The 2013 300 SRT8 packs the 6.4L (392) Hemi and Mercedes-derived W5A580 5-speed auto—a potent combo that's generally solid but shows specific wear patterns under hard use. Transmission cooler failures and internal bearing noise are the big-ticket concerns, while valve seals and timing components become age-related issues past 80k miles.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (External Leak)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or red fluid puddles under vehicle, Transmission overheating warnings, Burning smell after highway driving, Low transmission fluid level on dipstick
Fix: External cooler lines rust through or the cooler itself cracks at mounting tabs. Requires trans cooler replacement, lines, and flush. 3-4 hours labor. Catch it early before trans starves for fluid.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Transmission Input/Output Shaft Bearing Noise
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or growling noise in all gears, louder under load, Noise changes with speed, not engine RPM, Metal shavings in transmission fluid, Eventual loss of drive or slipping
Fix: W5A580 input or output shaft bearings wear from age and hard launches. Requires transmission removal and internal rebuild with bearing replacement, seals, and clutch inspection. 12-16 hours labor if doing it right.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Valve Stem Seals Hardening (Blue Smoke on Startup)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke puff on cold start that clears after warmup, Oil consumption 1 quart per 1,000-2,000 miles, Fouled spark plugs on cylinders 1, 3, 5, 7, Rough idle until engine warms
Fix: Valve seals become brittle with heat cycles. Can do seals without heads-off using compressed air method (8-10 hours) or pull heads for thorough job (14-18 hours). Parts are cheap, labor is not.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Timing Chain Guide Wear (Plastic Deterioration)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-3 seconds that disappears, Plastic shavings in oil filter during changes, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes, Rattling noise at idle when hot
Fix: 6.4L uses plastic-backed guides that wear from oil contamination or extended intervals. Requires front timing cover removal, new guides, chains, tensioners, and oil pump inspection. 10-14 hours labor, critical to prevent chain jump.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Transmission Mounts Collapsing (Drivetrain Clunk)
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Heavy clunk when shifting from park to drive, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging of transmission tailshaft, Clunking over bumps from rear of engine bay
Fix: Rubber mounts fail from torque and heat. Rear trans mount is the common culprit. Replace both trans mount and crossmember bushings while you're under there. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-600
Fuel Filter Clogging (In-Tank Sock Filter)
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Hard starting after sitting overnight, Loss of power above 4,500 RPM, Stumbling or hesitation under wide-open throttle, Fuel pump priming noise louder than normal
Fix: Sock filter on pump inlet clogs from tank debris or poor fuel quality. Requires tank drop and pump module replacement—Chrysler doesn't sell sock separately. 3-4 hours labor. More common if car sat for extended periods.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 50k miles with Mopar ATF+4 ONLY—Mercedes spec is critical and aftermarket fluids will cause clutch slip
Use 0W-40 full synthetic (not 5W-20) if you drive hard; valve seals last longer with heavier cold-flow oil on this engine
Inspect timing components if you see ANY plastic debris in oil filter—catching guides early prevents $8k engine rebuild
Budget $500/year for "performance car tax"—these need quality parts and more frequent fluid changes than the standard 300
Buy one if you have $2-3k cushion for deferred maintenance and can wrench or have a trusted indie shop—solid platform but the trans cooler and valve seals are almost guaranteed needs by 100k.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V018000
2019-01-15 · EA15001
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V021000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · 16V240000
2016-04-25 · EA16002
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
Consequence: Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to mitigate the risk of vehicle rollaway, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S27.
Note: On October 19, 2016 Chrysler identified some previously repaired vehicles did not receive the complete software updates. Chrysler will renotify the affected owners, and dealers will update the software again.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 13V610000
2013-12-06
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD, Dodge Charger AWD, and Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 vehicles equipped with ZF all wheel drive ("AWD") 8HP45 transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may fracture.
Consequence: The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmissions, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2014. Customers may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is N65.
Vehicle Info — 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8
Performance
Horsepower
470hp
Torque
465lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.3sec
Quarter mile
12.6sec
Top speed
175mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
14mpg
Highway
23mpg
Combined
17mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,394lb
Seating
5seats
EPA class
Large Cars
Wiper blades
Second generation LD platform; sedan body style has no rear wiper
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 6.4L V8 Hemi SRT and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.