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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  Terrible car - 2000 Dodge Caravan
  By memememememememe - February 8 - 2:00 am

  Terrible car. 3 transmissions, 17 serpetine belts, air compressor, water pump, alternator........you name it, it has broke numerous times. Granted this car is a work vehicle and has 116,000 and bought it brand new.

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  Need more parts - 2000 Dodge Neon
  By Blue2000 - February 6 - 2:00 am

  I cant keep up. This car is starving me and its not paid off yet. - 2 fuel injectors - Computer - Speed Sensor Relay - Axle trouble. (Some bearing) - Brakes - Tire size is so non-standerd they charge extra. - Air Conditioner

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  You Have To Be Kidding - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By GregnSand - February 5 - 2:00 am

  We bought the car new. Within the first year we had to have the transmission rebuilt, then the ac/heater went out. The next year we had to have the transmission rebuilt, then the window came off track. Next year we had to have the starter rebuilt and the starter switch replaced. Then the ac went out again and the other window came off track. Finally we had to bury the car as it died. The oil pump went out without the sendor working and this caused the engine to seiz. We will never buy a Dodge product again!!!!

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  STAY AWAY - 1994 Dodge Caravan
  By dodge NO MORE - February 3 - 2:00 am

  Im now on my third minivan, I can only say that Im the jack--- that continued to buy these vans. the first van: replaced tranny, two air conditioners, two evaportor cores, and finally a blown rod=$25.00 from junk yard to haul away (at 114,000 miles) The 2nd one a 93, air compressor and tranny b 4 55000 miles (sold it) The 3rd, well alot worse than the first!!!

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  I thought we were in the 21st century - 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By jb36 - February 1 - 9:22 pm

  Im forced to drive this thing quite often due to my work. I think its despicable. Interior feels cheap, especially the seat fabric, steering feels barely connected at highway speed, theres very small but constant pitch motion in the rear when theres no load in the back. Brake, like steering is over-servoed, and transmission. Its not a very smooth shift to begin with, but it gets worse and worse as you drive on for a long time, like over 4hrs. Its big sure, and pretty useful, but its not very clever either. People buy this not because its cheap - its not THAT cheap. People buy this I think just because they havent really tried anything else. Its a throw away.

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  01 Grand Caravan Sport- no fun to drive - 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Ken V - January 29 - 10:00 am

  After leasing a 98 Grand Caravan and loving it, I made the huge mistake of leasing this 01 without a test drive. This is an AWFUL vehicle- wallows on roads, no pickup, especially with the air on- and oh, by the way, the cars been back at the dealer three times for AC problems and still isnt fixed. The beast gets hot inside with no air! Average mileage less the 15 mpg. If you have an older Grand Caravan, keep it!

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  NOT RECOMMENDED - 1999 Dodge Intrepid
  By slonna - January 25 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car,i bought with 29000 miles on it demo.And i owned for 3 years now,Quality is worse,Brakes,rotors every 30000 K,New pinion rack,Windows dont work AGAIN.And at85000K need new Engine for about $6000+labor/dealer/.It seems this engine V6 2.7 to have some higins problem with oil circulation.

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  never another dodge - 1997 Dodge Caravan
  By jools - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought the van new. It has 60k miles now. It has had persistant electrical problems, brake problems, stalling problems, air conditioning problems, and now two valves are cracked (I dont know what these are but they cost 255.00 each to replace. And the water pump is cracked and needs replaced (so Im told) Its trade in value stinks too.

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  Very disappointed! - 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By soccermom - January 21 - 2:33 am

  Has had steering problems a couple times already with a terrible grinding noise. Cheaply made interior, covers break easily. Was told that middle and back seats were interchangeable when buying van, but they arent. Found this out only after lugging out heavy the back seat. No stow-n-go with this van makes it even more of a hassle. Terrible pick up, feels like a truck, cant afford to put gas in it. This van burns gas horribly. I went 30 city miles and it burned a half tank of gas! If I didnt owe so much in this piece of junk Id be trading it in. Im actively still trying to trade it in somewhere. Buyer beware! Dont buy a Grand Caravan!

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  Hate it!!! - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By melann0331 - January 20 - 2:00 am

  Wouldnt do it again