Was your Chrysler 300C sold on a
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or
Hire Purchase (HP) agreement between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024? If so, you might be affected by the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) motor finance investigation. This period saw widespread mis-selling of car finance agreements, particularly for vehicles like the Chrysler 300C.
How the Chrysler 300C was Typically Financed
The Chrysler 300C was commonly sold on PCP and HP finance plans during the FCA's investigation period. These agreements typically ranged from £15,000 to £30,000 with terms of 36-48 months. Common lenders for these vehicles included
Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance,
Close Brothers Motor Finance,
MotoNovo Finance, and
Santander Consumer Finance.
PCP plans often involved balloon payments at the end of the agreement, which could be a significant financial burden if not properly understood or planned for. These agreements were structured to cover the cost of the car over its expected life, with lower monthly payments and a large final payment due at the end.
The FCA Motor Finance Investigation
In 2019, the FCA launched an investigation into
discretionary commission arrangements used by lenders in motor finance agreements. This probe revealed that many customers were sold inappropriate or overly expensive car financing deals. A total of £7.5 billion (FCA, March 2026) worth of agreements (FCA estimate) and 12.1 million eligible agreements individual contracts (FCA estimate) have been identified as potentially affected, with an average mis-selling claim amounting to around £829 (FCA estimate).
The FCA found that many dealerships were incentivised through commission structures that encouraged them to sell higher-cost finance products than necessary. This practice led to customers being sold deals they could not afford or which were less favourable compared to other available options.
How to Check Your Agreement Look for a clause mentioning "Discretionary Commission Arrangements" (DCA) or any indication that you were offered a higher-cost deal than necessary. If you notice anything unusual, such as unexplained fees or overly high monthly payments relative to the car's value, this could be an indicator.
The relevant time period for assessing these agreements is from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024. During this span, if your Chrysler 300C was financed through one of the major lenders like Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, or Santander Consumer Finance, you should carefully examine your agreement.
If you believe that your Chrysler 300C finance deal was mis-sold, you can complain directly to the lender without needing a
claims management company. Common lenders such as Black Horse, Barclays Partner Finance, Close Brothers Motor Finance, MotoNovo Finance, and Santander Consumer Finance provide free complaint processes.
When making your complaint, ensure that you clearly outline why you believe there was a mis-selling issue with your finance agreement. Provide any relevant documentation or evidence, including details about the DCA arrangement if applicable. The lender will then review your case and respond accordingly.
You do not need to use a claims management company for this process. Instead, utilise the free complaint mechanisms provided by your financial institution.
Sources and References
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). "Motor Finance Investigation." 2019.
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). "Discretionary Commission Arrangements in Motor Finance."
- FCA estimate figures as of April 2024.
Based on 490 MOT tests conducted in 2024 (source: DVSA anonymised test data), the Chrysler 300 has a pass rate of 74.7%. This is below the national average of 79.6%, meaning the 300 has a higher-than-average failure rate in MOT testing.
The 300 pass rate is in line with the overall Chrysler average of 72.7%. The average mileage at MOT for this model is 105,980 miles.
- MOT pass rate: 74.7%
- MOT failure rate: 25.3%
- Tests analysed: 490 (2024 DVSA data)
- Average mileage at test: 105,980 miles
- Chrysler average pass rate: 72.7%
- National average pass rate: 79.6%
Data source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results 2024, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.