The 2005 Dodge Viper has 1 safety recall and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints7filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Pretensioner
NHTSA recall 19V885000 · Dec 12, 2019 · 3,329 vehicles
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Dodge Viper vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module may inadvertently deploy the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk: The unexpected deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC module, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VE4.
Components: Seat belts › Pretensioner; Air bags
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2005 Dodge Viper SRT-10
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Viper Convertible
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 19 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
8.3 L · 10 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $6,300/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Air bags
4
1
0
2
17,000 mi
Steering Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
3
3
0
1
36,000 mi
Suspension
2
2
0
1
—
Tires
1
1
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Dec 12, 2019Air bags 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…
Sep 3, 2020 · 17,000 milesAir bags 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…
Jan 28, 2019 · 40,700 miles · 1 injuryAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE VIPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S BOTTOM LIP WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN AND HIS HEAD JOLTED BACKWARDS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE TO TUCK THE AIR BAGS BACK INTO THE COMPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,700. *DT *AS
Nov 2, 2017 · 23,500 miles · crash · 1 injurySuspension 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
Sep 23, 2015 · 6,100 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags 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…
Dec 30, 2012 · 36,000 miles · crashSteering 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
Dec 31, 2004 · 50 miles · crashTires 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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE13010 · opened Apr 26, 2013 · closed Dec 11, 2013Rear suspension knuckle fracture 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…