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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  Heartbroken! - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By heartbroken1 - March 30 - 12:51 pm

  I loved loved my interior of my journey. I bought it in November of 2008 and I just had to trade it off because of continuous mantenance issues. I love the design of the car however I have never gone 2 months without it being in the shop. At 49,000 miles I have replaced the brakes and rotors 3 times. The axel seals were replaced 3 times. The car wouldnt start 2 times. I had the right and left boot replaced. Last moth the power steering blew. I had to have it towed. The final straw was the transfer case went out. Thank God I bought the extended warranty because it had paid for itself in only 4 months into the contract. The tires were a Nightmare to replace. Only Kuhmo sold them

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  mystery water leak - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By wildwine - February 7 - 2:12 pm

  Have had the 2009 Dodge Journey since July 2008. Had 2 recalls so far for brakes and power invertor connectors of which both were fixed. Now we have water entering car on drivers side and leaving carpet and foam underneath soaking in water. Door seals were changed and still having problem. Taking it in tomorrow for the 3rd time. Let me add that this car only has 15,500 miles on it. We are senior citizens living on a fixed income and cannot afford another one and one year owed on this one. Angry is not the word I would use at the present time but I need to keep it clean,(sic). Of course with our luck warranty is no longer applicable. I will prevail.

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  Charger...More like Junker - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By apachecanon - February 6 - 8:31 pm

  I bought a new Dodge Charger and could not wait to have this home. I love the style, body and gas mileage was reported to be great. Once I got the keys, the door sensor would not unlock the doors, then the key would not be recognized. I bought it back the following week and got the sensors changed out, keys reprogrammed and the nightmare started. Car would die while driving, was told by dodge,"its not life theatening" sure f then would not recognize key, display said Key Not Detected. I have taken the car in 3 times now and still no real solution. The Concole freezes up and can not change the AC/Heater Setting, control the volume or radio options. I wasted 27k on junk!!!Dodge does not care

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  Money Pit- Factory Rip off - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By phoenix85339 - February 4 - 12:50 pm

  The transmission on my 2007 Caliber (90,000 miles)had a bad transmission solenoid - I research repair with transmission shops and dealers and found out that Dodge Chrysler does not provide the repair shops or the dealers with parts, except for a "factory rebuilt" transmission for $3,800.00. Its take it or push it off of our lot... this should have been an $800 repair or a rebulit transmission for approx $1,700 at worst. The dealer "Tempe Dodge, AZ did a sloppy job and it had to go back for another 2 days, for them to figure out where they went wrong...After owning Dodges for 28 years, this will be the last Dodge we will ever own...

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  dont waste your money - 2011 Dodge Challenger
  By tallfinger - January 30 - 2:09 am

  styling is awsome however the drive train of this vehicle is the worst ive seen since ive started buying cars. fell in love with the styling but that love has turned into regret for speanding so much money on a lemon.

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  Very average car - 2011 Dodge Caliber
  By challenger9 - January 27 - 10:28 pm

  I recently purchased a relatively new 2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet for $12,900 it had only 600 miles. I am relatively happy with ownig this car. However, I found that this car to be very slow, the 4cyl, 158 hp engine with the CVT transmisson is very weak. The engine lacks power for changing lanes and going up hills it makes long distance driving very difficult. Extremely poor gas mileage about 20- 24 mpg. Cheap interior and uncomfortable seats. Positive things are exterior styling and interior room. I would never buy this car at retail at $21,000. Howeve, if you can find one at a discounted price I would buy it. They are good commuter cars for providing basic transportation

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  Make sure you have AAA for towing! - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By phillpotimus - January 18 - 2:23 pm

  Bought my car 6 months ago with 68K. Week 1: Whinning in the front end. Took it to the dealership and insisted they fix it. They replaced the passenger side wheel bearing. Cost: $0 Week 7: Airbag light comes on. Took it to a diffrent shop and they said a sensor went out....? Cost: $323.00 Week 11: Grinding in the front end (drivers side). Took it back to the shop. The ball joint went out. Apparently that is also connected to the tie rod end as one piece. Also making my tires wear bad on the inside of the tires. While there, had the battery replaced. Cost: $968.00 6 mo. after purchase: Stranded! Altenator died! Tow and repair. Cost: $548.00 If you dont need a car, Get this one!

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  Mechanical Lemon, Regret Buying - 2006 Dodge Caravan
  By chrzanow - January 5 - 1:57 pm

  This car is a LEMON. 70,000 miles entire navigation and panel unit failed. 100,000 miles alternator died, transmission aux unit blew out, radiator failed, lots of oil leaks. 120,000 miles another alternator died, retractable doors fail, plastic parts on stow and go seats failed causing seat frame to not stow, cooling system leaking, and now warning lights keep coming on and off (ABS, airbag, etc) for no reason. This car is junk. I will NEVER buy a Dodge product again. I should have learned with my 1998 Caravan. That carÂ’s transmission blew out at 100,000. Now at 150,000 the computer keeps dying and not allowing the car to start.

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  does not honor warranty - 2006 Dodge Dakota
  By tuffoldman - December 28 - 9:04 pm

  I own a 06 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with the 3.7 v6. I am overall satisfied with the truck, but not with Dodge itself. I bought my truck in Feb 07, important date: the transmission went out the other day so I looked up dodge warranty and found out that an extended warranty for the 06 dakota powertrain was provided if you bought your truck on or after July 07. 4 months from the day I bought mine Feb 07. So dodge eventhough its the same year and all will not honor my warranty due to the 4 month difference on day of purchase. DODGE/CHRYSLER, I HAVE BOUGHT MY LAST VEHICLE FROM YOU AND WILL RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THE SAME. MAYBE THATS WHY THE JAPANESE ARE AHEAD OF US IN CUSTOMER SERVIC

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  HORRIBLE CAR !!!!!!! - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By swiet - December 20 - 8:18 am

  I bought the car with 41,000 KM on it and Ive had nothing but trouble with it!! The A/C broke, transmission had problems, it had so many problems that I cannot remember them all! The biggest issue that I had with it was the water leak! It took the dealership one year and 6 different times to figure out what was wrong with it! If i had not called head office, and they sent a specialist to look at it they would have never figured out what was wrong with it! Thank god it was under warrenty when I first went it, and when the problem continued they paid for it, because they knew they sold me a faulty car. My suggestion is: if you buy this car, or any other car, take it to a mechanic and check it