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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  Chrysler Ignores Customers and Known Problems - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By time4sax - May 24 - 9:59 pm

  Chrysler has ignored every issue from AC to brakes to accelerator sticking to loud clunking noises to car stalling and on and on. All issues are known to Chrysler and they refuse to fix them until someone is injured are dies. And they wonder why Americans dont buy US vehicles, poor quality vehicles.

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  Fun to drive, but a hassle to maintain! - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By nikki73188 - May 17 - 10:03 am

  Bought this car used back in 08, and I loved it! It worked fine till about 09 when the A/C and Heat only would work on high, which was a pain in the winter. Tyrods have had to be replaced twice, motor mounts twice, and now the struts need to be replaced as well. Countless engine leaks, and too many electrical problems to count. The car leaks A LOT, and the mpg was great up until about last year. Its been a money pit the past few years and I cannot wait to get rid of it! As much as I love the convertible style, its simply not worth it anymore! It spends more time in the shop than on the road, and even my mechanic is getting weary of working on it! Ill miss it, but my wallet sure wont!

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  Good Car -- Mixed Reviews - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By sjt3 - March 12 - 5:55 pm

  I just traded in my 2005 Sebring Convertible after four years. It was a great car overall but not without its flaws. Very cheaply built & even though the body was mostly plastic, still had the standard Chrysler problem of pealing paint. Interior plastic was cheap as well. Reliable with one exception, brakes!!!! I only put 40,000 miles on it and had to replace the brakes twice. My two previous cars, Chevy and a Ford, I only replaced the brakes once on each with 60,000 to 80,000 miles on it. My only other complaint is road noise. Very noisy!!!

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  My 2008 Chrysler 300C AWD - 2008 Chrysler 300
  By jan56 - March 4 - 7:20 am

  This is my second 300C AWD. The first was the 2006 model and I loved it. Then I got the 2008. What a disappointment. Its noisy and has been having issues since day one. Off and on electrical, the navigation system, UConnect. Additionally new rotors at a little over 12000 miles. Its been a royal pain. While the ride is smooth, the noise level is ridiculous. Being on UConnect, it is difficult to hear over the noise in the cabin. They definitely cheapened this version compared to the 2006. I had planned to stay with Chrysler, but now, Im thinking not. Unless theyve made some major improvements to quality, Ill take my money else where.

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  what a POS!!! Transmission Timing belt! - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By ambiegirl - March 3 - 5:39 pm

  i bought this car with only 68,000 for what i thought was a deal, a week after buying it the acceleration was off & would jut after 20mph, the allignment was so bad it balded the left front tire & the gas mileage...good lord i had a aztek before this car and my aztek suv got better gas mileage. so i take it to a mechanic to see why it would shake and jut after accelerating past 20 mph and it turns out a cost of $2000 min would fix the transmission, and a min of $1000 to fix the timing belt. 3 grand in just a week after having it? the mechanic told me to get away from it as soon as possible cuz chryslers are known for transmission issues, so thats what i did. She was a beauty on the outside

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  Too Many Problems - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By derek704 - February 26 - 3:48 pm

  Bought the car used with 37,000mi on it CarMax 7 yrs ago. 2 years after purchase, we had a random transmission leak. Cost around $1500 to fix. 3 years ago the A/C suddenly stopped working in the middle of the summer. Spent many hours and over $300 getting the A/C fixed, and it just went out again today. Few years ago we smelled gas every time we got in, spent $200 to find out there was a gas leak above the tank?? And last summer the battery light came on and I was told the alternator was going bad. Spent $250 part and labor. 4 mos. ago dash gauges keep going dead w/ ABS light on and batt light. Replaced alt again $175. Now the 3rd one is bad w/ dead dash guages again, still cant fig. it out.

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  RUN AWAY from a 2.7 Liter SludgeMobile - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By Former Chrysler Fan - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Car was great for the 1st 100000 miles Then at 100k Dreaded SLUDGE problem destroyed the motor I had always maintained the car correctly, with good quality oil but the poor design of the 2.7 liter motor ( small capacity , small oil galleys ) allows sludge to build up and prevent proper engine lubrication. The timing chain broke, and that was all she wrote, valves smashed into pistons, junque! My last Chrysler, as they refused to acknowledge there was a problem with this motor, or offer any warranty support at all . Boo and shame on you Chrysler

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  Not recommended - 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Yolanda English - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Pacifica for my birthday earlier this year. I was interested in it because I needed the 3rd row and was tired of being in a many van & I though it was cute. But having the 3rd row seat, it has no trunk room. You cant ride with the back windows down because of the noise the air pressure makes and its a gas guzzler. I wouldnt recommend this car to my worst enemy. Also, when my batter died, I couldnt even turn the key to put the car in neutral to roll it back. To me, thats just not right.

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  Great car for awhile - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By Brandy - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Bought my Sebring used in 2007. Only problems until now were with rotors needing turning often and the rear spoiler coming off. Recently the front crank seal blew out causing a severe oil leak. Had it fixed and it happened again within minutes. Discovered that there is a problem with this motor having crank shaft end play which causes the front crank seal to come out. There is a bulletin on this problem, but no recall. Currently awaiting Chryslers response to see if they will take any responsibility since this is obviously a manufacturer defect since it has happened to so many of the 2005 motors.

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  What Now? - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Tone - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Have a few issues with this model. There is water in the drivers side door and the rear passenger door. Brakes are difficult to find, special order. Shift lock broken. Floor has worn under the pedals quicker than any other car i have even owed.