Wheels Blog: N.H.T.S.A. Investigates Dodge Viper, Ford Crown Victoria and Porsche 911

EPA/Harry Melchert Approximately 2,500 2005-2006 Dodge Vipers (2005 pictured) are being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a potentially serious problem with the rear suspension.

A pit of vipers sounds like trouble, which may be what the Chrysler Group is in concerning its 2005-6 Dodge Vipers. Citing a concern about rear suspension failures, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation covering about 2,500 of the sports cars, according to a report posted on the agency’s Web site.

N.H.T.S.A. said it decided to begin the investigation of the third-generation Vipers after receiving two complaints from owners who said they lost control, crashed and were later told by mechanics that the failure involved a rear suspension knuckle failure. There was one report of an injury, described by the driver as a back injury.

The investigation is called a preliminary evaluation. If investigators find reason for concern it would be upgraded to a more serious engineering analysis. Or, if the complaints are unfounded, the investigation would be closed without further action.

The agency also opened investigations into about 195,000 2005-8 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models for a potential steering issue and approximately 10,000 2001-7 Porsche 911s for a possible problem with the cooling system.

The Crown Vics, many of them serving in police fleets, may have a problem with a coupling on the steering column shaft that could cause the steering wheel to disconnect from the rack-and-pinion power steering unit. According to N.H.T.S.A.’s report, five complaints have been filed, but no crashes have been reported.

N.H.T.S.A.’s Office of Defects Investigation received 10 reports that said a coolant hose attached to the engine with a glued press fitting failed on some Porsche 911s equipped with the GT1 engine, leading to sudden coolant loss beneath the car. Neither crashes nor injuries were reported, but the agency said that the coolant’s slippery properties could affect traction as well as the safety of motorists following the affected cars in traffic.