The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES USED EXTENSIVELY IN TRACK TYPE RACING EVENTS AND SUBJECTED TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD EXPERIENCECRACKING OF THE STEERING RACK MOUNTING BRACKETS.
The risk
THE CRACKS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE STEERING RACK FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE STEERING RACK COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED STEERING LOOSENESS AND LAG.
The remedy
ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL HAVE A FIELD REPAIR KIT INSTALLED, CONSISTING OF LOWER FRAME RAIL REINFORCEMENT GUSSETS AND A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INFORMATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Viper | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Viper | 1996 | 8 | 2 |
| Dodge Viper | 1997 | 3 | 3 |
| Dodge Viper | 1998 | 3 | 3 |
| Dodge Viper | 1999 | 2 | 3 |
| Dodge Viper | 2000 | 4 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 2001
48 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the steering; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 01V389000 21 Dec 2001 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 01V140008 19 Dec 2001 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 01V379000 13 Dec 2001 | EQUIPEMENT LABRIE LTEE |
| 01V353000 15 Nov 2001 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 01V343000 7 Nov 2001 | GLOBAL ELECTRIC MOTORCARS, LLC |
| 01V314000 3 Oct 2001 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 01V304000 25 Sept 2001 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 01V295001 25 Sept 2001 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001