Gone are the days when sports cars from Dodge and Chevrolet were rare sights on Nigerian roads. The car culture in Nigeria is getting bigger by the day and Nigerians with enough money to spare do a great job of adorning our roads with beautiful works of art on wheels. Dodge sports cars seem to be more common, probably because of all the hype it has garnered from movies like The Fast and Furious. An issue has however been discovered with one of the Dodge sports cars and this has led to the recall of all its units. So this is your queue to share this piece with that Dodge owner or future owner, so that they know if their car is being affected by this recall or not.
First Off, What is a Recall?
When a car manufacturer determines that a certain car make and model has a safety-related defect or performance problem, they issue something called a recall by notifying the owners about the existing issue. A recall can also be initiated by the owners of a vehicle and this is one of the situations in which, ‘the customer is always right’. If enough people report similar issues with a certain vehicle, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opens an investigation that could result in a recall. More so, the manufacturer usually offers free repairs to maintain positive customer satisfaction ratings. So, if you notice a potential problem with your vehicle, don’t hesitate to submit a formal complaint. It could save lives and you could get a free repair. You can check if your car has been recalled through NHTSA’s database.
As for this case, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 has been recalled due to a spark plug issue. The car in question was released back in 2023 as the world’s quickest muscle car ever and was rumoured to be the last Dodge with a combustion engine. Customers have been reporting an issue referring to engine misfire and loss of power for a year and a half prior to the recall. As a result, Dodge has quietly issued a recall on every single Demon for a spark plug issue. Emphasis on quietly, because for a car company that is synonymous with performance, having issues with said performance should not be heard of. This means that all owners of the Demon all over the world are expected to take their cars to the dealer after making an appointment.
What Does the Recall Issue Entail?
According to Buter Da Insider, an auto connoisseur, the spark plug issue could be as a result of a gap that is set too high, which may lead to the vehicle experiencing a reduction in power or an engine misfire. The spark plug issue causes the Dodge Demon to lose part of its 1,025 horsepower (hp) and 945 pound-feet of torque.
The recall is going to fix the issue by replacing all 16 spark plugs (two per cylinder) of the 6.2-liter HEMI engine, the only one in the Dodge Challenger lineup affected by the issue. For those who may be lost at this point, a spark plug generates a literal spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine. This means that any problem or lag with the spark plug will cause a misfire and ultimately, loss of power from the engine.
Dodge will begin sending emails to the owners in earnest and scheduling appointments at the nearest service shops. Additionally, owners of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170s affected by the issue will not be charged for the fix. Those who have already fixed the problem on their cars at a dealership before the recall was issued might be reimbursed.
Overall, it is quite sad that the car meant to close the chapter of combustion engines for Dodge is plagued with such a grave issue. Dodge is supposed to be remembered for the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, but in light of this, fans are probably going to remember it for the wrong reason. Hopefully, Dodge gets this in their rear view and gives us a befitting farewell. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing what Dodge has in store with the all-electric Dodge Demon coming soon.
