Why does Dodge have such a bad rep?

[Slingblade]

I like many of you have owned several Dodges over the years and loved every one of them. Why then does every review I read from JD Power, Consumer Reports and all of the internet based ones knock Dodge so bad. I don't feel that the Rams interior is cheap or lacks fit and finish. Virtualy every aspect of the Dodge is heavily critisized and for what? Yes I know that YEARS ago Crysler had some major issues, but that was years ago. What's gives here? Shoot it's like a conspiracy against Dodge, and damn near everyone is involved.

 

[CStockton]

Let them bash away.

It thins the herd of of all the chuckleheads that are stupid enough to base their truck buying choice based on what a magazine says.

I started my search ready to buy a Ford. In fact if I was buying a gasser today I'd buy a Ford.

But I wanted a diesel and the only logical choice was the Cummins.

 

[MHowell]

As far as the interior is concerned, I agree with the magazines. The Ford has a much nicer interior and probably is more comfy and cozy.

I didn't buy my truck for any of that stuff though.

 

[Slingblade]

Am older gentleman told me once that Dodge trucks were the best kept secret there was in the truck business. I don't agree that it is a secret. Seems more like common sense. Some people have it and some don't. I do happen to like both Ford and Chevy but prefer the Dodge. Shoot I have got into heated debates with a few guys before not about what truck was the best but that Dodge was a POS. None of these guys had ever owned one just knew of some guy that had problems. It's crazy, I don't get where the hate comes from. Ignorance I guess. I don't read those truck of the year BS articles unless they include some new model that I want info on. You can just about guess what truck will win if you look at the advertisments on the back cover. Oh well, as long as Dodge makes trucks with a Cummins, or another reputable Diesel I'll buy.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

the 80's and 90's killed dodge, they were ran by a bunch of idiots that didn't care and mercedes really didn't care either they just wanted to make sure mercedes was in the black by putting chrysler in the red. And if you look at most of those magazines/sites, they are heavly advertised with chevy ads.

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

Well it just goes to show that there are a lot of stupid people out there. Don't believe the hype about chevy and ford.

 

[fox]

It irked me for years when chevy had the 700r4 transmission, the chevy guys said dodge trannies were junk.

A chevy dealer showed me a Factory buletin that said 50% of them were rebuilt before 12,000 miles!!!!

The dodges were going 10 times that.

Walk into a chevy dealer, driving a dodge dakota, and they were quick to point out the frames weren't fully boxed, therefore would bend if loaded to gvw. I asked them to show me a chevy that was fully boxed. They couldn't.

When I drove chevies, they would rust or need starters, waterpumps, alternators before 50,000 miles.

My first Dodge was traded at 133,000 ( for another Dodge) and non of those items had been changed. Been driving them ever since!!!

I choose to drive what has been good to me, and cost effective.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I don't mind the negative stigma... keeps prices down (odd that depreciation is FAR less with a Dodge though... hmm... )

 

[Slingblade]

I had a new Chevy S-10 a few years ago. The truck sat 1. 5 inches lower on one side. I took the truck to two different dealerships and they could not fix it or even find the reason why. They contacted the big guys at GM and the answer I got was that 1. 5 inches were within factory spec. WTF. Never again willl I buy one.

 

[BHolm]

I still hear that BS from Ford and Chevy owners. I spent a whole day in my buddies new King Ranch 6. 4 PS crew cab. The quality of the leather with that particular package is nice but really the rest of it dates to 1999, the last time I bought a new Ford. I was just not that impressed with it, nor is he. It gets 14 mpg and has been in the shop three times in 12,000 miles for repairs, one of which left him without it for over a week. I also had two Chevys with the duramax/allison combo. I had a bunch of trouble with the 2001, and the 2003 cooked its fancy transmission before 35k miles, and never worked hard. Granted, I liked the seats and the stereo system better in the 2003 Chev than my 2003 Dodges but by 2006 that changed. I like the seats in the '06 and up better and if you opt for the Infinity system it is as good as the other guys factory systems. I also have owned four CTDs with 48re auto's, and all of them worked perfectly, so the auto trans gripe doesn't fly with me. I had less trouble with four 48re's than the two allisons I owned.



My '06 rides better than the new Ford, pulls better, gets better milage and I like the interior better. The GM trucks are for guys who really do not want trucks but cars that can tow their bass boat to the lake. I can't complin about the 99 F350 I had and would have bought another but the 6. 0 and 6. 4 diesels are junk. My Dodges have all been very reliable, i would own something else if they had not been because I too buy what works, period.



