Abstract: The present invention provides solvent- and water-based primer compositions that include at least one chlorinated carboxylated polyolefin that has been modified with one or more polyfunctional alcohols. The chlorinated carboxylated polyolefins are obtained by the reaction of polyolefins with at least one of unsaturated carboxylic esters, unsaturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, acrylic monomers, and mixtures thereof then chlorinated. The chlorinated carboxylated polyolefins are then further modified by reaction with one or more polyfunctional alcohols. These polyfunctional alcohol-modified chlorinated carboxylated polyolefins may also contain pendant carboxyl groups, which have the propensity to form hydrophilic salts with amines or inorganic bases, thereby rendering the polyfunctional alcohol-modified chlorinated carboxylated polyolefins water-dispersible.