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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  My Biggest Regret!! - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Thai Tran - February 28 - 11:56 am

  I purchased this car brand new when initially introduced to the market in late 2012. I purchased this car under emotional stress due to the Sandy storm which completely flooded my Audi, totaling it. So the decision to purchase the Dart was more impulsive and out of desperation. Fast forward 3 years later, im now having problems with the engine and the engine light comes on sporadically throughout my ownership. Im not getting the fuel efficiency that is proudly advertised by Dodge. The fuel cap gets stuck and doesnt open during cold weather. When the weather gets below 30, my car has trouble recognizing my FOB key, with issues that causes it not to work reliably.

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  2013 Dodge Dart - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By Amber Brown Baldwin - February 26 - 10:54 am

  Purchased my Dodge Dart brand new from the dealer in December 2012. I have had it in the dealership twice now for severe issues. The latest reason my steering wheel locked up, radio and dash controls went black after all the lights on the dash came on with a service steering wheel error popped up. Once I came to a stop realized my steering wheel was not in my control, radio was still black. Heater turned up all the way, unable to turn it down or control it. Parked the car and now its going back in to the dealer! I paid a fortune for this car. If I had been going faster than I was I would have been severely injured in a wreck when my steering wheel locked up. Would not buy!

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  Less than 300 miles and trouble already - 2015 Dodge Dart
  By gwilliam1590 - February 4 - 10:10 am

  We purchased our Dodge Dart with 23 miles on it, with 250 miles on it in the shop with service engine light on and 2 error codes on the transmission. If we have trouble with it with this few miles how reliable would it be in the long run?Last time I will ever buy a Dodge product.

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  I Am Finished With North American Cars - 2010 Dodge Journey
  By tammyflores - January 28 - 10:46 am

  First sign of trouble with my engine was a carbon build up issue at 40K. I took pride in my vehicle and followed the maintenance schedule. They tried to tell me that I had to use higher octane gas when the specs didnt call for that. I did it for a while, but just after my warranty ran out, my EGR Valve went and then my transmission at 120K. Both bearing went in my front wheel. One while under warranty, the other just after. IÂ’m at 170K and because of carbon build up again, my rad reservoir blew and they just replace my cylinder head because their heads are made from aluminum and guess what now?

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  Wish I Had Never Bought It - 2008 Dodge Caliber
  By brandeeboo_92 - January 23 - 10:14 am

  I just bought an 08 Dodge Caliber in August of 2014. I have put almost two grand into it since then...freaking thing breaks down it seems like every six months. Ive had to replace the clutch, three starters, buy a new battery, and have had countless issues with the axle and tires. Its not worth the money to buy this car because its so unreliable. Its comfortable and drives good but mechanically it sucks.

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  Money Pit - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By moonfairy - January 21 - 2:26 pm

  I bought my Dodge Intrepid on February of 2013. Iwas just under 100,000 miles when I bought it and in a year and a half of driving put about 13000 miles on it... it started leaking radiator fluid and then oil and power steering. I tried fixing those problems but never could fix the radiator, I couldnt get the fluid to actually go down into the engine as its routed weirdly and it started over heating. Next thing I knew I was getting a knocking noise in the engine and when we checked there was water in my oil. I tried getting that fixed but the fix didnt work and in three days my engine was shot. it has the craziest engine I have ever seen. I would never suggest someone buy this car ever!

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  Bad Transmission - 2014 Dodge Durango
  By 3murraykids - December 30 - 4:52 pm

  I traded in a 2012 Suburban for my 2014 Durango because of MPG. I bought it in April of 2014. When I hit about 19000 miles my car wouldnt allow me to go into gear. I took it to the dealership and they kept it for 2 days. Got it back and a week later it did the same thing. They kept it 3 days. Got it back and a week later same thing. I was going out of town and needed it so didnt take it back till I got back. It has now been there for an entire month. I had to get a new transmission in a new car. The dealership even told me that after the 2nd time, but Chrysler made them do stuff in order to try to fix it. Im done with Dodge, back to a big SUV for me.

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  Idiling problems - 2008 Dodge Nitro
  By plank3 - December 17 - 11:18 pm

  First vehicle that I bought brand new. The first three years were great but now the truck will stall when idling. I have taken the vehicle back to the dealership for service but the problem cannot be reproduce. Only have 70k on it. Any suggestions?

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  2015 Dodge Journey - 2.4 liter model - 2015 Dodge Journey
  By railguardian - November 29 - 12:47 pm

  It was unfortunate that I read the reviews after I purchased the vehicle. All the negative reviews regarding the 4-cylinder model are true. The salesman said they improved the 4-cylinder engine since the days I owned a PT Cruiser with the same engine. The PT ran great, but then add on the extra weight of the Journey and then you have problems, slow, slow slow. It seems its on overdrive every time you accelerate. The price was right, the looks are OK for the price, but open the hood, everything looks like its plastic, and Holy Cow, check out the location of the battery. I got what I paid for, I went cheap and cheap is what I got.

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  2012 SE V-6....not an option above - 2012 Dodge Avenger
  By imports4ever - November 26 - 10:50 am

  I am very disappointed in this car. It is just shy of 3 yrs old and I have put $1200 in to the car in two months. All electronics or emissions issues that are not covered by the warranty. The engine, 3.6L Pentastar, is the only good thing about this pile of flaming poo. The transmission is so lazy Im amazed it even bothers to show up. Rattles and creaks. Quiet and above average in comfort. Mileage is horrendous! Ive never gotten more than 19 mpg combined. On long drives (flat highway 65 mph) you can get up to 29 mpg, but that only happened one time. Chews up tires like Rolaids. 47,750 miles as of this morning and Im just so disappointed. Going back to VW. Diesel.