2013 Dodge Viper

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.

Reported

Aug 2020

Incident date

Aug 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

Jun 2020

Incident date

Jun 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Aug 2017

Incident date

Aug 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

Dec 2016

Incident date

Dec 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured October 1, 2012, to February 6, 2014. Moisture may get into the door switch, resulting in the driver or passenger door opening unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.

Risk: If the driver or passenger door opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, there is an increased risk of a crash and injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door handle assemblies and top covers, free of charge. The recall began on July 10, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R14.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with radios that have software vulnerabilities that can allow third-party access to certain networked vehicle control systems.

Risk: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ or take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R40.