2015 Chrysler 200 Life Expectancy - Will Your Chrysler Live Long?

Chrysler 200 wasn't a very successful model for the company. It was first introduced in 2010 and was mainly sold in the US and Canada. This vehicle got the second generation in 2015 but was discontinued soon after that, in 2016. Though, some cars were still sold even in 2019 and 2020 - those were long-standing models that dealers couldn't get rid of.

But still, the Chrysler 200 is not a bad vehicle at all. Its direct competitors were Ford Focus, Dodge Dart, Hyundai Elantra, KIA Forte, Chevrolet Cruze, and some other compact sedans. In its best years, the Chrysler 200 sold about 150,000 vehicles a year in the US. And even now you can buy one used in a decent condition.

Today, we'll tell you about the life expectancy of the Chrysler 200. How many miles will this sedan be able to last and what problems should you expect?

We'll cover such topics:

• Chrysler 200 longevity - how many miles should it be able to go?
• Engines and transmissions of the Chrysler 200 - which are the best?
• Common problems with the Chrysler 200 - what can go wrong?
• How can you prolong the life of your Chrysler 200?

Let's get started!

How long will your Chrysler 200 last? Our investigation

We believe this information is extremely important for those who want to buy a used Chrysler 200 as well as for those who own old Chryslers with high mileage on them.

We've seen a guy who had been driving an old Ford pickup truck with over 400,000 miles on its odometer and this guy was choosing a used Korean sedan. He looked at the mileage of one and claimed that 200,000 miles is not a bad mileage. That was a cruel life lesson for him.

So, what is the highest mileage you should buy a Chrysler 200 2015? We'll be talking about the second generation, you should consider this because the two generations of the 200 are very different.

Here's what we know about the longevity of the 2015 Chrysler 200:

• you can expect your Chrysler 200 2nd gen to last about 15 years (12-15K miles a year);
• the highest mileage Chrysler 200 we've seen was 350,000 miles, it looked disastrously bad;
• the average death mileage is about 220,000 miles for the 2015 Chrysler 200;
• the body will show first rust after 8 to 10 years of driving unless it was damaged in an accident;
• some minor issues will obviously get on your nerves starting from 100,000 miles or sooner.

Well, this is not a premium vehicle, so the manufacturer didn't invest a lot of money to make it wonderful. This is just a budget-friendly car that is made to take you from one place to another without stealing big money from your pocket.

The average longevity of 220,000 miles doesn't seem bad or really good - this is just average for this class of vehicles and you should be happy with that.

But if we wanted to buy a used 2015 Chrysler, we wouldn't consider vehicles that have already passed the 120,000 miles mark. After this, the Chrysler 200 will take more money than expected for maintenance and repair.

Engines and transmissions in Chrysler 200 - what's the best option?

The second generation of the Chrysler 200 wasn't very rich in engine and transmission options. It offered the 3.6 V6 Pentastar - the legendary and reliable engine. And it also had a cheaper version with the decent 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine called Tigershark.

Both engines are really good. The 2.4L one is less durable with an average dying mileage of 220,000 miles while the 3.6L V6 can live up to 300K miles and even beyond. But the V6 has worse gas mileage, so it's more expensive to own.

As for the transmission, there is only one option - the 9-speed automatic transmission (948TE). This is a decent ZF transmission that was used in many Chrysler and Jeep cars. We don't see any problems with this transmission during 220,000 miles if the fluid is changed regularly along with the filter.

So, whatever engine you get, it's going to be a good choice for this car. Yes, these engines and transmissions aren't very up-to-date and technological, but they are durable and will not cause big problems even after putting a high mileage on them.

What are some of the common problems with the Chrysler 200?

• Electric issues

If we are talking about a Chrysler car, we are going to talk about electric problems. Different lights on your dash, random inability to start your vehicle, random engine misfires, and some error codes and messages from your ECU - are just the upper part of the iceberg of problems. The wiring in the Chrysler 200 is not that good and sometimes needs your attention.

We've seen reports about bad connections and wire issues in places where they may brake because of rubbing against each other or against something else. We've seen people asking for help in forums after they just got the dead car that wasn't reacting to any actions. But one good thing is that this vehicle is not expensive to repair and the issues are usually easy to locate and diagnose.

• Heater problems

This issue is connected to the bad design of the heater. Its system may malfunction after 5 or 7 years of use. Sometimes, the radiators get clogged, but most often it's all about the climate system fins that are just stuck and can't direct airflow in the needed part of your Chrysler 200. Unfortunately, this issue is not that easy to fix, especially if you have a good trim with an automatic climate control system instead of a simple AC.

• Engine stalling when you drive

This is a typical issue of the malfunctioning Chrysler 200. If you own one, you should have already experienced this issue. You may be just driving on the highway and thinking about the upcoming dinner and a glass of your favorite beer in the evening, but suddenly the car just shuts down, and the engine stall.

It's all about electrical problems, but this one is very common for the Chrysler 200, so you should know about it. In this case, you need to carefully stop on the right side of the road, turn off the vehicle and try to start it after 5 minutes. If it doesn't help, the tow truck is your decision.

• Cranking but no starting

This is a typical problem with the Chrysler 200 that hasn't been started for more than 2 months. These engines are pretty simple, but their head construction is complicated and it needs proper functioning of all parts of the engine to start. If your Chrysler 200 was standing still in the garage for 60 days or more, the oil has all gone down to the oil pan and the parts of the engine are totally dry.

You may just continue trying to start it but don't forget to charge the battery or to use a jump-starter for this. After 5 or 7 minutes, it may just start and work normally. Unfortunately, if you take the vehicle in such condition to the mechanic, they will tell you this is a problem with the engine and that you need to pay for overhauling because diagnostics will show zero compression in cylinders. But usually, it's all about lubrication peculiarities.

• Awful fuel and oil consumption

These engines love oil and they will burn some oil during your rides. After getting 60,000 miles, both engines may burn a little amount of oil. But it's OK and you shouldn't worry much until you see blue smoke from the exhaust pipe and also a severe drop in oil level.

Also, fuel consumption may be a surprisingly bad factor. The 2.4-liter engine is not bad, but the V6 loves to drink up all the gas you have in the tank. If you drive carefully, both engines will show average consumption. But if you love to press that gas pedal really hard, the consumption will be just huge.

What should you do to prolong the life of your Chrysler 200?

If you own a Chrysler 200, you should be aware of its common problems that you may encounter any day of your life. Also, you should maintain the engine according to the requirements that are highlighted in the owner's manual.

We recommend changing oil and filters a little more often than the manufacturer suggests. The recommended interval of oil and filter change is 7,500 miles, but we suggest you should change the fluid and filters every 3-5K miles to prolong the life of the vehicle.

Also, use only high-quality fuel that you buy from certified sellers. Otherwise, the tender fuel injection system of these engines will suffer and this will lead to problems.

Finally, you will be able to drive your Chrysler 200 long enough if you just drive carefully and avoid accidents. We know that after any serious accidents, the lifespan of the car is shortened significantly. Even after a good rebuild, it won't be able to survive long enough.