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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  I with the other worst car i ever bought - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Julie - March 25 - 7:53 pm

  one year old, new radio replaced, new brakes and rotars, mirrors replaced, strips on door entry, break lights and tail lights fixed twice, i guess can figure out problem because out again with no tail lights and the dealer can seem to fing the urgent issue even though i am driving around with my kids in the car, sure i will wait another week again for the past few month to get my car in to have it looked at. and trans in slipping at time, oh they cant never feel anything when they drive it around the parking lot and if that not enough 5 complaint that when turn in or out of a parkinspot, driveway loud noise, sound like a pump prb, and the response ikeep gettingis all new cars sound like that

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  Stealth Base (3Si) - 1991 Dodge Stealth
  By jesfrek - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I currently drive a Stealth, it is a fantastic car. Very fast and plenty of room for mods. Overall an excellent car.

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  Dont buy a dodge all wheel drive van - 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By SHuber - March 24 - 11:50 pm

  I have spent thousands in repairs and tows, rentals, etc! I have replaced the serpentine belt (x3?),tensioner- recall- defective x2, tranny x2 (always unstable) recalibrated modules x2, idiot lights on (electrical sensor??)Dodge built this all wheel with their exact 2-wheel tranny from their Chrysler LeBaron CAR!! Not enough strength to last!! Plus underneath sits so low, it rips the belts off every winter in water, snow... and that belt runs everything, another tow! Radio is intermittent, electrical problems with windows also. You have to take apart the whole dash to fix. Cant wait to get a nissan SUV!

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  MAG--05 - 2005 Dodge Magnum
  By EASTER GOSSETT - March 23 - 10:26 pm

  This car is a beauty and fun to drive. I have the V-6 and I have no problem with acceleration when someone is too close. I have had more women ask me about my car than men. I tell them it is just great!

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  Very Good - 1991 Dodge Stealth
  By Bonnie - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Clean and beautiful. I am 54, professional 51 year old woman, going on 25! I Like speed. Had it for 2 years. A truck rear ended me at 50 miles per hour in stopped traffic. If I was in another car, I would have been killed. The head rest took the impact of my head, which saved my life., and the rear end suffered major damage, but the hatch back window did not break. The car turned easily and quickly for me, which enabled me to move out of oncoming traffic when the impact occurred. my car is a "total" loss,. I do believe that had I been in another vehicle, results would be different. Id recommend it to anyone, sports car or not.

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  good car - 2001 Dodge Neon
  By neon_lover - March 22 - 2:00 am

  For those who are knocking the 2001 Neon, just take a look at the maintenance costs compared to the Japanese models. I used to have a 1995 Neon which had some problems but it made it to 150K with the only costs being A/C issues and a bad head gasket design (new design worked okay). I previously had a Toyota Celica and replacing the muffler, tires, etc. was minimally double what it costs on the Neon. Yes, there were some nuisances, but they are all taken care of in the 2001 model. No rain through the door jam, no squeaky brakes when moist, road noise down almost completely, windows tight, more "containers", brighter headlamps, etc. I love my 2001 SE.

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  Intrepid SE base - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By turnertom - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Big interior, wierd exterior. Base v6 adaquet, could use more power. Handles well. Lots of road noise, Nice ergos, nicely shaped front seats for tall people. huge trunk, low beams weak, HVAC fan noisey. 20k miles and no problems. Hope it holds together.

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  Reliable - 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Flor - March 21 - 9:08 pm

  I bought mine used with already 150,00 miles on it for $750, the interior was not in excellent condition but drives good and the sound of the motor was great with good acceleration. Took it home and later it wouldnt crank, my husband jumped it and put a new battery, that was almost 6 years ago, in that we had water pump replace around $200, radiator $300 cuz I run a board on a high way at night no way to avoid it and it slapped my radiator, radiator fan went out med summer day on our trip to South Georgia back to South MO thank the Lord it didnt bust out radiator, I have a good honest new Mechanic replace the fan relay really cheap, the heat/ac fan went out, it would have cost me $300+ if I had took it to my old croaked Mechanic but I order the fan including the motor for $47 from rock auto and installed it myself, that was four years ago. If I have to get another van it would be another dodge minivan preferably between 1999 to 2005, im still driving this van with 265,000 miles, I would never suggest to buy a used Honda van. It makes me puke to think my bad experience with honda.

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  my srt - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By apoczen - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The srt-4 in my opinion is the best bang for the buck car in many ways. Performance is that of something priced in the high 20s low 30s such as the evo and the sti. Also the exterior has a very appealing look that a lot of lower priced cars lack. The last thing the interior on this car suddle but sport.

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  jus a plain lookin neon but fast - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By coronaman21 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  very quick, but the one im driving im having problems with. accelerater sensor but its under warrenty so nothing to worry about.