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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  Split Decision on this car - 1997 Dodge Neon
  By BigSAC - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Its got a nice exterior look and decent accelaration for a car in its size/class. The doors feel cheap. The big problems that I experienced were reat oil seal and then a blown head gasket, around the 65-75 thousand mile timeframe. Ask any mechanic, the head gasket will blow, and while the replacement gasket is improved, it will blow also. Each of these repairs will cost $1000+.

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  Problems since day one!!! - 2001 Dodge Stratus
  By triks - June 4 - 2:00 am

  The brakes on my car have always been sqeaking since day one. It has gone through 4 diffrent sun roofs because they all stop working or get stuck. The trim on the shifter started to discolor. THE A/C is weak the CD player skips and all this before 36,000 miles can you belive this. Very poor quality and I thoght I was getting a deal on a fully loaded R/T Coupe (just headache)

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  Got a Hemi? NO! its a Honda Engine! - 1999 Dodge Dakota
  By Crohill - May 24 - 2:00 am

  I will not be teaching my child how to say Hemi! My child will be saying"HONDA" As I just purchased a new Saturn Vue with the Honda Engine. I will never buy a Dodge Product again. all before 95000 miles, HERE WE GO.... Power steering pump, water pump, fan clutch, ball joints, transmission... this is way to much to be happening to this vehicle. To prove my point further, my wife drove this truck so gentle, at 95,000 it still has the original brakes. STAY AWAY FROM DODGE IF YOU WANT QUALITY!!!!!!

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  Good, but..... - 2004 Dodge Neon
  By luislll - May 21 - 10:00 am

  My options were the SRT-4, Impreza WRX (Or STI), Mitsubishi evolution. I drove the srt-4, good power for the money, but is not confortable, I felt tire after the test drive, the seats were not the best, also I didnt like the turn radio. I have decided for the Impreza, now Im thinking between the WRX or the STI; I know that the difference on price between those models and teh SRT4 are big; but if you are going to spend more than 20K (besides the modifications), you need the best.

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  Cant drive in snow or rain - 2001 Dodge Stratus
  By Dana - May 21 - 2:00 am

  This car has terrible turing radius. I have only had the car 2 years, and the lettering on the sides of the car is peeling off. It handles terrible in the snow and the rain.(hydroplanes).

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  A Van alternative - 2000 Dodge Durango
  By Evergreen - May 20 - 2:00 am

  For hauling a batch of kids, going camping, skiing, and trips to Costco its great. However, ita a pig on gas (13.8 mpg over 80K miles) and not maintenance free. The exh manifold bolts have broken, the drive shaft U- joint replaced, door locks replaced 2 times a new power steering pump and 3 sets of brakes. It has also depreciated $20K over 4 years making this a great used value, at my expense! I wont buy another new one.

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  2WEEKS WITH ACARAVAN - 2005 Dodge Caravan
  By GORDON - May 19 - 2:00 am

  PROBLEM W/DEALER.DID NOT PROVIDE WHAT WE WANTED(AFTER WE HAD ALREADY SIGNED FOR THE CAR"to be delivered that afternoon- actually it was next day"). Too much corner cutting w/plastic: ie wheel covers-cant read tire pressure had a reaL"FLAP"over the cd player.previous vehicle had headphones this one didnt.

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  Dependible - 1995 Dodge Spirit
  By Less spirited - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I drove my Spirit 100K in a little over three years. Very dependable and reasonably thrifty. V6 was peppy but limited by transmission and suspension. Interior was OK, seats left much to be desired for both comfort and support. Needs cam belts every 60 K or so and water pumps about the same time - water pump is cam belt driven. Had the famous Chrysler paint flakin problem when driven to Goodwill.

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  Good car gone bad. - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By MichelleRo - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car from my dad, who had bought the car brand new. He had problems with the water pump and air conditioning right from the get-go. Nine years later- the car has had five water pumps replaced, a new timing belt two times.. and now there is water leaking into my head gasket and the sway bar needs to be replaced. The car overall the last five years has turned into a piece of junk.

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  Very Reliable - 1994 Dodge Shadow
  By chgoken - May 16 - 2:00 am

  The car has run well. Maintenance at regular intervals required no major repairs. Major items came around 100000 miles