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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  2003 PT Cruiser - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By MW - May 2 - 12:23 pm

  Overall disappointed with vehicle, gas mileage terrible for a 4 cylinder engine. Turns like a truck

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  nothing but troubles - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By Unhappy_man - April 17 - 1:15 pm

  Although the van is roomy and has the great outlooks, I have nothing but troubles since I bought it. I have had to bring it to the dealer 5 times for repair in the 1st year. Since I had the car 4 and half years ago I have being gone to dealership for more than 10 times for repair. Common problems include air bag, engine, emission and exhaust. Recently a possible transmission problem may occur because it begin to have a very rough downshift. It is my first Chrysler product and surely will be the last.

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  Unreliable - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Do not buy Chrysler - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is extremely unreliable. It has been one problem after another. The latest problem is a smell of a burning electrical system. Do not purchase this headache.

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  Loved it when I bought it, nothing but problems now! - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By telly89 - March 19 - 5:43 pm

  When I first bought my car I loved it I was very excited to own a new car. I have only had the car for about 3 years and now it over heats very easily, the check engine light will come on and it shutters, down shifts hard, and then sputters to a stop. the fan for the a/c doesnt work so the interior wont warm up in the winter now (or cool down in the summer) it has very poor gas mileage for a little car, I know itÂ’s not a sports car but its gutless! I keep up on the regular maintenance (oil changes, transmission flushes, tire rotations) but canÂ’t afford to fix all the other problems that it shouldnÂ’t be having if Im keeping up with regular maintenance! oh and the turning radius sucks!

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  Worst car I have ever had! - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By Kimberly - January 21 - 6:40 pm

  My car only has 51,000 mi. on it and I have to replace the engine! There are more people that have had this problem as well! do not get this car! unless you enjoy putting $5,000 into your car just to have it die on you again.

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  Turbo? no way! - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Viviana - December 14 - 9:43 pm

  My first pt a brand new 2002, loved my car, had it for 7 years only two problems with it and we solved it fast,Now I have a new 2008 turbo and it has been at the dealership about 12 times, they cant find nothing wrong with it, they said its all normal, but it feels that you are riding on a tractor at the farm.gas milage is so poor,tire ligh on, the ratleling noise it makes, the squeaks andthe power seat handle broke off. Iam so upset that this pt is so sad!give me my 2002 back. Whats wrong with the people at the dealership?

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  2.7 BAD - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Bluetooth - November 28 - 10:00 am

  To small of an engine for the base Model. Performance, sluggish. What were they thinking? Nissan Altima has a bigger Engine, Jeep Liberty---3.7!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  so sorry i paid for it - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By 2nd chrysler, - November 5 - 1:17 am

  2nd Chrysler product 1st was a 99 intrepid, and I loved it, but had bushings, brake and alignment issues always, never had any major work done. Got the 300 after intrepid was wrecked, and its been nothing but transmission problems, tire replacements, and now when I accelerate, and brake the car vibrates, not sure what it is, just had to spend $1032 at pomoco Chrysler in VA to get seals replaced and a few other things. now less than a month later I will be back for poor steering, and the transmission is jumping when shifting, and not shifting between gears when accelerating. I will never purchase a Chrysler again, and might sell it. over $3000 in the last 6 months, and more tomorrow.

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  ELectronics work at will - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bob lewis - November 3 - 4:39 am

  cruise control; set it at 55 going down hill it does not hold you close to 55 it speeds up you will be going 10 to 15 above speed, controls work when ever dash lights blink off and on, The main thing I have 5,438 miles on the car and it has used 3 qt of oil. Going back to dealer with strong words .Dealer doing a oil check every 1000 miles They going to keep car for 2 days to find problem with cruise control, still working on lights. no longer using oil still having problem with cruise control dealer cant get it to do it,but they are going to ride with me to see if they can see it. Dealer is working with me.

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  Dont buy the 2000 Grand Voyager - 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager
  By user4jenn - September 15 - 10:00 am

  This van has some convenience features. The mechanical reliability is nil. We replaced 9 tires before we found out there was a problem with the toe of the front tires. We have replaced the brakes 3 times along with a master cylinder..only highway and city driving. The transmission is on its last legs. Customer service above the level of the local dealership is non existant. This "family" vehicle also does not need to have the brake pressed to shift it out of gear..this van has been "driven" by my 2 year old along with the neighbors 3 year old. Luckily no one was severely hurt but it could have been a very bad situation.