Why does Dodge have such a bad rep?

[RJWEST]

I have had to dodge trucks, 1 in 1974 and now a 2002,

Both trucks had/have the same quality problems... .
At least there consistent. .

I own a Dodge for the Cummins and the 6 speed... ...

 

[cyborg]

When I got my 02 a co-worker asked why I bought a Dodge. I told him cummins were million mile motors. His response was who wants a truck to last that long. The next breath he said no one needs that much power anyway.
He gets a new chevy every three years.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

To each his own, we buy what we like. There will always be trade offs. no such thing as a perfect truck. We modify what we don't like. There are some bitter lessons to learn. I have found I am better off to go to an independent shop, warranty or no warranty. There my be an honest Dealer but I have not found one. I go to an independent that I have had previous experience with and determined that he is honest. A dealership is just too inviting for the smooth talking rip off artists. For them it is the perfect setting. I believe the Dodge Dealers are giving the Dodge Truck a worse reputation than it deserves. It is hard to like a truck that the dealers charge 3 to 4 times as much for parts, that can be bought elsewhere and just as good. Dealers will tell you that you must use Mopar Parts, they lie, they want your money anyway they can get it. One quick example a fuel filter for our Cummings is $50. 00 at a dealer and you can get the identical thing for $15. 00. That's my 2 cents.

 

[JohnHaggerty]

I think Ford makes a better truck. I bought my Dodge for the CTD.



My 1992 F150 was retired at 300,000+ miles only because I got tried of the same truck. My 1989 F250 IDI is still running strong at 210,000+ miles, but does not have the HP/torque to pull my new trailer. Neither truck spent anytime in the shop for anything unexpected.



I hope my Dodge is as dependable as my Fords.

 

[AKaiser]

One quick example a fuel filter for our Cummings is $50. 00 at a dealer and you can get the identical thing for $15. 00. That's my 2 cents.

That there's funny, don't care who you are. :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

I think Ford makes a better truck. I bought my Dodge for the CTD.

My 1992 F150 was retired at 300,000+ miles only because I got tried of the same truck. My 1989 F250 IDI is still running strong at 210,000+ miles, but does not have the HP/torque to pull my new trailer. Neither truck spent anytime in the shop for anything unexpected.

I hope my Dodge is as dependable as my Fords.

It's all in a frame of mind. I have had the exact opposite experience. I've never had a Furd that was worth 2 cents. In 95 I ordered my first Dodge with a Cummins. In the 10 years and many miles I had it, it was not in the shop once. Best truck I ever had. I couldn't keep the Furd's out of the shop. So far my 05 Dodge/Cummins is every bit as good as the 95.

 

[RVTRKN]

My wife called me from her job last week and wanted my opinion about buying her bosses 98 Expedition with 110K miles, even when she knows my opinion of Fords. She then transferred the call to the boss, so I could ask about the history. The SUV (same as the F150 chassi) has had 5 coils replaced two spark plugs blown out and front end needing work and a check engine lite issue that has yet to have been resolved. He had all the maintenance done when the schedule required it. It has left him stranded many times and he complained of towing his heavy boat (within the tow ratings) over passes.



That is why I wont buy a Ford, and GM is not much better. I've had three Dodge trucks and own two now and all have treated me well and as far as the reputation, it is the best damn truck made. The bad reputation comes from people who never owned more than one Dodge truck. I'm sure there has been Dodge lemons but I've never owned one.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

When I was a kid in high school, any guy wanting to not be looked upon as a dork, wore Levis, with the cuffs turned under to the inside - COoooool...



BUT, one guy living on a farm, always wore Ben Davis overalls - and didn't give a damn what ANYONE thought! He was a good guy, and was accepted anyway...



In later years, Frisco Jeans, and Ben Davis type overalls became accepted - and in some circles, actually the apparel of choice.



The world turns, and what was cool yesterday is old news - and what was looked down upon, is now the "in thing"...



I'm not a kid anymore, other than at heart - and I make my choices based upon my OWN wants and needs - not on what is necessarily considered the "in thing" and purely for popularity. Besides, it's hard to look "cool", while sitting alongside the road waiting for a tow truck for your popular, but unreliable truck... :-laf

 

[EBung]

When I was a kid in high school, any guy wanting to not be looked upon as a dork, wore Levis, with the cuffs turned under to the inside - COoooool...



BUT, one guy living on a farm, always wore Ben Davis overalls - and didn't give a damn what ANYONE thought! He was a good guy, and was accepted anyway...



In later years, Frisco Jeans, and Ben Davis type overalls became accepted - and in some circles, actually the apparel of choice.



The world turns, and what was cool yesterday is old news - and what was looked down upon, is now the "in thing"...