I have also become a Cummins addict Nothing pulls and performs like the CTD. The Dodges are real trucks IMO, solid axle front suspension on 4x4s, still easy to find manual transmissions, and a medium duty truck engine underhood.



I also think it depends on where you live. On the western slope of Colorado I see one heck of a lot more Dodge trucks than the other two combined. Trucks here lead a hard life running mountain passes, working ranches and oilfields, with everything from fridgid Gunnison, where my truck started easily at -40F not plugged in, to the scorching high desert summer heat in Grand Junction. These truck outperform the rest and are dead reliable doing it. It is no mistake I see so many.



Let the city dwelling critics have their carlike preferences. Those of us who need or want TRUCKS know what to buy

 

[WAckerman]

if you look at most of those magazines/sites, they are heavly advertised with chevy ads.

Thats the ticket right there. Are the magazines going to cut thier own throats by bashing on the advertiser that spends the most with them regardless of how thier product performs? I don't think so. IMHO there is no such thing as an "unbiased" review in a magazine, TDR not included.



I've owned at least one of all the brands. Ford was the worst by far. Mine was a 2000 F-250, back when Ford had bought up all the dealerships around here. I was treated like crap by all the service reps. I was even told I needed to learn how to drive a stick by one rep... funny how the independent dealer replaced that transmission a couple weeks later.



I love my Dodge, and I like the interior. I suits me. Its personal preference. Some will like it others won't. So be it.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As far as the interior is concerned, I agree with the magazines. The Ford has a much nicer interior and probably is more comfy and cozy.

NOT A CHANCE!



I've driven my '02 days on end, across the USA and back, towing our 5er, and with a bad back and 2 surgeries - all in complete comfort!



Been in my brother-in-laws '06 Ford for a half dozen similar drives, and both HIS and MY backs were killing us at the end of the day. Anyone THINKING that the Ford interior, sheetmetal or suspension/ride is any better than Dodge, just plain isn't looking closely, or ridden in each for any period of time, especially long-haul!



Dodge's poor reputation dates back to the 60's and 70's, when they WERE cheaper and poorer - and it will take YEARS for DC to overcome that reputation - just as it will for buyers to finally, grudgingly, admit that the Ford Diesels have been junky FAILURES, compared to Cummins and Duramax



And even if the Fords WERE better in interiors and ride (which they are NOT!) - that isn't much consolation while sitting along the road waiting for the tow truck! :-laf:-laf

 

[AClayton]

I still hear that BS from Ford and Chevy owners. I spent a whole day in my buddies new King Ranch 6. 4 PS crew cab. The quality of the leather with that particular package is nice but really the rest of it dates to 1999, the last time I bought a new Ford. I was just not that impressed with it, nor is he. It gets 14 mpg and has been in the shop three times in 12,000 miles for repairs, one of which left him without it for over a week. I also had two Chevys with the duramax/allison combo. I had a bunch of trouble with the 2001, and the 2003 cooked its fancy transmission before 35k miles, and never worked hard. Granted, I liked the seats and the stereo system better in the 2003 Chev than my 2003 Dodges but by 2006 that changed. I like the seats in the '06 and up better and if you opt for the Infinity system it is as good as the other guys factory systems. I also have owned four CTDs with 48re auto's, and all of them worked perfectly, so the auto trans gripe doesn't fly with me. I had less trouble with four 48re's than the two allisons I owned.



My '06 rides better than the new Ford, pulls better, gets better milage and I like the interior better. The GM trucks are for guys who really do not want trucks but cars that can tow their bass boat to the lake. I can't complin about the 99 F350 I had and would have bought another but the 6. 0 and 6. 4 diesels are junk. My Dodges have all been very reliable, i would own something else if they had not been because I too buy what works, period.



I have also become a Cummins addict Nothing pulls and performs like the CTD. The Dodges are real trucks IMO, solid axle front suspension on 4x4s, still easy to find manual transmissions, and a medium duty truck engine underhood.



I also think it depends on where you live. On the western slope of Colorado I see one heck of a lot more Dodge trucks than the other two combined. Trucks here lead a hard life running mountain passes, working ranches and oilfields, with everything from fridgid Gunnison, where my truck started easily at -40F not plugged in, to the scorching high desert summer heat in Grand Junction. These truck outperform the rest and are dead reliable doing it. It is no mistake I see so many.



