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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  Loved the 2000 model- Hate the 2002 mode - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By LB - December 15 - 2:00 am

  This car rides like a truck.Without the luxery touring options,like my 2000 had,this car belongs in a junk yard.There are too many complaints to mention.Because of this,I will never buy a Chrysler again.It is unfortunate because I loved my 2000 model.

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  Worst Car Ive Owned - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By bbled - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Worst car Ive ever owned. Ive had it 9 months and its been in the shop for major repairs 5 times (towed three of those times). Ill never buy another one.

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  Lemon Car - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Nancy M - November 20 - 9:20 am

  I have had nothing but problems with it since I bought it. The transmission has been slipping since 2 weeks after I brought it home! The dealers computer cant find a problem, so they wont fix it. Now Im past my warranty period and they tell me that the repair is at my cost! also, I had numerous problems with it that arent supposed to happen. The Strut spring snapped in half, covered under warranty (but should never happen), the engine mounting bolt flew out and took out my power steering pump with it (that should never happen), the battery cable spontaneously burned up (mechanic was surprised my car didnt catch fire!) and that should never happen,either! Im trading it for a Honda!

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  something is wrong with this picture - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By karen wyant - October 25 - 6:38 pm

  Right now four of us who own a 2012 chrysler 200 are having to have a heater core put in as no heat on passenger side and does not defrost on passenger side have been advised that cost is 6-800! Sounds like a recall problem but mechanic says that is normal for a chrysler 200!

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  Poor Car/Worse Dealership - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By CB - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Please do not make the same mistake I did when purchasing this car. Purchased the car new from a local dealership. Over the next three years the car needed the transmission replaced once, speed/shifting sensor went out twice,power windows went out twice (every window), wiring to back speakers went out, half the interior lights stopped working (not bulbs burnt out), and the engine smoked and knocked no matter what octane we used. Most of these were after the warranty expired and the dealership was the worst to deal with. Before this car I never considered buying from other than the Big 3 but I just purchased a Toyota to replace the Concorde

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  Worst vehicle Ive ever owned. - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Lori - September 30 - 8:46 am

  Cheap vehicle. At 60,000 miles the cooling system quit, had to have entire system replaced. Thermostat stopped working and car overheated, almost ruined the engine! Next the a/c compressor quit making the car stall or jump forward at lights. This vehicle is a hazard. Leather is not durable at all, and the paint flakes off, cant wash it with out finding new exposed metal!

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  Biggest Piece Of Garbage Ever - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Donald Anglin - September 8 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst car i have ever had Transmision went two months after i owned it Air conditioning compressor caught fire tachometer has never worked yeah it has power but what good is that when the dealer has it more than i do Noise in front end nobody can find they just tell me they all do that

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  BOYCOTT THE CHRYSLERS!!!!! - 1996 Chrysler Sebring
  By Tidepride824 - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I had this car for 7 months and it had trouble only 3 months after I puchased it! I paid 22,900 and only got approx. 14,000 for it. I had a Chrysler LeBaron Converible before, it was a lemon, but I just thought it was a fluke. I got this to replace it and it has been just as bad. Suspension trouble, refusal to back up, headlights that worked intermittently, all dangerous things! Had I known better, I would have gone back to the cars Ive driven trouble- free sooner--Hondas. I now have a CR-V and a new Accord, and have only been to the dealer to have them serviced. HONDAS RULE!

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  Never again will I buy a Chrysler!!!!!!! - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By c_a_gomez - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Love the design, the 3.5, the audio system but even those gave me problems. Tranny had to be rebuilt a year after the engine was rebuilt. Water pump seemed to go every other year and he list can go on but the trophy goes for the front end suspension even after the recalls the problems kept re-occuring. Ended up giving it away!

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  Unsatisfied customer! - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By UNhappy - July 31 - 2:00 am

  This car has nickel and dimed me to death! I have had electronic problems, ie, the panic alarm goes off for no reason.. It had to be fixed twice in two years. The front end is way too low. It scrapes on parking curbs. I have had the transmission lock in low gear three times in two years. The rims have bent on three ocassions and I am a very cautious driver. It also has a very poor turning radius.