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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  Dont make this mistake! - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By davis13 - May 3 - 8:42 pm

  I wish I had done more research before buying this car. From day one, I have always heard a whine especially during acceleration. These cars eat brakes. Its ridiculous. A couple of weeks ago, the car stranded me, transmission woes. I had to have the planetary gears replaced three times in the course of ten days. Finally they replaced the cas" I assume that houses the gears. The day after I get it home, the OBD light comes on. My plans this weekend? To find another car.

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  Base PT Cruiser... a dissapointment - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ckrivin - April 20 - 8:33 am

  Im happy with the build quality, room and reliability. But the car is not very good for highway cruising; it is noisy, vibrates at speed and doesnt have much passing power. Also the gas mileage ... it gets just what the window sticker says, but not the greatest for a smallish car.

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  Sad 300C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Sad300C - April 15 - 8:43 pm

  We have had so many problems with our 2005 300C. I have been buying Chrysler and Dodge products all my life, up to this point I really have not had a problem. It is disapointing to see that Chrysler will not stand behind thier product when they make a bad one. The transmission slips when is it cold, the steering is dangerously stiff when cold. And the best is the rough idle, the dealer acknowleges there is a rough idle problem but states "since there is no trouble code they can not fix it, Chrysler wont allow us to tear into it with out knowing what is wrong with it". Can you say oxymoron. I am so disapointed. I am looking at Nissan and Toyota. This really hurts because I am a UAW employee.

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  Whats with the braking system? - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By bandit1 - April 14 - 10:16 am

  Had the car in 3 times to work on the brakes. They continue to squeak. Dealership says thats the way the PT brakes are (???). Should have gotten turbo because entering the high speed highway is a challenge. Body is great. But it is very noisy driving; drives me crazy. Wonder if I got the lemon? Disappointed. Not great on gas. Wont buy another Chrysler.

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  Not the best sporty car Ive owned - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By lcarrollccc - April 9 - 6:32 pm

  I loved the look of this car with the low profile and smaller windows, but the smaller windows caused too many blind spots which caused many close calls. It also sputters when starting to drive it after its been driven and has a hot motor (you can hear the gas in the lines). Last, it needed several things replaced that should not have needed replacing, such as a wheel bearing, sway bars, ignition cables, and upper and lower hoses at 30,155 miles.

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  Poor fuel economy - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Fred - April 6 - 1:33 am

  All in All car is OK. The fuel economy in my mind is very poor for highway conditions. So far, after 9000+ miles my highway average is 21.5 mpg. I owned a 1990 Plymouth Sundance got 31 mpg highway. Im very dissatisfied with this. I talked with the dealer and their statement was "thats about it". TV commericals states PT gets 29 mpg. Not true,very poor.

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  All Flash - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By catlady - April 4 - 7:29 am

  The Crossfire may be cute and look fun, but underneath the hood there is a significant lack of torque, and inside, the seats are just short of back breaking. I bought the car with 5,600 miles on it and was told the woman who traded it in had a bad back. Now I do too. I had a Nissan 350Z and there is absolutely no comparison between the two cars in performance or comfort. The trunk is useless too. Opening is so narrow its difficult to get anything larger than a shoebox in. Ive also had to have two new stereos put in because of the skipping CD player. Get a Z.

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  worst car i ever owned and this is my second pt cruiser - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By myptcruiser - March 21 - 5:06 am

  I have owned 2 pt cruisers, a 2001 and 2002. I do not know why I bought the second one. Both had the same problems - replaced radiator $1200 both times; suspension problems with tie rods, wheel hub assembly. If I open the hatchback it causes my brake lights to fail, because according to Chrysler dealership, the wiring rubs as I open the hatchback. The camshaft sensor had to be replaced $350. Now it is going out again after being replaced by the Chrysler dealership less than 8 months ago. Very expensive to repair. Do not buy this car! You can find them available for sale everywhere - have you ever wondered why? Be glad they no longer make this car.

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  Go In the Snow? - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Chuck - March 19 - 3:56 pm

  I have had my 300 for about 2 years and just found out the go in the snow - does not. Whenever this vehicle senses ice or snow, the vehicle stalls to neutral, then when you try to go again, it does the same thing all over. So, the only thing you can do is chain up with as little as 1" of snow on the ground. Not to good in the Pacific Northwest in the winter. I thought this was a defect, but talking with other owners, they have had the same experience.

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  2000 Chrysler Concorde - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By Unhappy - March 5 - 10:53 pm

  We received this car from an estate. It was very well taken care of with only 62,000 miles. The car drives and handles great. Interior and trunk space are more than adequate. Weve had to deal with some minor weather stripping problems. Then two months ago, the infamous 2.7 liter engine blew because of excessive oil sludge and timing chain problems. Chrysler has hired a company to deal with the engine problem claims. Their compensation is insulting and inadequate. Do not, under any circumstances, buy Chrysler products. Im very disappointed with how they are taking care of their customers.