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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  Which I hadnt bought - 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By quick6 - May 18 - 4:20 pm

  Breaks down way too ofter, and Im a mechanic, so I take good care of my vehicles.

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  Buyer Beware, better yet RUN! - 1995 Dodge Neon
  By Unhappy in GA - May 15 - 2:00 am

  This car was nothing but a money sucking machine. We bought this car from a cousin of ours in great condition. Within 2 months it broke down. From then to the present day, little over 2 years, this car has had more repairs made on it then it was even worth, much to our ignorance and dispair. We finally gave up when it broke down 3 times in less than two weeks because too much was wrong at one time. Head gasket is a major problem, watch out for it, especailly if the car is anywhere near 100K. This car will break down and often even if you take great care of them. I pity the person who spends money to buy this car.

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  Buying a Toyota - 1998 Dodge Durango
  By Buying a toyota - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 1998 Durango in Jan. 2001...I have driven it about 50000 miles and have had pretty good luck with it up to now but I think my luck is beginning to run out. The drivers side passenger window wont goup and down all the time unless yo slam the door, the transmission wont shift gears when you first start it and the suspension is getting really loose. This truck is not good for alot of highway driving. And forget about the mountains...you have to turn off the overdrive and just watch the gas gauge go down at the speed of sound....

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  Dont buy Stratus - 1996 Dodge Stratus
  By ssevim - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car like 15 months ago. The engine leaks oil (parts are only $30, but the repair cost is $650), There is a noise I dont even understand what it is ($450), Driver window is not working ($350) etc. The car is made out of junk and there are problems everywhere. If you decide to sell it, it doesnt worth that much. I think I should give it away and forget Dodge forever!

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  Should have looked here first!! - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By Never Again - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Previously owned a 1989 Grand Caravan. Put three transmissions in it. Thought that by now Chrysler would have figured out how to build a reliable transmission. WRONG! The transmission in my 1998 Caravan went out at 55000. Fool me once, shame on you fool me twice...well, you know how it goes.

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  Better than everybody else... BUT - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By REDBARON - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Well, I guess I have done better than everybody else. I have 74K on the van and it does its job. But the transmission blew up at 74K (1 month after I paid it off). New transmission 2,600 bucks. Over all it has done a good job hauling the family until this. Never had replaced the breaks yet. I do have the oil leak but I just put some kitty liter under where I park it. It a Dodge I knew quality was poor but at the time it was the cheapest one with the 2 sliding doors. Buy the extended warranty because you will need a new transmission at some point. My mechanic guarantees it!!! Learn from my mistake. Or buy a Honda!

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  Both A Clunker & Junker Combined! - 1996 Dodge Stratus
  By achaulk - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is by far the worst that Ive owned. From the undersized rotors that need to be replaced annually, to the leaky engine, this car never ceases to need service. The 4-cylinder engine is notorious for head gasket failures as Ive had to have the dealer-replaced head gasket replaced yet again. Also, the oil galley plug, also originally replaced by the dealer, leaked again. Ive also had to replace the rear motor mount since the oil ate away at the rubber parts. I also have to contend with yearly rotor and brake replacement. Not only was the car poor to begin with, but each of items replaced by the dealer failed again. This vehicle is terrible!

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  sorry i bought it - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By Unhappy - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I should have bought the Honda Odyssey. I tried to save money, boy what a mistake! The transmition is not right, but they cant figure it out. I think they are good with their offers but you get what you pay for. Maybe I should have leased it...so I could dump it.

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  sorry i bought it - 2002 Dodge Caravan
  By unhappy - April 30 - 2:00 am

  I should have bought the Honda Odyssey. I tried to save money, boy what a mistake! The transmition is not right, but they cant figure it out. I think they are good with their offers but you get what you pay for. Maybe I should have leased it...so I could dump it.

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  Dodge Viper - 2002 Dodge Viper
  By irvine - April 29 - 2:00 am

  Horrible. Broke every 600 miles. Bad gas mileage. Approximately 13 mpg. Headlights never worked.