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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  BUYING THIS CAR: A BAD DECISION! - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By 40willys - May 17 - 12:35 am

  Let me begin by saying this is my wifes car and she is mostly happy it. However, she is not a car person. This is a car for old folks there is nothing young, exciting or sexy about this short, stubby looking, boring car. It has a dead spot in the accelerator and the car doesnt move until youve pressed pedal down over an inch dealer says thats normal. It had a water leak where the drivers door glass meets the "A" pillar took 3 tries to repair it. Handling at speed is almost dangerous with lots of torque steer and no road feedback through the electric power steering. Fuel economy is poor (17 MPG combined). Trunk lid is very heavy due to convertible top mechanism thats attached to it.

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  Middle front seat console - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By arnold123 - March 26 - 8:55 am

  I have a 2011 Chrysler 200 with only 13,000 miles. While getting into the car I leaned on the center console. It totally shattered. The whole thing was made of plastic holding the console on. Chrysler told me that this was not a warranty item and I have to pay for it. I even bought the extended warranty. Cheap materials make for a bad car.

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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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  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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  dont walk away run far from it. - 2009 Chrysler Sebring
  By pheonix5 - June 3 - 10:25 am

  Chrysler has dropped the ball and kicked it a hundred miles away with this car. The four speed transmission whines at any speed over 80km/hr at which the the transfer gears and bearings have been replaced. steering rack failure and all struts and shocks and swaybar bushings. drive seat motors groans when occupied by anyone over 150lbs. evap system leaks(bad hoses, bad gas cap), spark plugs worn out at 65000km chrysler says there to be replaced at 170000km. when talking to techs at three diffrent dealers this is all common stuff on this car from 2007-20011. I have owned 9 diffrent chrysler products and this is my last. From the car to dealers to head office absolutly pathetic.

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  Beware of Oil sludge - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By brokeandsad - May 18 - 4:26 pm

  I have 3 cars. Volvo 1996 170000 miles. Ford 120000 Chrysler 58000. Chrysler is dead they say it needs a new motor. I take care of my vehicles. Google Oil sludge 2.7L motor. Run from this model of motor.

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  Problems! - 2012 Chrysler 300
  By rodrechcali - February 4 - 9:34 am

  Ill admit when I first picked mine up, I was pretty impressed. It looked nice, drives fast, and was a great take an an american sedan, and who doesnt like the design!!. Sadly, after just a week of driving the car to work, the quality of many components broke down. this car is not worth the trouble. I suggest to anyone who wants this car, go with something else

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  Terrible Overall Quality - 2011 Chrysler 300
  By 300andsad - February 1 - 7:30 pm

  Concur with the other review. Handsome vehicle, but loaded with quality and electronic problems. 1) Paint chipping on many areas 2) Remote key-less system failed and car would not start 3) Numerous rattles 4) Safety concerns with the blind spot & rain-sensing wipers: do not properly work and thus cause dangerous conditions 5) Severe engine shudder Leased in Sept 2011 and have regretted it since then. Dealership has been pretty solid, but Chrysler is a mess.

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  THE 300 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By hubstar - December 27 - 5:06 pm

  purchased DEC06..in 08 I was driving to GA frm SD,Cali..I got to TX the car went crazy..the lights started blinking,windshield wipers went crazy they even threw themselves off track,got stuck to the right..car turned off..99 degrees n/tx w/ my fam in the car..I had some fuses in my emer. kit..found of about 4-5 of them blew out..changed the 1s that I could ie..fuel pump and a few others..tranny went into limp mode..drove to ga like that..had it shipd back to cali frm ga...total to fix 6.5k...in oct tranny blew..1.5k..DEC11 engine blew 3.7k..rental car total 1.4k..tow from ga 1.2k..total for everthing 14.3k...I owe 12.4k on the loan...kids missing Christmas Priceless!Thx Chrysler!