2013 SRT Viper

Defect. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 SRT Viper vehicles manufactured November 28, 2012, to June 26, 2014. Due to inaccurate seat position sensors, the frontal air bags may deploy with a lower velocity than designed for the actual seat position.

Risk. In the event of a vehicle crash necessitating air bag deployment, an air bag that deploys at a lower velocity than designed may increase the risk of personal injury.

Remedy. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a metal shim on the detection plate to correct the seat position sensor accuracy, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P52.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED, THE CONTACT'S VISION BECAME DISTORTED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE REAR LOWER WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200.

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 A.M., IN MY BRAND NEW DODGE VIPER GTS THAT I PURCHASED FOR AROUND $150,000 IN LATE AUGUST 2013, FROM AUTO NATION DODGE/CHRYSLER/JEEP/RAM IN SPRING, TX, WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT, I MADE A NEWSPAPER STOP AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN DAYTON, TX, THEN I CONTINUED ON HIGHWAY 90 WEST HEADED TO WORK. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE STORE FOG HAD DEVELOPED ON MY WINDSHIELD AND MY REAR GLASS SO I TURNED ON THE FRONT DEFOGGER TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS CLEARED I TURNED OFF THE FRONT DEFOGGER. NEXT, I TURNED ON THE REAR GLASS DEFOGGER TO DEFOG THE REAR GLASS. DURING THE DEFOGGING OF THE REAR GLASS I NOTICED SMOKE/SPARKS THAT I MISTAKEN FOR FOG EVAPORATING. AFTER ABOUT TWO MINUTES OF DEFOGGING AND TWO MILES OF DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 90 WEST THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB, SLINGING HOT GLASS TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IT COULD GO. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE REAR GLASS DEFOGGER AND SLOWED DOWN TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR THINKING SOMEONE HAD SHOT OUT THE GLASS OR THREW A BOWL OR ROCK ETC. THROUGH IT. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE EASILY PANICKED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. ALSO, THE SEATS AND THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE COCKPIT HEATED UP TREMENDOUSLY, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER AND LET THE INSIDE COOL OFF BEFORE I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME (6 MILES EAST ON HIGHWAY 90 TO LIBERTY, TX.... I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE CLOSE TO MY HOME). "I RECEIVED SMALL CUTS IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD

ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15TH I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 VIPER TO WORK, THE WEATHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEAUTIFUL AND I WANTED TO ENJOY MY CAR. I NEEDED TO TURN ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND MY REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS COVERED WITH GLASS; I HAD GLASS INSIDE MY SHIRT. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD SHOT OUT THE REAR WINDOW WITH A BB GUN, THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD. I CALLED HERB CHAMBERS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF DANVERS WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SPOKE TO [XXX], THE SERVICE MANAGER. I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A ?KNOWN ISSUE? WITH THE NEW VIPER. HE STATED THAT THEY JUST REPAIRED A VIPER WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER TOOK THE TIME TO NOTIFY ME. DESPITE THE FACT THAT ONLY 150 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT, NO ONE CALLED OR WROTE TO INFORM ME OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THAT, MY REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SENDING GLASS FLYING ALL OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT. I THINK THEY HAD AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AS SOON AS THEY KNEW ABOUT IT. *TR..UPDATE 04-10-14 *BF ..UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF UPDATED 06/13/2014 *JS