2013 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 2013 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
- Electrical342.9%
- Body & structure228.6%
- Airbags114.3%
- Visibility114.3%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS MANY 2013-2015 DODGE VIPER OWNERS REPORT ONLINE, THE HORN TURNS ON AND OFF, STICKING ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITH NO CONTACT, RANDOMLY. MOST VIPER OWNER OF THIS YEAR MODEL ARE PULLING THE FUSE SO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS IS A PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG ASSEMBLY THAT IS TIED IN WITH THE HORN MECHANISM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VERY EXPENSIVE SIX FIGURE VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY CONCERN BY DODGE IMMEDIATELY AS A RECALL AS THIS IS NEEDED FOR STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SOMETHING LIKE A RUBBER/ELECTRICAL SMELL WAS NOTICED. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SEEN I HAD SMOKE FILLING THE REAR OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. GOT OUT AND OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE AND AS I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON MY REAR LIFT GATE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES. IT WAS AS LOUD AS A SHOTGUN GOING OFF. I WAS VERY LUCKY I HAD STOPPED MY CAR AS IT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE CAUSE ME OR SOMEONE DRIVING BEHIND ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WASN'T A PIECE OF GLASS NO BIGGER THAN A DIME LEFT OF THE REAR GLASS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T GET CUT OR GLASS IN MY EYES. SHORTLY AFTER IT HAPPENED I REMEMBERED THAT IF THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON THAT THE REAR GLASS COULD EXPLODE OUT. I THEN REMEMBERED THAT I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE RADIO CHANNEL AND MUST HAVE TOUCHED THE BUTTON FOR THE REAR DEFROSTER. MY DASH SCREEN WAS DIMMED SINCE I WAS RUNNING MY PARKING LIGHTS AND COULD NOT SEE MY RADIO BUTTONS AND INSTEAD PRESSED THE BUTTON TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CHANGE THE RADIO CHANNEL. SOMETHING ABOUT IF THE CARBON FIBER PANELING WAS TOUCHING THE GLASS IT COULD CAUSE A MISHAP. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON IT AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT THERE WAS ONLY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE MY GLASS AND ALSO I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO USE MY DEFROSTER IN THE FUTURE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE OR WORSE CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ENSURED MY CAR WAS UPDATED TO PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING. FCA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND CORRECT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM ASAP. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM LOCATED AT: 3700 RALEIGH ROAD PARKWAY W, WILSON, NC 27896, TEL: (855)217-8742 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DURING PRODUCTION, ADHESIVE WAS NOT ADDED TO THE SUB FRAME AND THE CARBON FIBER ROOF CAUSING AIR TO GET UP UNDER THE CARBON FIBER CAUSING THE SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700.
I OWN A 2013 DODGE VIPER SRT, TURNED ON MY REAR HATCH WINDOW DEFROSTER WHILE DRIVING TO CLEAR MY REAR WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM REAR HATCH AREA. I QUICKLY RUSHED TO TURN IF OFF, THE SMOKE STARTED TO CLEAR. SECONDS AFTER MY REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTER. A LOUD POP NOISE WAS HEAR AT THE TIME OF SHATTERING, ALMOST LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I QUICKLY TURNED BACK HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER AND DODGE IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS MANY 2013-2015 DODGE VIPER OWNERS REPORT ONLINE, THE HORN TURNS ON AND OFF, STICKING ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITH NO CONTACT, RANDOMLY. MOST VIPER OWNER OF THIS YEAR MODEL ARE PULLING THE FUSE SO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS IS A PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG ASSEMBLY THAT IS TIED IN WITH THE HORN MECHANISM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VERY EXPENSIVE SIX FIGURE VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY CONCERN BY DODGE IMMEDIATELY AS A RECALL AS THIS IS NEEDED FOR STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 2013 DODGE VIPER SRT, TURNED ON MY REAR HATCH WINDOW DEFROSTER WHILE DRIVING TO CLEAR MY REAR WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM REAR HATCH AREA. I QUICKLY RUSHED TO TURN IF OFF, THE SMOKE STARTED TO CLEAR. SECONDS AFTER MY REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTER. A LOUD POP NOISE WAS HEAR AT THE TIME OF SHATTERING, ALMOST LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I QUICKLY TURNED BACK HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER AND DODGE IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE ISSUE. *TR
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 .