2005 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 2005 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
- Airbags444.4%
- Steering222.2%
- Suspension222.2%
- Tires & wheels111.1%
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
I received this recall notice. I live in the San Diego area and have been unable to get this recall satisfactorily completed due to all (3) Dodge dealership service managers refusing to complete the work telling me, "Dash parts/components can and will be broken during the (ORC) recall/repair process, due to the year of the vehicle (2005), no factory OEM replacement parts exist." Also, service managers state "Third party service/repair shops they recommend are available but they cannot guarantee the work." Generally speaking, it appears the local dodge dealerships do not want to be involved in this NHTSA required recall and have given no satisfactory reason nor opportunity for the consumer to safely and correctly repair their vehicles NHTSA has ordered repaired. The dealers simply say we'll try but there will be damage to your vehicle and parts are not available to fix it!! Not acceptable. I am asking for your assistance. [XXX] Reference: Dec 12,2019 Manufacturer Recall NumberVE4 NHTSA Recall Number19V-885 Recall Status/Recall Incomplete Summary Some 2005-2006 MY Dodge Viper vehicles are equipped with an Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module that may inadvertently deploy the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VINYL COVER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE GETTEL CHRYSLER DODGE DEALER LOCATED AT 2323 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PUNTA GORDA, FL 33950, AND THE ISSUE WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO THEN REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V885000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SAME DEALER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT TO REPAIR THE RECALL, THE CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE CONSOLE WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
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 2005 DODGE VIPER. WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND BECAME TIGHT. WHILE VEERING TO THE LEFT, THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED, THE VEHICLE VEERED BACK TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE FEET, ARMS, CHEST, AND BACK THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF *TR
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
THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD , THE CAR WAS THROWN OUT OF CONTROL WHICH CAUSED A MULTIPLE ROLL OVER CRASH TOTALING THE CAR AND INJURING THE DRIVER. THERE IS A GAUGED OUT MARK IN THE PAVEMENT ALONG WITH A TIRE SKID MARK SHOWING THE WHEEL TURNED WHEN THE KNUCKLE BROKE. THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE TROOPER [XXX] NOTED SOMETHING ON THE CAR DRUG CAUSING THE MARK IN THE PAVEMENT. HE MAY BE CONTACTED AT 276-694-7258. THERE ARE TWO EYE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT THAT CAN CONFIRM THE DETAILS ABOVE...UPDATED 12/13/17 *BF *BF *CN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT DEALERSHIP AFTER TAKING DELIVERY. DROVE TO STOP SIGN AT END OF APPROACH RAMP TO HIGHWAY, ACCELERATED TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC, CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT OF CONTROL SWERVED TO RIGHT HIT CURB AND LAMP POST. I WAS TOLD AFTER ACCIDENT BY DEALER THAT TIRES NEEDED TO BE WARMED UP FIRST OR CAR HAS VERY POOR TRACTION. THIS WAS TOLD TO ME AFTER THE FACT BY MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. *AK
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 .