2003 Dodge Viper recalls and problems

The 2003 Dodge Viper has 4 recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

How the 2003 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 10 Viper model years — 3rd most.

4recalls

5complaints

1crashes

0fires

1injuries

300median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Air Bags

Jan 28, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V046000 · 752,644 vehicles

Problem: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Air Bags

Feb 6, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V040000 · 3,644 vehicles

Problem: 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 & notes

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.

Chrysler's recall campaign number is N13.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Exterior Lighting

Oct 10, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V388000 · 1,739 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the multifunction switch park lamp contacts May corrode.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Daimlerchrysler recall no. C33.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Fuel System

Aug 12, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V292000 · 69 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump wiring May become chafed by an underbody heat shield.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Daimlerchrysler recall no. C27.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Vehicle Speed Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Rear suspension knuckle fracture

PE13010 · opened Apr 26, 2013 · closed Dec 11, 2013

Summary

ODI opened PE13-010 on April 26, 2013, to investigate two complaints alleging loss of control crashes caused by rear suspension knuckle failure in model year (MY) 2005 and 2006 Dodge Viper vehicles.The incidents described in the complaints occurred in November and December 2012.Chrysler's response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter for PE13-010 indicates that the left and right rear knuckles used in MY 2005 and 2006 Dodge Viper vehicles were used in MY 2003 through 2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10 vehicles and in all Dodge Viper Competition Coupe and ACRX race cars (see Figure 1 of attachment to this resume for a view of the rear suspension in the subject vehicles).Chrysler's response included information about 8 reports related to rear knuckle failures, including the 2 incidents identified by ODI in the opening resume for PE13-010.In addition, after PE13-010 was opened, ODI received 2 additional complaints resulting in a total of 10 incidents of rear knuckle failure in MY 2003 through 2010 Viper vehicles, including 8 alleging crashes.Based on its review of physical evidence from field inspections of 6 of the 8 incident vehicles identified in its response, including the two incidents that were the basis for ODI opening PE13-010 (VOQs 10492180 and 10492169/10491122), Chrysler concluded that collision forces were the causal factor of rear suspension control knuckle failure.Chrysler's assessment was primarily based on examination of knuckle fracture surfaces, as well as evidence of…

2003 vs. other Dodge Viper years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Dodge Viper have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Dodge Viper, the latest from Jan 28, 2015 (air bags). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Viper?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (2), power train (1), service brakes (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.