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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  I Must Have Got A Lemon - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By worpt1 - July 12 - 11:24 pm

  Ive got 5000 miles on this car and have had nothing but issues since day one. There has been a consistent rattle from the front doors that has yet to be fixed. My headliner is sagging and fraying. My interior brake light is falling down. The transmission dropped at 4000 miles. The dome light fell off and had to be taped up. My right rear turn signal chooses when it wants to work. This car has just been a piece of crap.

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  What a hearbreak! - 2013 Dodge Charger
  By kreb17 - June 28 - 7:22 pm

  Purchased the vehicle in March and enjoyed driving it until the transmission went at 5,000 miles. Still waiting for new transmission and its been about a month. Very dissatisfied with Dodge.

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  My 2011 Dodge Avenger is JUNK - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By don419 - June 24 - 6:24 pm

  I bought my 2011 Dodge Avenger New (23 miles on it) I started having transmission problems at 500 miles, clunking,jerking, its scary sometimes, it now has 21000 miles been in shop 14 times, still no fixed, Dodge Corp. says all dodges do it , its normal.. there liars to me the main dodge mechanics came on feb 4 and checked my car out I don`t know how when it was in my garage on that day..I feel that anyone wanting to buy a car Stay Away From Dodge there Junk..this is my first dodge & last.. Dodge transmission mechanic told me the computer needs updates witch Dodge doesn`t have, last Tuesday Beth at Dodge Corp. told me it was a one driver car ! Liars , Liar`s , Liar`s . Very Sad Com

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  Not the best, Not the worst - 2005 Dodge Dakota
  By 350rocket - June 22 - 11:01 pm

  I have the 3.7 with just over 80,000 miles. it runs phenomenally considering the amount of torture ive put it through. It does lack power and torque. however, it is a reliable vehicle. the 4x4 to be quite honest should be used strictly for what it was designed and not mud running. I get just over 11 miles to a gallon, which is disappointing but, again this thing just keeps running. The only real issues Ive came across are having to replace the entire front suspension and all four o2 sensors. I highly recommend that if you are to own one of these trucks especially the 2005 that you have advanced knowledge in mechanics, otherwise you might as well just give your paycheck the garage.

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  love/hate 09 Journey owner - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By skymel13 - June 18 - 10:36 pm

  I bought my 09 Dodge Journey used in July 2009 thats where my love started for the Journey. Everything great- loved that it was a 3 seater and a v6 engine. My Journey took our family on many family outings. My hate for the Journey started around 40,000 miles where it started to have starting problems, everything powered worked and it would start after 5 minutes. At, 50,000 miles starting issues again more often and taking longer to start. Took to dealer 3 times in one month. Told it was the battery (wrong). Starter and alternator good. problem: WIN Module and FOB key price to fix w/o ext warranty $800-$1000. I have ext warr paid $100. Please current Journey owners buy the ext warranty.

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  09 Journey probs - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By jhernandez5 - June 13 - 2:09 pm

  Has anyone found a solution to why the Journey doesnt restart after its been parked? All I hear is maybe the Shifer, IOD fuse, some thing electrical. I recently purchased a used Journey 09, in Chicago, one week later it didnt want to start. Same thing like others, key in, lights, radio good, but no turnover. Not even a choke. Wait about 20 min then it starts. Put in Nuetral, then back to park then turn key and it starts up, sometimes. What is the SOLUTION?

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  5.7 Hemi is a lemon Crysler will not recall or rebate replacement - 2004 Dodge Durango
  By mattalderson - June 12 - 10:18 am

  We have a 2004 durango slt 5.7L with a hole in the block. This car was extremly well maintained. The car eats roters, has had never ending electrical problems and spun a main bearing at 160000 mils. It has never missed an oil change, the oil comes out as clean as it was put in. Crysler will not recall this problem or rebait the replacement. After serching for a replacement I have found that this seems to be a very very common problem with the 5.7, 4.7, and the 6.0.. Do not Buy A Dodge Durango or any Mopar Hemi with out asking or resurching this motor. I have lost 8,000.00 dollers on this vehical. I will never buy a Mopar again!

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  MOTOR MOUNT - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By allan3590 - June 11 - 8:31 pm

  We purchased the 2009 Journey back in June 2008 after 5 or 6 months heard this noise on the right front and told the mechanic about it they checked it and said it is the ware of the vehicle and left it at that when we would travel around on the highway and we would here this noise and after we got the vehicle up to 70 miles an hour the sound would go away and we left it at that well we have had that noise and finally in 2013 still have that noise when we would travel around at 40 to 50 miles an hour. my mechanic looked under the carriage of the car and advised me that the motor mount on the right side was totally collapsed and that is why we had this noise for the last 5 years . Cost $275.

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  Disappointed - 2011 Dodge Charger
  By 96tahoe - May 23 - 5:25 pm

  I bought this car with 28K miles as a certified used car. Certified? At 33K the Cat converter failed. At 42K the whole Cyclinder head has to be replaced, at least that is what they say as of now. My car has seen the dealer so many times that the rental car person now knows my name, number and credit card number by heart. Im dissapointed and thank god for my extended warranty. Now I have to make a decision to trade in this lemon or stick with it and hope something major does not break.

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  Pick a different SUV - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By rogalski - May 19 - 6:14 pm

  Look at any other model, this one has been nothing but headaches. The windshield has been replaced 3 times probably due to the angle of the windshield not deflecting debris. The gas mileage is terrible and the "worst" issue is the faulty ignition system, it has an intermittent starting issue that the dealer cannot seem to repair. I have had the fuse box software updated and replaced the starter. Dodge is aware there are issues but either cannot or will not fix it. Pick a different make or model you wont regret it.