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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  Yikes - 2000 Chrysler Voyager
  By Ginbers - March 3 - 2:51 pm

  I liked this van for the first year, except that after only 3 months, the power window belt broke. Then things went down hill from there. The paint is terrible, scratches easily. The brakes went several times, well before they should. The transmission is horrible. This van seems to be only good for the first year, and then look out...everything starts to go wrong. The Blue Book value is so low, it makes me wonder why I bought it new in the first place. I lost a ton of money. I would never buy it used.

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  2.7 will fail - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By John Durbin - March 2 - 9:25 am

  We bought this car new and we loved it. The first 120,000 miles we had no problems at all. Then the door locks started to make a bad noise when you use them. Then the engine blew. We have found out that about 2/3 of all the 2.7L engines have blown and there might be a class action suite against Chrysler. If you do get a Concorde DO NOT get the 2.7L engine. I know of engines failing anywhere from 15,000 on up. We have had a few Chrysler vehicles in the past but I will never buy another one again, it is a shame because I have a relative who works for them.

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  TOO NEW TO RATE EVERYTHING - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By AUTOCRITIC - February 24 - 10:00 am

  SEXY HEAD-TURNER LEGROOM AND HEADROOM INADEQUATE FOR SIX FOOTERS ROAD NOISE ON ROUGH PAVEMENT IS A SERIOUS FAULT. APPEARS TO BE LITTLE INSULATION IN THE CAR! NOISE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IS TERRIBLE!! ACCELERATION IS OK, BUT WILL HAVE YOU LONGING FOR A V8 OR BMW INLINE POWER. HANDLING WAS GOOD, BUT I DIDNT PUSH IT VERY HARD. STRENGTHS: STYLING WEAKNESS: LEGROOM, HEADROOM, ROAD NOISE, AVERAGE ACCELERATION BOTTOM LINE: A GOOD FIRST EFFORT, BUT WAIT FOR NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. YOUD BE STUPID TO PAY STICKER PRICE FOR THIS CAR!

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  Run ... run fast from this cloud car - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Mike835 - January 7 - 9:37 pm

  The Cirrus is a fine looking automobile. And that is the last good thing I can say about the car. I have owned this particular car for less than 6 years and it has seen the back of a tow truck about 7 times. A few years ago the starter quit and 2 weeks later the transmission needed replacement. Two weeks after that the front ball joint assembly had to be replaced. Other replacenments were water pump, power steering lines, tie rod ends, exhaust system, electronic spark distribution system, spark plugs, AC components, blower motor control resistor element, timming belt, rear defogger control module, and even the gas tank filler spout. The ABS system packed it in as well.

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  Electrical Problems up the Wazzooooo - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Kalchaser - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Pacifica for a little over seven months. The first couple were great. I have had nothing but problems with it lately. In the last couple months I have put in a new dash cluster, new headlights, and a new AC/heat unit (because the display panel went out). It also broke down on me during a short roadtrip, something with the air in-take or out-take. While it looks nice, it is not a cheap car and it should not have this many problems. Yes, everything so far has been under warranty, but as much as I drive the warranty isnt going to last that much longer. Then I will be screwed, electrical problems are not cheap.

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  Problems - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By Tom Van Sickle - December 22 - 1:02 pm

  I had 200 miles on car and was out of town when the passenger right window would not go back up. Was on a cold Saturday and could get no help. The 800 number refered me to some window repair places that I was to pay to have car repaired..could not find repair places. The car was taken to the dealership..they got the window up and ordered part..had to wait 3 days. One week after the "repair" the same window is doing the same thing. It is also difficult to get key out of ignition if the shift is not perfectly in place..have to jiggle shift to get key out. I traded in a 2002 Seabring and wish I still had it!!!!!

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  bad fuel economy - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By mbois - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Things I dont like: Fuel is averaging 16.3 miles to-the-gallon; I wish the front grill were more in porporation to the rest of the car; dealership cannt get the front end in alinment. Things I like: Interior is roomy; Except for front grille it has a nice exterior design;

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  Major Lemon - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By antho59263 - December 9 - 7:39 pm

  This car is a maintenance headache. Had to replace all four power door lock motors ($150 ea.) Had to get the transmission fixed every three months within the last year. (over $1500) First a transmission computer chip had to be replaced. Then transmission hoses were leaking and needed to be replaced, etc. Right front speaker needed to be replaced ($75).

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  Bad Brakes at 20K - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wwkwcw03 - November 14 - 9:16 am

  I always loved the look of the PT so I broke down and bought one in 2007. Since my purchase have had it in the shop 4 times for check engine light and now I am having to replace the brakes and rotors and barely have 20K miles. Service personnel said they have had this trouble with the PT Cruisers. Why didnt they tell me that when I bought it? No wonder Chrysler is needing a bailout when they make such bad cars. I have never bought a new car that needed any major mechanical work before 30K and most didnt need work until 60K miles. I am very disappointed in this car and will never buy a Chrysler again.

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  I got a Lemon ! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Angel - November 13 - 11:06 pm

  I have been very didiapointed in this car ....rite from the first week the car started giving me problems with stalling, slow starts, delayed start after turning the key, loud noise coming from the engine , shaking when parked or at red light,loud knocking and thud under the floor board under my feet on drivers side , poor gas mieliage , problem with the phone feature , speakers not working properley , lunging foward, gas pedal not working properley causing it delay on pressing the gas.....I hate this car im going the Magnoss and Moss law. lemon has to much arbritration to go through and takes to long magnoss and moss is only a ten week process , they will usally make chrysler buy back car