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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  Avoid this Sedan! - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By Smiles - May 10 - 12:36 pm

  The first three years were fine, not great but managable. We did have to take it in for a few warranty items to a local dealer, CD player, running roughly, etc. Now there are too many major problems to list. We were originally planning on driving it until my son could drive but I dont think this lemon will hold out. I also dont want to put my son in a car that we cant depend on. Its bushings are bad, the interior dash light rarely works, it is leaking oil, the inside "chrome" looking handles is flaking off, the leather on the steering wheel is gone, excessive brake dust on front.You get the picture. Junk! Too bad we bought the loaded version - what a waste of money.

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  Cruisers Suck - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Chryslersucks - April 16 - 10:00 am

  After owning a PT Cruiser for 1 year 1 month and 3 days the transmission died. Two days after repair the vehichle died again. After owning several vehichle 1 year and multiple issues. I am convinced I will never purchase a chrysler again.

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  Good Deal for a Convertible - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By Convertibles Only - April 16 - 8:19 am

  I purchased my 2002 Limited convertible in Jan 2006. It had 30,000 miles on it. I have had no mechanical problems, just change the oil and go. Power, handling and looks are great. The only unusual problem I had was that one of the chrome wheels rusted around the rim and it was impossible to get a good seal to the tire. So, I was getting a constant slow leak I swapped the chrome wheels with some aftermarket rims and new tires and the car looks even better than before!

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  Big Disappointment - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By Brajules - April 15 - 9:11 pm

  Engine blew at 135,000 miles stranding my teenage son and his friends on the side of the road at night. We had already replaced 2 rims, tie rods, alternator, two window motors, heated seats all before 100,000. Fixed the roll back when in park issue that at the time Chysler denied a problem and then 9 months later, surprise! A recall of which even then Chrysler refused to pay for even though we sent them proof! The dash lights started flickering shortly before the engine blew! We had a Chrysler Town and Country that was in the shop 27 times in the first 7 months that Chrysler finally agreed to trade in for this car. I have two relatives that work for Chrysler and they drive Chevys!

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  Pure Lemon - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Mark S. - April 2 - 4:59 pm

  Sun roof leaked. Repaired multiple times. Dealer replaced it 2 times. Each time Id get it back and each time I had a puddle in the rear passenger floor mat after it rained. The extra sensors for lane and object detection were very irritating. Either wouldnt work or would malfunction while on the freeway and I ultimately shut them off. Resale value was horrible. This is a highly rented vehicle. I would avoid this car.

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  Massive Shaking - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By Magnum - March 13 - 6:12 pm

  I purchased this Sebring Convertible limited from the showroom floor after test driving a 2006. After purchasing I was on my way home when I noticed the car had very bad shake at 45 mph and massive cowl shake that did not show up on test drives. Dealer stated this was normal, but that was after they rebalanced and replaced the tires. The car has gotten progressively worse and gets out of balance and alignment on the slightest bumps. I had a 1999 Sebring conv and vibration was very minimal compared to this.

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  Will never buy again. - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By vickad76 - February 18 - 8:46 am

  Was dreaming about buying this car for about two years. Finally a year ago Ive made enough money and bought the car of my dreams for $7,000.00 with 60,000 mi on it. For the first half of a year I really enjoyed it, but suddenly in the middle of a winter it stopped shifting gears. After I added transmission fluid, it worked well till the spring. Once it got to be warmer the old problems went back, and the car would stop shifting gears whenever it likes. Now I went through three months of nightmares already and need to pay about $2,000 for the repair, for the warranty is already expired. It was the last Chrysler vehicle Ive bought.

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  avoid the pacifica - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By j - February 9 - 11:32 pm

  Good idea, poor execution. Sunroof failed when we picked up car at dealer, took 3 days to fix. Within a week serpentine belt was squeaking like a 20 year old car took FIVE trips to dealer to fix (dealer explained, at last visit, that Chrysler service policy was to replace belt at least three times with Chrysler part after that they could install GM part (!) that actually worked). Dealer couldnt have cared less about problems. Car is underpowered, with poorly spaced 4 speed auto gearing. Terrible climate control (no heat to legs in winter) and poor/slow defrosting. Very disappointing overall, cant wait to get out of lease and into an Audi Q7.

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  Underpowered and Blind Spots - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Techshark - February 8 - 10:00 am

  We liked the looks of the Cruiser but have found it hard to drive. It has large blind spots at the rear quarter panels and is grossly underpowered. We often have trouble getting up hills at highway speed. Also the fuel economy is not great, 20mph at best. Had we known these items we would not have bought the car.

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  Dont be a fool - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By LaDeana - January 5 - 7:51 pm

  Bought the first 300 in Nov. 06. At 429 miles I realized there were serious problems which the dealer said were not problems but normal driving. At 650 miles they finally replaced with a new car. At 449 miles it started doing the same thing the other had done. Took it in & the dealer said it was the Torque Converter and replaced that. Now it has a shimmy and bumps along the road. HATE THE CAR!