6.2 Liters, No Lube: Dodge Hellcats Recalled Over Catastrophic Oil Dump Risk
Dodge is recalling Charger and Challenger Hellcats due to faulty engine oil cooler lines which may result in a rapid, catastrophic loss of fluids. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filed a recall request earlier this month, saying 1,207 vehicles assembled between February and May of 2017 may be affected.
According to the recall information, the issue stems from rubber used in the oil cooler line. Chrysler’s testing revealed that the rubber doesn’t meet the company’s usual criteria. Substandard materials can allow the hose to separate from a crimped aluminum portion of the line, letting oil gush out as if someone unscrewed a drain plug.
The NHTSA report suggests Hellcat owners might experience “impaired visibility due to oil spray on the windshield, engine seizure and/or a potential risk of fire due to engine oil contacting a hot surface. The rapid loss of engine oil and the resulting impaired visibility can cause vehicle crash without prior warning.”
Despite the agency’s dire words and the potential nightmare scenario associated with the defect, the official recall doesn’t actually begin until September 22nd. Obviously, Fiat Chrysler will replace the oil lines free of charge when that happens. Cars produced outside the aforementioned timeframe are unaffected. The automaker also specified that no other vehicles within its fleet used these particular hose materials.
Additional details are available in the NHTSA report and owners can call the company’s customer service hotline at 1-800-853-1403 with any questions, using the reference code T48. It also might be a good idea to garage the Hellcat early this summer.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The oil cooler line on my 99 Sonoma started leaking, but it had 150,000 miles and 17 years usage. I've read reports that replacement hose assemblies from 3rd world suppliers are subject to sudden failures. I purchased some from Canada, although they were priced 2X the cheap ones.
As opposed to the stereotypical Hellcat owner, who doesn't even use rubber.
Even my washing machine and bathroom supply lines are braided SS reinforced. Not a budget breaker. It's not like these cars are particularly cheap, right?
I've had this happen on my Elise. Oil cooler line let go, while going 80 mph over a bridge. Out of nowhere it steered itself towards the guard rail. The tie rods are a known issue, and I assumed that's what failed. Getting off the nearest exit, the oil light triggered and I shut it down. Massive trail of oil, and the whole side of the car was coated. Few days later a recall notice showed up in the mail, for oil cooler lines. Perfect timing! Sketchy stuff, I wonder if this was a wide spread issue?