Total Complaints
7 filings
DODGE VIPER · model year
2003 DODGE VIPER
7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003DODGEVIPER carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 VIPER is air bags with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and service brakes, hydraulic (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 VIPER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recalls (4)
15V04600028/01/2015
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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,
03V29200012/08/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP WIRING MAY BECOME CHAFED BY AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD.
03V38800010/10/2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH PARK LAMP CONTACTS MAY CORRODE.
13V04000006/02/2013
AIR BAGS
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 operat
Recent Complaints
20170626POWER TRAIN
PLASTIC BUSHING ON CLUTCH LEVER WEARS OUT AND DISENGAGES FROM PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC.
Mileage: 505,461
20160303AIR BAGS
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.
20130725AIR BAGS
2003 DODGE VIPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG SYSTEM OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL.
20130705CrashSTEERING
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
Mileage: 300
20130705CrashSUSPENSION
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
Mileage: 300
20040510VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
20040510SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Compare 2003DODGEVIPER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 DODGE VIPER have?▼
The 2003 DODGE VIPER has 7 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 DODGE VIPER?▼
Yes, the 2003 DODGE VIPER has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 DODGE VIPER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 DODGE VIPER is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2003 DODGE VIPER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.