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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  dodge no more! - 1997 Dodge Stratus
  By dodgenomore - April 26 - 2:00 am

  got on an employee discount, but have paid way more in repairs. tranny leak, head gasket failed twice, water pump failed, blown engine at 102,000. some city driving, mostly highway miles. no relief from company or dealer

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  Styled well, but poor quality - 1998 Dodge Durango
  By CMON - April 20 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my Durango in 98, The body style is looks good. Problems with my Durango - All 4 window moldings rusted and Chrysler nor the dealer would replace them. The differential started grinding around 50K miles. A loud clunk noise when put in Reverse. Dealer says its normal (their answer for everything) I have tested other manufactures Chevy, Ford, Lexus and its not normal. The company only cares about the sytle not the quality. Planning on Selling and buying a Lexud RX-300.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By EX-Neon Owner - April 14 - 2:00 am

  I am trading my neon tomorrow. The milage is at 96,900 and it has cracked a third head gasket. The first one was under 36,000 the second at 80K and then this one two days ago. I asked my mechanic if I could leave the car in his lot over night with the keys in it, and pray somebody would be stupid enough to steal it! The car is comfortable inside, and cute outside, but that is it. I have had exhaust issues, had the valve cover gasket replaced, Oxygen sensor replaced, and other things that I cannor even remember. It has no "get up and go", brakes lock on wet roads, and goes throug head gaskets like socks.

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  Durango a problem - 1998 Dodge Durango
  By Thomas M. Fink - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Rides like a tank. have replaced the ball joints at 37,000 miles and the heater core at 47,000 miles both were major expenses. One of the worst 4x4 trucks I have ever owned. Dealership argues with you on everything. They had the gall to say ball joints on a four wheel drive go out about 35,000 to 40,000 miles. If this is the case Dodge should start making a different product other than trucks. Try washing machines it would probably have the same ride as their trucks.

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  No support from Dodge - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By Nikki Hailey - March 28 - 2:00 am

  The paint has been coming off of my Dodge Intrepid since it was 3 years old. This car has been garage kept most of it life. I have had transmission problems, steering problems, overheating problems, and A/C problems. The hood has never stayed up by itself and the hub caps came off until they were replaced with Intrepid wheels. The A/C vents and the cup holders were a really bad design. All of this happen before it got to 100000 miles. The one good thing I can say is that at 14700 miles it is still going down the road.

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  A Lemon! Avoid this Car!!! - 1997 Dodge Stratus
  By Brian C - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This car is a lemon. Avoid it at all costs. At 40k the transmission leaked. 50k miles, head gasket failed. 54k the engine leaked oil again. 57k the valve cover gasket leaked. This car is poorly assembled.

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  I with the other worst car i ever bought - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By Julie - March 25 - 7:53 pm

  one year old, new radio replaced, new brakes and rotars, mirrors replaced, strips on door entry, break lights and tail lights fixed twice, i guess can figure out problem because out again with no tail lights and the dealer can seem to fing the urgent issue even though i am driving around with my kids in the car, sure i will wait another week again for the past few month to get my car in to have it looked at. and trans in slipping at time, oh they cant never feel anything when they drive it around the parking lot and if that not enough 5 complaint that when turn in or out of a parkinspot, driveway loud noise, sound like a pump prb, and the response ikeep gettingis all new cars sound like that

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  Intrepid SE base - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By turnertom - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Big interior, wierd exterior. Base v6 adaquet, could use more power. Handles well. Lots of road noise, Nice ergos, nicely shaped front seats for tall people. huge trunk, low beams weak, HVAC fan noisey. 20k miles and no problems. Hope it holds together.

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  JUNK! This car was a nightmare! - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By Cshel - March 18 - 12:34 pm

  Bought this thing brand new...What a disappointment! Amen to the previous statement from another user about ELECTRICAL problems! Mine ate batteries like crazy...Usually the car was disabled because it would not start...Had a little transmission trouble, interior problems, seats splitting, dash cracking all under 20k...Traded for a FORD! (BTW the electrical problems were never fixed)Wanted rid of this piece of junk before the warranty expired!!!

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  Hunk of Junk! - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By Fed-Up-Family - March 12 - 7:47 pm

  We have sunk so much money into this van. It has been the most unreliable vehicle we have ever owned. It handles OK, but is very loud (outside noise and under the hood). It squeaks and squeals so much that we dont know when something is really wrong with it. The removable seats are too heavy, and didnt even include headrests for the backseats. We have had to replace the transmission, rear main seal, and now the air conditioner has just gone up. We are fed up with this hunk of junk!