2015 Chrysler 200 Problems: 15 Known Issues

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, the ZF 9HP48 9-speed automatic transmission suffers from harsh shifting, delayed engagement, lurching forward, and unexpectedly shifting into neutral while driving. A terminal crimping issue in sensor cluster harness assemblies caused wiring defects. 2015 models are worst; 2016+ have improvements after FCA built transmissions in Kokomo, Indiana. Recall S55 (NHTSA 16V529000) issued.

On the 2015 Chrysler 200, on 2015 200 V6 models built March-December 2014 with the 9-speed automatic, the parking pawl can become contaminated or the park rod can dislodge or break, so the transmission may fail to actually engage Park even though the dash shows 'Park.' The driver gets no warning, and the vehicle can roll away. This prompted NHTSA recall 15V-090, affecting roughly 22,000 U.S. vehicles.

On the 2015 Chrysler 200, early second-generation 200 sedans with the ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic (948TE/9HP48) can unexpectedly drop into neutral while driving, causing a sudden loss of propulsion. The root cause is insufficient crimps on the terminals of the 26-way connector in the transmission range-sensor wire harness, which corrupts the transmission's gear-position signal. This triggered NHTSA recall 16V-529 covering the 2015 Chrysler 200 alongside related Jeep Cherokee, Renegade, RAM ProMaster City, and Fiat 500X models sharing the transmission.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, beyond the recall-level neutral defect, owners broadly report poor driveability from the 9-speed automatic: hard or clunky shifts, lurching, hesitation off the line, slow first-gear engagement, and a tendency to hang in lower gears. The transmission was new and software-immature when introduced, and FCA issued multiple PCM/TCM reflashes to improve shift quality. Many owners still describe the shift behavior as rough even after updates.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 2.4L Tigershark I4, the 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir II engine has defective piston rings that allow oil into the combustion chamber. Owners report consuming 1 quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles. Engine can seize without warning if oil drops too low. Class-action settlement (Wood, et al. v. FCA US, LLC) reached. FCA extended powertrain warranty to 7 years/100,000 miles under CSN W80.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, the 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir four-cylinder consumes excessive oil, with owners reporting roughly one quart every 1,000 miles. The cause is attributed to low-tension piston rings that don't seal properly against the cylinder walls, allowing oil to be burned in the combustion chamber. Because the low-oil warning may not illuminate until oil is critically low, the engine can stall or suffer accelerated wear, which led to a class-action settlement covering 2.4L FCA engines.

On the 2011-2017 Chrysler 200, the Chrysler 200 experiences intermittent engine stalling at idle, particularly when decelerating to a stop or sitting at traffic lights. The electronic throttle body accumulates carbon buildup that restricts airflow at idle, and the throttle position sensor can drift out of calibration. The 2.4L 4-cylinder is most commonly affected but the 3.6L V6 is also susceptible. The stall often occurs without a check engine light, making diagnosis frustrating.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 2.4L Tigershark, the oil filter housing and integrated oil cooler on the 2.4L Tigershark engine develops leaks from the housing gasket and the oil cooler O-rings. Oil seeps from the housing located on the front of the engine block, dripping onto the exhaust and creating a burning oil smell. The leak worsens over time and can cause significant oil loss between changes. This issue is shared across many FCA vehicles using the 2.4L Tigershark engine.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, recall 18V332 includes selected 2015–2017 Chrysler 200 vehicles built August 21, 2013–October 26, 2016 with affected controller software. Controller software can retain a torque request if a short interrupts CAN-C communication while cruise control requests acceleration. Cancellation can then fail, causing continued speed or acceleration.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, a wiring short circuit can prevent the cruise control from being cancelled, so the vehicle may not slow when the brake is tapped or the system is switched off, and could maintain speed or accelerate. The 200 was part of FCA's huge May 2018 recall of about 4.8 million vehicles. NHTSA recall 18V-332 covers 2015-2017 Chrysler 200 models among many other FCA vehicles.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, the second-generation 200 suffers from parasitic battery drain caused by modules not going to sleep properly. The Body Control Module and UConnect system are common culprits. Battery can die in 2-3 days of sitting.

On the 2015 Chrysler 200, chrysler (FCA US LLC) included the 2015 Chrysler 200 in its recall of vehicles equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities allowing third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems. NHTSA's consequence statement is that exploitation may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash. Only the 2015 model year of the 200 appears in this campaign. The 1,416,903 vehicles NHTSA reports is the total for the entire recall across all the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM models named, not a count of 200s.

On the 2011-2017 Chrysler 200, the A/C evaporator core develops pinhole leaks from corrosion, causing a gradual loss of refrigerant and diminished cooling performance. The evaporator is located inside the HVAC housing behind the dashboard, making it a labor-intensive repair. Moisture and debris accumulation on the evaporator surface accelerate corrosion. The refrigerant leak rate is often slow enough that the A/C loses effectiveness over weeks to months rather than failing suddenly.

On the 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, the power steering rack and pinion assembly on the 2nd generation Chrysler 200 (2015-2017) develops fluid leaks from the rack seals, particularly the inner tie rod seals. The leak is often hidden by the steering rack boots, so fluid loss goes unnoticed until the power steering pump begins whining from low fluid or steering effort increases. The 200 uses a hydraulic power steering system (not electric) which relies on adequate fluid levels.

On the 2011-2017 Chrysler 200, the active (deployable) head restraints in the front seats can deploy randomly without any rear-end collision, sometimes striking the back of the occupant's head and causing minor injuries or concussions. The failure is attributed to a plastic component that breaks under stress or fatigue, triggering the spring-loaded restraint. Complaints span both generations of the 200.