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:

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  Doesnt brake well in the snow - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Kathy - November 18 - 1:00 pm

  This is my second winter with my Journey and I make sure that I go to the store the day before a big snow. I do not feel safe driving this car in the snow. It doesnt brake well at all. Also, when I make sharp turns, it makes a horrible clunking sound. I read in one of these reviews that it is an engine mount problem. I have to drive my Journey real easy it seems. Wouldnt buy this car again and would not recommend it to anyone.

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  Family Car - 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By cricker - November 14 - 1:29 am

  I was all set on an SUV and on a whim stopped in a Dodge dealership. The dodge grand caravan offered so much more space for all the things we bring on family trips. We were sold despite the poor reviews. 3 wks later we took the car on our first trip. There was room to spare even with 2 adults and 3 kids. Finally! However, on the trip the cruise control started acting up. When breaking the transmission would downshift and try to accelerate. You had to turn it off on the button and not with the break. Then it wouldnt shift into drive after we stopped for gas. 920 miles on the car 3 wks old and we had to spend two nights in the middle of no where for a minor repair to be completed.

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  Very Disappointed - 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Chris - November 9 - 6:40 am

  I bought my Dodge G/C SXT used with 21,000 miles. I have experienced several problems with it and am seriously debating a trade in. The automatic doors are wonderful to have, when they work. I had to take the van in several times for "programming issues". Then there was a recall for a wiring issue that seems to have fixed the prob. Front end was completely replaced at 35,000 miles. Thank god for warranties. Front headlamp was factory wired incorrectly. Now as I have just passed the 36k mark (38,500) the brakes just got extended and now I dont apply for the $100 deductible to fix the obvious problems. I am not going to buy another GC. I have had a Ram for nearly 9 years and love it!

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  Bills worst nightmare - 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Bill K. - November 9 - 12:43 am

  The mechanical aspects of this van is terrible.

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  01 Intrepid SE - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By Hendersnb - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Good to look at, dog to drive. The 2.7L V-6 allows for no passing or merging. The dealer wont tell you that these cars are the easiest to steal. all you need is a flathead screwdriver. If you buy an intrepid, buy lowjack to go with it.

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  What a lemon! - 1995 Dodge Caravan
  By AlohaDave - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Before I bought the 95 Caravan, I researched it via Consumer Reports and found that the Caravans were improving into the mid-90s. That being the case and the Caravans being significantly cheaper than comperable Japanese vans, I bought it. This was the first American-built vehicle I had purchased in many years. From the moment I took it home, it began to rattle, tho mechanically, it worked pretty good for about 4 years. Then I had problems with the breaks, the AC, and the transmission went out at 45K miles. Based on this experience, I wont buy another Chrysler vehicle (nor an American one) for a long time, maybe never.

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  Beware - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Denise - November 2 - 2:26 pm

  This car has been nothing but headaches and stress. A ticking noise coming from the engine, per dealer rocker arms replace. Making same noise toke it back said Chrystal redesigned the rocker arms and replaced them again. Still making noise, per Chrystal this is the characteristic of the rocker arms and I have a life time powertain warranty. Thats crazy. Why would they redesign something to make the some noise?? I pursing the lemon law. FIX THE PROBLEM!!!

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  not too happy - 1998 Dodge Durango
  By goldman - October 31 - 2:00 am

  My dodge ran fine for 40,000 miles but have had to put a rear end on at 54,000.Cost $2,500. Other problems are tie rods and lower ball joints. Would not buy another one due to problems, poor resale value and poor gas mileage. If your rear pinion bearing acts up make sure your mechanic looks it over pretty closely.

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  Very Unreliable - 1995 Dodge Avenger
  By Kayla - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but problems with this car since Ive had it. $3000 worth of fix-its in the past month!!

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  This car is a lemon. - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By MC819 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Our department received this vehicle just over a year ago. We do not utilize it very much and have only put on about 5,000 miles so far. The cars mileage total is now 52,000. In the last year we have had the car the shop so many times for so many problems that Ive lost track. The biggest problems were electrical and brakes although recently it also blew a head gasket and right now it is in for a new radiator. One of my coworker also has the misfortune to own one and has had front end problems, brake problems and engine problems as well. L e m o n!