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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  This is a great car - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By bobbyd2 - April 12 - 5:13 pm

  This is my first Dodge purchase ever. I am very impressed with the power, room, and quality of this vehicle. I owned an Explorer for the last 5 years and cant find anything about this car that is less appealing than the explorer. I think Dodge has a real winner hear! Hope all stays well with it!

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  Too many repairs - 1996 Dodge Neon
  By Neonowner - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had my neon for about 7 mths. i bought it in 2002 with 63k miles. Within 2 months i had to replace a circuit board which costed $343 then i had an oil leak that costed $80. Now i am having a new valve put on i dont rem. what the valve was called. and motor mounts because they were corroded and cracked. this repair will cost over $600 dollars. take my advice dont buy a neon.. they are decent cars but you will end up spending as much money as you paid for it in repairs.

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  very nice - 1995 Dodge Viper
  By DREW - April 11 - 2:00 am

  It is a very nice car, it rides well and can get up and go. I would recomend it to anyone!

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  Never agian - 1999 Dodge Dakota
  By Going to Nissan - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I had to replace my catalytic converter 5 times. The first was before my first oil change. That one only lasted 6 months. Replace again, got another 6 months out of it. After the third one it was the new and improved model, yeah right. Lasted a year. Replace again lasted another year. Go to Midas or someplace similar that has a warranty on their products.

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  Buy a Mercury Villager - 1998 Dodge Caravan
  By Chris P - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this van because we got a good deal on it. Its turned out to be the worst vehical anyone in the family has ever owned. Handeling and cornering is very poor compared to the Ford Aerostar and Mercury Villager. At 55-60k miles we have replaced the following on our 1998 Caraven Sport Transmission and differential - $2200 2 Axels, both rear brake calipers, differential again, transmission sensor. Car left us stranded in PA with a "loose battery cable"...Funny we tightend all those when trying to get it to start. Not to mention the passenger sliding door is falling apart, interior panel is falling off, held on with one screw, rest is snaps.

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  Not Bad - 1999 Dodge Durango
  By dodger1234567 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  It is my second Dodge. First was the Colt, and I swore not to buy another Dodge after having it. But never say never... So I bought Durango in 99. Because it was the best for the price (3 row seats for around $30,000). Drive was fun, too. Well, 4 years and 96,000 miles later it still is. Yes, there is a slight problem with driver side window (intermitten). It was a problem with driver side lock (fixed). Oh, forgot to mention - I bought an extended warranty, so it was fixed under it. The pinging noice is because of the gas. I pull 92 now - no noice :). Mileage is a problem. I can get 15-16 MPG in city/highway, but I kind of expected that.

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  help me out - 2000 Dodge Durango
  By bestbuyworstgas - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2000 dodge durango r/t with that powerful gas guzzling 360. the truck drives like a champ, off roads like a monster. I am thinking about putting a monster lift kit on it but am battling that gas mileage. My 79 camaro with a 450hp motor gives almost twice the gas mileage on the highway then this baby of mine. im not sure what they could do to fix this, maybe add a turbo kit to improve the gas mileage.

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  Spacious but Unstable - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By Rocks - April 11 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle was handsome and got adequate fuel mileage. The drivers space was exceptionally well proportioned for taller drivers, but the bucket seat was crowded for wide shoulders. The vehicle handled poorly in marginal conditions (ice) and rolled over in a situation in which it should not have - a flat grass median at 45 mph. To Dodges credit, although the airbag did not deploy and the vehicle was totalled, the drivers space was not impinged and neither a canine passenger secured in the cargo area suffered no injury.

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  doge are lemons - 2002 Dodge Durango
  By tigger123 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2001 dodge durango and it has been nothing but trouble. It has spent more time in the shop then on the road.It had had trasmission problems, power stering problems,engine problems,power windows problems, ext. I would cleary recomend a FORD SUV to anybody!!!!!

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  V8 Madness - 2003 Dodge Dakota
  By BNASTEE - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought the SLT Plus Quad Cab 4.7 V8 4x4. Love almost everything about it except the fuel mileage, a whistling noise on the highway, and dirt seems to be able to enter the front door panels and sits above the rubber molding strip at the bottom of the door (same problem on the Durango and other Dakota models).