2004 Dodge Viper Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Viper, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags327.3%
- Suspension218.2%
- Brakes19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Engine19.1%
- Steering19.1%
- Transmission19.1%
- Body & structure19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13V040000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NOTICE MONTHS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND PROVIDED AN UNREASONABLE DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V040000 (AIR BAGS) HAD A EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONNECTER HAD EXPANDED, CAUSING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR DUPLICATE TO 10511754*SMCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH AND VEERED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD NOT IMPACTED ANYTHING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,240. *TR DUPLICATE TO 10512426 *SMCH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL ON THIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE YOUR FOOT EITHER SLIPS OFF OR STICKS TO THE PEDAL DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF SHOE BEING WORN. THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER FOR DODGE AND THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS AN INFERIOR METAL WAS USED TO MFG. THE PEDAL BUT WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED. OCCASIONALLY, AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IT WOULD RESET ITSELF AND AT OTHER TIMES IT WOULD BE AN HOUR BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE COMPONENTS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPONENTS EACH TIME PER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE FAILURE WITH THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,300.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 VIPER BLOWS EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE CABIN AREA. *TS IN ADDITION, THE HEATING ISSUE ALSO CAUSED THE SIDE EXIT PANELS TO BECOME EXTREMELY HOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONSUMERS WIFE BURNING THE BACK OF HER RIGHT CALF WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON AT ALL TIMES. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONNECTER HAD EXPANDED, CAUSING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR DUPLICATE TO 10511754*SMCH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL ON THIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE YOUR FOOT EITHER SLIPS OFF OR STICKS TO THE PEDAL DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF SHOE BEING WORN. THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER FOR DODGE AND THE DEALERSHIP ADMITS AN INFERIOR METAL WAS USED TO MFG. THE PEDAL BUT WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 DODGE VIPER PUTS OUT EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE CABIN AREA, CAUSED CONSUMERS WIFE TO BURN HER CALF WHEN EXITING. *TS ***NAR*** THE SIDE PANELS BECAME VERY HOT WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS INJURED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .