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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  If I had only known - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By BarbaraSomething - April 18 - 10:00 am

  I should have known when I had to take my car back to the shop the very first day I drove it off the lot, and it stayed there for a week, that I was going to have a problem. It has been back since then for the same problem, and it doesnt even have 6000 miles on it yet. It is nice looking though and gets alot of comments, while it is sitting broken down at the side of the road! (that was added for sarcastic value by the way)

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  STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR! - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Hofstra Student - April 14 - 2:00 am

  What has been replaced so far: Headlights 12 times in 2 years Transmission Keyless entry remote twice Brakes seven times in two years Rotors Struts (2) Tierods (2) CV Joints (2) Five sets of tires in two years Exhuast Fuel Filter Alignment three times in two years Intake manifold gasket I do not drive this car hard, i take good care of it, this car is a money pit! If you think the looks of this car will grow on you, they wont. Not to mention its below adverage crash test rating. This car will leave you on the side of the highway at 2am. STAY AWAY!

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  My college daughters PT cruiser - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jlsh - April 13 - 9:56 am

  For what we have spent fixing this car in the past 3 years, we could have purchased a better vehicle. The physical shape of the car is great and it has many extras but, the garage where we have repairs made knows my daughters voice when she call!. We just spent 1500 dollars on repairs this winter and today she called and her steering wheel is locked up and wont turn.

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  CROSSFUNER - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By R Frye - April 5 - 2:06 pm

  Wife and I bolth fell in love with design Bought it just for fun car and it is all of that,and more. Added bonus is we live not far from wine country , in any direction. We found with top down trunk holds overnite stuff plus two cases of wine. With top up five cases So we are looking foward to driving all summer.

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  To many manufacturers problems - 1999 Chrysler LHS
  By Topfin - April 4 - 2:00 am

  Myself (1999 LHS) and two other owners of (300M) have experienced problems with the windows quite working, heaters quite working, transmitions have problems and the sad part about it, is that Chrysler knows about the problems and will not recall for the defects. One 300Ms heater just went out and will cost $800 to fix. We have fought with Chrysler to no avail. Shame on Chrysler, no wonder they are going down.

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  Blind Spots - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By hoho/haha - March 26 - 10:00 am

  Looking out the rear window or rear side windows while backing up was made difficult because of the size and location of the rear corner panels and window divider panels. The rear window cannot be fully washed using the standard window squichie because the top trim piece sticks out too far.

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  Beautiful but TOTALLY UNRELIABLE - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By Bart Fox - March 24 - 2:00 am

  My title says it all... this car gives you a lot for a little price... but you pay for it with constant mechanical and electrical problems. Bad breaks, too. I will never buy Chrysler again.

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  Not as good , as it looks - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By journey1010 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Had an accident a year later and none of the air bags deployed. Dealership was not honest on delails important to safely. Would not buy from Chrysler ever again.

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  good performance , when running - 2000 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Jeff Solup - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this 2000 Cirrus since Oct, 1999 and I have had nothing but trouble with it, since the day I purchased it..for a new car, it has spent more time in the shop for one reason or another. Foley Chrysler is one of the best dealerships around new england...they have treated me fantastic, I recommend them highly...on the other hand it will be a long time before I purchase another chrysler product.

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  HEAD GASKET TROUBLE 3 TIMES - 1996 Chrysler Cirrus
  By RAFITZ - March 15 - 8:34 pm

  I have just learned that our Cirrus with only 30,000 miles is in need of its THIRD HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT . Yes..THIRD! I called Chrysler and all they are going to do is charge us a % to have the head gasket replaced again.. and by the way, there IS NO GAURENTEE that the $$$ we put into it will be the end. After searching the web, I have learned the Chrysler Cirrus has te same engine as the Neon.. yes.. the neon which is known to have head gasket troubles.. and of course Chrysler DOES NOT stand behind their cars..Thank you Chrysler... And I hope this will help a future buyer from being scammed as we were.