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2015 Chrysler 200: problems, recalls and fuel economy
The 2015 Chrysler 200 has 1,993 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1] and 8 recalls[2]. The largest complaint groups are the electrical system, power train and engine, so a used one deserves a careful recall check and test drive[3][4][5]., so a used one deserves a careful recall check and test drive[3][4][5].
Most reported problems
Owners filed 1,993 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Of those, 100 mention a crash, 24 a fire and 58 injuries[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several components.
The component groups with the most complaints:
| Component group | Complaints | Median mileage at failure |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system[3] | 755 | 50,000 |
| Power train[4] | 695 | 37,311 |
| Engine[5] | 611 | 47,000 |
| Air bags[8] | 327 | 57,622 |
| Unknown or other[9] | 276 | 51,600 |
| Speed control[10] | 160 | 39,996 |
| Brakes[11] | 122 | 30,000 |
| Electronic stability control[12] | 108 | 55,000 |
We also read a small sample of complaint texts for four groups. It is not a measure of all owners, but it shows what people describe.
- Power train. No change required, or say "about 9 of 12"., owners describe the transmission shifting oddly, dropping to neutral, sticking in a gear, rolling when parked or showing a service warning[4].
- Engine. In 11 of 12 engine complaints we read, owners describe the car stalling or losing power while driving[5].
- Electrical system. In 10 of 12 electrical complaints we read, owners describe the car shutting off or stalling while driving[3].
- Air bags. In 6 of 12 air bag complaints we read, the owner says the air bags did not deploy in a crash[8]. In 3 of 12, the air bag warning light kept coming back[8].
The air bag group is smaller than the top three, but it has the most crashes (38) and injuries (31) of any group listed[8]. The power train group has no fires reported, while the engine group has 12 and the electrical group has 11[4][5][3].
Recalls
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this car[2]. Newest first:
- Cruise control software (18V332). A short circuit in the wiring could keep cruise control from switching off, even with the brake pedal. The car could hold speed or speed up, which raises crash risk. Dealers flash the engine or powertrain control software for free. Chrysler tells owners to avoid cruise control until the update is done[13].
- Transmission sensor wiring (16V529). Poorly crimped wiring in the transmission sensor cluster could make the 9-speed automatic shift to neutral without warning[14]. Dealers reprogram two control modules and replace the wire harness if needed, free of charge[14].
- Passenger seat sensor (16V114). A small number of cars (71)[15] may have had only part of the passenger seat occupant sensing set replaced. The passenger air bag may then deploy improperly in a crash. Dealers install a matched service kit for free[15].
- Power distribution connector (15V470). An electrical connector could cause intermittent power loss and make the car stall without warning. Dealers replace the connector or the transmission wiring harness, depending on the engine, free of charge[16].
- Radio software (15V461). Software flaws in the radio could let outsiders reach some vehicle systems remotely. Chrysler mails owners a USB drive with an update, and owners can also have a dealer install it, free of charge[17].
- Park mechanism (15V090). On certain cars with the 9-speed automatic, the parking pawl could be contaminated or the park rod could break[18]. The car may then fail to lock in Park and roll away. Dealers inspect the transmission and replace it if a fault is found, free of charge[18].
- Door wiring (14V480). A very small group of cars (8)[19] may have driver door wiring that is too thin. It could overheat and short, which raises fire risk. Dealers replace the harness for free[19].
- Rear shocks (14V392). A weak weld could let a rear shock come loose, which could damage the tire or reduce braking. Dealers inspect the shocks and replace affected ones for free[20].
Recalls cover only certain cars, so check the VIN with NHTSA before you rely on any of them. The cruise control recall also covers other Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models[13].
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.
| Engine and drive | City / Highway / Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive[6] | 23 / 36 / 27 | $2,500 |
| 3.6L 6-cylinder, front-wheel drive[21] | 19 / 31 / 23 | $2,900 |
| 3.6L 6-cylinder, all-wheel drive[22] | 18 / 28 / 22 | $3,050 |
The gasoline or E85 versions of each setup carry the same ratings[23][24][25]. The 4-cylinder costs about $400 a year less to fuel than the front-wheel-drive 6-cylinder, by EPA's estimate[6][21].
