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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  very disappointing - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By Resentful - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Turning radius is very wide. it takes at least three+ lanes to make a u turn. I have had to replace brakes once a year and the car goes through tires even faster. This car has been nothing but a pain.

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  concord or is it? - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By antichrysler - October 11 - 2:00 am

  visually innovative for its time. expected power from a 6-- lots of room but.......... with only 2000 miles the tansmission quit shifting..lots of recalls- seats, A/C, and other stuff. seats are hard on the lower back and were not supportive.. its been in the shop 27 times under warrenty. and more nickle and diming after warrenty. poor quality overall compaired to Honda or Toyota.

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  Dont Buy - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By Kalypsoly - October 10 - 2:00 am

  My transmission went out at 50,000. There was such a waiting list for chrysler transmission, that I would have had to wait for 10 months to get one. The Dodge dealership even told me there shoudl have been a recall on the transmission. Ive had many brake problems, and my tires, which are brand new, already need replaced. Everytime I take it in for an oil change they suggest I flush my transmission fluid...everytime. When I wash my car, the water leaks through the seals TERRIBLY. I take great time to properly take care of my seals too.

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  The engine just caught fire and died. - 1995 Chrysler LHS
  By pettums - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car for the feeling of upmost luxury you had sitting in it. However it really was incredibly unreliable and expensive to maintain. We lost it at 149,000 miles after the fan broke down, and the engine caught fire on the freeway.

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  Chrysler Sebring LXI DISSATISFACTON - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By Lisa Shipley - October 5 - 2:00 am

  I have had a very bad experience with my brand new 2001 Sebring LXI. Following issues-faulty brakes, broken sunroof, malfunctioning alarm, broken glove compartment, car shaking and stalling upon start, defective wheel laquer causing flat tires, torn leather, and some minor issues. Not only were several days off from work needed, but Chrysler does not provide loaner cars to customers. I contacted a Lemon law attorney because I still have a broken sunroof that has still not been repaired after three attempts. Also, I repeatedly am getting flat tires due to the defective wheel laquer on my vehicle. I would not recommend this vehicle.

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  Serota Report - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By JLS - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Paint is very poor, scratchs very easily. Very areodynamic thus if you are a smoker ashes fly back into the vehicle. Lighter is very poorly placed. If you aror all the dash for a high shine you will not be able to clearly see through the windshield in sunny conditions.

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  No Quality Checks on this car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Ed - September 30 - 3:33 am

  I have been back to the dealer many times over the last 6 months for these problems: 1) Even on minor grades, car will roll backwards in drive when I take my foot off the brake. 2) Car shifts hard from reverse to drive. 3) At low RPM acceleration, car up-shifts hard from 2nd to 3rd 4) Generally poor quality control on the painting. The first time I bought gas I noticed the paint primer clearly visible on inside of gas cap door. First time sun shinned on the side of car I noticed the interior metal of the rear wheel wells was bare. 5) I have been listening to the same radio station for 22 years on my 52 mile trip to work. This 300 is first car which looses station. 6)Vibration in dash

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  Kajs Take - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By kajjax - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Generally have enjoyed the vehicle, like its sleek and understated design, have found it to be somewhat unreliable having to have several major overhauls already!

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  Lesson learned - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By Jen1976 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I have spent more on rental cars than car payments this year. Kept it 16-17 months and had to eat about 3k in neg. eq. to get out of it. Every part of he computer system has broken down, bad wiring, trans, problems, you name it and not even at 36k yet. Paid for a worthless extended waranty from Chrysler that for some reason never covers a problem it has. DO NOT buy this car if you dont have a second car.

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  frustratrated - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By tman - September 5 - 10:46 am

  sqeeking brakes and a banging noise whenever i hit a road bump of any size. invested about 2000.00 in repairs and still the same.dealer mechanics cant find anything wrong.. anybody out there want to buy a cruser?