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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  PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By strat1163 - July 26 - 1:48 pm

  Purchased a 2009 Journey new in June 2009. Since this time I have had never ending problems with this vehicle, and I am NOT exaggerating. Here is a list of what was wrong with it: 6/2009: Air conditioning stopped working and needed system replaced. 9/09: developed a water leak causing mold in interior and rusty seat frames. 10/9 Both vanity mirrors broke. 1/10 water leak returned and at this point car smelled like a musty wet dog. Dealer "fixed" again 6/10: Transmission went and needed replaced. 3/11 Both exterior mirror paint was peeling: were painted. Both exhaust tips were rusting badly and exhaust was replaced. But dealer installed new exhaust with bent tips. cont.....

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  2011 Dodge Journey - Starting Problems - 2011 Dodge Journey
  By bobs1969 - July 13 - 11:29 pm

  One day after I purchased my 2011 Dodge Journey Crew in April 2011 it failed to start while sitting in my driveway overnight. It has now been towed to the dealer three times with the same problem and the same result. Something is draining the battery but we cant find it and Chrysler doesnt have any solutions because they are not aware of the problem. I now feel we can no longer trust the reliability of our new car. It could leave us stranded anywhere at any-time. If the power fails & systems shut down while driving at highway speeds, could a power failure of this type cause an accident? So far I rate my car as Dangerous & Unreliable.

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  Terribly Engineered Vehicle - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By msgolds - July 8 - 10:18 am

  I picked up this vehicle used for a good price. It initially didnt have many problems, but after a while I had a MAJOR problem with the electrical system where the airbag light will come on, the windows wont go up or down, and the heat a/c wont come on. This usually happened when it was hot out (which is precisely when you need the windows to go down and A/C on). I found out later that this was a common problem in this model, because all of these features are in a single circuit on the modular control unit. The cost to fix the problem is higher than the Book Value of the car, bc you need to change out the whole unit. Dont buy this car.

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  1st new car, worst car I ever owned - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By sharky65 - June 16 - 1:39 pm

  This car was built cheaply. Here is all the things that have gone wrong with it in the 8 years and 89,000 miles. year 2 new brakes and rotors year 3 drivers side window came off the track $300 year 4 new brakes and rotors, gas gauge stopped working causing $300 bill to replace gas pump, heater fan will only work on high year 5 engine blew up, I had oil change every 3 months, it was under warranty year 6 new brakes and rotors, all windows rattle inside doors year 7 transmission had to be rebuilt year 8 rear strut mounts totally disintergrated because they were made out of cheap aluminum, new brakes and rotors I can finally get rid of it this year. My wife and I alternate buying cars.

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  Journey Front Brakes are Faulty. - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By chris_baker13 - June 3 - 12:59 am

  I have had my Journey for about a year now and my brakes keep failing. I have had the rotors resurfaced many times and replaced brake pads and yet I only have 39,000 miles on it and its a 2009. I think there is something worong with the design or engineering of the setup.

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  Do not buy this POG - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By mikoboy - May 16 - 6:28 am

  I bought mine on early 2009 and I was back and forth to the dealership to fix rotors, brakes, entertainment unit, and my satellite receiver right after a week I was driving this. Brake pads worn out at 23,000 kilometers. They said this crossover has "good fuel economy" is all lies. I spend $80 to $90 full tank almost each week just about 100 km of traveling a week. This because of the problem with the rotors. To end my torture, the last problem showed up that I finally told to myself to get rid of this, was the vibration on the axles that causing my engine light indicator to pop up.

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  dodge journey 2011 rt - 2011 Dodge Journey
  By bobo28 - April 25 - 10:58 am

  three days after i bought this journey battery went dead the car wont start i have the same problem the screen wipers everything just started to go on and off. thier must be some kind of short or electrical problem in the car

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  **WARNING DONT PURCHASE A Lemon!!** - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By snlewis - April 21 - 7:49 pm

  I purchased this Journey 6/6/08. Ive never owned a vehicle with more problems! Delivery miles 145 8/6/08 Replace 1 tire=$120.00 Rear body panel popping off 1/29 13K Rotors glazed & visor vanity broken 3/28 17K Rotors & front pads Replaced 6/16 20K Steering wheel replaced, peeling 7/14 23K Rear pads 12/1 33K Passenger seat belt Broke Wheel locks R the wrong ones-installed by the dealership! 2 tires $346.80 Alignment $99.95 Front Brakes $318.00 Throttle body & combustion chamber flush $230.95 6/9 42K will not start 6/15 will not start 10/5 48K Engine Isolator Broken 12/1/10 52K rear brakes Replaced Radiator 4/20/11 Wont start AGAIN and stopped running in the middle of an intersection.

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  If you like it, just wait and you wont!! - 2008 Dodge Avenger
  By virginiamother - April 21 - 12:56 am

  May looks nice, but the car wasnt built to last. Got it almost new & noticed the blind spots after a week. If u are tall, dont get the sunroof. My husband HATES this car,his head hits the roof. Dont scratch it, even gently, it leaves a mark on the plastic interior. 4 days after my 36K mile point, it really fall apart. Some engine light came on and the Dodge people will not even look at it without $$89 dollars, took it to someone else & already hundreds of dollars to fix it. The window literally fell into the door after the regulator broke, $$200 bucks. One light has a short. The left front brake is gone & needs resurfacing, $$ hundreds. The leather on the driver seat is crumbling off!!!!!

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  Run! Dont Buy the Caliber! - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By prozelle5 - March 24 - 1:50 pm

  I bought the 2007 Dodge Caliber brand new off the dealer lot. At 13,000 miles the oil control valve and the cv joint in the rear had to be replaced. At 19000 miles the outter tie rod was replaced. At 50000 miles, I now have a leak in the oil pan the same outter tie rod has to be replaced again, the lower control arm and struts are leaking. The car will not pass inspection. Thankfully I took out the extended warranty and some of it is still covered. I am a grandmother and dont drive out of control or crazy. I traded in a perfectly good 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for this car. Wish I still had it. Cant wait to unload this car. It sucks! Dont buy one!