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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  worst car ever owned - 2011 Dodge Journey
  By moose5506 - November 7 - 7:46 pm

  This has been the worst 18 months of my driving life! I have had my third set of brakes just put on my car...I have 21,000 miles! I have had my radio replaced, I have random transmission shifts, no acceleration, and crappy tires! I have had my car into the shop NINE times in 18 months! I am always on the phone with the complaint line, and no one gives a crap about me or the crappy car! When my brakes fail, and I kill someone, I hope the people at Dodge are happy! I was told to talk to the owner of the dealer where I bought it....like that will do any good! ITs just horrible!

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  UPSET!!!! - 2012 Dodge Journey
  By atsieb - July 23 - 6:25 pm

  I purchased a 2012 Dodge Journey SXT. I drove it off the lot with 200 miles on the odometer. At 1600 miles the transmission began to shutter! I took it to the dealership and the computer was flashed. This did NOT help. We have set up a case with Chrysler, but have been told that the shuttering is a characteristic of the vehicle per Chryslers engineering dept. WHAT! This is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard. IF that was the case then WHY did it not show up until 1600 miles. I am so unhappy and disappointed with Chrysler and this Journey. Chrysler has put all of their dealerships in a very bad position. With Chrysler not acknowledging that there is an issue with the 3.6 liter engines.

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  Bad car (LEMON) - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By melindaed5172 - January 5 - 8:50 am

  This is the first time I have bought a new car and had issues. 1. Klunking sound when shifts (Chrysler said this is normal) 2. Trunk leaks when you open it and it has rained. (Factory default, nothing I can do about this) 3. Stalled on me at stop light. (Nothing found wrong.) 4. Cant reach to open the door when it is opened all the way (Factory issue, nothing they can do about this. 5. Sounds like the powersteering is going bad , chirps like a bird sometimes. (couldnt find anything wrong) 6. Sloshing sound in car when at low speeds going forward and backward( Nothing found) So you see they dont stand behind their product. Thinking about a class action suit.

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  Horrible - DO NOT BUY - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By em211hi - November 30 - 12:06 pm

  Awful car - Have paid over $7,000 to replace the whole front end (twice). Do not buy! DO not buy! Dodge does not help either.

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  This car is awful... - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By jfogs - September 17 - 8:57 pm

  If you want a car where you need to replace the brakes and rotors every 15k miles and will start when it feels like it, then this is the car for you. Think Im kidding? Just google it. Do not buy Dodge/Chrysler. This company deserved to die and you and I are paying to keep them on life support. Never again.

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  Dodge sucks! or atleast the avenger does - 1998 Dodge Avenger
  By dodgesuck - April 18 - 3:07 pm

  This car is what made me decide to never buy a dodge again. Im amazed if a month goes by and I dont have an expensive repair bill waiting for me. Cons: Steering problems are my biggest complaint- I had to replace front ball bearings after just 35,000 miles, lower control arms had to be replace on driver side, and now both front struts need to be replaced. Also it has a poor turning radius. The distributor cap and rotor needed replacing (car stopped starting). Rotors also warped on me, but I know that isnt dodges fault, just basic maintenance. Poor handling in snow, hard to see out of rear window, and I would go on but Im running out of characters remaining. Owned for 2 years 20k miles

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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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  Do not buy this car - 2009 Dodge Challenger
  By Vincent - December 5 - 2:00 am

  I have had mine for less then a week, there is not heat there are 2 ( check engine not sure of the other ) lights on the dash board that are lit, it has less then 200 miles,.. it was poorly built ,.. this car is not worth it..Vince

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  Worst cheap suv - 2007 Dodge Durango
  By Taniqua - November 7 - 1:00 am

  This is the worst SUV ever I hate it, their aint no room in the back it a 07 limited with 40,000 miles on it the car keep having transmission probs power back door aint working right sometimes it just open while Im driving! I thought this would be a nice SUV but it cheap plasticy loud and embarrassing to be seen in it keep getting scratched but my complex wont do anything bout it

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  Absolute Junk - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By Josh - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Hmm where do I begin? Roof Racks were ripped from the sheet metal in the car wash. Stereo has completely failed. Passenger Window has stopped working. Gets about 10-15 mpg even on the highway. 4x4 works occasionally in the winter time. Interior is cheap and uncomfortable.