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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  Overall Decent Car - 1998 Dodge Dakota
  By Brian - October 16 - 12:46 pm

  Owned my pickup since 2009. Overall pleased, enough to keep it anyway. It will go a few years without needing any major repairs, and then several things will need work in short order. Ive replaced fuel pump, exhaust system, distributor cap and associated parts, window wash pump, and brakes twice. So not bad, but then I have a load of small problems: check engine lights been on since 2010 (I was told its due to a minor transmission issue that might cost a lot to fix with minor payoff), the ABS and emergency brake lights come on when I take a highway ramp (but no effect on driving or braking), the ceiling lining started to come loose two years ago, rust is bubbling the paint over the left rear wheel well (seems to be common for this model year), and most annoying of all, the springs supporting the drivers seat broke loose of their moorings which causes the seat to sag and the metal frame parts to poke me uncomfortably. And there doesnt seem to be an easy way to repair the seat and its attached to the passenger seat & center console which will make replacement a major hassle. On the other hand, I think it handles great, the brakes do not disappoint, the engine is fairly quiet and smooth, and Ive driven it on several road-trips from 3,000 to 5,000 miles at a time without complaint. It has a light rear end, which can be a danger in rain or snow. Ive found that tires with good traction will overcome handling problems in the rain, but if you live where it snows much, I would recommend 4WD. Basically, if you need a no-frills reliable vehicle and dont mind minor problems that crop up but wont interfere with driving function, you will likely find this truck to be acceptable.

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  Not For Everybody But Ideal for Some! - 2015 Dodge Challenger
  By LarryKennedy - October 14 - 4:42 pm

  This is the most fun Ive ever had with a car. Have about 6500 miles on it with no issues. Got the B5 Blue, a heritage color with black interior. Almost daily comments on the cars looks. Gets 25 mpg combined on regular and accelerates just fine with a very satisfying engine sound. Drove the Hemi 375 and it had more low end torque but did not feel faster or justify the bigger price tag and use of premium unleaded. I use this car as a daily driver. The drivers seat is my only complaint. It is narrow and somewhat flat. The left bolster hits my thigh (I am 6 feet 180 lbs.). If the seat was changed just to be a couple of inches wider and a little better on the bottom it would be outstanding, as is its ok and not a deal breaker. The high intensity headlights could be brighter. The voice recognition software is superb and works easily and flawlessly. The interior is laid out intelligently and I appreciate its simplicity. Obviously a lot of thought went into this interior and it shows. I may keep this car a long time if it holds up.

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  Love/hate relationship - 2013 Dodge Durango
  By Rastara - October 14 - 4:56 am

  Im having a love hate relationship with my 2013 Durango SXT. Currently at 64k miles. This truck does everything I want it to- the ride is great incl. acceleration , braking, comfort etc. gas mileage is great IMO for the size of the vehicle- up to 28mpg with the amply powered V6. It also tows my 5x10 cargo trailer with ease. Having said this, there have been recalls incl. a new alternator, fuel pump relay, brake booster shield. When I had the truck at the dealer they discovered a leaky water pump, (replaced/covered by warranty),a cracked thermostat housing (covered), a blown rear shock(not covered) which took the rear sway bar bushings with it. Also had an AC problem blowing warm air (covered). So I had the shocks replaced at a cost of $320 incl. parts. My main concern is on the first trip to the dealer for recall work it was discovered the main wiring harness was pinched between the body and frame in the engine compartment. They "fixed" it at the dealer but WTF does that mean? To me it is a clear indication of a build quality issue. I luckily purchased the 5yr 100k mile warranty from Chrysler or else I would have to pay a huge repair bill. This truck has the superb Mercedes 5 speed tranny which is rated to 600 hp. The dealer has been good and no complaints there. So there it is, the good and bad. Having owned my share of vehicles, the Japanese are catching my eye simply because of their reliability, that is a fact.

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  Looks good, decent mpg, cheap to keep and simple - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By nadylynn - October 13 - 8:45 pm

  Bought the 03 Stratus with 56000 miles a corp lease well maintained records, 136000 now, only repairs were rear shocks and brakes, did timing belt service at 115000, its been very cheap to keep. Not very fast but the iron block 4 cyl engine keeps going no leaks or oil usage between oil changes. Trans serviced every 35000 miles still shifts smoothly. So far so good our 03 Altima bought new only has 80000 and has had about 7 repairs so far 2 no starts, mostly engine elec.

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  Second SRT8 - Great Cars! - 2015 Dodge Charger
  By James Nelson - October 12 - 5:02 pm

  Traded a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT392 for this one. Actually wanted this car back then, but bought the Challenger based on a good deal. Im not a family guy, but I prefer sedans for their short doors and all around practicality. The Car: 2015 Dodge Charger SRT392, 8 Spd Auto, pitch black, fully optioned except for sun roof. What attracted me to this car: Im a car enthusiast, so I follow car reviews on YouTube continually. I love the power and torque of the 392 and was interested in the Hellcat models as well if the price was right. The reviews on this car convinced me that it was a major leap forward from the 2012 I owned, and the price gouging on the Hellcats (Shame on you Dodge dealers nationwide! You will come to regret this!) convinced me that they were not feasible. Major Selling Points: Upgraded electronics interface and SRTs tires/wheels/brakes package, which are essentially identical between the 392 and Hellcat. Most Surprising Aspects: Overall fit and finish, luxuriousness of the interior, and attention to detail. The interior now feels like an upscale European car in every way, the pitch black paint job is absolutely blinding in full sunlight, the new front end styling is stunning from every angle, and the center stack electronic interface is by far the most useful and attractive Ive ever seen. Little things I love already: The Harmon Kardon 19 speaker stereo subwoofer and amp, which had been previously hidden in the spare tire well of the trunk (and still is on Challenger models), has been relocated to parts unknown under the rear seat, freeing up the trunk sub-space for a foam storage unit thats perfect for holding car cleaning supplies and the like so that they dont slide around in the trunk. Also, both the floor mats and a quite useful mesh trunk "cargo hammock" are included gratis. The little things make a BIG difference! Thanks for noticing Dodge! Most surprising thing so far: Gas mileage. MUCH better than my 2012 SRT Challenger so far! I chalk most of that up to the Sachs ZF-8 Speed auto trans, which is almost worth the price of ownership alone. Recommendation: If youre in the market, buy one!

