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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  What a Lemon! On to Toyota! - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Andrew561 - August 6 - 5:16 am

  We bought this second hand 1997 Grand Caravan LE AWD with 30k klms on it. Now it has 84,000 km on it and its literally falling apart. Rusting, brakes, transmission, phantom wipers, electrical, underbody rust etc....its simply pathetic the problems this relatively new car has. Already this year, weve dropped approx $3,000 into it, figuring its the cost, but a pattern was starting to develop where this thing was simply not reliable. Then the van starting mysteriously not starting or just going "click" and turning of!Then, the gears starting malfunctioning, put the van in Reverse and it goes forward! Drove it to Toyota the other day and traded it in...bubye

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  This Car Attracts Criminals - 2008 Dodge Charger
  By Antonio Solomon - June 14 - 8:30 pm

  I like my 08 Charger, but the car has been broken into too many times. The locking mechanism on these cars is very easy for criminals to manipulate. It is unfortunate that the manufacturers put this locking mechanism on the market. I stopped leaving things in the car after it was broken into for the first time in 2012. Here it is 2016 and the car is still being broken into. I am disheartened by the fact that my car was broken into on MLK day.

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  This car stinks - 2010 Dodge Journey
  By catwise4@yahoo.com - June 6 - 7:03 am

  I purchased this car after Thanksgiving and in less than a year of ownership I spent over $1200 on the same issue and still not fixed. Dealership doesnt seen to know what is wrong with it, horn honks at random, from time to time it goes dead and wont start, sometimes windows wont roll down or heater for this trip wont work, air pressure alert goes off for no reason.....This SUV has been the worst ....... unreliable, and right down irritating! Dodge is of no help

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  Cant wait to get rid of - 2006 Dodge Dakota
  By Matt - May 19 - 2:50 pm

  Wow this truck is a total dog. I have no clue why i bought it, I liked the looks of it and the factory sound system. Other than that, the truck has no power and its the HO 4.7. Fuel mileage is terrible, usually around 12 overall. Best Ive seen is 16 and that was on cruise on the highway. The ride is like riding in a semi. Any bump you hit about throws you out of the vehicle. I cant wait to get rid of this truck!! GMC Sierra here I come!!

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  New 2017 Grand Caravan surges and hesitates - 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By jje - February 27 - 12:27 pm

  I bought this 2017 Grand Caravan brand new with only 15 miles, day one I noticed the engine missing while running in park, when at stop with foot on brake it has a surge in the engine, while driving it has a miss in the engine and surges like the transmission is starting to slip. Took to dealer and was told they had to update the computer and was also told to NEVER use E85 even-though it is rated to use it, I told them that I had never used the E85 and was only using premium gas, I was then told that premium gas was as bad as E85 and causes the computer to act up. I was told to only use regular unleaded fuel and in a couple of tanks it should work itself out, well three tanks later is is not as bad as it was but it still acts up almost daily. What a POS, I have always been a Dodge Guy but wish I hadnt bought this one. Only getting 13 mpg in city and 19 or 20 on highway and I only have about 2,100 miles on it (yes that is actually 2,100 miles), I am about to trade it in on a Chevy or Ford...................................................

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  Awful, just awful! - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Bobby - November 18 - 9:53 am

  Run away from this car as soon as you see it. I thought I was getting a good deal because of the price and it is the worst buy I made! Resale value is horrendous and it is in the shop more than on the road.

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  [non-permissible content removed] - 2010 Dodge Journey
  By sanjuana cervantes - October 23 - 2:17 am

  bought this car used in 2017 the inside is great lots of storage is very clean started having problems right away blown heater hose had to buy the whole part of the replacement that comes with hose cost me 850 dollars then 3 days later the soleinoid goes out had to buy that from the dealer apparently their the only ones that carry the part how quaint then to install it 600 dollars then 2 days later the check engine light goes on iam at my wits end with this [non-permissible content removed] dont buy one ever.

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  Lemons Are Us - 2009 Dodge Caliber
  By Bill Rafajko - August 21 - 10:07 am

  This car is a dream lemon. If you love spending money; getting towed; frequently driving rentals and paying for them ... then this is the car for you. Ive decided to get the car painted lemon yellow as dreamy blue is a misnomer.

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  Buy Something else! - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By Bruce Campbell - March 31 - 8:31 am

  This vehicle cost more to operate than a Mercedes Benz which is why I dumped this car and went ahead and bought one. Dont waste your time or money on a Dodge Caliber unless you have time to spend at the repair shop and money to keep it running.

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  The worst care ever built - 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By chuckf - March 10 - 10:00 am

  50,000 miles and already on its 4th transmission. "5-Star" dealer ruined engine by crossthreading the engine mount bolts during the 1st transmission replacement and refuses to pay. Terrible brakes. Unreliable. Terrible service. Dont by anything from Chrysler and dont buy anything from Tobin Chrysler Dodge in Clinton, NY.