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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  Dont buy this - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By nelson - June 24 - 8:04 pm

  Had vehicle for 6 years poured a lot of money in this car to see if it would last but nope it wont the car is ok but there is a flaw in this car the transmission first and the timing belt driven water pump if it goes bad it pops the timing belt and bends the valves and damage the torque converter the total cost for this vehicle to be fix is 6000 dollars they dont tell you about this but trust me stay away from Chrysler there vehicle are trash straight from the factory trash I mean trash buy a Toyota they last

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  Crap Crap Crap - 1999 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Leah - June 22 - 10:07 am

  I got this car used. It was my parents but then the couldnt stand it anymore so they gave it to me. I have had so many problems. The AC and heating went out and after over $800 spent no one knows why. The transmission crapped out in 2007 and had to be replaced. When it gets hot outside the door panels stick and you cant open the drivers side door. Now the horn goes off whenever I turn the wheel and the only way to fix it is to disconnect it all together. This car has no redeeming qualities. Also, the gas gauge is hardly ever accurate.

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  Would not recommend! - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By jo_ann81 - June 10 - 3:50 pm

  I bought this car because I liked the looks - unfortunately I didnt do my research ahead of time. This car has some very strange quirks that the mechanics have no explanation for. The transmission shifts very hard sometimes and sometimes the car sputters and almost dies as its shifting between 1st and 2nd (automatic transmission). I could deal with this problem, but for about a year now sometimes the car will just not start. Ill turn the key and nothing happens, then take the key out and try again and it starts right up (usually). Dealer can not figure out the problem. So far it always starts eventually, but makes me a nervous wreck! Well be trading this one in very soon!

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  I shouldve bought something else - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Daniel - June 8 - 2:53 pm

  The Sebring line was first introduced when I was a teenager. Ive always loved the style of the car and heard good things about them. After I got my first real job, I bought my first new car, at the time though I decided on a pickup instead of a Sebring. A couple of years ago - I saw the newly designed Sebring and decided Id get it this time. I have regretted it since the first fuel pump replacement within two months of driving it off the lot. Since then, the thing has been in the shop to get the ECM and TPM system replaced, took three tries to hold an alignment, has random electrical problems, and most recently got stuck in park for no apparent reason. This has been a disappointment.

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  Dangerous In Winter! - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By mrs.fonz - June 1 - 12:28 pm

  Have very cold winters here. Bought with less than 20,000 miles on it. Resistor in blower motor broke, REPEATEDLY! Had persistent front axle problems! Once original brakes needed replacement, they were never right. Wiper motor died. Transmission troubles. ALL window motors quit working! Once the extended service warranty ran out, all these were VERY expensive to fix! Brake pedal FROZEN at cold temps! Apparently Im the only one who had this problem? We dont have a garage. Took it back to the dealer over & over. They couldnt fix it! This car was supposed to go with my daughter when she went away to a school farther north. She ended up with the "new" car as I didnt trust this one!

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  Money pit - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Chelsea - May 17 - 11:38 pm

  I bought my 2004 Sebring in March of 2009 with 44,000 miles on it. Ive had the car in the shop almost a dozen times during the 14 months Ive had it and have put in nearly $1,000 worth of repairs. It only has 52,000 miles on it! I had a transmission leak that was fixed five different times before it was finally solved. I have a very loud rattle coming from somewhere under the drivers side that no auto repair shop can seem to find. My spark plugs blew within months of purchasing the car and now my engine hesitates when I shift from reverse to drive. It is a good looking car, but I would never recommend this car to anyone.

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  Chrysler - 2003 Chrysler Concorde
  By Rose - May 4 - 2:32 pm

  Since I had the car it has been a money pit. The final straw was after putting 3K (in two months) into the car the motor blew. The dealer just worked on the car in January ($1006) because of a valve that let to the engine light coming on. Something to do with emissions. I have had many cars, I have never had a motor blow. The car was regularly maintained. this is my first and last experience with a Chrysler product.

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  Engine - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By chryslerhater - April 29 - 3:53 am

  I cannot understand why a huge company like Chrysler produces such a poor product. the 2.7 liter engine is a joke. I have seen so many reviews of people having to replace it, completely ridiculous. I maintain the car perfectly, never drive above the speed limit, never accelerate fast, in others words, I baby it. And at 113,000 the engine goes out and when I am looking around for a used one I have had dealers literally laugh in my face because it is such a common item. In their words they "hardly ever see that engine unless it is blown" thanks for nothing Chrysler.

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  Plenty of Room, Too many issues - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Derrick - April 24 - 3:44 pm

  This vehicle caught our eye immediately on the lot. We purchased it for the sole purpose of interior space and safety rating. With a very high safety rating and 3 rows of seats, this met our criteria. After about 2 years of enjoying the car in the summer time, we also came to the conclusion that we never should have purchased a non-AWD vehicle in Colorado Springs. This vehicle handles terribly on the snow. We had to buy winter tires just to get around. After 3 years, the problems started. Control Arm, in-dash computer, fuel gauge, struts, mounts, sway bar, etc.

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  1999 Chrysler Concorde LXi - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By PalHal - April 15 - 2:10 pm

  Bought this car new in 2000 w/ only 340 miles on it. Very roomy and comfortable and excellent gas mileage for size. Trunk lid stabilizers replaced twice. This year, 2010, with only 54,000 miles started having numerous electrical problems. Engine started stopping. Had to replace Powertrain Computer Module. Very expensive. Probably spent 2-3,000 dollars in repairs over the years. Lucky that I bought extended warranty. Finally gave up and got rid of it. Wish I had seen these reviews before I bought it.