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:

• 

  Dont Waste Your Money - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By danyella3_21 - April 13 - 1:14 pm

  I have had my Pacifica for 2 years now and the gas tank has been completely replaced twice and still doesnt work properly. It takes 10-15 minutes to pump $20 of gas. Chrysler says there is no recall for this, only a "technical flag." I do love the interior of this vehicle. Its very spacious and super comfortable. Six adults can ride and have plenty of room. The seats fold down and make it easy to haul all kinds of things, big and small. It drives very well. Smooth riding for all passengers. I would love to keep it longer if my gas tank worked. I am trading it in for a Ford. (The only company that didnt take my taxpayer dollars and still showed profit!)

• 

  Do Not Buy This Car! - 2008 Chrysler 300
  By Mike300T - April 13 - 11:01 am

  Bought car in October 2008 with 30,000 miles on it. After 2 months both tie rods had to be replaced under warranty. January 09 loud ticking noise from engine like lifters going bad. March 09, had to replace tie rod on left side again, Still under warranty. March 2010, very loud clunky sound coming from front end. Took to dealer, report came back that left and right tension arms, left and right sway bars and right tie rod end are shot!! Warranty covers up to 50,000 miles. I have 61,000. I have a 97 Chevey Lumna that I bought with 63,000 miles on it and it has not had the number of problems like the 300. Every mechanic that I have talked to says get rid of it, problems will get worse.

• 

  How can a modern car be this bad? - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Pachitica - April 13 - 10:06 am

  I have had many many cars. All types, foreign and domestic, sports cars and SUVs. I have never had so many things go wrong on a car. When I bought my Pacifica, I thought it would be the perfect blend between ability to carry my family and clients, tow a boat and not have the fuel consumption of my 5.7 liter tundra. Boy was I wrong. The fuel mileage is actually worse (15.4 mix city/hwy), I have so far needed to replace both motor mounts (by the way when I bought it it had 36k miles. Now 42k), the drivers seat (because it moves just enough to annoy the hell out of you when you leave a light), there is the well documented creak in the front end, periodically there is a clunk when

• 

  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.

• 

  Stay Away From This Car! - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Grneyes421 - April 9 - 1:42 pm

  Everything worked fine for the first 1.5 years. Then noticed leaking when it rained, and I mean front and rear floor flooded. Had to scoop the water out. Then it was a snow ball effect in repairs. Battery,Valve cover gasket, timing belt, and water pump $700 Brakes and Tires $450 Misc stuff $300 New motor for window $100, Catalytic Converter (didnt fix) all in 6 weeks? Then BLAMMO Blew a Freaking Rod! Still owe $4000 on the loan. Now Im left with a heap of scrap metal with moldy carpets on a good set of tires. They want you to buy American, well make it reliable. Looking for a Honda or Toyota now..

• 

  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.

• 

  Not the Cadillac I expected as a kid. - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By BoeingB17FF - April 7 - 10:13 pm

  This car exceeds what I wanted in a car as a kid - classy styling - by adding aggressive handling. Boasting head-turning looks, it has no problem flying around corners near the speed limit with little assistance from the brakes. Its capable of stopping fast enough that Im worried about air bags deploying. Sluggish out of early gears. Has no problem picking up speed at higher speeds. Mine was purchased used. After manufacturer PCM reprog for Tranny control error code, the system shifts gorgeously. Bad for the wallet as it coaxes me into driving a few extra miles.

• 

  Not a bad truck just needs better gas mileage - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By its ok - April 7 - 8:57 pm

  Eats up gas. Bad shakes at about 68 to 75. Some come with no foot boards.

• 

  Still going strong - 2003 Chrysler Voyager
  By Kevin - April 5 - 10:38 pm

  Reliable car, runs well still. How much fun can a minivan be to drive, so I only gave it a 5. The baseline model could of used a few features like heated mirrors, power windows. Otherwise the exterior is a nice look. The stow and go seating would of been a nice touch. However the car is still going strong and I hope to take it over 100k before I begin to think about replacing it.

• 

  what is a pacifica? - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By whtebread619 - April 3 - 10:01 am

  We got a Chrysler Pacifica a couple of weeks ago. When the salesman showed it to us, I thought, what the hell is a pacifca. it had a hundred and seven thousand miles on it so we got the extended warranty.The reason we got another car is because my pathfinder is in the shop with radiator/transmission problems. I hope we have better luck with this car. So far t has been a very good experience. I hope it will continue to be so.