Let the city dwelling critics have their carlike preferences. Those of us who need or want TRUCKS know what to buy

Few people ever actually buy a vehicle based on what they read about it in a magazine. Many people are concerned with numbers... . Ford and Chevy have always had the hp wars. Race this;hook a trailer to that;put a load in the bed and tow this up a hill. Big deal!! For years it has been about how fast you can go with the load or trailer in or behind your truck. And for many years,the 'numbers'for Dodge just weren't there. The Cummins is a truck engine and the others are light truck motors. These stupid tests still go on and although Dodge is now in the 'numbers' war,the CTD just flat out cannot be beat when you pull a heavy load for the service life of the truck. I don't care how fast I can tow it in the quarter mile,I want to know how long it will last in the long haul!!



Alan

 

[B.G. Smith]

The main reason Dodge gets a bad rap is BS walks and money talks. I have had Dodge vehicles for years, drove a 77 200,000 miles, was still going strong when it got totaled. bg

 

[AClayton]

NOT A CHANCE!



I've driven my '02 days on end, across the USA and back, towing our 5er, and with a bad back and 2 surgeries - all in complete comfort!



Been in my brother-in-laws '06 Ford for a half dozen similar drives, and both HIS and MY backs were killing us at the end of the day. Anyone THINKING that the Ford interior, sheetmetal or suspension/ride is any better than Dodge, just plain isn't looking closely, or ridden in each for any period of time, especially long-haul!



Dodge's poor reputation dates back to the 60's and 70's, when they WERE cheaper and poorer - and it will take YEARS for DC to overcome that reputation - just as it will for buyers to finally, grudgingly, admit that the Ford Diesels have been junky FAILURES, compared to Cummins and Duramax



And even if the Fords WERE better in interiors and ride (which they are NOT!) - that isn't much consolation while sitting along the road waiting for the tow truck! :-laf:-laf

That's not a very good statement... . sometimes vehicles just brake down. My 01' needed to be towed and you're right... it was not fun sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. But thanks to TDR,all of my fuel delivery issues have been solved. BTW,my interioir is comfortable also,but I wish they did design a better dash... one that didn't crack.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

the funny thing about the horsepower wars is dodge is just sitting back and waiting for chevy and ford to slit their own throats and dodge will just bump up the horsepower with them, they have the room to play and they know what they are doing, this was from a cummins rep. that was at the dealership when I was still there. I heard ford and chevy are snapping head bolts trying to get that much hp out of their engines

 

[DHayden]

I test drove a Ford in 2001 so I could make an educated decision on what to buy. I was not impressed in the least with Ford's interior, it seemed very cheap to me. Things may have changed but ive heard the cheap stories about dodge interiors and I just dont get it.

 

[ToddK]

The worst part,imo, of the dodge interiors are the seats. I have an 06 slt cloth. They are terrible, not enough foam. The frame can be felt with minor pressure. I have had a 96 and 02 f-250. Both of which were very good as far as seat comfort. I could care less with the rest of the cab, dash etc. However, I would get the Dodge again for the CTD an G56. My last PSD auto was a joke. The largest thing I towed with it for 105,000 mi's was a 6x12 enclosed w/ tools. At 13,000 mi's transmission went out. Then again with 110,000 towing my 12k toyhauler. It never did tow well power wise. I think the 7. 3 was ok, but I think that the transmission was robbing more power than it should have

 

[SHobbs]

My 00 has been the best truck I have ever owned bar none. Infact I have had less trouble than most here. Eight years and 216k miles I have only put $2500 in this truck for mechanical failures not including routine stuff. One vp44, 2 L. P's, APPS and a front end rebuild, thats it. The interior is worn the dash is looking like swiss cheese and the seats are still comfortable although the drivers side needs attention. No wind noise, rattles squeaks or growns at all and the power windows and locks still work.



This year a new paint job as well as a new interior will be done. Once thats finished I will drive this thing till I can no longer get parts for it.

 

[RaymondSmith]

I confess, I may be part of the problem. I have 49K miles on mine and it has been in the shop three times for the transmission. The last time it was completely rebuilt and I am still having issues. I use the truck as a highway commuter and drive it easy. My hand calculated mileage is right around 20mpg which I believe illustrates how it is driven. I do tow my 8K pound boat about six times a year but that is only for 100 miles at a time up and down I-5. I have to say that my dealer has gone out of their way to make me happy however the problems persist. As a result I tell anybody who will listen.



That said, I have been around for a while and have owned many, many vehicles, both foreign and domestic. Every single one of them has had a problem of some sort. The determining factor for satisfaction as far as I am concerned is how the problems are dealt with and whether or not they are resolved. Up to this point the people at Dodge have not earned a favorable ownership satisfaction rating from me.