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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  Total Dis-satisfaction - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By lemomade - September 12 - 1:56 am

  I bought a 2009 Dodge Journey SXT in July 2008. At this date (04/07/09), I have only 3000 miles on it. Frankly, I cant afford to drive it more. I get only 12 mpg combined city & highway. My local dealer tells me they will NOT check it until I have 8000+ miles on it. The brakes are making noises already. The engine sounds awful when accerating. Worst mistake I ever made in purchasing a new vehicle. At 8e years of age, I shouldnt have to put up with this.

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  Dodge Dakota R/T - 2000 Dodge Dakota
  By DrewD - September 10 - 2:00 am

  Dodge far and away builds the poorest vehicle I have ever owned. This truck not only depreciates the fastest of any American vehicle but the milage rating was overstated by almost twice what it got. Also when the dealership was questioned about the poor milage and the engine miss I was told "yes I can hear it but Dodge wont authorize us to fix it" For having as large of an engine as it did it was not fast. For a 2000 the idea that Dodge uses the same undercarrige as a 1970 car pretty much tell the story on the funding they put into research and development. Never will I look at a Dodge\Chrysler vehicle again.

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  The Customer Loses - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By The Customer Loses - September 7 - 10:00 am

  The car only has 5000 miles and the brakes make noise. The car has been back 3 times for this problem and the area rep from Chrysler states that this is normal. I didnt know noise from the brakes was an available option.

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  dealer special....JUNK.!!!!!! - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By BAD Journey - August 30 - 6:50 am

  This car has been nothing but a headache since a month after we purchased it. It had an axel seal to bust causing oil to leak on the exhaust, the transmission is always shifting gears, sometimes it wont shift down when going up hills, then when it does shift down it wont shift back up, it down shifts to low gear while in cruise control going 70 mph on the interstate & almost got us hit,Chrysler says thats the way the car is designed to work, power steering whins all the time, Chrysler says that is normal also. Any problem that this car has Chrysler says it is normal so it doesnt do any good to call them with your problems. All i can say is LEMON, this car should have been YELLOW.

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  Not good! - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By kabarker - August 19 - 2:00 am

  The transmission went out on me within two years of purchase. There are numerous places where the paint is chipping off. All the other older neons Ive seen have paint chipping also. Put more money into it repairing it than its worth.

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  Aint worth the money - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Hawk - August 15 - 2:00 am

  well, I bought this car with 103000 miles, big mistake. I should have not gotten american I4 with that manys on it. It was OK at first. Then one thing happened after another. First had to replace 2 O2 sensors ($150 each). Then back drums went out($250). then all 3 engine mounts went out ($450 all replaced). I heard from a Dealers parts department "Neons dont last after 100,000 miles. Stupidest car dodge has made in a long time." so now I think Im goin to go get what seems the best I4 out there, Honda Civc

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  Junker - 2001 Dodge Dakota
  By Michael Arthur - August 14 - 2:00 am

  Front-end parts ware out way too easy 30000 tierod ends gone out 35000 Ball joints gone

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  Let down - 2003 Dodge Intrepid
  By mammadee - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car used. The car design is pretty, but beauty isnt what one needs to get back and forth to work. The car has been reliable, however it has no get up and go. It is sad when a piece of junk can get up to speed before you can. I must admit I am growing really tired of people honking for me to move faster. This car doesnt hold value either. I am so upside down that I cant get out of the car. The fuel usage is poor compared to my past experiences with other vehicles. I personally believe that all Dodge Intrepids are over priced. I wish that I had done my homework before making the purchase. Lesson learned.

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  It would be nice IF - 2003 Dodge Neon
  By sandyscats - August 9 - 2:00 am

  This car with a manual transmission cannot pass a gas station without stopping for a drink.When I first drove it my gas milage was 16 MPG a far cry from the sticker that claims 39 highway & 30 city.By shifting so that Im driving in 4th gear at 30 miles an hour.I finally got 30 MPG but half was highway in 5th gear & I can Hear the transmission complain. The dealership claims that car is within specs and there is no fix. The key has a computer chip in it so that I cannot make an under $80 duplicate & carry it in my wallet. The radio antenna does not telescope into the car pillar making likely to break off,city reception is poor.

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  impossible !!!!! - 2004 Dodge Intrepid
  By patrickpatrick - August 9 - 2:00 am

  nothing else to say but how does a engine lock up at 11,564 miles!!!!? this car is a piece of trash!! dodge should be fully responsible for fixing thse 2.7litre engines,they know about them but do nothing! dealers know too but still resales these cars anyway.stay away from any used or new dodge intrepid!!!!!!!i paid $13,000 for it now dealer wont even give $2,000!!!!!