Chrysler30020083.5L/chrysler/300/2008/3-5l/
LX platform

2008 Chrysler 300 — 3.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 300 3.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.5LTransmission Automatic 5-spd

The 2008 Chrysler 300 3.5L is a passenger car built on the LX platform and powered by a 3.5L engine paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle achieves EPA ratings of 15/22/18 mpg and requires 6 quarts of 10W-30 API engine oil for filter changes. With 758 total owner complaints and 4 recalls, this model year sits between the historical low of 2 complaints in 2004 and the peak of 1,750 complaints in 2006, with the electrical system serving as the top complaint area.

Model year20102008200720062005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04884899AC. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225-60R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04884899AC
Engine air filter05019002AA alt 05037615AA
Spark plugSZFR5LP13G alt SPLZTR5A13
BatteryBBH7F001AA alt BBH8F001AA
Front wiper blades68015148AA
Thermostat52028898AJ alt 68237102AA
Cabin air filter68535608AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.9 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase120.1 in
Curb weight3761 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2008 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

7.3–8.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2005 Touring V6
250 hpHorsepower (as tested)
250 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2006Touring V6 3.5L V67.60 sec15.80 sec250 hpRWD
2005Touring V6 3.5L V67.30 sec15.60 sec250 hpRWD
2005Touring V6 3.5L V68.00 sec15.80 sec250 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9763 · 75W-140 · MS-8985 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.2
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9763 · 75W-140 · MS-8985
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.7 Pints,
Engine CoolantHOAT · MS9769
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts70 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 8.8 ft-lbs; Lower: 16.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs21 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50-1.63 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test18, Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16-20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature189 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12+-0.6 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure45-105 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle70 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle140 ft-lbs / 96 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0014 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.097 in / 0.389 in / 0.861 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9020 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; coolant at 102,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 102,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 12,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 12,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 18,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 90,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 102,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 120,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Chrysler 300 sits in a transitional position within the generation's quality arc: complaints (758) ticked upward from 2007 (623) but remained well below the crisis-era peaks of 2005-2006 (1,125 and 1,750 respectively), while investigations dropped from 3 in 2007 to just 1 in 2008 and TSBs continued their decline from 85 to 81. Notably, 2008 saw fewer recalls (4) than either surrounding model years (5 in 2007, 5 in 2009), suggesting the worst of the generation's defects had been addressed. The dominant complaint area—Electrical System at 359 instances—indicates persistent wiring or module issues that were not fully resolved by this model year, though crash complaints (27) and fire complaints (8) remained relatively modest. Compared to post-2009 model years, which saw complaints plummet to the 60-200 range, the 2008 still carries elevated risk; however, it represents a meaningful improvement over the problematic early years. A 2008 Chrysler 300 is therefore a reasonable gamble if the price reflects its checkered reliability history, but buyers seeking lower risk should target the 2010–2012 model years where the data shows substantially better outcomes.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
81
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
758
Owner complaints
27 involved a crash · 8 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 758 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System359
Electrical System,Air Bags96
Air Bags80
Engine23
Unknown Or Other18
Engine & Engine Cooling15
Electrical System,Engine14
Power Train11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V352000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 24/05/2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be…

14V567000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 17/09/2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 81 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1084632025-11-18Service BrakesPAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
1084642025-11-17Service BrakesPAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
90040092021-04-07Power TrainTransmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 300. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 300 3.5L take?

6 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 API MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-6395, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.5L get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.