The 300's Door Panels Melt and Warp Under the Heat of the Sun

The interior door panels of the 2nd generation 300 are warping and, in some cases, falling off. The issue also affects the Dodge Charger, another Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) vehicle.

Why Are the Panels Peeling From the Door? ∞

Most of the warping occurs where the door panels meet the windows. While most commonly seen on the driver's side front door, the issue can happen to any of the doors that are exposed to the sun on a hot day.

This is likely due to a combination of low quality panels and poor installation with an adhesive that can't stand the heat of the sun.

The obvious (and not so obvious) downsides ∞

So what kind of problems will a warped panel create? For starters, they can interfere with the side airbag deployment. They can also prevent the door locks and anti-theft systems from activating, or mess with the heating and cooling systems.

Oh, and they also look like crap and reduce the car's resale value.

A nationwide back order on replacements ∞

The problem is so widespread that owners say there's a huge backlog when waiting for replacement panels. And even if you're lucky enough to get one, it's the same defective panel installed in the same defective way. So it's only a matter of time before it fails in the same defective way.

Stellantis' response is underwhelming ∞

The automaker has been accused of refusing to do anything about a problem that's been happening since the 2014 model year. And while FCA does offer replacements to owners under warranty, the process often takes months. This forces some owners to seek out a 3rd party solution, an act which some say is intentional.

It's a problem that can affect the side airbags from deploying or the doors from locking. It's also ugly-as-sin and drastically reduces the car's resale value.