2003 Dodge Viper

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Steering1
101
Power Train1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal15V046000
Filed Jan 28, 2015752,644 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527 and 13V040. All owners that have not had the recall repair performed under safety recalls 12V527 or 13V040 are strongly encouraged to have it performed and not wait for the final remedy to be deployed to the field. The recall began on December 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R06.

Air Bags13V040000
Filed Feb 6, 20133,644 vehiclesChrysler Group Llc

Defect. Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2001, through June 30, 2004. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners could increase the risk of personal injury and the possibility of a crash.

Remedy. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. An interim notification iwas sent to owners on March 18, 2013. The recall began on March 26, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch03V388000
Filed Oct 10, 20031,739 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH PARK LAMP CONTACTS MAY CORRODE.

Risk. THIS CORROSION COULD CAUSE THE PARK LAMPS, HEAD LAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS TO FLICKER OR BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REFLASH THE SOFTWARE IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump03V292000
Filed Aug 12, 200369 vehiclesDaimlerchrysler Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP WIRING MAY BECOME CHAFED BY AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO OPEN, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE WRAP ON THE FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS AND COVER THE EDGE OF THE HEAT SHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 9, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Jun 26, 2017505,461 milesCO

PLASTIC BUSHING ON CLUTCH LEVER WEARS OUT AND DISENGAGES FROM PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 3, 2016IN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V046000 (AIR BAGS) AND 13V040000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 25, 2013NM

2003 DODGE VIPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG SYSTEM OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL.

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 5, 2013300 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A GRINDING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE WHERE HE LATER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 10, 2004FL

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SURGE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20153100Routine
20144200Routine
20134200Routine
20061100Routine
20057100Routine
20048200Routine
2003 — this page5400Routine
20021000Routine
20011300Routine
20004400Routine
19992400Routine
19983400Routine
19973400Routine
19968300Routine
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: Jan 28, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.