints. |
The active head restraints may not deploy during a crash due to an issue in the ORC module. |
Dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module or replace the ORC module. |
|
5. |
6th February 2013 |
13V043000 |
Fuel leakage or engine stall. |
A broken control valve in the fuel tank assembly may lead to an engine stall or fuel leak. |
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly and replace any affected control valves. |
Should you buy the 2013 Chrysler 200?
The 2013 Chrysler 200 is an affordable sedan that also happens to pack in some premium feel that its rivals don’t carry. The Chrysler has been recognized to be a very reliable vehicle and the sales reports only suggest the vehicle to sell more numbers in the coming years. The car had to undergo a massive airbag recall due to a faulty Takata airbag module and it is very important to get the airbags checked before buying this car. Another major factor to check is the car’s fuel assembly as users have reported facing fuel leaks. Apart from these checkpoints, the car is ideal if you are looking to get a sturdy sedan without breaking your bank account as the Chrysler 200 happens to be one of the most affordable options in this segment.
