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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  One of the best cars ive ever owned - 1999 Dodge Stratus
  By smleno1mkiii - December 18 - 4:11 pm

  This car has been in my family since 2000, it only had 17,000 miles on it when my parents bought it and has had no major problems the whole time we have owned it, The car has since been passed down to me it now has 191,000 miles on it! the only things to go wrong with it are as follows, driver side window motor at 30,000 mi covered by warranty,alternator at 70,000 mi 300$, timing belt at 152,000 but that was my moms fault as she didnt know a car had one of those, shortly after was when I acquired the car and the only problems it has given me is the starter at 181,000 and the rear transmission speed sensor the starter was about $120 the sensor was only$17.50 great car I would say.

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  Buyer beware! - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By krellis98 - December 18 - 1:29 am

  Never buy the first year production of a vehicle. We have learned the hard way. We have had this vehicle at the dealership so many times for all sorts of different issues. Horrible wear on brakes, rotors and tires, horrible engine noises including creaking, tweeting, rattling and humming. Random things like the occasional tire rubbing sound when turning left and randomly not starting, as well as the engine light coming on for no reason and then going off for no reason. Back up camera sometimes takes a really long time to start up and the radio is sometimes blank when starting. I wish every day that we had not gotten this car!!!

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  GET YOU SOME!!! - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By camik - December 15 - 12:20 pm

  I absolutely, 110% LOVE this car!! I have driven other sports cars in the past but they never had enough room! This Charger is fast AND its very roomy! I keep seeing people complain about the gas mileage...Ummm...hello! Why did you buy a V8 if you wanted good gas mileage?? Its not meant to get great gas mileage, its meant to go fast and look awesome! :) My entire family loves this car and it turns all kinds of heads! I would highly recommend the Dodge Charger R/T to anyone looking for an awesome sports car!

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  Not to bad.... - 2007 Dodge Charger
  By romash - December 15 - 9:46 am

  Not to bad of a car at all. Read all the reviews and everyone was bang on....The only problem I have had is with my rims...Living in Toronto I have to deal with snow and salt. I have the 18 inch chrome 5 upgrades and they are simply terrible. They have peeld twice and they look horrible, really noticeable and Chryler even afetr seeing them wont do a darn thing about them. They claim its because of our Canadian weather, problem is this car was made in Brampton CANADA, how do they not know these things...

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  Dakota Quad 4.7 V-8 - 2001 Dodge Dakota
  By robmir1 - December 12 - 10:30 pm

  I have a 2001 that I purchased in 2009 and it had 138,000 km I drove it only on occasion but now it is a 4.7 automatic daly driver and I have to say that it will handle what ever I make it do!. Wow My truck takes better care of me then I do of it... go figure? I believe that this truck was built on the right day of the week as it is not a lemon. And it is true about what day of the week it was built! Anyway I would buy a Dodge in a heart beat again and again.

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  really? - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By z32tturbojoe - December 9 - 11:31 pm

  Well. Let me start off with this is my gf car and she does not let it warm up and runs the s*^% out of it. Which is probably why it is has developed a rod knock at 81,000 miles. Needless to say but only in freezing temps and for about 10 seconds until the oil gets to the top of the bottom end. Ive been changing the cars oil every 2500 miles with Mobil 1 syn blend for about 2 years since shes had it. I had always noticed a lifter tick since she had purchased it at 55,000. Well I need a bottom end kit and cannot find one anywhere for a reasonable price. Any ideas? P. S honestly I understand this happening at 125,000+ but not at 81,000. Think it was poorly built

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  Its a LEMON! Do not think twice. Its a Lemon. - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By may25 - December 7 - 9:25 pm

  I bought this car in July 2009. Ive been to the dealership over 25 times. It started with a mold smell from AC. Not duplicated. Cowel broke, 3 out of 4 windows did not work. Steering Column loose. AC broke and replaced and now after a year and half, it now smells like glue better then mold. Many more problems too many to list. All before 12,000 miles. The 1st Lemon Law we lost. Now approved for 2nd Arbitration. This car has been a nightmare and I would never buy a Dodge again. I drive my husband old car and only drive the Journey when they make me. LOL Cannot wait to get rid of it. It will be a happy day. I love it when they tell me "not duplicate".

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  Still Runnung strong - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By Anonymous - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Got this car in 2000 used with 70,000 miles on it have done regular maintenance oil change lube job etc, in 2003 serpentine belt broke, 2005 transmission replaced 2009 water pump gone replaced, after all that the car is very good strong ride comfortable and now going into 150000 miles the car is still pulling strong.

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  2007 Dodge Nitro ALASKA - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By Anonymous - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I havent had any problems until just last week when I couldnÂ’t start my car! Living in Alaska people are going to assume itÂ’s the cold, its not. The WCM is broken? That is what controls the security system and starting the car all the wires ext, thought it was the Viper auto start that was installed, after disconnecting that the car still wouldnÂ’t start. IÂ’ve read many reviews on people having to replace this and was told through Chrysler that usually you only have to replace it once This is a great car when itÂ’s actually drivable, This is a great vehicle for families with kids.

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  Great baby boomer car! - 2010 Dodge Challenger
  By Anonymous - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many cars from the BMW 740li, Mercedes c, Lexus ls 460,and recently a 2010 Mustang v6. The mustang was fun to drive however, was very tight for a big guy. The Dodge is roomy, very fast, fun, looks great, and does not ride like a buckboard, very nice ride, not as smooth as a Lexus however very good. Overall I am very happy and would own another. I did the mopar package with the huge air scoop, very cool.