Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Dodge Viper problems

Owners filed 12 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Viper with NHTSA between Apr 2002 and Jul 2007. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (4).

Complaints
12
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling4
  2. Power train3
  3. Air bags2
  4. Tires1
  5. Equipment1
  6. Electrical system1
  7. Steering1
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  9. Seats1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20022
20031
20041
20055
20061
20072

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“I OWN A 2002 DODGE INTREPID, FIRST OFF I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP ON MAINTENANCE. I FINANCED THE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ALL OF A SUDDEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT ON, ME THINKING I MAY BE LOW ON OIL I SIMPLY TOOK IT TO GET SERVICED JUST BECAUSE OF THE OIL LIGHT. THAT DIDN'T HELP THE CAR OIL LIGHT REMAINED. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT I HEARD A STRANGE KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN BOOM IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN LEFT IT DIED ! TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALER IN MY AREA TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $1500 AND HAD THE CAR STALL ON ME VARIOUS TIMES AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED! FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A THIRD OPINION, BY THEN THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BAD. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE. PLEASE HELP .....*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2007Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 10184922

Power train

3 reports
“CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DIED ON FREEWAY AS WE DROVE UP I80 TO TRUCKEE CA.TWICE. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2005Power trainODI 10132183

Air bags

2 reports1 crash
“THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEACTIVATED AND CANNOT BE REACTIVATED DUE TO INSTALLATION OF A HANDICAPPED POWER CHAIR. *NM THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED OFF MAJORITY OF THE TIME. THE SERVICE DEPT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REMOVED. THE COMPANY WHO INSTALLED THE SEAT STATED THAT THEY FAILED TO HOOK UP A WIRE. *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2005Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10120772

Tires

1 report
“I BOUGHT 4 NEW PIRELLI P400 TOURING TIRES AT A DISCOUNT TIRE STORE IN VENTURA COUNTY CALIF ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO. ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE TIRE DEALER AND ONE MORE OF THE 4 TIRES HAS A TREAD SEPARATION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 35 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE ONE BEFORE. IS THIS BAD LUCK OR ARE THESE BAD TIRES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2007TiresODI 10196757

Equipment

1 report

Electrical system

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.