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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  Great until 100,000 miles - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By Deb - June 10 - 8:51 am

  Bought my van from a Dodge dealer used in 2001 with about 40,000 miles on the engine. Overall was a great vehicle, minimum break downs, did have problem keeping brakes, both time replaced still under warranty. Lucky me. Air conditioning also had to be repaired. At 106,000 miles on Christmas eve 2008 we lost our transmission on interstate 95, fully loaded with Christmas tree and gifts, on our way to my sisters in Boston. 70 miles from home, with my 12 year old daughter, and 10 below zero. Was not fun experience. $2600 to replace the transmission with a factory rebuilt engine. We decided to get out while the getting was good before this became a money pit. And purchased a new car.

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  Very nice minivan - 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Wayne - June 10 - 5:46 am

  Ive owned this van for 39 months now and the only problem I have had with it is an occasional sticking rear electric hatch. Some times latch doesnt want to release. Waiting for it to do it more often before I take it in to be fixed. Outside of that, I have had no problems at all with it. I bought it mostly because of the stow-n-go seating as I carry a lot of stuff. They are great along with those deep storage bins. The van is very quiet and the ride is smooth. The A/C is a strong feature here in hot Arizona. Cools the van right down. My only wish is that the power steering gave me a little more road feel. Its a little to touchy and I have to watch I dont ease over in the other lane.

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  Love this CAR - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Tonks - June 9 - 5:42 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 12/2005 with a whole 99 miles on it!!! I now have 91,000 miles on it and it is still running great I have had no mechanical problems with it and love to drive it everywhere the gas mileage is amazing!!!!

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  Stratus still going strong - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By SE 4 dr sedan - June 9 - 12:56 am

  I bought 2003 SE 4 Dr in July 2005 for $9,000. It had 54,000 miles on it. It now has 118,000 miles and I had to replace a tie rod and a blower motor in the 4 years that I owned it. Other than routine maintenance, oil changes, brakes.timing belt, I have had no major problems. This car is fun to drive and I usually get from 25-28 miles per gallon. I have the 2.4 engine. I am looking now to buy a 2006 and keep this one as a second car. This car is light brown and I will try to find a low mileage red one next.

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  not good - 1998 Dodge Dakota
  By wayne hersel - June 8 - 9:15 pm

  truck is a V-6 and I have had nothing but problems. I will be driving along at 60 mph and it will die, sometimes backfire and then when I turn the key off sometimes wont start. I have replaced computer, coil, fuel pump, tune up, and numerous odds and ends they havent replaced and it continues to cut out. Has anyone else had this kind of problem. I now have more into in last year than it is worth.

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  Frustrations - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By dodgeboy11 - June 8 - 4:30 pm

  I bought the car in October of 2002. Picked it up w/ the shrink wrap still on the car and 0 miles on the odometer. I like the car and the styling, but it has become a maintenance headache. 77k miles, and Ive had to replace: rear struts, rear brakes, rear strut mounts, transmission solinoid, coolant overflow, front bearings, rust repair on door and on body, and trip computer on top of normal maintenance. The car from day one has also had a fantom ground issue in which on occasions it will: not lock the doors, sunroof stays open, dash lights go bright, cylinder 5 wont fire, speedometer acts up, etc. And most resently the torque converter has started acting up. Id be cautious w/ the RT.

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  Not a bad truck... - 2006 Dodge Dakota
  By tim927 - June 8 - 8:16 am

  This truck wasnt bad. The v6 was great until pulling. The ford 4.2 v6 seems a bit more powerfull. I put 26k on without a problem and went on a couple road trips and stayed comfortable. I only traded it because I needed more room for a growing family, back to Ford!

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  Very Satisfied Customer - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By blkroze4 - June 7 - 6:33 pm

  It definitely gets a lot of looks. Had many complements on it. Handles great on the ice and snow.

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  Magnum RT/AWD after 33500 Miles - 2006 Dodge Magnum
  By Dadd Wagon - 33k m - June 7 - 4:01 am

  Had my Maggie now for 28 months and 33,500 miles. Used Royal Purple since beginning. CAR has been the most reliable , fun , trouble free car I have ever had. Still sounds, feels, drives as I took it home. No issues what so ever. Very pleased that we own a car that was discontinued also.... So what.. The AWD system I have never felt safer behind the wheel of any 4x4. She is a tank and built well.. Keeping her forever...

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  AWESOME CAR!!!!!!!! - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By Johnny S. Garcia, Jr - June 6 - 11:12 pm

  I bought this former rental car off a Dodge dealers lot in Mar. 2002 with 35,000 miles and a MFG date of 06/01. My baby NOW has as of todays date (06/06/09) 218,171 miles on it!!!!!,,,Its a V6 2.7. Most of my miles came from highway miles. Read this and weep people, this car (MY CAR) IS AWESOME!!!!!,,,,Ive done regular maintenance, tires, in fact, I went to the maximum width tire on 17 inch rims. The only major thing done on this car is the power steering pulley. It still has trhe orig tranny and batt. THANK YOU for this awesome car!!!!! I hear Dodge made a 2009 Intrepid?????