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  Sad to see it go - 2012 Dodge Charger
  By juan perez - October 12 - 11:23 am

  Bought this car New, in 2012, loved the color and interior, the 20in rims look beast. The Car drove like a beast, even parked, it looked tuff. high way driving the best.. passing cars, it was man and machine as one. I really took care of this car being my first ever major purchase, so very few hard drives, dealer service oil changes, reg car wash and vacuum,, mostly weekend family trips. until 30k, first service sparkplugs +/-$300. After that I started to notice more, Bluetooth had a hard time to sync with multiple devices hooked up, transmission shifting got jumpy, One rim cracked twice then another, took it to dealer and not there problem but I could buy a set of factory rims for $$$$. to repair $100 each time. guess which way I went? then at 60k sparkplugs again? another $300.. then I couldnt get Dealer to fix my driver side airbag light on dash under warranty, oh, but after warranty expired.. now they want to fix it for $$$.. then the battery died, couldnt jump start the car, had to buy a booster. Battery replaced new from autozone $200. wife took car to dealer, they charged her $800 for service and the airbag light.. that ends up coming on again right before she drove it home???? Might be normal spending for some but not for me, having a Toyota Tacoma base pickup, that I bought also new in 2010.. now having close to 100k and only service where oil changes.... So I drove my beast Charger R/T to the Toyota dealer and drove off in a 2016 Tacoma TRD 4x4 Offroad.. Maybe in 10yrs ill buy a 2012 charger r/t , by then they should be preety cheap..

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  My 1996 DodgeMobile - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By Patrick - October 10 - 3:04 am

  These older dodge intrepids are much better than the 1998-2004 model years.

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  Pitch Black Perfection - 2015 Dodge Challenger
  By Natalie Groeger - October 9 - 10:21 am

  Purchased our 15 Challenger SXT on 7.23.15 and already put about 3,400 miles on it. Although shes only a baseline (albeit with the Super Sport Group for a sexier look and the Driver Convenience Group for more safety tech added) with cloth interior, shes still won trophies at car shows with 200+ cars entered. Granted weve added a K&N cold air intake that gives her a throatier, almost V8-like, growl on acceleration, even before then the performance was considerably good for a V6 3,800-lb. car. The engine is sound and takes punishment from the throttle like a pro, and its steering performance around tight corners is surprisingly good. Adding the cold air intake ($267 for K&N 63 series) has added about 10 more hp and Id guess 3 more mpg. I use about a quarter of a tank less each week since Ive put it on, so Id recommend that mod even if its the only one you do. I will say that I wouldnt buy another Challenger unless it has the Driver Convenience Group as an add-on! The blind spot assist for that big block of metal behind your shoulder is a must have, same with the reverse parking sensors that use similar software to BMWs that includes a visual map that shows you where the object is hidden behind that big butt of yours. NOTE!: Factory settings do NOT have an audible chime for the blind spot sensors on the side mirrors, so youll have to activate that feature going through the settings on your vehicles touch screen...not hard to figure out though, but youll definitely want that on. It will only chime at you when your blinkers are on and a car is in the blind spot area in the lane youre getting over on. That all being said, I 100% recommend this car as a daily driver. Having a V8 was of course an option, but my husband is under 25 and I wanted to keep the insurance as low as possible and be able to use it as a daily driver as we live about 30 miles away from work places. The performance doesnt disappoint and, honestly, even after test driving the R/T with the 5.7L I figured the noise was better, but the acceleration and gain on hp wasnt so drastic that it says "buy me". With the 3.6L we have plenty of fun, tons of stares and enjoy paying only $89/month as a 24-yr-old female and 22-yr-old male on our insurance, and I only spend max $30 on gas per week filling up from the 1/4 tank line. An acquaintance of ours drives the same 3.6L engine in his 14 (also with CAI) and builds 1,000hp+ drag cars for a living, with magazine articles in his honor, so theres nothing to be ashamed of driving this V6.

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  never had a problem!!!! - 2003 Dodge Caravan
  By carol - October 9 - 12:52 am

  I have had this van for 12 years. never had any major repairs. great on gas. would not trade it in.

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  Should have been a great car - 2014 Dodge Durango
  By david francis - October 8 - 10:43 pm

  Great engine( when it does not smoke at start up) great everything, except for the stuff thats not great! Engine smokes at start up sometimes, dealer told me its break in, well Im at 5000 miles now and it still does it sometimes! Dip stick is useless, if you see oil on it, youve got too much oil in there, how dumb is that? You add 7 quarts only and ignore the dipstick. Oil usage, wow! the PCV system on the engine blows, I mean blows oil into the intake(see the blue smoke comments all over the web!) Rear suspension noise, traded a 12 year old explorer that rode quieter than this thing, harsh and loud. Stereo, has a serious bug that means the bass settings are just random numbers depending on where you have the volume set, dodge cant or wont fix it. Its a super car, thats been built so cheaply its awful, $46k is a lot of money, only 5000 miles in I should be really happy, instead I cant wait to get rid of it, and thats a real shame.