Back to search

2014 CHRYSLER 300 SRT8

6.1L V8 SRT•RWD•AUTOMATIC•gas
Be the first sponsor for this vehicle

For $99, we generate the full set of step-by-step repair procedures for this exact vehicle. Free for everyone, forever, with your name on every one.

Sponsor — $99
Dead battery / stuck in Park? Emergency neutral procedure for this 300 SRT8 →
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$35,965 maintenance + known platform issues
~$7,193/yr · 600¢/mile equivalent · $7,197 maintenance + $6,018 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
vs
6.4L V8 Hemi SRT
vs
6.1L V8 Hemi SRT
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2014 Chrysler 300 SRT8 packs a powerful 6.4L Hemi mated to a Mercedes-derived 5-speed automatic (W5A580). When maintained, it's a legitimate performance sedan, but the trans runs hot, oil consumption becomes real after 80k miles, and certain internal engine wear patterns appear with track use or deferred maintenance.

Transmission Oil Cooler Failure & Overheating

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission temp spikes in traffic or towing, burnt ATF smell, delayed or harsh shifts when hot, Check Engine light with trans temp codes
Fix: Factory cooler is marginal for the power output. Replacement involves dropping cooler lines, flushing system, installing upgraded cooler. 3-4 hours labor. Many owners preemptively upgrade to larger aftermarket unit to prevent trans damage.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Excessive Oil Consumption (MDS Lifter & Valve Seal Wear)

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: 1 quart every 1,000-2,000 miles, blue smoke on cold start or deceleration, fouled spark plugs, MDS (cylinder deactivation) malfunction codes
Fix: Valve seals harden and MDS lifters wear, allowing oil into cylinders. Proper fix requires heads-off job: valve seals, lifters, and valve guide inspection. 12-16 hours labor. Some techs disable MDS with tuner to slow progression, but that's a band-aid.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200

Timing Chain Guide Wear (High-Mileage or Abused)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: rattling noise on cold start for first 5-10 seconds, metallic ticking from front of engine, timing codes or rough idle if severe
Fix: Plastic chain guides wear, especially with infrequent oil changes or high-RPM use. Requires front engine disassembly: timing cover, chains, guides, tensioners, and water pump while you're in there. 14-18 hours labor. Catch it early before chain jumps.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Transmission Output Shaft Bearing Noise

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: whining or humming that changes with vehicle speed, not engine RPM, noise present in neutral while rolling, vibration through driveline
Fix: W5A580 output bearing can wear, especially with hard launches or drag racing. Requires trans removal, tailhousing disassembly, bearing and seal replacement. 8-10 hours labor. Address before it grenades and takes the tailhousing with it.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800

Transmission Mount Failure

Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk on 1-2 or 2-3 upshift, excessive driveline movement, vibration at idle in Drive, visible torn rubber on mount inspection
Fix: Rubber mount fatigues from torque and heat. Simple lift-and-replace job. 1.5-2 hours labor. OEM or upgraded polyurethane options available; poly reduces drivetrain slop but transmits more NVH.
Estimated cost: $250-450

Fuel System Issues (Filter & Pump)

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: stumble or hesitation under wide-open throttle, hard start after sitting, fuel pressure fluctuation, lean codes or misfires under load
Fix: In-tank fuel pump and filter assembly can clog or wear. Pump replacement requires tank drop and module swap. 3-4 hours labor. E85 or poor fuel quality accelerates failure. Always replace with OEM-quality parts; cheap pumps can't keep up with SRT fuel demand.
Estimated cost: $900-1,500
Owner tips
  • Change transmission fluid every 40k miles with Mopar-spec ATF+4 and install an auxiliary cooler if you drive hard or live in hot climates — the W5A580 hates heat.
  • Use quality 5W-20 or 0W-40 synthetic and check oil level every 500 miles after 80k; early catch of consumption preventscat and O2 sensor damage.
  • Address any timing chain noise immediately; a jumped chain bends valves and turns a $4k job into a $10k+ rebuild.
  • Keep your Hemi's MDS system maintained — if it starts misfiring on 4-cylinder mode, investigate lifters before it cascades into a heads-off job.
Buy one if you can verify meticulous maintenance history and budget $2-3k/year for the inevitable 6.4L Hemi and W5A580 quirks — it's a thrill to drive but not a Toyota.
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.
548 jobs across 18 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
Stuck on a repair? Take it to The Diag Desk — ask a master tech about this exact car → real human answer within 24h, never AI
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.
Get an API key →
Run a shop?
Manage repairs, estimates, and customers with ShopBase — $249/mo, all features included. Built by the same team.
Try ShopBase →