Chrysler Reliability 101: A Comprehensive Guide
I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.
I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.
The number of queries and questions you’ll come across on the internet about Chrysler cars can discourage you from having anything to do with the brand. Are Chrysler cars that bad, or do they have a bad reputation? Are Chryslers reliable?
As a Chrysler user, there is no other way to say that Chrysler is reliable. Chrysler cars come with many issues that no driver will want to deal with like rust, oil sludges, and the fact that they break down a lot. These cars look like they are made from cheap materials that are not in any way reliable.
The Chrysler company doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the reliability of its car. However, we would love to point out a few good things about Chrysler cars. No matter how bad they seem, there should be something admirable about them.
Here are some important things you should know about Chrysler’s reliability before purchasing one.
Table of Contents
Are Chryslers Reliable?
It is painful to say, but the truth is that Chrysler cars are not reliable. Some reliability survey platforms might be generous enough to give Chrysler a nice rating, but they are not the type of cars I will recommend to a friend.
On RepairPal, Chrysler has a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0, ranking 11th out of 32 car brands. But, with how awful Chrysler’s designs and performance are, it is normal to wonder how they earned a gracious reliability rating like that.
However, we’ve noticed that Chrysler has moved up a bit in its reliability ratings with the release of recent cars. Boosting its overall new vehicle quality by 2%, is Chrysler’s advancement a major feat that should make them reliable?
This is because the Chrysler brand has recorded slight improvements over the past ten years.
Although Chrysler is still making single appearances on IIHS safety ratings, we believe this is better than in 2020, when no Chrysler car earned the IIHS top safety rating. Chrysler’s safety reliability performed so poorly that it discontinued many of its models.
Chrysler’s 300 Sedan, Pacifica, and Voyager Minivan are the only corporate users as fleet-only cars. Chrysler discontinued the consumer Voyager model in 2021.
There are many bad things about Chrysler cars, such as the cheap materials, poor quality, bad designs, and unimpressive durability. This has contributed to the poor sales of Chrysler cars in America.
Well, there are a few cool things about Chrysler cars. They look attractive on the outside. If you are concerned about looks and a bit of comfort, you may overlook the worries and get yourself a Chrysler.
Why Chrysler Is Considered Unreliable
Here are major reasons why Chrysler cars are unreliable:
1. Use of Cheap Materials
Chrysler is made by Fiat. Unfortunately, the Fiat company has a bad record in auto production.
One of the most annoying things about Chrysler cars is that they all look like they are made from cheap materials. From the interior designs to the overall engineering process, Chrysler seems to be cutting costs by using cheaper materials on its cars.
The interior designs and parts look like they are made from junk parts or cheap recycled materials. They are so substandard that you will hardly make out anything good for them. The exteriors are always catchy. Nice designs and breathtaking trims, but it’s a different story altogether when you step inside.
We noticed that the transmission easily spoils. This is a major setback for the Hemi engines used in these cars.
The cheap production process of Chrysler cars is one of the reasons they break down a lot. Some engineers have reported that in place of a 12-volt ignition system, Chrysler uses a 9-volt ignition system.
To compensate for the voltage difference, they introduced a ballast resistor. This combination will always cause many problems for users.
2. Lots of Problems
Most Chrysler cars are just metal baggage of problems. This has led to the recall of a lot of Chrysler models. The numerous problems that affect Chrysler cars are due to its poor engineering process and choice of materials.
There is a high chance that out of 10 repair calls mechanics get in a day, Chryslers must be among them. Although the repair and maintenance costs of Chrysler cars are cheap, the frequency of damage is excessive.
Chrysler Reliability: Pros
- Great Hemi engines
- Great styling and exterior designs
- Cheap repair and maintenance
Chrysler Reliability: Cons
- Poor resale value
- Greatly unreliable
- Cheap materials
- Poor engineering designs
Common Problems with Chrysler Cars
- Transmission failure
- Software glitches and malfunctions in infotainment systems
- Engine problems
- Safety-related issues
Final Verdict
It is surprising how Chrysler has remained in business, with the number of bad cars released to the market. However, Chrysler is doing well with some of its models. The Chrysler Pacifica has an impressive reliability rating for its safety features and crash ratings.
The Pacifica model has consistently earned the IIHS top safety pick rating (+) in 2018– 2022, except for 2020. We believe that the Chrysler brand can bounce back to making reliable cars.
This might require them to carry out surveys and gather data on user needs, pain points, and areas they need to improve their cars. They might consider an improvement in their engineering processes and design.
