Chrysler 300 C MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 22 model years and 6,691 tests, the Chrysler 300 C passes its MOT 76.3% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), pins and bushes and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 699 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.1% versus 15.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (24.5% vs 21.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 300 C model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 345 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 1,753 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 1,659 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 921 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 521 | 76.4% | 23.6% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 471 | 75.0% | 25.1% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 589 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Brakes |
| 2013 | 343 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.7% | 1,047 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 684 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 625 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.9% | 329 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 267 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 189 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 161 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 101 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 699 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 489 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 347 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 345 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 296 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 249 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 244 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 236 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.2% | 2,088 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 1,933 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 1,505 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 798 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.1% | 542 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 456 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 187 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 713 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,629 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,786 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,216 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,157 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,133 | 24.5% |
| Petrol | 1,554 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,566 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 1,462 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 1,385 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 1,193 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 1,085 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a Chrysler 300 C
- Brakes (15.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chrysler 300 C?
76.3% of the 6,691 Chrysler 300 C MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.7% fail rate, across model years 2000–2021.
What does the Chrysler 300 C most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 15.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (10.2%).
How much does mileage affect 300 C MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.1% for 150k+, a 9.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 300 C more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 21.0% of the time against 24.5% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,691 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.