Why it can be a good car
The 2015 Chrysler 300 (the refreshed second generation) is one of the few big rear-drive sedans left — roomy, quiet, and upscale-feeling, with a smooth 3.6-liter V6 or a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and a good eight-speed automatic. It has real presence for the money used. Reliability is about average for the year, so the specific car and its history matter.
The things to check
- Transmission Some owners report vibration, shudder, or buzzing while accelerating through the mid gears, often after the transmission fluid has been contaminated by water; feel for smooth shifts and check the fluid condition.
- Electrical Faulty electrical items and, in some cases, stalling are reported; test every electrical feature and ask about any stalling history.
- Monostable-shifter behavior The era's monostable gear selector drew a recall (it may not adequately warn if the car isn't in Park when the door opens, a rollaway risk); confirm the recall on the specific VIN.
- HVAC smell A musty A/C smell is common; a clean cabin filter and drying the system usually help.
Open recalls — check the VIN
The 2015 Chrysler 300 had recalls to confirm (including a radio-software-security item and the gear-selector item). All are VIN-specific — look up the exact car's open recalls free by VIN at NHTSA; a Chrysler dealer completes any open recall at no charge.
What a history report tells you — and what it doesn't
On a car like this, the individual car's history is most of the decision. A history report is a record of what got reported — title brands, reported accidents and damage, odometer readings over time, and service records where they exist. That is what separates a clean, maintained example from a salvage-title or flood car wearing the same badge.
What a history report is not is a forecast, and an absence of records is not proof of a clean past — plenty happens to a car that never gets reported. That is why the honest answer is always the pair: the documented history and an in-person inspection by a mechanic you trust, on the specific car.
The things to check before you buy
- Transmission shifts Feel for shudder or buzzing through the mid gears; check the fluid condition.
- Electrical and stalling Test every electrical feature; ask about any stalling history.
- Recall status Confirm the gear-selector and radio-security recalls are completed on this VIN.
- Maintenance history Consistent service records.
- Accident and rust The usual panel and underbody checks.
What would make you walk
- A transmission that shudders or buzzes Especially with contaminated fluid and no service plan.
- A stalling history with no fix Do not assume stalling is minor.
- Uncompleted safety recalls the seller won't resolve Especially the gear-selector item.
- Structural damage or rust The usual deal-breakers.