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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5
 
                                                     [CHRYSLER CORPORATION LOGO]
 
                                          February 11, 1997
 
Board of Directors
Chrysler Corporation
 
Registration Statement on Form S-3
 
Lady and Gentlemen:
 
     I am Vice President and General Counsel of Chrysler Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (Chrysler), and in that capacity I am familiar with the Certificate
of Incorporation and the By-Laws of Chrysler, as amended, and with its corporate
proceedings and records, including the minutes of meetings of its Board of
Directors and of Committees of its Board of Directors.
 
     I also am familiar with the Registration Statement of Chrysler on Form S-3
to be filed on or about the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the Registration Statement), registering under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the Act), $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities of Chrysler (the Debt Securities) for issuance from time to time
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act. The Debt Securities are to be issued under
an indenture dated as of March 1, 1985, as amended and supplemented, between
Chrysler and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, as Trustee, which has been
succeeded by State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Successor Trustee (the
Indenture). I also am familiar with the proceedings taken by Chrysler relating
to the foregoing.
 
     Based upon the foregoing and having regard for legal considerations I deem
relevant, it is my opinion that:
 
     1. Chrysler is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
        the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
     2. Chrysler has the lawful corporate power to create and issue the Debt
        Securities and duly and validly has taken all corporate action necessary
        to authorize the execution and delivery of the Indenture.
 
     3. The Debt Securities, when duly authorized, executed and authenticated in
        accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and when issued, sold
        and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, will
        be valid and legally binding obligations of Chrysler, enforceable in
        accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that
        enforcement thereof may be limited by general principles of equity
        (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity
        or at law) or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws
        relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights.
 
     I hereby consent to the use of my name in the Registration Statement as
counsel for Chrysler who has passed upon the legality of the Debt Securities
being registered by the Registration Statement and as having prepared this
opinion, and to the use of this opinion as a part (Exhibit 5) of the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
 
                                          Sincerely,
 
                                          /s/ William J. O'Brien