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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  Wish I Never Purchased - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By shannon - May 13 - 7:58 pm

  This was by far the worst car I have ever purchased. I have nothing but problems with this car. The blinkers dont work correctly, when I turn on the blinker the wipers come on. I have gotten it looked at a few times and still does the same thing. Like it has a mind of its own and I already had to replace the shifter on it. I could go on about problems Ive had with this car. Not a good buy at all..sorry Chrysler

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  Never Ending Problems - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By morgan - April 17 - 3:06 pm

  I had this car for a little over a year and had the following problems: the car alarm kept going off randomly as did the lights and beeping, the radiator had problems and the car kept overheating, it flooded in through the doors, the heat and AC only worked on the highest setting, and the break line burst. After all these problems, because off the flooding it was totaled due to an electrical fire. I will never buy a Chrysler again and would never recommend this car to anyone!

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  Help - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By gary - April 9 - 8:16 pm

  I own a 2004 Pacifica, and have a lot of problems with BRAKES. I had the motor mount replaced, and changed the brakes about every 4 months. The car is nice inside, rides good, and is comfortable. The only thing is all the maintenance work.

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  Never buy one - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By dlpannebakker - April 7 - 10:42 pm

  At first great auto. After owning for 2 years the black roof trim attachment points broke on both sides, dash panel in front of dash cracked and now the worst transmission failure. I never had a trans failure in any one of my cars. 2 Olds 442, 1 69 Hurst/Olds, 1972 Volvo 242, 2 Volvo 740 GLE, Dodge W250 Cummins Diesel, trans in it is weak. Borge Warner should have done a far better job. The Pacifica is in my words is not an dependable vehicle. Intake manifold is open at both ends, this allows mice to live between the V of the engine block, causing a chewing off the anti-knock sensor wire. Had it done, job performed by myself, not trusting ASE certified mechanics and the shop/dealer.

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  Not Too Bad - 1996 Chrysler Concorde
  By richie91 - March 25 - 4:09 pm

  Recently purchased this 96 Concorde from a friend. His mother went into a nursing home and the car had only had 3722 miles on it. hard to pass up right? first two months of owning the car went pretty well. changed the oil in the third month. (it was pretty much sludge) websites like edmunds and fuel economy.gov say Im supposed to be getting around 21 mpg. WRONG. i have the 3.3 V6 and Im averaging about 12 mpg. Still love the car though. Only complaints are the poorly made cupholders.

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  HORRIBLE - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Kristina - March 25 - 3:26 pm

  My sister and I both bought our Sebrings the same day. The worst decision ever. Between the two of us we have had just about every problem listed in this forum. Its awful to save up for months for your upcoming wedding and have your engine blow (happened to both of us). This car should come with a box of Kleenex for all the heart break it causes and a free savings acct. so you can get a little jump on the repair bills.

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  Im a Sucker - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By you got to be kiddin - March 24 - 1:26 pm

  I bought this car new in 2006. The day I brought it home the computer board was shot and had to bring it back next day. Since then nothing but trouble. Car came back with scratches all over the dash and again had to be replaced. I have since paid for two sensors to be replaced had two seals and two belts replaced still not working had it done again and is now sitting in a pubble of oil outside my work. I have had to replace brakes twice new tires and makes a constant noise I only have 39,000 miles on the car. Worst day ever the day I brought home this piece of crap. Too low to the ground, noisy and unreliable. Even the sun roof leaks.

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  Uncomfortable - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By patriot - March 18 - 9:40 pm

  We bought the car to haul the family around. However, it is so uncomfortable that we end up taking two vehicles every where. I would never recommend this vehicle to anybody with a family bigger than 4. Also get poor fuel mileage. Not super reliable either

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  Junk engine stay away!!! - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By tag - February 23 - 10:07 am

  We purchased this car in 2005 and it started off fine. However, the interior quality is poor and the location of vital parts are located in poor spots. Example: you need to remove the front tire to replace the damn battery. This is so nice! Just 2 weeks ago at 100,120 miles the engine blew. After researching this I found that the 2.7 v6 engine has a major sludge issue and no mechanic will work on them. Just google this for yourself prior to buying this junk car.

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  Death Trap - 1996 Chrysler Sebring
  By Maddie S - February 18 - 3:41 pm

  This car has swayed me against convertibles and Chryslers forever. I recieved this car 13 years after it was made, but that is no excuse for the quality at which it operates. I got hit in this car, flipped, and it almost killed me. One time I was riding with the top up, and the wind nearly ripped it off. The brakes were bad. And the rag top leaked, eventually leading to a nasty case of mold growing in the back. Horrible gas mileage as well, maybe 14 miles per gallon. This car was not only a hazard to my social life, but to my actual life as well.