DecodedCars2006 Chrysler 300
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2006 models.
- Class
- Large Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan RWD Srt8, 4dr Sedan RWD Touring/Limited, C 4dr Sedan RWD
- Engines
- 2.7L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 21 combined · 18 city / 26 hwy
- Length
- 196.9 in
- Curb weight
- 3,766–4,162 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 21 MPG combined — 17% better than the average 2006 large car (17.9 MPG).
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Many owner complaints819 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 85 for similar models — most often about the air bags.
- "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 27 similar 2006 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2006 Chrysler 300 is a large car offered with 3 engines (2.7L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl and 5.7L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 197 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 120-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,162 lb (4dr Sedan RWD Srt8).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 26 highway), 17% better than the 2006 large car average of 17.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 819 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2006
- Engine added: 2.7L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 18 to 21
Compared with 2005; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2005 300 →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan RWD Srt8 | 196.9 in | 74 in | 57.9 in | 120.1 in | 63 / 62.6 in | 4,162 lb | 54/46 |
| 4dr Sedan RWD Touring/Limited | 196.9 in | 74 in | 58.3 in | 120.1 in | 63 / 62.6 in | 3,766 lb | 53/47 |
| C 4dr Sedan RWD | 196.9 in | 74 in | 58.3 in | 120.1 in | 63 / 62.6 in | 4,065 lb | 54/46 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2.7L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | +17% | $3,200 | 423 |
| 300 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | +12% | $3,350 | 444 |
| 300 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | +12% | $3,350 | 444 |
| 300C AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 18 | +1% | $3,700 | 494 |
| 300C AWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 18 | +1% | $3,700 | 494 |
| 300 | 5.7L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 23 / 18 | +1% | $3,700 | 494 |
Spend $4,000Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
17.9 MPG2006 Large Cars average
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2006 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2006 Chrysler 300 under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2006 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Chrysler 300 (this car) | 21 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2006 Ford Mustang | 20 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2006 Honda Accord | 26 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Impala | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2006 Toyota Camry | 25 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2006 Dodge Charger | 21 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu | 24 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
Recalls (2)
Safety advisory: 2 recalls for this model year carry a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Check your VIN now.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · May 24, 2016 Do not drive
NHTSA campaign 16V352000 · 4,648,270 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · May 26, 2015 Do not drive
NHTSA campaign 15V313000 · 4,077,169 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Not every 2006 Chrysler 300 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
819Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
32Involved a crash
12Involved a fire
38Injuries reported
100,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2006 Chrysler 300 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Safety-critical recall. At least one recall carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Do not buy until the VIN shows it was repaired.
- Air Bags — 281 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Engine — 184 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 176 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 100,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2006 Chrysler 300. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other 300 years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 20 |
| 2020 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 10 |
| 2019 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 61 |
| 2018 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 153 |
| 2017 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 86 |
| 2016 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 2 | 83 |
| 2015 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 4 | 111 |
| 2014 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 7 | 233 |
| 2013 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 6 | 290 |
| 2012 300 | 23 | 198.8 in | Not rated | 9 | 391 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chrysler. How we calculate this →