Overview & Reviews

One of America's most storied automotive brands, Dodge has been around since the early days of the auto industry. In the past couple of decades, it has revitalized itself to be a producer of aggressively styled and performance-oriented vehicles.

Two brothers, Horace and John Dodge, began the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle company in 1914, after having worked as manufacturers of bicycles and automotive parts. Their first vehicle was a touring car that proved a fast favorite with car buyers; it was soon joined by a roadster and a four-door sedan. By 1917, the company's model line had grown to include trucks. Dodge cars and trucks were used as staff vehicles and ambulances in World War I.

Dodge was briefly owned by a banking firm and subsequently sold by its new owner to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928. From there, the brand slowly evolved into the division responsible for trucks and performance-oriented cars. Post WWII, Dodge introduced vehicles like the military-inspired Power Wagon truck, Hemi-powered Coronet and the Royal Lancer; in addition, the manufacturer began offering dealer-installed air-conditioning.

Vehicles like the Dodge Dart and the Coronet kept the manufacturer in American driveways throughout the 1960s. That decade also saw the launch of one of Dodge's most iconic vehicles, the Charger. Dodge's muscle car was based on the Coronet platform, and featured a fastback roof line, hidden headlamps and a full-width taillamp panel. Best of all, the Charger could pack one heck of a wallop under the hood. A 318-cubic-inch V8 was standard, but buyers seeking maximum brawn could upgrade to a 426-cubic-inch, 425-hp Hemi V8. The company also introduced a Mustang-fighting pony car, called the Challenger, in 1970.

As with other American auto manufacturers, Dodge's fortunes started to slip in the '70s due to changing tastes and increased competition. The company was saved from extinction in the early '80s thanks to government loans and the sales success of its Omni and Aries economy cars (the former an attempted copy of the VW Rabbit). But 1984 was when Dodge made its mark in the history books with the introduction of the wildly popular Caravan. Ideal for families and able to seat up to seven, the space-efficient Caravan started a whole new vehicle segment -- the minivan.

The early '90s saw the company wow the public with the V10-powered Viper roadster and an all-new Ram pickup that set a new standard for big-rig-like styling. A few years later, Dodge came to be part of DaimlerChrysler, a result of the merger of the German company Daimler (owner of Mercedes-Benz) and Chrysler.

The merger never really worked, however, and Daimler sold Chrysler and Dodge to a private equity firm in 2007. Soon after, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy. The federal government intervened and eventually Dodge came under control of Fiat, a European automaker known for its small cars, an area where Dodge's entries had been roundly criticized for mediocre build quality and unrefined performance.

More recent years have seen Dodge concentrate on the more practical vehicles in its lineup, making notable improvements to the performance and overall quality of its midsize Avenger sedan and Journey SUV entries. Dodge also spun off its truck line, making it a separate Ram brand. But make no mistake; Dodge is still considered Chrysler's performance division thanks to cars like the Challenger and Charger. Time will tell how successful Dodge's latest makeover is.

User Reviews:

• Junk - 2018 Dodge Challenger
  By Paul - August 1 - 1:19 am

  I just bought the challenger rt. Its has 500 miles and transmission went out. Ive only driven it 3 times. Once test driving, once home from dealership, and once on a short trip. Dealership had it for 2 weeks and still cant figure out whats wrong. So needless to say I think its gonna get traded and Im going to buy a Chevy. Not a happy dodge owner!

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  Never a Dodge or Chrysler again! - 2006 Dodge Dakota
  By David Bowen - April 19 - 9:45 pm

  I bought a 2006 Dakota several years ago . It only had 65,000km on it Cost me almost $17,000. To date Ive spent close to $8000 in repairs. I now have a problem that the dealership cant diagnose. Operating cost of this vehicle (not including gas or insurance) averages aprox. $2.69/km. Imagine a100km trip costing you $269.00 and you havent even factored in the gas or insurance to drive it. I will never buy another Dodge or Chrysler product.

• How we were interest in this 2005 Dodge Ram you have listed. - 2004 Dodge Ram 1500
  By Evon Hardin - July 26 - 8:20 pm

  When to Championship Ford on Southtown Blvd. Owensboro,ky you had it listed for 122.00 a month and wouldnt sell to us. They would to pay more for a newer vehicle like 400 to 500 a month. But we wanted the Dodge Ram. Dont go to Championship Ford for anything. They treated like shit. When pulled in the parking lot. Said what do want. Treated like piece of shit. So dont go to Championship Ford.

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  Dont buy it! - 2014 Dodge Dart
  By B - January 13 - 7:48 pm

  I have a 2014 SXT and its a death trap. It shuts down in the middle of the road going above 45 no brakes no gas steering wheel locks. Mine has been in the shop for a month and I got it back today with the same problem. Had the pcm update and has gone down hill from there. Very disappointing.

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  If there was a cliff near by.. - 2012 Dodge Durango
  By Sean - December 17 - 11:09 am

  This was the biggest letdown experience I have ever had in a vehicle purchase. I could not even drive this truck! Every time the vehicle would shift my head would go forward as it lagged until the RPMs slowly got up there and which shift again and my head would go forward and lag.. Anybody to say different its just a Dodge fan and there sticking to their guns.. and thats it!! I have a 2002 trailblazer that the durango dont even come close too! I believe the newer ones with the v6 they put a better transmission in. Dad should have a slap on the wrist for putting this vehicle out I will never buy a Dodge again because of it

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  Low quality - 2005 Dodge Caravan
  By Mike Pinhole - December 16 - 8:42 pm

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  Bad Craftsmanship - 2014 Dodge Dart
  By Paul B. - December 16 - 4:59 am

  I bought a new 2014 Dart Aero with the automatic in May of 2014 and turned out to be a nightmare. In the six months I owned the car, it was in the shop for 2 1/2 months because of the emission control turning on the check engine light and the Active Body Control unit going haywire. The quality of the car is just awful. After 6 months of owning, I traded it for a 2015 Honda Civic. I took a small hit financially because Dodges do not keep any value, but the money pit needed to be out of my driveway. The car had a fantastic little engine that was lively and fuel efficient (46 mpg was my best tank) and great handling for a small sedan. Unfortunately, that is all I can say that was good with the car. The transmission was awful, the plastics creaking on the interior after 600 miles, and the paint chips galore on the front.

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  horrible money pit - 2005 Dodge Stratus
  By Jocelyn mary - December 14 - 1:18 pm

  This car has caused me nothing but problems!! The wheel barring for this car are smaller then usual and have to be replaced every year! Struts are gone. Already replaced timing belt long time ago! Exhaust and under carriage rotted and replaced a lot!!! Dont Ever buy! I plan to bring mine to a demo derby next fall!

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  Please Read If Your Interested - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By sydney - December 8 - 9:12 pm

  My brother bought the car in 2013. He gave it to me for the past year. within the past year and a half no its had 3 transmission problems. the electronic screen has blacked out multiple times. the breaks make a weird chugging noise. and now theres ANOTHER recall on the breaks. the had been 3 recalls in the past 5 months. the people at dodge are extremely disrespectful. they over priced this car that keeps having the same issue over and over again. the only good thing I have notice is its very good on gas. but its not reliable enough to go on a trip because something always happens.

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  New suv that lasted only 470 miles - 2015 Dodge Durango
  By Brent Bjerregaard - November 25 - 11:33 am

  Picked up new at dealer with 33 miles on it. Drove it to Beaver Dam Az. and the trans. went out at about 470 miles. They towed it back to dealer that said it would be about 3 weeks before they could even look at it. So now we are stuck with a peace of junk.