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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  I hate American cars now - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By MARC - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car on August, so far, I hate it! first it looks cheap, interior or exterior, the engine is crap, make that ugly noise when you hit the gas, cheap brakes

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  Will never own again - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By lexie - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car on a whim, because I was pregnant, and the car had just gotten a new engine, so I figured it would run great. I was VERY wrong. Ive put nothing but money in this car, and it is still very unreliable. It scares me to have my daughter in it, because it does what it wants when it wants, aka it dies all the time. my heater and the odometer do not work, I have to put a tie rod end in it, ive replaced numerous amounts of sensors. The speakers dont work well either. Also the computer is going out. This car has been nothing but a nightmare, and of course no one wants it, so Im stuck with it. I personally will never own one again.

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  Frustrated - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Disappointed Again - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Received a very good deal but traded one lemon for another. Bought new in 07 multiple dealer visits for clunky transmission, seat shedding foam, ext and int trim fading not aligned, brake rotors bad,heater/air not working, engine oil consumption so on and so on. Bad rotors with less than 9000 miles thats bad quality. Multiple dealer overnight stays and lots of frustration. Third brand new Chrysler dud. Had a 2001 Voyager and 2001 Sebring both with multiple warranty issues both traded in within 1 year of owning due to lack of confidence in vehicle. Decided to try again after 6 years hoped for better got worse. No joke have had upwards of 40 warranties with this vehicle.

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  Weak on quality - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By T - September 7 - 3:46 pm

  The salesman touted the Mercedes Benz connection. Though I dont own a Mercedes, I would not compare the quality of this auto with a Mercedes - far from it. Generally it has a low quality feel. Very low power (even when new) from a 6 cylinder reported to be 250 hp plus really poor mileage (15 mpg). Then add stupid problems that are quality related such as an oil pan made of "soft aluminum" whose drain plug is easily stripped ($700 repair), air conditioner failure, lots of batteries (four so far), heater fan failure, rocker panel made of breakable plastic. In comparison, my Acura tl with equal miles (90k) drives like the day I purchased it and has required no repairs

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  This car is horrible - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Rob - August 31 - 10:28 am

  I bought this car with 20,000 miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with it since. Engine light comes on all the time. I have replaced almost everything on the car but the transmission, but it seems to be slipping and shutting off when you come to a stop. Whatever you do you need to run as far away from this car as you can.

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  Too many issues - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By KnightKF - August 24 - 2:08 pm

  I got this vehicle while I was pregnant thinking it would be a good family car. The paint was chipping from the beginning and the dealership refused to fix it. Had to have the gear shift replaced because it got stuck in park. I have had multiple issues with the power windows, and and power seats. Recently I was in a wreck and the passenger side was hit and the side curtain air bags did not deploy. I will never own another Chrysler vehicle.

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  Smells like gas - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By leftatdunkirk - August 13 - 9:18 pm

  We acquired this vehicle through a family member and are working to pass it on to some other unlucky soul. Took it to the dealership to have the gas smell checked out under a recall. They said the recall was not active for our vehicle, but they would gladly do a diagnostic for $90. The ABS and traction control have failed and the thing feels like a category 4 earthquake when it idles. The only good that will come of this vehicle is when we get it sold and buy a Volvo.

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  Blind spot? $2000 later - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Cassandra - July 23 - 8:44 pm

  My hatred of this vehicle continues. My only salvation is the extended warranty since I paid cash for the beast. My main rant is the deceitful mpg listed on the window. I trusted and I got schnooked. Do your homework!

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  You can win Price is right. - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By buoyboy - July 15 - 3:53 pm

  The only good thing about this car is when the top is down, the drive is real nice. I have replaced every part of this car, towed three times and the list goes on. As I had to rely on mechanics for my fixes, the expense was couple of hundreds each month.

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  2.7 L engine failure - 2003 Chrysler Concorde
  By TanyaB - June 23 - 11:50 am

  I bought this car 6 years ago and was very pleased with it at first. A very nice ride and handled nicely in bad weather. For the most part, it had been a good car. Then, out of nowhere the check engine light came on and before we could get it in to the shop, the car completely died. Our mechanic told us that it was complete engine failure due to oil sludge. Keep in mind, the car doesnt even have 90,000 miles on it yet and oil was changed regularly. I have since found out by doing some research that Chrysler vehicles with the 2.7 L engine are prone to major engine issues even at relatively low mileage due to defects in engine design. Do some research before buying!