Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Dodge Viper problems

Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Viper with NHTSA between May 2004 and Jun 2017. The most-cited component is air bags (2).

Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags2
  2. Power train1
  3. Steering1
  4. Suspension1
  5. Visibility1
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  7. Vehicle speed control1

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
20041
20050
20060
20070
20080
20090
20100
20110
20121
20132
20140
20150
20161
20171

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

Air bags

2 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V046000 (AIR BAGS) AND 13V040000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2016Air bagsODI 10839668

Power train

1 report
“PLASTIC BUSHING ON CLUTCH LEVER WEARS OUT AND DISENGAGES FROM PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2017Power trainODI 11001558

Steering

1 report1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE VIPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A GRINDING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE WHERE HE LATER REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2013Steering, SuspensionCrash reportedODI 10523321

Suspension

1 report1 crash

Visibility

1 report
“IT IS KNOWN FACT THAT ALL DODGE VIPERS BUILT BETWEEN 2003-2010 HAVE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS THAT FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE PLASTIC TUBING BREAKS AND THE WINDOWS WILL NO LONGER MOVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ON MULTIPLE FRONTS WHERE A NEED COULD ARISE TO ESCAPE THE CAR THROUGH THE WINDOW. IF THE REGULATOR HAS FAILED, AND THE WINDOW IS IN THE "UP" POSITION, THERE ADDITIONAL HAZARDS. BECAUSE THE REGULATOR IS DESIGNED TO SLIGHTLY LOWER THE WINDOW WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR, IF IT STOPS FUNCTIONING, THE CLOSING OF THE VEHICLE DOORS CREATES STRESS ON THE GLASS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF WINDOWS BREAKING WHILE A VEHICLE IS SIMPLY PARKED AND STILL OTHERS WHERE THE WINDOW FINALLY GIVE WAY TO THE STRESSES OF THE EXTRA PRESSURE AND EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES FLYING GLASS TO HIT THE OCCUPANTS CAUSING CUTS AND POSSIBLE BLINDNESS, AND COULD ALSO LEAD THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. REPLACEMENT REGULATORS ARE NOT ONLY HARD TO FIND, BUT ARE $1,000 EACH. DODGE HAS KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE (AND KNOWN SINCE 2003 WHEN PROBLEMS BEGAN), BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE SEE THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ON VIPER CLUB OF…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2012VisibilityODI 10484956

Service brakes, hydraulic

1 report
“INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE SURGE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 10073388
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.