1996 Dodge Viper

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › roof and pillars. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion1
000
Steering1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic06E022000
Filed Mar 13, 20067,440 vehiclesBrake Parts, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

Risk. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.

Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack01V313000
Filed Oct 4, 20017,050 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USED EXTENSIVELY IN TRACK TYPE RACING EVENTS AND SUBJECTED TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD EXPERIENCECRACKING OF THE STEERING RACK MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Risk. THE CRACKS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE STEERING RACK FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE STEERING RACK COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED STEERING LOOSENESS AND LAG.

Remedy. ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL HAVE A FIELD REPAIR KIT INSTALLED, CONSISTING OF LOWER FRAME RAIL REINFORCEMENT GUSSETS AND A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INFORMATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Suspension › Rear01V312000
Filed Oct 4, 20014,645 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USED EXTENSIVELY IN TRACK TYPE RACING EVENTS AND SUBJECTED TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD EXPERIENCE CRACKS AT THE WELDS OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING BRACKET.

Risk. THE CRACKS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO METAL FATIGUE AND DISLODGING OF THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING BRACKET FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING BRACKET COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND REINFORCE THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 20, 201140,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE VIPER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAIDED OIL LINES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUBBED TOGETHER AND BURST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 03/03/11

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Aug 29, 200641,900 milesMI

1. NO PARTICULAR EVENT LEAD TO THE FAILURE 2. DIFFERENTIAL RING GEAR BOLTS/NUTS BECAME LOOSE CAUSING THE BOLTS/NUTS TO BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE RING GEAR AND CASE CAUSING THE CASE TO CRACK. GEAR OIL LEAKED FROM THE CASE. POSSIBLE RESULTS MAY BE SEIZURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL,SUDDEN STOPPAGE, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. 3. 1996 DODGE VIPER R/T 10 WITH 42,000 MILES SINCE NEW 4. PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE, PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM INSURANCE COMPANY

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Apr 19, 200635,000 milesCA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING. THERE WAS NO CRASH BUT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE DRUG THE GROUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED AND AGREE THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL, # 01V313000 CONCERNING STEERING: RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A FRACTURE IN THE FRAME. THE RECALL INDICATES A FRAME SEPARATION CAN ACCRUE, HOWEVER BOTH REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE.

Steering
Filed Jun 24, 2003MN

WORK HASN'T BEEN DONE RECALL #998 TO REPLACE FRAME OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER NAME IS HOPKINS DODGE SERVICE ,MANAGER [XXX], [XXX]. NO ONE HAS CONTACTED HIM ON HIS REPAIR IN 24 DAYS . DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, WORK HASN'T BEEN DONE AS OF YET.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 21, 2003MO

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL #998 ON THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING A DEALER TO REPAIR. *SCC *NLM

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 11, 2002MO

THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DO RECALL CAUSE THERE WAS'NT ANY TECHICIAN THAT COULD DO THE WORK. MR

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed May 17, 1996NY

THE CONVERTABLE TOP ALMOST FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Apr 16, 1996NY

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH THE CANVAS ROOF ALMOST FLEW OFF. *AK

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20153100Routine
20144200Routine
20134200Routine
20061100Routine
20057100Routine
20048200Routine
20035400Routine
20021000Routine
20011300Routine
20004400Routine
19992400Routine
19983400Routine
19973400Routine
1996 — this page8300Routine
19953100Routine
19945100Routine
19932100Routine
19920100Routine

Compare every Viper year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 13, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.