I'm not a kid anymore, other than at heart - and I make my choices based upon my OWN wants and needs - not on what is necessarily considered the "in thing" and purely for popularity. Besides, it's hard to look "cool", while sitting alongside the road waiting for a tow truck for your popular, but unreliable truck... :-laf

Case in point. Musclecars back in the day you just about couldnt give a Mopar away in their hey day mostly because of their less than stellar styling and the sound the starter made while cranking. Now watch Barrett Jackson and any other mainstream auction and what fetches the most $$$$? Yep. My dad was a Chrysler/Mopar lover from day one in my life and I inherited it 100%. When we went on vacation it was a 440 New Yorker not a Caprice or a Galaxie.

 

[wneubauer]

I own mine for the motor... The ball joints, power steering pump, CD changer, steering gear, transmission overhaul at 30k, AC compressor and system, lumbar support broken at 36100, (got a 100. 00 deductable fix on that one) front tires chewed up when truck not aligned after ball joint replacement, and now one of the power seat motors is out. 700. 00 for the entire assembly... can't just replace the one electric motor. Unbelievable.



The quality on this truck is not good, the dealer support I have gotten is not good, and the Ford interior and transmission seem to be head and shoulders above Dodge, at least from the Fords I have ridden in. I do fewer and less costly repairs to my 1989 Cadillac Brougham with 219000 on it than I do to my Dodge. The power seats still work in the Caddy, too!



And by the way, but for the money Cerberus put into Chrysler, it is bankrupt. I doubt the Chrysler "lifetime" warranty will last 5-10 years. .



Sorry to get so negative, but only when I'm pulling my rv and the Cummins is doing its magic, or I am getting 21-22 mpg unloaded on the highway, I love my truck. Other times, not so much...

 

[amsoilman]

I'm not so sure DODGE has a bad reputation! My current one(see below) has more than 75,000 on the clock, and has only been in the dealers for repairs a couple of times, one for a re-call on the cruise, and the other time it was due to a ball joint replacement. Other than that, it has been vurtualy solid... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... and NOT like a "ROCK".



Wayne

 

[AABEN]

Well the dodge is a work truck! It is not a sunday go to meeting truck!! If you would work a ford or GM as hard you would need a good banker. The old dodges was what we used in wwII. Ford or GM does not build a truck in the class as the Dakota

 

[Grizzly]

Well the dodge is a work truck! It is not a sunday go to meeting truck!! If you would work a ford or GM as hard you would need a good banker. The old dodges was what we used in wwII. Ford or GM does not build a truck in the class as the Dakota

In WWII? Just how old are you blackbear?

 

[Grizzly]

I own mine for the motor... The ball joints, power steering pump, CD changer, steering gear, transmission overhaul at 30k, AC compressor and system, lumbar support broken at 36100, (got a 100. 00 deductable fix on that one) front tires chewed up when truck not aligned after ball joint replacement, and now one of the power seat motors is out. 700. 00 for the entire assembly... can't just replace the one electric motor. Unbelievable.



The quality on this truck is not good, the dealer support I have gotten is not good, and the Ford interior and transmission seem to be head and shoulders above Dodge, at least from the Fords I have ridden in. I do fewer and less costly repairs to my 1989 Cadillac Brougham with 219000 on it than I do to my Dodge. The power seats still work in the Caddy, too!



And by the way, but for the money Cerberus put into Chrysler, it is bankrupt. I doubt the Chrysler "lifetime" warranty will last 5-10 years. .



Sorry to get so negative, but only when I'm pulling my rv and the Cummins is doing its magic, or I am getting 21-22 mpg unloaded on the highway, I love my truck. Other times, not so much...

Sounds to me like your Dodge was built in St Louis because the trucks built in Saltillo, Mexico don't have near as many problems. My 95 came out of Mexico and it was never in the shop once for anything. In fact I had the extended warrant and I never used it. When I ordered my 05, I made sure it was going to be Mexican built or I would't take it. So far it's been every bit as good as the 95. My son's 04. 5 also came out of Mexico and still no problems.

 

[hwebster]

Hmm... Seems to me the old 3/4 t truck we used in the Canadian Forces all the way thru the 80's were the Dodge with the L-Head?? you could sink, flip em and over loadem and they kept on going. So in a way I was running dodges in my early years too.

I've owned 2 Fords - Both Found on Road Dead - A taurus and a Windstar. . Don't ask they were good deals at the time!

4 trannies between them and many other inconvenient issues.

Ist Dodge went over 300,000 miles and was still a force to be reckoned with. .

My issues with Chrysler may be irrelevant. Who knows who will survive. . But keep the Government money OUT of the market!!