2004 Dodge Viper problems
The Dodge Viper is a sports car that was manufactured by Dodge (by SRT for 2013 and 2014), a division of American car manufacturer FCA US LLC from 1992 until 2017, having taken a brief hiatus in 2007, and from 2010 to 2012. Production of the two-seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly Plant in 1991 and moved to Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in October 1995.
Although Chrysler considered ending production because of serious financial problems, on September 14, 2010, then-chief executive Sergio Marchionne announced and previewed a new model of the Viper for 2012. In 2014, the Viper was named number 10 on the "Most American Cars" list, meaning 75% or more of its parts are manufactured in the U.S. The Viper was eventually discontinued in 2017 after approximately 32,000 were produced over the 26 years of production.
The 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time on a Viper varies from around 3.5 to 4.5 seconds. Top speed ranges from 160 mph (260 km/h) to over 200 mph (320 km/h), depending on variant and year.
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Common 2004 Dodge Viper problems
The Dodge Viper, a high-performance sports car, is known for its impressive power and distinctive styling. However, like any vehicle, it has its share of common problems that potential buyers should be aware of.
One issue that affects early Vipers is sagging doors, which is caused by the weight of the power window motors and glass. This can be easily fixed by adjusting the hinges.
In addition to these issues, some Vipers may have bad impellers, causing the car to run hot. This is particularly true for the 1999 GTS ACR model.
Water pump problems and oil being forced into the air hose are also common issues that can affect the Dodge Viper. While these issues may require professional repair, they are generally not severe enough to cause major accidents.
It's important to note that many of these common problems are easily fixable with the help of a knowledgeable repair specialist. However, potential buyers should be aware of these issues and factor them into their decision-making process when considering purchasing a Dodge Viper.
Lastly, it's worth noting that the Dodge Viper does not have side-impact airbags due to its structure, which may make it slightly less safe compared to other cars of the same size and weight class. This is an important consideration for buyers who prioritize safety features in their vehicle choice.
How many miles will a Dodge Viper last?
Typically, you can expect a Dodge Viper to survive around 120,000 miles, though some might make it a little longer with the proper maintenance. You can play a role in the lifespan if you put in work whenever problems pop up in the Viper.
Is Dodge Viper better than Chevy Corvette?
Vette and Viper are pretty much even (and impressive) in roadholding, lane change, and braking distance, but the Viper wins on the track. It's easier to drive around the road course as well, thanks to great feel from the quick steering and solid brake pedal. The Viper is more benign than you would think.
Is the Dodge Viper engine reliable?
Are Dodge Vipers Generally Reliable? On average, you'll find that most people consider Dodge Vipers to be very reliable vehicles, capable of doing well over 40,000 miles without running into any maintenance problems or concerns. However, the most reliable and possibly most popular year for the Dodge Viper was 2013.
What was wrong with Dodge Viper?
Common Issues with the Dodge Viper
Driveline clunks when accelerating or decelerating. Click or pop in the car when the clutch is released. Water leaks from the top and side curtains.
Is the Dodge Viper engine reliable?
Are Dodge Vipers Generally Reliable? On average, you'll find that most people consider Dodge Vipers to be very reliable vehicles, capable of doing well over 40,000 miles without running into any maintenance problems or concerns. However, the most reliable and possibly most popular year for the Dodge Viper was 2013.
Why did the Viper fail?
Initially, Fiat Chrysler cited poor sales as a reason for discontinuing the Viper; however, other sources have stated the car was discontinued because the Viper was unable to comply with FMVSS 226 safety regulation, which requires side-curtain air bags.
Why were Dodge Vipers destroyed?
So per the original agreement when the cars were sent to the schools it was no surprise when dodge. Asked for a back viper's rounded up rip to shreds. Never to be dismantled by a high school.
Is Dodge Viper a safe car?
Besides the excessive use of torque on the 1992 Dodge Viper, the biggest reason for the vehicle's dangerous reputation is due to lack of safety equipment. In other words, a fast car with as much torque as this one needs built-in safety barriers.
