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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  2 Many problems Disappointed - 2009 Dodge Journey
  By renesmi - May 12 - 8:19 pm

  I really wanted this vehicle for starting my new family but all that started happening was problem after problem,I hate it now wish it didnt have so many problems.Have only 80,000 miles on my vehicle to have so many problems.

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  Wasted our money on this car - 2012 Dodge Journey
  By tparktrash - March 25 - 12:16 pm

  Journey with 5900 miles has been in the Dodge shop four times this month due to oil seapage from the transaxle output seal and differential cover. Back in the shop this morning due to likely leakage from the output seal on the passenger side. Last month it was the BCM that needed replacement. Dealership has been accomodating but this issue needs to be corrected.

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  rallye 1.4 auto stick poor fuel mileage - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By justinmccarter - March 23 - 8:36 pm

  well the first 800 miles of the dash showing 30mpg resulting in a hand calculated mpg of 21.4 mpg on my first three tanks, my truck that i traded in is more fuel efficient pulled 14.5mpg in my brutal commute, leaving my 08 king ranch and moving to the dodge costed me an extra 8400$ gain in loan which stipulated 32mpg would of had that loss consumed in 40k less miles, now with the 22mpg i should see the pay off at about 90k miles i have to drive the car before im left with 5 years of higher monthly loan payments, not worth it, not trying to rant either, fuel mileage really does no good for the car, radio quality poor like bad Bluetooth device but from all inputs fm,xm,cd

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  Continued engine problems-8th trip to dealership - 2013 Dodge Dart
  By dodgeowner44 - March 1 - 8:27 pm

  Ive owned my 2013 Dart just over 2 months now and have had to take it back to the dealership 8 times for temperature sensor problems with the engine. No fix available. Dealership, Tyson Motors in Shorewood,IL, will no longer document the check engine light re-setting in their computer system. Outside air temp 24 degrees out when check engine light came on this 8th time. Again, only taking it in now once per week to re-set the fault code otherwise it would be daily occurrence given the colder temperatures in Chicago.

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  2011 Journey AWD - Sixth Chrysler/Dodge Vehicle is a Disaster - 2011 Dodge Journey
  By michiganmom - February 11 - 2:39 pm

  I admit, I made the mistake of trading in an 08 Chrysler Aspen with no problems (60,000 miles) for the 2011 Journey AWD in the hopes of better gas mileage. DUMB!!! Gas Mileage: 12 avg. mpg in the city & 15.8 avg. mpg on the hwy. Sound System: Broken CD player, stations change when traveling over a bump, no sound due to poor wiring located under passenger seat. OE Tires: Worn pre-maturely, Over $1000.00 to replace on a lease, unusual size & hard to find. Remote keys and push button start not communicating - car would not start Constant brake noise and grinding after 100 miles. Accelerator stopped working while driving 70 on a hwy - car died on hwy with kids in the vehicle. Lemon??

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  Dont buy if you do not have money to repair - 2007 Dodge Caliber
  By george653 - February 11 - 11:19 am

  Do not throw your money, have a good design on the outside, but beware, I bought with 72,000 miles, clear title, apparently worked well, but a week broke the throttle sensor, cost plus labor $ 550, I changed the spark plugs and the engine turned on the light, I had to replace the PCM $ 2,000, you have to use special and expensive antifreeze or breaks your engine is manufactured with the worst materials, the quality is terrible, and is so today I stopped producing this model, to complete my wife ran headlong into a post (in the middle of the car) in a parking lot, came to within a foot and a half, hopefully not more thing happened, but never opened airbags, must die to see if the bags work well or not.

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  not sure yet. - 2013 Dodge Journey
  By marioa23 - December 30 - 9:29 pm

  I bought the 2013 dodge journey and fell in love with it but after about 300 miles on the odometer the vehicle started pulling to the right . My first thought was that the tire pressure was the cause but tire pressure was ok. Also the vehicle started riding rough and so I took it back to the dealer. 2 days later I picked up the vehicle from the dealer and according to the work order description some adjustment had been made to correct the problem. But as soon as I drove off the dealer I realized that the problem was still there only this time was not as bad as before. I bought a new vehicle to avoid going to the mechanic but ironically Ill be going back a second time already.

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  well, it Looks Cool! But Eh... - 2006 Dodge Charger
  By rickyryan - December 7 - 11:39 pm

  It looks good, it feels good. So good!.until you let the charger run at idle for 10 minutes in your drive way, and bye bye sweet machine. i have an 06 charger R/T. At 92,000 miles(always babied) my radiator fans failed, causing the motor to heat up so quickly at idle it dropped not one, but two valve seats,Quickly destroying all that was my HEMI. $4,000 later, im still having issues with sticky lifters, my flex disk in the rear end snapped, new tie rod needed in the front, starter is bad. Disappointing seeing that Dodge has always been a favorite for me. Just be cautious if you purchase one. I know ever car is different(even being the same model)but still..beware code P0300! Random Misfire

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  I must have the exception... - 2000 Dodge Durango
  By wilddaisy - November 21 - 2:58 pm

  I bought my Durango brand new in 2000. LOVED it for the most part. Routine oil changes and maintenance, ran great. After 100k miles, replaced water pump, heater core, radiator, transmission, fuel pump, catalytic converter, and multiple sensors. In 2008 found out it had major issues with wires corroding in wiring harness (reason for blowing sensors). Spent $2500 for temp fix (permanent fix $5000 plus labor) Chrysler told me this was common in the Durango but not enough for a recall. Just changed the alternator this week and still have lots of computer issues. It only has 157k miles on it now....Am beginning to despise it. Think its time to let it die and get something new Im afraid

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  fun car when it will start - 2009 Dodge Challenger
  By bsisco - November 2 - 8:21 pm

  beware, after a year of good reliability my car like many others has developed wireless ignition node issues.W.I.N module. Sometimes the car will start and run and other days it will not. It started this at 36000 miles. After weeks of online info browsing Ive come to the conclusion that this issue is rarely resolved correctly at the dealers and is not an issue I can fix myself do the the complicated programming and tools needed to do the job. As for now, I pay a payment for a car that is no where near as reliable as my 2nd car...a 2000 mustang with over 200,000 trouble free miles on it. This is my first dodge product and clearly my last.