Dodge's 1,025-HP Demon Has A Crankshaft Problem, And The Company Is Taking It Dead Serious

“Not A Recall” Doesn’t Mean “Not Serious”

There’s a meaningful difference between a formal recall and a customer service notice, but based on how Dodge is actually handling this Demon 170 crankshaft issue, that distinction feels more like a legal technicality than a reflection of how urgently the company is treating it.

The Numbers Behind The Problem

Dodge is preparing a Customer Service Notice covering 345 examples of the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 — roughly 10% of the 3,300 units built — over an issue with the crankshaft damper and a related bolt. That’s a genuinely significant chunk of a low-volume halo car’s total production run, concentrated enough that Dodge has traced it to a specific production window rather than needing to address the entire build.

The Language Dodge Is Using Is Not Subtle

CEO Matt McAlear told Mopar Insiders the issue could lead to “catastrophic engine damage.” Dodge’s letter to owners states that “continued operation could lead to damage of related engine components.” Neither of those is the kind of hedged, lawyer-approved language companies typically use for a minor service bulletin — that’s language reserved for genuine safety and reliability concerns, and Dodge has reportedly already received multiple reports of actual engine failures.

The Response Matches The Severity Of The Language

Dodge is covering the cost of transporting affected vehicles to the nearest dealership and is strongly advising owners not to drive their Demon 170s at all until the fix is applied. That’s a meaningfully more aggressive response than a typical service notice — most non-recall issues don’t come with “please don’t drive your car” attached. The repair itself is estimated at around two hours, though Dodge hasn’t detailed exactly what work is involved or whether parts get replaced outright.

Why This Specific Engine Makes The Stakes Higher

The Demon 170’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 makes a genuinely absurd 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft — numbers that put enormous stress on every rotating component, the crankshaft included. A damper or bolt failure in an engine producing this much torque isn’t a “pull over safely” scenario in the way it might be in a more modest daily driver; the failure modes at this power level carry real potential for serious mechanical damage, and Dodge’s blunt language reflects that.

My Take

Whether or not this technically qualifies as a recall under NHTSA’s regulatory definitions, Dodge is behaving exactly as if it were one — free transport, an explicit driving advisory, and executive-level language about catastrophic failure risk. If you own one of the affected Demon 170s, I wouldn’t split hairs over the terminology; I’d treat this with the same urgency Dodge itself clearly is, and get the car to a dealer as soon as you can arrange it.

If you own a Demon 170, has Dodge reached out to you yet about this notice? I’d be curious to hear how the process has gone for actual owners.