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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  Car from hell - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By blacabanne - February 26 - 11:54 am

  Positively the worst car Ive ever owned. Bought this piece of crap for $1,500 with 105,000 miles on it and over the course of 10 months was able to drive it only 2,000 miles. Spent over $5,000 in repairs and finally couldnt take it any more. Replaced: Brakes, calipers, seat belt module, timing belt (after it broke and destroyed the cylinder head valves) cam position sensor, crank position sensor, distributor, oil pressure sending unit, transmission module, shift soenoid, ball joints, sway bar links, just to name a few things. Mechanics hate this car, its a nightmare to work on. I wish I had listened to the guy who said his mechanic used to run and lock the door, he wasnt kidding.

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  Best car i ever bought - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By anthony89 - February 24 - 1:30 pm

  I bought this car on Dcember 11, 2011 and it had 58,800 miles on it. Since then i have taken about 10 trips in this car. It now has 74,650 miles on it and she is still going strong. All my friends and family love my car. The build quality is amazing there are no rattles or squeaks either. I recomend this car to anybody who is looking for a good used car.

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  chrysler sebring/ has been a great car/194,000 miles and going strong. - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By melissa0207 - February 20 - 7:54 am

  Just wanted to say, i own a 2003 chrysler sebring, it still looks great, and runs great, of course ive had to do work on it, but what car 10 years old ,would you not? It is a good looking car and has 194,000 miles on it. Some people dont beleive it ,because it looks so good. this has been an exceptionally good car and still is. The only complaint i have with this car is the dash cracking!

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  My Money PIT! - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By michele2487 - February 17 - 10:41 am

  I purchased this car in February of 2012. I have not had this car for a year and I have already had to have the engine replaced, within the first month of purchase. (thank the Lord that the dealership replaced for free). My mileage says 137,000 miles, the "new" engine is only suppose to have around 37,000 miles on it. My front motor mount has had to be replaced, as well as other minor things, battery, starter, alternator. Now, I had the oil changed not even 2 months ago, I do in-town driving, short errands, nothing major and my Fiance checked my oil and it was bone dry. Now my engine is making the same knocking noise that it was making before I had the engine replaced.

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  Disappointment - 2011 Chrysler 300
  By mj55 - February 16 - 4:01 pm

  Ill start by saying, I love this car! We purchased it new in November 2011. But, I have no confidence in the car. On the first day that we owned it, the trunk opened up while driving. We chalked it up to our inexperience with keyless system. Within the next few weeks, the car would not start, flashing all types of messages. A tow truck brought it to our local dealer. I am not automotive, but it was something with the wiring. Squirrels were blamed (yes, squirrels). Fixed it. A week later - no start, tow to dealer. This time the entire wiring harness needed to be replaced. Had to wait for parts. Now, it is in the shop with a transmission problem, jumps putting in gear, messages. To be cont..

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  Too many problems for a new car - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By asalyer1 - February 12 - 2:27 pm

  I purchased my Chrysler 200 in January 2012 it was my first new car purchase. I have to say Ive had fewer problems with the used cars Ive owned. My 200 currently has just over 30,000 miles my first service visit was right after I purchased it my key fob didnt work right you had to be within 5 feet of the car and press the button sometimes multiple times it turned out to be a lose coupler I had to take it in 3 times to get that fixed. Next was some nylon string unraveling from bellow the steering wheel. Then I had a knocking in the steering colum that has been fixed multiple times and lastly I just had the heater core and the radiator replaced due to heater failure!

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  Money pit after time - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bshultz22 - February 10 - 11:15 pm

  Like many of the other reviews I have read, our car was fine for 1st several years - then nothing but problems. Brakes, Tie rods, Sub-frame rusted out, Engine mounts rusted out, Rear axle, Wheel bearings... Stay Away!!! I was interested in the new 300 sedan - but after all these problems, Im streering clear of Chrysler again. We bought this car used in 2008 and in 2012 it is junk with just 86000 miles.

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  looks do not count when it comes to cars - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By ponyboyex - February 8 - 1:22 am

  i bought a 2000 chrysler concord lxi about 4 years ago IT LOOKED GREAT and it had alot of luxurious features which got me to buy it it was $3000 and had 118000 miles which is not bad for a 7 year old car or so i thought about two weeks later i walked out of my house to what looked like a murder scene, transmission fluid covered my drive way which which cost me $1600 to fix and since then i had nothing but troubles and heart ace from it the car over heated all the time even though i fixed the thermostat, water pump,radiator and the fans in it and when i took it to the Chrysler dealership they were baffled. wouldnt recommend it to anyone and i learned not to go for looks only performance

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  Still Simply Amazing! - 2011 Chrysler 300
  By robert7200 - February 5 - 9:38 pm

  It has been nearly 1 year since our first review. Our Chrysler 300C is still simply amazing. Routine service is very reasonable and no major repairs. This car still runs like it just left the showroom. The cabin is extremely quiet and the Hemi V8 engine provides power to spare. The ride is very comfortable and the AWD option provides confidence when driving in rain or snow. Love the Alpine sound system and the Garmin Nav system is awesome. We have never really been fans of Chrysler in the past, but cannot say enough good things about the quality and comfort of our 2011 Chrysler 300C.

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  Full-size American Luxury Car - 2013 Chrysler 300
  By leasingman - February 5 - 4:47 pm

  For three months, Ive had a 2013 300S with the red leather interior, sunroof, nav, and tech package. This is a full-size luxury car with surprisingly good handling for its size and lots of room, and the S model adds an extra flare of style. Dont bother with the cost of the hemi V-8. The V-6 has 300 horsepower (plenty of power for all driving and a little playing) and with the 8-speed transmission I get the advertised 31 mpg on the highway. Ive got the rear wheel drive version. You cant beat that for full-size luxury. The Beats by Dre sound system is awesome and it has THE best and biggest touch screen in the industry, hands down. I dont regret this purchase for one second.