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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  94 LHS cost more to repair than buy - 1994 Chrysler LHS
  By Bill Petsch - January 2 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car new. Ive spent over 14,000 in repairs since I bought the car. The transmission has been rebuilt three times. The AC, cooling, timing belt, water pump, paint, trim, power windows and locks, fuel system, weatherstripping, headlights, windshield wipers, struts, strut bushings, brakes, power antenna, all have been repaired.

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  Glad they aborted this series - 2000 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Lota Problems - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Look out. Brakes are forever needing replacement. The transmission is always a problem. If you own one now, get rid of it before she exhausts all of your savings. This was the first time I had ever bought domestic, and it has ruined my belief in American automobile engineering. All current owners of this money pit should get a full refund from Chrysler with compensation for the stress involved.

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  Beautiful Car - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By PH1321 - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Layout of front car inconvenient to work with. Cupholders hold larger cups fine, but dont grip a bottle of water, spills frequently. location of holders is bad place that hits your arm as you move. storage under armrest awkward to reach and hard to do while driving (change holder is there) you can not get toll money while driving without taking and keeping eyes off road. (I wonder how many accidents are caused by this?) Manuals take up most of the glove compartment no storage place to keep CDs. difficult to reach into backseat. Car is comfortable but not functional

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  Too expensive with the gas prices - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By PT Cruiser Facts - December 18 - 11:23 pm

  I am at 12,000 miles now and getting 17 highway mpg. I have the 4 cyclinder engine so there is no power and no fuel economony. The car also needs a 1/4 mile to turn so its not the most nibble bike on the block. The car has no wind silencers so you may want to bring your earplugs if your going to be going over 50. The car is attractive and very spaciouse but when a minivan made by the same company gets better gas milage something is wrong.

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  I hate this car - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By very dissapointed - December 16 - 2:00 am

  My first problem was that the dashboard would not illuminate at night. After that an anti-lock brake sensor went out followed by a broken brake pad. After that the door would lock itself when I tried to open it from the outside. That took 8-9 trips to the dealer to be repaired. I have had the cd player replaced and the drivers side speaker replaced two times. I have had to have my drivers side window replaced because it would no longer function. My latest pproblem is a transmission fluid leak and my car only has 20000 mile on it!

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  Chrysler Hates Tall People! - 2003 Chrysler Voyager
  By NOvan4me - November 13 - 2:00 am

  My wife has a pt cruiser and I drive the Van. Chrysler HATES tall people. And they especially hate tall overweight people. I have problems getting comfortable, hard to get in and out of. No where for my knees etc. If you do get this dog, GET a 6 cylinder, not 4 banger! No power! Transmission pops, clanks and scares me.

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  PT 2001 Im totally disappointed - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ibeanhead - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Its a beauty,,,but Ive had nothing but problems since day 1.They do not want to acknowledge that yes this vehicle does in fact have problems. #1 window molding fell off first week. steering fuel leaks.had a brake job done then 1-2 months,car is not doing more then 10 mil but the RPM are at 4. They tell me they see no problem. but keep the car for 2-3 weeks. they replace the master cyclinder brakes.it wasnt a year old yet. signal lights stop working if I use my hazard light.The sun has also damaged the d

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  Shoulda got the LS - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By wysure - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I chose this car over the Lincoln LS. I like the looks better and it had more power, BUT the quality is poor at best. The chrome coating is coming off all of the lettering on the sides, the finish is so soft, it scratched just by looking at it, the wind and tire noise is unacceptable in a $30,000+ car. More? The window creaks and is going to give at any moment, the steering wheel is deteriorating right in my hands and cant be cleaned. Still more? The strip of weatherproofing around the driver door came off (speaking of wind noise...). I could go on...but you get the idea. And just look at that 300C coming down the pike!!! UGH!!!

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  A problem Minivan - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By donf - October 26 - 1:00 am

  After six months the power steering hose broke.The steering vibrated and couldnt be fixed after many new parts and several attempts.Now,after only 18000 miles the transmission isnt shifting right and is making noises.Im glad to have traded it in.

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  Nickel and diming me. - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By gr5ub - October 20 - 2:00 am

  Replaced the brain, a speed sensor, 3 window motors,2 door locks and now the air conditioner. NO MORE CHRYSLERS !!! and its only 4 years old.Called Chrysler they dont stand behind their cars I have 76,000 miles now. Gonna buy a Honda.