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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  2005 Dodge Neon SXT - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Eliot Andreu - October 4 - 4:55 pm

  I have a 2005 Dodge Neon SXT with 158,000 miles and it runs, drives, and performs great. I sold my last one which was a 2003 with 102,000 miles and it was an excellent car as well. People say bad things about the Neon, but I have nothing but positive things to say, because they are great little gas savers, that are easy to work on, they get great gas mileage, and as long as you change your oil regularly, you shouldn't have any problems.

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  Lousy Radio and Worse Customer Service - 2022 Dodge Ram 3500
  By Just Me - December 22 - 9:48 am

  Love the truck: Hate the radio: Zero customer service. I have owned this truck for just over one year. It has been in the shop four times (1 - 4 days each time) due to the radio will not hold the preset stations. Constant pain in the ... to reset the stations. Ram's continuous message: The next software update will correct the issue. There have been several software updates with zero resolution. The last conversation with Ram Customer Service: "The engineers are working hard on the fix and I'll have to wait for a software update." Apparently Ram needs new engineers if they can't fix a radio in over a year. Can't trust Ram to fix a radio, what if it's something serious? Reckon it's time to sell and get a different brand with this type of customer support.

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  2007 dodge nitro SLT owner’s review - 2007 Dodge Nitro
  By Jordan - August 24 - 7:16 am

  I’ve been a owner of a 2007 dodge nitro slt for about three months now which i bought with 82k miles on it for 9k. I’ve already had to replace my entire exhaust, brake lights, and my front turn signals outside of fluid changes. If you can find one for less than $10k with decent milage i would buy one again but be aware that electrical/wiring malfunction will happen as this car ages but overall it has a stong engine that won’t break down as long as your changing your oil. Suspension feels great as well i live in a area with lots of potholes and it takes them as well as a truck would.Radio system is outdated but works really well it has a impressive bass and audio system on it and comes with an aux adapter. Gas milage is average at best but that’s every SUV. Overall i’d rate it 6.5/10 i’d say 9 but the wiring issues i’ve had to fix for my model nitro within just a few months drops a few points.

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  M - 2021 Dodge Dakota
  By George ONeal - April 22 - 7:37 pm

  I bought my Dodge Dakota new in 2005 and it as over 100,000 miles on it and is still running great

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  Heater core - 2011 Dodge Avenger
  By Grorge - April 12 - 7:54 pm

  Had to replace heater core heat on driver side cold on passenger side

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  Best and strongest car ever built - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Bryson - March 28 - 1:46 pm

  I have had this car for almost 2 years and its been amazing unfortunately I wrecked it but after I wrecked it I still drive it everyday the only con is the timing belt i need to replace it. But other than that this is the perfect first car and it is my first car my mom owned 4 of them before I got mine and she loved hers they are super reliable and wont leave you stranded (even after its wrecked). I have the 2005 SXT 2.0 couldnt I make ex civic owners look bad with this car I even have the 5 speed manual trans and it makes alot of other cars look sad. I love the way the front ened looks too it looks like a happy little car as its leaving you behind. Oh and great fuel mileage too with todays gas prices it only costs 50 to fill it. And to all the Neon haters out there yall can suck it. just learn how to work on cars and learn whats wrong with the car before you buy it

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  SELL IT - NO RESOLUTION FOR FUEL PUMP RECALL AFTER IT DESTROYS TRUCK - 2019 Dodge Ram 2500
  By STAUFFER - January 26 - 1:49 pm

  Dodge Ram - WARNING - If you have a 2019 or 2020 Dodge Ram Diesel. GET RID OF IT. Our 2019 with less than 30,000 miles has been at the dealership for 45 days now with NO RESOLUTION. We were stranded on the Interstate for two hours - IT JUST DIED AS WE WERE DOING 75MPH, - we are blessed noone was right behind us. The "warranty" that is supposed to be top rated is useless. The case managers, supervisors, do not return calls and the poor dealership service managers are left to deal with things that the "engineers" don't know how to fix. THE FUEL PUMP RECALL DOESN'T HAVE A FIX AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR ALL THE DAMAGE THAT COMES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP GOES OUT AND SENDS METAL SHAVINGS ALL THROUGH INJECTION SYSTEM. Our last update after 45 days (and paying two truck notes) is that "STAR" engineers have no idea how to fix this damage. We have been without a vehicle all this time. SO IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE, GET RID OF IT BEFORE YOU ARE LEFT IN A MESS LIKE THIS!

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  2019 Dodge Grand Caravan - 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan
  By Debora Kelly - November 12 - 7:43 am

  I had a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and the automatic doors would keep shutting with an object in them like a body. I was bruised pretty good once because the door shut on me took it in to a dodge dealer multiple times could not find the problem. Now the 2019 is having the same issue it closed on someone the other day but she was able to get out of it without injury. This problem could severely injure or kill a child. I even called dodge corporate office and am being told they will check it 1 more time and file a "star" and then close my case. I lost $5000 on the 2016 because of the door problems and fear of injury and pain from having to pull on the automatic doors that were not working properly now the 2019 is doing the same thing and again Dodge is not going to fix the issue. This is dangerous but they have my money and I have the van so it is not their problem it is mine.

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  Dodge Ram front ends - 2017 Dodge Ram 2500
  By Brian tompkins - April 27 - 9:06 pm

  Pay $60,000 for truck been back to dealer 3 times before 100,000 miles. Now at 107,000 miles paying out of pocket for front end works. Would not recommend dodge. I am on 3rd one in 20 years and last one they have fell way off and do not back up there trucks. Front ends are main problem and expensive to fix. Not to mention hard to get miles out tires due to abnormal where. Will not own another.

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  BEST CAR EVER - 2005 Dodge Neon
  By Andrew Flowers - February 9 - 4:05 pm

  I gotta be honest, the Dodge Neon is the freaking best car ever made. I got mine around 12 years ago, at 109k miles. I have never sent this for repair, only regular maintenance. I have driven this in the city (most of the time), and on the highway occasionally. Mine is the SXT 2005, 5-speed automatic. Engine has an exellent performance for a car with 140k miles. Transmission has never given me any issues. No leaks at all. I can even beat the hell out of any shitty Civics/Corollas in the highway whenever they wanna pull up, even with the newer models. This has been fantastic, Ive never owned a better car than this, and Ive owned lot of cars. Even now, I prefer driving long distances in my Neon than in any of the similar-range cars that exist. Dodge really nailed it with this model, and Im even looking forward to get another one, the SRT-4.