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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  Nothing But Trouble - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By What a Lemon - November 27 - 8:12 pm

  I bought this car new in May 03. For a while it was a nice, fun to drive car. Around Oct. 2005 I started to have engine trouble. I took it to Chrysler and they told me I needed a new engine. Confirmed by my own independent mechanic. I spent $3,000 on a used engine, installed. This year 06 I had to spend another $1,200 on a new transmission. All said I will have over $20,000 in this car when its paid off. I have too much in it now not to drive it as long as I can. I will never EVER buy another 4 cylinder and might not buy another Chrysler.

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  Interior Finish Work- Poor - 2001 Chrysler Concorde
  By J QUIGLEY - November 27 - 2:29 pm

  POOR INTERIOR WORKMANSHIP - Finish color coming off dashboard (paint instead of dyed plastic). Power window operation makes crunching sound when going up and down - due to poor molding fit-up.Weather stripping on all 4 doors have shrunk away from doors (poor material selection or glue job), with 3/4" gaps and do not seal or keep out road noise. Plastic door molding delaminating due to manufacturing defect (bad glue job)- never had any type of problem like this in any other car. Exterior black weather stripping parts become badly damaged by UV rays and look worn. CD player wore out in 4 yrs. Front dashboard speaker failed in 2 yrs. Just overall poor quality workmanship and or components

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  headache from the start - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By sebringhater - November 25 - 3:07 pm

  horrible whining noise but intermittent so dealer always says they cant duplicate, transmission slams into drive but intermittent, dealer fixed once but still does it, cant duplicate when they have the car so they wont do anything about it. Car shakes terribly but dealer says its a convertible and you can expect cowl shake. Better than a vibrator. Had the car a little over 5 years and Id be ashamed to sell it to anyone other than another Chrysler dealership so they would have the problem. Probably cured me from buying another Chrysler product and Ive always been a Chrysler person.Been trying off and on for 3 years to get the whining fixed with no luck at all. Number one piece of JUNK

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  Disgusted in Janesville - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By Lucy Eysnogle - November 17 - 11:46 am

  Loved my 2000 Concorde - was a good car until the 2.7 engine blew up!!! Had taken very good care of car with oil changes religiously every 3000 miles and transmission changed every 40,000. Thoroughly disgusted to find that Chrysler knew about the problems with the 2.7 engine and did nothing about it!!! The Concorde was the 5th Dodge/Chrysler we bought. Never again - if Chrysler doesnt care about its customers and its products, I dont need to help keep them in business!! Just bought a 2007 Ford!!!

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  Do not buy this car! - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By bigpieceofjunk - November 10 - 6:04 pm

  Well maintained 2001 LXi, only 57K miles in 6 years. Since the 2-year mark, have had to replace the following: wheel bearings, radio, A/C blower, sway bar links, tie rods, upper control arm, transmission control module, fuel system serviced several times, transmission leak fixed twice, now needs O-rings & fuel rail, which is unacceptable on a car with such few miles on it. Im starting to believe what I hear about the Chrysler 2.7l V6. Getting rid of this piece of trash as soon as I can.

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  not the best - 1998 Chrysler Cirrus
  By janelle theme - November 3 - 1:43 pm

  there have been repeated problems with it and whenever i take it in to be fixed the mechanics always tell me these cars keep them in business

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  For the Money - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By Ashley - October 18 - 10:23 am

  For the money... This is a good car to buy used you can buy this exact car for 12900, w/60k miles 10/18/06. You get near luxury options wrapped up with a decent body/engine. I would be upset if I had paid 30k. 12k was better. Reliabilty has been ok, had tranny problems. way below avg sound system (nothing premium about it) horrible road noise. some problems with interior parts. decent performance/handling, great exhaust note!

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  Chrysler Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By jantonice - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the car around 2 months now and Ive had several annoying problems with some of the dasboard display mechanisms. I have had to have two components replaced in the first two months. Ive also had a recall already. The car is comfortable to ride in but a bit sluggish upon initial accelaration. It does very well in the snow which is the reason I purchased this SUV in the first place. It is also great for kids and pets.

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  Beware the LX model with the 2.7 liter! - 2001 Chrysler Concorde
  By 70_Malibu - October 4 - 10:48 am

  I purchased the car used (with the 2.7 liter engine) as a a roomy rather fuel efficient, full sized family vehicle. The car had 65,000 at the time of purchase. Less than a year later, at 75K, the internal water pump failed and flooded the engine with coolant, and also a loose exhaust valve guide caused the valve to wiggle and not seat seat properly, in turn causing damage to the valve seat. Hence the cylinder wouldnt hold compression. The total cost of repairs was $2,481 !! The 2.7 liter has an awful reputation of premature, catastrophic failures. Research the web!! I did, but it was too late for me! Stay away from the 2.7. Trust me.

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  If youre tall .... - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By PA Commuter - October 2 - 4:46 am

  We recently bought an 04 Pacifica. It is very pleasing to look at inside and out but there are some definite issues with the car. First, 250 hp seems like a lot but it is a bit of a dog with the AWD (15.3 mpg avg to boot, yikes!). Basically it is as fast as the minivan you are probably looking to replace, no better. Second, if you are over 62" pay attention to front seat comfort. The seats are a bit too firm for my tastes and dont go back far enough for me so unfortunately commuting isnt the pleasure I expected. Overall, I think the car is a good value as a used vehicle. Its pleasing on the eye inside and out. It just needs more power and a more comfortable driving position.