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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  Worst Caravan Ever! Stay Away! - 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By BostonMurray - October 7 - 4:36 am

  IÂ’ve owned 6 Chryslers over the years. I generally like them. But this is the worst car I have ever owned. Exterior: -VERY POOR Build Quality. Sloppy welds, and poor paint finish. -Rocker Panel is way too wide: Impossible to enter the car without trashing your pants. -Rear air dam VERY cheap plastic:. -ItÂ’s UGLY!: Interior: -Dashboard plastic is out of a 1979 dodge Omni. -Dashboard has more seams than a 19th century hoop dress. -Whole car Rattles: -Swivel-n-Go 2nd row seats DONÂ’T RECLINE! -Floor Storage Door flimsy: -2nd Row Video Screen (w/SunRoof) blocks rear view: -Shift Knob will break off in first 6 months: -Sliding Center Console will break in 3 months

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  Cloud car grounded too often - 1996 Dodge Stratus
  By Stvkrenim - October 5 - 2:00 am

  Stratus is a great-looking car with superb road manners. Theres plenty of room for people and the trunk is huge. Visibility forward is incredible. But the cars tendancy to blow head gaskets, have electrical problems, have brake problems, have transmission problems, etc. all contribute to a car that never inspired confidence. I always wondered if it would start when I needed it to.

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  Cloud car grounded too often - 1996 Dodge Stratus
  By stvkrenim - October 5 - 2:00 am

  Stratus is a great-looking car with superb road manners. Theres plenty of room for people and the trunk is huge. Visibility forward is incredible. But the cars tendancy to blow head gaskets, have electrical problems, have brake problems, have transmission problems, etc. all contribute to a car that never inspired confidence. I always wondered if it would start when I needed it to.

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  Never Again - 1995 Dodge Caravan
  By Mr. Transmission - October 5 - 2:00 am

  We love the spacious interior for a mini van. This was our second mini van. Our first was a 1987 and went through 3 transmissions. We were told that the transmission problem is no longer a problem with newer vans so we took another chance. We were on our way back from a fishing trip to Canada and the transmission went out 500 miles from home. 3 days and $1950 later, we were home. We now have 150,000 miles and the transmission is again starting to slip at times. Thinking about a Honda or Toyota with good track records.

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  no power and bad gas milage - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By eric doukas - October 5 - 2:00 am

  not very happy with this truck wish i never bought it

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  Not what I expected - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By Barb - October 4 - 5:43 am

  Love the way it looks, but it stops there. Since I bought this SUV it has been in the shop 13 times and Im taking it back again. ABS lights have been on forever they cant seem to fix it. All sensors have been replaced, and modules and bearings and rear axle a new electrical harness, radio and I caould go on and on. This is a nightmare. The lemon law is gonna work for me on this one. Dont buy it. Theres no pick up and go and no room for feet in floor board. Also bad blind spot. Noisy and engine tics and runs rough. Also 2 new brains, Im sure Im forgetting something.

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  Dont Do It!! - 1995 Dodge Avenger
  By treeeat - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car...at first. Within 2 months of purchase there were probs. I had 2 replace the battery and get it realigned repeatedly, driver door handle snapped, tranny cracked, $1200 computer sensor repair, passenger seatbelt locked up while the seat unlock practically strangling friends, always dying & towing, computer repair again, replaced the distributor-$800, theft deterent system locked and unlock the car whenever where ever, passngr door handle snapped, and FINALLY August 1, 2002 the engine caught fire while sitting in my driveway! Even worse, halfway through putting out the fire the car started! THIS IS NO JOKE. I took good care of this car.

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  Dodge Caravan 1992 - 1992 Dodge Caravan
  By vanman - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have owned Toyotas & Hondas & people look at me funny when I tell them that the most reliable car I have ever owned was a Dodge Caravan. This vehicle while not the sexiest or comfortable vehicle has always performed for me & it has been extremely practicle in hauling kids, adults, refrigerators-you name it.I have had alot less repair trouble with this vehicle & the Dodge waranty was so good I had very little expense. Good Car.

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  Front brakes - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By TOMMY SMITH - September 27 - 3:30 pm

  This seem like a nice vehicle. But its had a lot of brake dust on the front wheels for a while. Now at 20,000 miles it is metal to metal on the left front wheel and the right front is very close. On top of that the day after I purchased this vehicle m&m Dodge went out of business & the nearest Dodge dealer is about 20 miles farther & they wont give a loaner while its being worked on plus they wont cover this anyway because there are no recalls. I have been a dealer mechanic in my earlier years. I am quality control person on vehicles that belong to the federal government & we have to make quality deficiency reports on poor performance. Dodge is not doing it. Shame shame!

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  dodge gc - 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By conniev - September 19 - 10:00 am

  major mechanical problems-all major components had to be replaced at @ 95,000 miles, transmission failed twice, in addition engine, ABS, front brakes problems