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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  Good big cheap car - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By herogeorge - June 13 - 6:26 pm

  The car was inexpensive when I bought it, comfortable, and roomy. Bought my 2004 Dodge Intrepid SE with ~15K miles on it and ran it 8 years until it had ~125K miles. Reasonable maintenance costs up through ~100K miles, then the bills started to pile up (transmission, water pump, etc.). Depreciation reduced the cars value to less than the cost of replacing the head when it broke, so I sold it. Not a great car, but Overall, I was reasonably happy with my purchase. However, I would be wary of one that has over 100K miles.

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  09 Journey probs - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By jhernandez5 - June 13 - 2:09 pm

  Has anyone found a solution to why the Journey doesnt restart after its been parked? All I hear is maybe the Shifer, IOD fuse, some thing electrical. I recently purchased a used Journey 09, in Chicago, one week later it didnt want to start. Same thing like others, key in, lights, radio good, but no turnover. Not even a choke. Wait about 20 min then it starts. Put in Nuetral, then back to park then turn key and it starts up, sometimes. What is the SOLUTION?

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  4Door 1997 3.3L V6 - 1997 Dodge Intrepid
  By dafletcher3883 - June 13 - 1:43 am

  It has about 235k miles and still runs strong, the only issues are that it needs a new water pump and the steering is going out. Other than that, the engine still has enough umph to outrun others when they challenge me, lol. I actually beat a Cobalt to the speed limit, *wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Great car though, really. If you find a low mile one get it.

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  5.7 Hemi is a lemon Crysler will not recall or rebate replacement - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By mattalderson - June 12 - 10:18 am

  We have a 2004 durango slt 5.7L with a hole in the block. This car was extremly well maintained. The car eats roters, has had never ending electrical problems and spun a main bearing at 160000 mils. It has never missed an oil change, the oil comes out as clean as it was put in. Crysler will not recall this problem or rebait the replacement. After serching for a replacement I have found that this seems to be a very very common problem with the 5.7, 4.7, and the 6.0.. Do not Buy A Dodge Durango or any Mopar Hemi with out asking or resurching this motor. I have lost 8,000.00 dollers on this vehical. I will never buy a Mopar again!

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  MOTOR MOUNT - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By allan3590 - June 11 - 8:31 pm

  We purchased the 2009 Journey back in June 2008 after 5 or 6 months heard this noise on the right front and told the mechanic about it they checked it and said it is the ware of the vehicle and left it at that when we would travel around on the highway and we would here this noise and after we got the vehicle up to 70 miles an hour the sound would go away and we left it at that well we have had that noise and finally in 2013 still have that noise when we would travel around at 40 to 50 miles an hour. my mechanic looked under the carriage of the car and advised me that the motor mount on the right side was totally collapsed and that is why we had this noise for the last 5 years . Cost $275.

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  this car is garbage worst investment ever - 2003 Dodge Stratus
  By whitesoxman61 - June 8 - 4:46 pm

  this car has been nothing but a nightmare to own i am a person that likes to do maintenance on my own but thats pretty much impossible. the water pump is on the inside of the engine and costed me $800 to get replaced, the thermostat is on the bottom of the engine and requires you to remove the alternator, battery is located inside the wheel well and you have to remove the tire and splash guard to get to it, just about anything you work on with this car will take 2 times longer than a normal car it was built A$$ backwards i would not tell anyone to buy this car unless they have a LOT of time and money on their hands to fix it.

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  My Favorite Car of All Time - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By dezern - June 6 - 9:59 pm

  Ive always loved the SRT-4s, and when I was finally given the chance to get one I jumped on it fast. I love this car more than any other Ive ever owned or driven before, shes incredibly smooth at high speeds, sticks to the road like you wouldnt believe, and will blow the minds of anyone foolish enough to think shes just a Neon. I have very minimal mods and the only thing thats given me any trouble was a 2013 Mustang GT that had been built quite a bit. 5.0s, S2ks, WRXs, Ive never lost to them before with this mean little car. If you want something fast and practical, buy this car! Also, it is the meanest sounding four cylinder ever! Put a 3 inch side exhaust on her and she sounds evil

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  Love my Dart! - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By ml871 - June 5 - 9:39 am

  I received my Dart as a gift in March, and I couldnt be happier. I had no idea that I was going to get a new car, since all of the other cars I have previously owned have been used. The Dart is great looks awesome, runs well, no complaints. I had read reviews that the engine warmer didnt work in cold temps, so of course I was worried, but then I remembered I live in an area where it rarely gets cold. Overall, the Dart is a wonderful car and I have thoroughly enjoyed having it!

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  Great car at a great price - 2013 Dodge Charger
  By tonyinnc - June 3 - 7:19 pm

  I thought I was crazy trading my MB GLK350 in for a Dodge. I can say right now it was definitely worth it. The car is built as solid as my MB and has better technology and a lot more personality. Dont know if the service will be as good but hope I never find out. Between the rebates I got this car for $30.5K. The car has plenty of pickup and so far I have not noticed that this car only has a 5 speeds.

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  So far so good! - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By aaronrdavis - May 31 - 6:43 pm

  Had this baby for little over 2 years and I love it, not sure what most people are complaint about if you keep up with normal maintenance it should be fine in my two years of owning it Ive put almost 30,000 miles on it and havent had a thing go wrong with it except changing the battery. Great car to start with as long as its an 02 or newer neon. Ill agree with the others, I wish they kept making it I would buy another one :)