2004 Dodge Viper car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Dodge Viper problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Suspension problems
- Steering problems
- Electrical system problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2004 Dodge Viper vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2004 Dodge Viper complaints
The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2004 Dodge Viper.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-01-01
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z74V
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-02-01
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z74V
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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.
STEERING,SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-01-15
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z34V
- Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION
- Summary: 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
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-04-20
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z34V
- Components: SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-02-02
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z94V
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: THIS IS REGARDING THE RECENT NEWS BRIEF THAT I SAW YESTERDAY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING AND A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY, I SWERVED VERY SLIGHTLY AS IT WAS NOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN DID A SHARP RIGHT AND I WENT DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE MAKING MY CAR A TOTAL LOSS. THE NEXT DAY I VISITED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TURNED INWARDS WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE AROUND OR ON THE WHEEL. I LOOKED UNDER THE SUSPENSION AND NOTICED THE KNUCKLE WAS SNAPPED. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME. I WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A BRUISE ON MY KNEE BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR ....UPDATED 06/15/16 *BF UPDATED 09/19/2017*JS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-09-17
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z74V
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-21
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z64V
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: 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
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-04-03
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: 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
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-11-01
- VIN: 1B3JZ65Z24V
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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
2004 Dodge Viper recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2004 Dodge Viper.
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured January 9, 2001, to March 28, 2003, 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 13, 2001, to May 23 2003, and 2003-2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured November 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
- Consequence: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy: Chrysler dealers will replace the air bag control module and side impact sensors as required, free of charge. This recall remedy was applied during earlier recall campaigns of these vehicles under safety recalls 12V527 and 13V040. All owners that have not had the recall repair performed under safety recalls 12V527 or 13V040 are strongly encouraged to have it performed and not wait for the final remedy to be deployed to the field. The recall began on December 29, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R06.
- Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2001, through June 30, 2004. A component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front airbags and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
- Consequence: Inadvertent deployment of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners could increase the risk of personal injury and the possibility of a crash.
- Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. An interim notification iwas sent to owners on March 18, 2013. The recall began on March 26, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Negative 2004 Dodge Viper car reviews
Positive 2004 Dodge Viper car reviews
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It's so much fun to drive, especially when people stare at you. It's really cool!
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It's great! I love it!!!
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This car is the best car that I have ever owned. Thank you so much. I'm confident that I could beat anyone that pulls up next to me. This is an awesome car.
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It is the most fun car to ride in! I am very happy with this choice of car. Than
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I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2004 Dodge Viper problems:
2005 Vipers Reliable? Common Problems? | Dodge SRT Viper ...
Dec 2, 2018 ... The prices of 2005 vipers are getting quite low and I would love to pic one up. I was wondering if they had major issues or if they can be ...
Thinking of buying a Viper SRT-10. Questions inside. | Viper Club of ...
Mar 16, 2005 ... I test drove an 05 Dodge Viper ... Jun 2, 2004. Posts: 576. Reaction score: 0 ... What are the common problems / reliability issues with stock 05 ...
Common Viper Problems? | Dodge SRT Viper Forums : ViperAlley
Aug 19, 2005 ... Well I've been searching the site trying to find if there are any common problems with Vipers, and have not come up with much.
The Dodge Viper Years To Avoid - CoPilot
Jul 13, 2023 ... Common Issues with the Dodge Viper · Driveline clunks when accelerating or decelerating · Click or pop in the car when the clutch is released ...
Gen 3 Reliability | Viper Club of America Discussion Forums
Aug 21, 2018 ... For what it's worth, I've got a 2004 with almost 123k miles on it and have had very few issues that were caused from normal driving. The short ...
Other years of Dodge Viper
Are you having problems with your 2004 Dodge Viper?
Kian Nolan 2024-05-15
Hi there! I noticed that you bought a car on impulse. Have you considered the SL55? In my opinion, it's a great option. I hope you don't mind me saying, but the car you bought looks like a kit car worth around 85k. Just thought I'd share my thoughts with you. Have a great day!