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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  Transmission Night Mare - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By sagdds - February 9 - 10:38 am

  At 35000 miles transmission began mis-shifting, jerking, 11 weeks 5 visits at dealer between 35 and 67000 miles Told transmission OK rebuilt AWD. Told I believe they thought I had unrealistic expectations. Mis-shifting when down shifting 60 to 80 mph. At 67,000 miles on the highway transmission failed completely. Dealer told me transmission not repairable. Fortunately had extended warranty. Now low gear shifting OK still mis-shifts at high speeds. A bad quirky transmission.

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  the worst car ever - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By demi - January 23 - 4:23 am

  I feel like a sucker for buying this junker.Back in 05 I thought buying new would give me worry free driving for atleast 4 to 5 years.Man I could have not been more wrong. I bought in May and by October it was at the dealer for 7 weeks because the whole instrument cluster was shot to hell.The problems have not stopped since.I have replaced the drive shafts 5 times already.The box is not big enough to list all the problems that I have had.If I did not have friends who are mechanics and had to bring this car to the dealer, I would be near $20,000 in repairs.With one year left in payments near $4,000 I am so tempted to drive this piece of junk thruogh the front window of Chryslers head office.

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  Do NOT buy this car - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By Jennifer - October 15 - 9:03 am

  I have had nothing but trouble with this car. Since I bought this car I have had to replace the wheel bearings on the drivers side, The HVAC unit went out, the key was stuck in the ignition and could not be removed until removed by a mechanic, Motor for the Air conditioning went, Not to mention the awful oil leak that it has and has been fixed twice. The car is now in the shop for something else to be repaired. I was warned about this engine that was put into this car and I did not listen. Keep in mind that all of this stuff that needed to be replaced was only in a three year period. This car has made up my mind about Chrysler cars. Never will I buy another one.

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  Late-Onset Lemon - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By dokein - October 4 - 12:13 am

  After less than a year, power steering died while I was on the highway. After two years, overheating problems started. Took in for service 4 times in 2 years for overheating. First time the dealer blamed it on a bad power steering motor steering motor and topped off the antifreeze. 2nd time no cause found. 3rd time found a bad fan relay. 4th time (58k mi) water pump failed, causing head gasket to blow, warping the head, damaging a piston & a ring. 2 weeks to fix. Chrysler not fully honoring 7/100 powertrain warranty, making me pay ~$500. Front discs & pads at ~40k. Plug wires after 55k. Several other intermittent problems dealer refused to fix under bumper-to-bumper warranty.

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  Sebring - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dan - September 11 - 7:57 am

  This car is no fun to drive. The four cylinder version has absolutely no pick-up, although the RPMs always come close to redlining. Overall, a sad car to drive.

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  #1 rated car in 2014 - NOT - 2014 Chrysler 300
  By Terri Henry - August 21 - 7:09 am

  I wanted a car with luxury, this cars ride was awesome. Unfortunately, it spend more time in the shop. It has heating/cooling issues, took a year for them to identify the issue, and this after we got Chrysler involved. It would blow extremely hot air even when AC was one. They just kept telling me there was nothing wrong with it. Very aggravating. We finally got that fixed and when I picked up the car after that was fixed, something else was wrong. I brought it back and they said my power steering pump was gone. Really? Barely covered under warranty, now out of warranty a day later. Traded this money suck in!!

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  Money Pit on Wheels - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jms - August 14 - 2:46 pm

  In the year and a half that I have owned ny cruiser, it has had repairs done on steering problems 5 times. I think the whole steering system must be new! Also, the air conditioning drags the idle speed down when waiting for traffic lights.

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  boring - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By airforce - August 8 - 10:00 am

  the thing has only 200hp and does not handle well at all. very slugish through the corners. Nissan altima is a better buy.

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  This car is not reliable - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By SHERIL EVANS - June 12 - 7:59 pm

  I thought that I was making a great investment when I purchased my brand new 2006 Chrysler C car. This turned out to be a nightmare. This car has been in the shop numerous times for transmission problems that the dealership cant seem to repair. Dont be deceived by looks. This is the worst car that I have ever purchased. It is not reliable at all and I think that the towing companies know me on a first name basis.

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  Pacifica Disgust - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mark - May 10 - 10:30 pm

  I am stuck with an extremely poor quality vehicle and have experienced the worst customer service from Chrysler. Their solution is to keep on fixing every problem, and some more than once. When the right thing to do is to take the vehicle back.