Dodge Tells Demon 170 Owners Not to Drive to the DealerAutoblogJacob OlivaWed, September 23, 2026 at 1:50 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Ultimate Challenger Has a Small CatchThe 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 marked Dodge's farewell to the HEMI-powered era. Its specs are still impressive today: a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 producing 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque when on E85. There are no electric motors or hybrid systems here, just pure muscle. It stands out as one of the wildest production muscle cars Dodge has ever made.Dodge kept the Demon 170's production tight, building only about 3,300 units before the curtain fell on the Challenger's V8 chapter. But now, a handful of these monsters are being called in for an unscheduled pit stop.AdvertisementAdvertisementDodge will be dropping a Customer Service Notice (CSN) for 345 specific 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170s after spotting a possible hiccup with the engine's crankshaft damper assembly. That's about 10% of all Demon 170s ever built. It's not an official recall, but Dodge wants owners to get the fix done pronto.DodgeWhat Dodge Found and Why It MattersDodge CEO Matt McAlear spilled the beans to MoparInsiders about the CSN. The issue is the crankshaft damper and its retaining bolt, both sourced from a particular batch at one supplier. Dodge dug through production records to pinpoint exactly which cars got the suspect parts.The affected cars aren't in any neat VIN order, so it's not as simple as checking your build number. Dodge has already tracked down the exact cars and is contacting those lucky (or unlucky) owners directly.The investigation kicked off after some field failures popped up. Dodge's engineers traced the issue back to a specific supplier batch and narrowed it down to just 345 cars. If your Demon 170 starts making odd noises from under the hood, that's your cue. Dodge warns that ignoring the symptoms and driving on could mean more engine trouble down the line.AdvertisementAdvertisementDodge officials aren't mincing words: worst case, you could be looking at catastrophic engine damage if you keep driving without the fix. With a 1,025-hp V8 tuned to the edge, Dodge isn't taking any chances, even if only a handful of cars are at risk.2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170StellantisWhat Owners Should Do NextDodge is taking extra precautions this time. If your Demon 170 is on the list, don't drive it to the dealer. Dodge will arrange transport to an authorized shop and return the car after the repair. This helps owners keep their car's mileage low.The repair itself should take about two hours, although the entire process may take longer depending on the dealer's schedule. Technicians can complete the work from underneath the car, so they don't need to remove parts from the front.To see whether your car is affected, enter your VIN into Mopar's online lookup tool and check Customer Service Notices (not recalls), since this is not an official recall. If nothing appears, your car is not affected, and you can continue to enjoy your Demon 170 as usual.AdvertisementAdvertisementSince only 345 of about 3,300 cars are affected, most Demon 170 owners don't need to worry. However, if you own one of these rare Dodge muscle cars, it is a good idea to check your VIN soon.DodgeThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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