Safety ratings
NHTSA rates the 4 DR front-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, 5 stars in frontal and side tests, and 4 stars for rollover[7]. The 4 DR all-wheel-drive version has 5 stars for side and 4 stars for rollover[26]. Its rollover risk is 10.7%, the same figure listed for the front-wheel-drive version[26][7].
Engine and size
EPA lists two engines for this car: a 2.4L 4-cylinder rated 184 hp[27] and a 3.6L 6-cylinder rated 295 hp[28].
Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.
| Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 193 in | 193 in |
| Width | 71 in | 71 in |
| Height | 58 in | 58 in |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | 108 in |
| Curb weight | 3,472 lb | 3,794 lb |
How 2015 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 371 | 3 |
| 2012 | 638 | 4 |
| 2013 | 628 | 5 |
| 2014 | 192 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1,993 | 8 |
| 2016 | 344 | 2 |
| 2017 | 43 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for each Chrysler 200 model year[2]:
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 371 | 3 |
| 2012 | 638 | 4 |
| 2013 | 628 | 5 |
| 2014 | 192 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1,993 | 8 |
| 2016 | 344 | 2 |
| 2017 | 43 | 1 |
2015 has the most complaints and the most recalls of any year listed. Its complaint count is more than three times the next highest year, 2012 at 638[2]. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so they show where reports pile up, not how likely a single car is to fail.
Should you buy a used 2015 Chrysler 200?
The 2015 model has the heaviest complaint and recall record of any Chrysler 200 year on file[2]. Owners in the samples we read describe stalling, power loss and odd transmission behavior, though those samples are small[3][4][5]. Several recalls touch exactly those areas, so confirm every recall is done on the VIN before you buy[14][16][18]. On the plus side, the car earns 5 stars overall in NHTSA testing for the front-wheel-drive version[7], and the 4-cylinder returns 27 mpg combined[6]. A test drive that includes highway speeds and a stop-and-go stretch is a sensible check.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Chrysler 200?
- The most complaints name the electrical system (755), power train (695) and engine (611) groups[3][4][5]. In the small samples we read, owners describe stalling and transmission shifting trouble.
- How many recalls does the 2015 Chrysler 200 have?
- NHTSA lists 8 recalls[2]. They cover cruise control software, transmission wiring, a passenger seat sensor, a power connector, radio software, the park mechanism, door wiring and rear shocks[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].
- What gas mileage does the 2015 Chrysler 200 get?
- The 2.4L front-wheel-drive version is rated 27 mpg combined[6]. The 3.6L is rated 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive[21] and 22 with all-wheel drive[22].
- Is the 2015 Chrysler 200 a good year compared with others?
- It has the most complaints (1,993) and recalls (8) of the years 2011 to 2017 on file[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 1,993 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Chrysler 200 (100 mention a crash, 24 a fire, 58 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Chrysler 200 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- 755 complaints name the electrical system component group (27 crashes, 11 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 695 complaints name the power train component group (22 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,311). NHTSA vehicle records
- 611 complaints name the engine component group (18 crashes, 12 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for 200, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 36 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 327 complaints name the air bags component group (38 crashes, 2 fires, 31 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,622). NHTSA vehicle records
- 276 complaints name the unknown or other component group (13 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,600). NHTSA vehicle records
- 160 complaints name the speed control component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,996). NHTSA vehicle records
- 122 complaints name the brakes component group (16 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 108 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 18V332, filed May 17, 2018: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V529, filed July 12, 2016: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V114, filed February 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V470, filed July 28, 2015: Electrical System. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V461, filed July 23, 2015: Equipment › Electrical › Radio / Tape Deck / Cd Etc.. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V090, filed February 13, 2015: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V480, filed August 5, 2014: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V392, filed July 2, 2014: Suspension › Rear › Shock Absorber. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for 200, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 31 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for 200 AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for 200, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 36 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for 200, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 31 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for 200 AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2015 Chrysler 200 with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 184 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2015 Chrysler 200 with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 295 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 200 4DR SEDAN LX/LIMITED/S/C FWD: length 193 in, width 71 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,472 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 200 4DR SEDAN S/C AWD: length 193 in, width 71 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 108 in, curb weight 3,794 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov