Overview & Reviews

Chrysler is generally considered part of the Big Three, a title that refers to the traditional triumvirate of domestic automakers. The current accuracy of this classification is open for debate, but there's no debating the fact that Chrysler has experienced a revival of sorts over the past few years.

Chrysler Corporation was founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, a noted machinist; he'd purchased the Maxwell Motor Corporation of Detroit and used it as the foundation for his new company. The automaker quickly earned a reputation for advanced engineering. In 1928, Chrysler Corporation expanded with the purchase of Dodge and the creation of the DeSoto and Plymouth divisions.

The 1930s saw Chrysler boldly looking toward the future with the introduction of its revolutionary Airflow. Powered by a front-mounted inline-8, the car was one of the first to be designed with aerodynamics in mind, and featured swooping lines and a prominent grille. Perhaps a bit too ahead of its time, the Airflow was a flop with the public. Chrysler was able to survive the lean years of the Depression thanks to strong sales of its entry-level Dodge and Plymouth brands, whose vehicles boasted more traditional designs and much lower price tags.

Chrysler shined postwar. For a period in the late 1940s, it even surpassed Ford as the No. 2 U.S. automaker. The company's storied "Hemi" V8 engine debuted in 1951. Offering 180 horsepower, it was a significant improvement over Chrysler's previous 135-hp V8. The Hemi engine was meant to trounce the V8 offered by Cadillac, Chrysler's rival, and it kick-started Detroit's horsepower race of the 1950s and '60s. The '50s also saw the debut of treasured Chrysler classics like the handsome Town and Country and the sleek 300C.

By 1961, Chrysler had trimmed its line of brands by dropping the DeSoto nameplate. New technologies were also afoot, such as unibody construction (Chrysler was the first of the Big Three to introduce it) and the replacement of generators with alternators for a car's charging system. In the latter half of the '60s, Chrysler was heavily involved with NASCAR and producing performance-oriented cars.

At the same time, however, dark clouds were gathering. As with other domestic automakers, the 1970s proved to be a difficult decade due to the oil crisis, new government regulations and changing consumer tastes. A costly and ineffective overseas expansion further hurt the company's bottom line. By the late '70s, the company was in such financial disarray that it petitioned the government for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to save it from bankruptcy.

Thanks to impressive public campaigning by then-chairman Lee Iacocca, the debut of the well-received K-car platform and the creation of the modern minivan, sales had improved dramatically by the mid-'80s. The government's loan was paid off seven years early. The picture further brightened in the late 1980s with Chrysler's purchase of American Motors Corporation (which netted the company the Jeep brand) and a joint venture with Mitsubishi known as Diamond Star Motors.

Success continued through the early 1990s. In 1998, German-based Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler. At the time, this deal was presented as a merger of equals. But it quickly became apparent that it was more of a purchase, with Daimler being the dominant partner.

Less than a decade later, that merger was no longer, as Daimler sold Chrysler (and Dodge) to a private equity firm in 2007. However, that merger had borne some worthwhile fruit, most notably in the form of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan. The latter shared some chassis components with an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform.

As such, the 300 was a highlight for Chrysler that had a pleasingly solid feel to its driving dynamics that was further sweetened via an available powerful V8 engine. But soon after the split, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy and the federal government intervened with bailout loans. Eventually Chrysler came under control of Italy's Fiat.

Today, the lineup has been pared down to a pair of sedans, a convertible and a minivan. However, after years of having lackluster entries in the very important midsize car category, Chrysler made major improvements in the performance, design and quality of its midsize sedan entry, the 200. The latest 300 also stands as a prime choice for a premium full-size sedan. Still, it remains to be seen as to whether this and future product releases will be enough to restore the company to its former glory.

User Reviews:

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  Always Problems - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By 99300M - August 23 - 6:02 pm

  I have had the car for 10 years and although I only have 65,000 miles, I wish I could find a way to get rid of it. This has been one of the best performing cars I have owned but there is always something wrong with it. About 4 years my A/C went and the cost is approximate $2,000 which is what the car is worth. Most of the interior lights dont work, head light switch need to be changed annually, window motors, transmission sensors and the list goes on. Car is only good for the 4 miles I drive daily to the train station.

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  Frustrated - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By DisappointedTX - August 22 - 10:37 pm

  I have had this car for about 3 years and have had nothing but problems. I guess I should have expected it when the gear shift kept locking up on me. Since I have gotten the car I have spent almost 2000 on repairs. First it was the gear shift(under warranty), then some other part I cant remember right after the warranty expired, then the transmission(under warranty) and censors($500), then there was a leak that..turns out it was the gas tank ($900). Very noisy, I also had the brakes replaced but the car still makes alot of noise. Its so frustrating because I cant depend on my car. Looking for a new car...going to trade it in I have had enough.

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  Mixed emotions - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Lexi - August 22 - 9:06 pm

  I do love my Pacifica, it has everything I could possibly need in a car with 2 children and a husband. I love the DVD player and the navagation and heated leather seats and 6 disk cd changer. The all wheel drive makes it awsome in the snow. I love the trunk space, I can fit a double stroller and my second stroller and still have room for my groceries, or we can empty it and go out for ice cream and sit on the edge of the back. It is reliable even thought it is in dire need of repair, needed brakes/rotars for over 8 months and it still stops for me, I have had many noises coming from the front end and now my power stearing is going. I need battery. already replaced muffler/tires. 88,000

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  Piece of Junk - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By Nate - August 22 - 5:29 am

  Bought my 300M in Jan 07 with 54K. Has 93K on it now. Although this car is powerful, comfortable,it is te most unreliable car I have ever owned: Ignition problems, check engine light, $1,200 GAS LINE REPAIR, blinkers stopped working, power seat died, power windows dont work. Its embarrassing to have people in this car cause they cant put down the window. Dont judge a carby its looks, Chrysler builds garbage and its no surprise they are in financial turmoil! I researched this car or 4 months before purchased and all reviews are "great". This is the honest truth about this vehicle- dont buy one. And I bought the 80,00 warranty.

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  Great Ride - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By BillyG. - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Real good time to select AWD version of this vehicle. Handles well in snow and nasty weather. Interior room a real plus. Ample amount of room for six adults with third row of seating. Instrument layout very attractive also.

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  Love my car - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Kats Cruiser - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Got the Special edition Turbo. Love this car. Comfort is extreme. More fun than is legal. Inferno red color is wild. Chrome package is beautiful. People, especially women, stop me in the parking lot all the time and ask me about my car, how much I like it, and confess they have always wanted one.

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  Sebrings Suck - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Renee Bolling - August 22 - 2:00 am

  My Sebring has been nothing but trouble...from the sunroof to the struts...TROUBLE! Run far away from your local Chrysler dealership.

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  So Far So Good - 2008 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Bobbylew - August 21 - 11:29 pm

  I am very happy with my car. It handles great and so far is quite dependable. Watch out for the trunk lid. I made the mistake of leaving it half way closed after getting something out of the trunk and I wound up killing the battery. When I purchased the car the one key didnt work. The dealership had to get the replacement from Mersedes and they told me it would have cost me $150. for me to buy one if it wasnt under warranty if say I lost mine. I havent had any other problems so far.

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  Cute but trouble. - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By epv - August 21 - 3:01 pm

  We purchased ours used in anticipation of having out first child. We love the roominess on the inside and the style, but thats about where it stops. Weve paid $800+ for two major brake repairs which were not covered under warranty. Even minor repairs and maintenance are ridiculously expensive - $85 for the two headlights that went out within 3 days of each other and $150 per tire. There is also this awful rattling noise from the back that is very loud at highway speeds. The door light cover falls off when I close the door too hard. The acceleration to highway speeds is slow. The exhaust smells like it belongs on a 1970s car.

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  American Yugo - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By ADevine - August 20 - 12:03 pm

  This car I call the American version of the Yugo. In the six months my wife has had this car, the serpentine belt has been replaced three times, the air conditioner compressor has been replaced twice, the gear shift stuck in park when she parked on a slight incline, the front bumper has separated from the panels above because it is attached with flimsy bolts. The panel under the motor is missing, probably fell off on the highway somewhere. The interior is cheap plastic, noisy when it idles. Chrysler has been bailed out twice by the American taxpayer. Why? They cant sell junk cars.