More Than 300 Dodge Demon 170s Have A Serious Crankshaft Issue

Driven by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and churning out a remarkable 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is one of the most wild muscle cars ever conceived. However, it’s been revealed that roughly 10 percent of the Demon 170s produced may have a crankshaft issue that needs addressing.

Dodge is preparing a Customer Service Notice for 345 examples of the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170, revealing an issue with the crankshaft damper and a bolt used. Although Dodge has stopped short of issuing a recall for affected models, it says the fault could trigger unusual noises from the engine and cause damage.

Watch: Hennessey’s Demon 1700 Makes More Torque At The Tires Than A Bugatti Chiron Makes At The Crank

In a letter sent to Demon 170 owners, Dodge says “continued operation could lead to damage of related engine components.” Speaking with Mopar Insiders, Dodge chief executive Matt McAlear added the problem could lead to “catastrophic engine damage,” without specifying exactly what could happen if the issue isn’t addressed immediately. Dodge has received reports of several engine failures.

It appears Dodge is so concerned about the fault that it will cover the cost of transporting impacted vehicles to the nearest dealership, strongly recommending owners not drive their Demon 170s.

Repairing impacted engines will take approximately two hours. Dodge hasn’t said what work will be done on the engines of impacted models and whether they will be repaired, or if certain parts will be replaced. The company has reportedly traced potentially affected parts to a specific production period, which is why it doesn’t need to issue a recall or repair all 3,300 units produced.