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2014 Chrysler 200 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2014 Chrysler 200 carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering pretensioner. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Active head restraint spontaneously deploys.” Chrysler's Oil Change Indicator tracks engine load and duty cycle, then messages when oil life is used up — capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (300, Pacifica, Town & Country, Voyager) is long-interval by design: spark plugs at 100,000 miles and no timing belt. Minivans in family duty count as 'severe service' more often than owners think — frequent short trips shorten the oil indicator's countdown, and that's the system working correctly.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Campaign #16V668000 · Sep 15, 2016

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2014 Chrysler 200.

Reported to NHTSA

Active head restraint spontaneously deploys

SEATS

18 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2023-07

“Passengers headrest exploded spontaneously. I noticed this morning leaving my house heading to work as I was driving down my street a rattling noise and looked over to see the head rest had ejected!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11475162
“ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS (AHRS) ON DRIVER'S SEAT DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. SOME BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS FELL OUT. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND NOTICED ONLY WHEN NECK GOT UNCOMFORTABLE WHILE SITTING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11355388
“I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HEARD A STARTLING BANG THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I SAW THAT THE HEADREST ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11012383

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight and tail light illumination failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2016-12 → 2019-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FULLY ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY AND HER VISION WAS LIMITED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL MAIN MOTORS (420 KENNEDY MEMORIAL DR, WATERVILLE, ME 04901, 207-872-9211) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11156878
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FEATURE, WHICH ALERTED HER THAT THE BLINKER BULB WAS OUT. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11282666
“I PURCHASED A 2014 CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE IN LATE AUGUST THIS YEAR, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM IN LOW BEAM THAT THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY WITH ONLY 24K MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10935624

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger-side heat and defrost inoperative

VISIBILITY/WIPER

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-01 → 2019-12

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN THE WINTER MONTHS, THE PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11058475
“HEAT STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE NO DEFROST THIS LEADS TO VISIBILITY ISSUES HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11130948
“NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. IT WILL NOT DEFROST MY WINDOW ON THAT SIDE AND VERY UNSAFE IN THESE COLD MICHIGAN WINTERS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11289494

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine shutdown while driving, loss of steering and brakes

STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

30 NHTSA complaints · 2014-07 → 2025-05

“the automobile will shut down when driving uncommanded, when it does this you lose power steering and braking and sometimes locks the steering wheel. the horn sounds uncommanded randomly. the windshield wipers will intermittently not work”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11647475
“WHILE I AM DRIVING MY CAR, MY CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF. I CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 75 AND MY CAR WILL JUST DEAD STOP. I LOSE POWER IN MY STEERING WHEEL, MY BRAKES STOP WORKING. YOU CAN'T EVEN PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11349090
“VEHICLE: 2014 CHRYSLER 200. SCENE: HUNTINGTON AVE. BOSTON, MA, IN SLOW MID-DAY TRAFFIC (12:30 PM). THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10607935

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Occupant restraint recall repair delayed for lack of parts

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

40 NHTSA complaints · 2016-11 → 2019-03

“I WAS NOTIFIED BY MAIL THAT THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER WAS CAUSING A LOSS OF AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY DURING A CRASH. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO FIX MY VEHICLE FOR 2-5 MONTHS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10920449
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11091729
“MY 2014 CHRYSLER 200 IS SUBJECT TO THE S61 RECALL BECAUSE THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT MAY NOT DEPLOY OR OPERATE PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. FCA SAYS IT HAS NO FIX FOR THE ISSUE, BUT IS COMFORTABLE WITH PLACING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER'S LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10933845

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags fail to deploy in rear-end crash

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2015-08 → 2017-07

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. WHILE CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10925095
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHRYSLER 200. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE THAT HAD STALLED AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11006561
“WHEN WE WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT, WE WERE GOING INTERSTATE SPEED IN NEBRASKA AT 80 MPH, WE HIT A LARGE ROAD SIGN THAT TOTALED OUR VEHICLE. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10748675

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change oil when the indicator message appears — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L uses 0W-20; PT Cruiser's 2.4L uses 5W-30. Short-trip city driving will trigger the indicator well before 10,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles or at every oil change. Front-heavy minivans (Pacifica, Voyager) chew front tires quickly without rotation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Loaded minivans and the heavy 300 wear rear pads faster than expected — check both axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Timing Belt (2.4L PT Cruiser)

Every 100,000 mi

PT Cruiser's 2.4L is a timing-belt engine: replace around 100,000 miles (check your manual's exact interval for the year). Do the water pump and tensioner in the same job — the labor overlaps almost entirely.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Minivans (62TE six-speed): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles under family duty. 300 with the ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed: Chrysler lists no normal-service interval, but specialists recommend fluid service around 60,000-100,000 miles. ATF+4 or the specified 8-speed fluid only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: iridium plugs at 100,000 miles. PT Cruiser 2.4L: roughly every 30,000 miles with conventional plugs — check the manual for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. On the Pentastar it's a quick top-of-engine job; inspect sooner in dusty climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on evidence of cracking or glazing. A failed belt on the Pentastar takes the water pump drive with it — don't run it to destruction.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles — behind the glovebox on Pacifica, Voyager, and 300. Family-hauler duty (pets, gravel school lots) argues for yearly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant: first replacement at 10 years or 150,000 miles per the schedule; many shops suggest refreshing by 100,000 miles. Use OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing types gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually once the battery passes 3 years old. Pacifica's stop-start system uses a pricier AGM or dual-battery setup — weak batteries throw confusing electrical faults first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

66 crashes 1990–2024

How the 66 occupant deaths break down

48

driver deaths

18

passenger deaths

66

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2014 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

15

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2014 Chrysler 200 reflects Chrysler's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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