2006 Dodge Viper Coupe

The contact was driving a 2006 Dodge Viper. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the rear differential locked, causing the rear tires to not rotate. The rear of the vehicle then skidded and crashed into a ditch, and flipped, coming to a stop 100-150 feet upside down in the ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that the rear differential was previously serviced at a dealer. The contact sustained neck and back injuries. Medical attention was later required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired for an air bag recall, and when asked the technician who performed the recall remedy why the air bags did not deploy, it was informed that the dealer did not have adequate software to complete the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,378.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WHEN BATTERY POWER WAS OUT. DOOR WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE TO THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM HAD A FATIGUE FAILURE AT THE CABLE TO HANDLE JUNCTION. WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS THERE IS NOTHING THAT ALLOWS ONE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF MISUSE BUT OF A POOR DESIGN. IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHERE BATTERY POWER IS LOST THE AFFECTED DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED. THIS FAILURE IS MOST LIKELY TO BE THE DRIVER DOOR AS IT IS MOST FREQUENTLY USED. ANY FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF TRAPPED OCCUPANTS IS UNLIKELY TO DISCOVER THIS PARTICULARLY IF A FIRE MELTS THE DOOR COMPONENTS. I SUSPECT THAT THE DOOR MECHANISM IS LIKELY COMMON TO MANY OTHER MAKES AND MODELS AND THUS FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR INVESTIGATION.

I STARTED HEARING A CLUNK THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I PULLED ALL 4 TIRES OFF TO GREASE THE CAR. ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, IT APPEARS THAT THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE SUSPENSION KNUCKLE IS LEAKING AND MAY BE TORN. I CAN'T BE SURE AT THIS TIME IF THE SUSPENSION KNUCKLE IS DAMAGED. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE MILEAGE IS VERY LOW (10,300 MILES). I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR ANY KNOWN ISSUES AND CAME ACROSS THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON VIPER SUSPENSION. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE KNUCKLE IS DAMAGED OR IF THE ONLY ISSUE IS THE LEAKING RUBBER BOOT ON THE KNUCKLE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR & CHRYSLERS FINDINGS INDICATED THAT KNUCKLE DAMAGE REPORTED IN 2013 WERE DEEMED TO BE CAUSED BY ACCIDENTS, AND THEREFORE THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IS THERE ANY INTEREST FROM THE NHTSA POINT OF VIEW TO FOLLOW MY INCIDENT? P.S. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN LAS VEGAS. I HAVE A RESIDENCE IN LAS VEGAS ALTHOUGH I AM A CANADIAN CITIZEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE VIPER COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL KNUCKLE FRACTURED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO AIRBORNE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500. *DUPLICATE TO 10491122* SMCH

AT APPROXIMATELY 9:50 AM ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012, DR. X LEFT HIS GARAGE AND PROCEEDED PAST HIS GATE IN HIS 2006 DODGE VIPER. HE TURNED NORTH TO VIEW THE LAKE AND TURNED AROUND AT THE END OF THE ROAD (1/2 MILE) AND HEADED BACK TO GO FOR A SHORT RIDE IN THE COUNTRY. AS HE PASSED THE GATE (72745) AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR STARTED TO COME AROUND AND ALL TRACTION WAS LOST. DR. X TURNED INTO THE SLIDE TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WENT AIRBORNE TO THE RIGHT OVER A 2 -3 FOOT DITCH AND UP THE EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT STOPPED IN THE WOODS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY. A MECHANIC FROM SPRINGDALE CHRYSLER WAS PASSING BY. AFTER DR. X DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED AS HE WAS DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE ROAD, THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED AFTER DR. X'S DESCRIPTION AND INSPECTION THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SEPARATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BECOME DETACHED AND THUS CAUSING THE CRASH. DR. X WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT RELEASE (DEPLOY). DR. X SUFFERED LOWER BACK INJURIES. UPDATED 01/28/13 UPDATED 05/02/13* DUPLICATE TO 10492169* SMCH....UPDATED 06/15/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE VIPER COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN OPENING THE DOORS, THE WINDOW WOULD SCRAPE THE ROOF LINE. UPON RESEARCH, HE FOUND THAT IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR THAT POSSIBLY FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.