Newer Dodge Challenger - Puppy Killing Fuel Tank Doors

[PsyberVW]

Last night I stopped by a local Mazda/Dodge/Jeep/Mitsubishi dealer to check out some cars (and a Harley Sportster 883 they got in on trade... mmmm...)..

Walking through the lot I noticed quite a few Dodge Challengers - and having just watched Top Gear USA the night before, I was slightly curious to look them over a little more. Still thinking in my head "I just don't know if I could DODGE..." but still appreciating the car none the less.

The GM was actually walking by and we struck up a little conversation while strolling down the aisle.

As I approached each vehicle (each Dodge Challenger), I noticed a little ding, about the same size and depth - positioned in exactly the same place - on each car.

DeJa Vu! - I gasped.

The strip club? - He was puzzled.

No, it's like a glitch in the Matrix - come look at this.

Every single one of your Dodge Challengers has a dent in the exact same place.

Are you joking me right now? Who did this to my cars?

It's really too perfect to be vandalism, I think it's a defect.

From the factory maybe?

I don't know...



So he walks up to the car, rear quarter over the wheel. Pulls open the gas tank door, and voila! The shapes line up perfectly!

WHAT CRAP! - he says...

Apaprently, the hinges on the fuel door allow the surface of the door to hit the body. So if you're not careful, or put any pressure at all on the fuel door while it's open - it acts as a lever and puts a nice, deep, round dent right in your fender!!

Sorry no rule #1 - but a google search does turn up tons of aftermarket fuel doors for this car. After seeing this last night, I think that's the FIRST thing I'd do if I bought one.

[ValveCoverGasket]

crazy!

[SSLByron]

ttiwwp

[Hurt]

Figures.

[surefooted]

I thought you were going to say the dash.

[PsyberVW]

ttiwwp

I know, I know.. I'll try to get some later if I can get away from the desk.

I am actually suprised this isn't a big deal - I didn't seem to find any images on Google searching for "Dodge Challenger Fuel Door Dent" -- mostly just lots of aftermarket fuel doors.

Maybe it's just such a common modification, that no one has ever used the stock fuel door?!


I will share this though, my reason for stopping by:


They had a 2011 model with 45 miles on it for $11,999 "with room to move" on the price. I don't think they wanted to stock it too long and $10k (or thereabouts) in cash would probably move it pretty fast. It was in the showroom stuffed under a bunch of hubcaps and Skyactiv brochures.

[stealthmk1]

I heard it's a $40,000 repair and the owners manual makes no mention of it.

[screwloose45]

No pics?

[GahannaKid]

ttiwwp

If ever that was more true it was in an alternate reality.

[Cousin Eddie]

[xJOKERx]

Wow that sucks...

[Matt@EuroJerks]

Something similar happened on my jetta. It was a quarter size depression on the front panels right behind the wheel well in front of the door jamb....hardly noticeable. whatever.

[Subwoofers]

lol Dodge.

[VTECeateR]

well, no dent....but I'll tell the owner so she doesn't do the same thing....

Challenger-4 by ATPhotodesign, on Flickr

[veedub87]

I will share this though, my reason for stopping by:


They had a 2011 model with 45 miles on it for $11,999 "with room to move" on the price. I don't think they wanted to stock it too long and $10k (or thereabouts) in cash would probably move it pretty fast. It was in the showroom stuffed under a bunch of hubcaps and Skyactiv brochures.

Are you aware that Iron 883s are $7,999 brand new? You're f*ckin' right they had 'room to move'.

[EdRacer71]

Are you aware that Iron 883s are $7,999 brand new? You're f*ckin' right they had 'room to move'.

Was about to post that same thing. $11K for an 883? OMGWTFBBQ!

[fixmy59bug]

Something similar happened on my jetta. It was a quarter size depression on the front panels right behind the wheel well in front of the door jamb....hardly noticeable. whatever.

Matt,

You aren't talking about the jack alignment "divots" are you?

On each end of the rocker panel, about 6" from the end, there is a little dent, or divot.

They are on almost all Vw's. It marks the spot where the pinch weld has been reinforced and is the safe spot to jack the car up.

[JLJetta]

Maybe its an 883 warrantied against oil leaks.

lol

[SSLByron]

I'm looking at this...


And I'm just not seeing it happening. Is it possible the dealer bought some cheap accessory fuel doors and put them on all the Challengers for extra mark-up? Wouldn't be the first time.

[Corbic]

Maybe its an 883 warrantied against oil leaks.

lol

Destroys the Harley ownership experience then.

[VTECeateR]

I'm looking at this...


And I'm just not seeing it happening. Is it possible the dealer bought some cheap accessory fuel doors and put them on all the Challengers for extra mark-up? Wouldn't be the first time.

My friend (owner of the orange '12) says it's not possible...think the dealer is on crack...see?

[Lithium Lotus]

You get the same free dent caused by the door mirrors on 07-12 Wranglers if you let them open too far. The mirror hits the cowl panel by the windshield. The doors use limiting straps instead of the more common interior door hinges.

It's known as the JK dent.

[AHFlynn]

my dad did that to my car because he parked too far from the pump and didnt feel like moving


oh well, ill take the free tank.

[deagle]

wow, dodge can't even make the fuel door right...good grief

[SSLByron]

My friend (owner of the orange '12) says it's not possible...think the dealer is on crack...see?

Yeah, without a shot from the dealer cars, this doesn't make any sense at all.

[bootymac]

It's probably the models without the chrome gas cap

[epbrown]

"Serious design flaw?" Save that for exploding gas tanks and self-destructing tires, not "might cause door ding."

[VR6ix]

"Serious design flaw?" Save that for exploding gas tanks and self-destructing tires, not "might cause door ding."

Industrial Designers all over are going "wait, wut? LOL, the ENGINEERS did that, because they wouldn't listen to us"

ITT: cars are just mass-produced buckets of **** sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder, and sometimes it shows.

[Sporin]

"Serious design flaw?" Save that for exploding gas tanks and self-destructing tires, not "might cause door ding."

Came here to post that

[DUBSfightinRUST]

Industrial Designers all over are going "wait, wut? LOL, the ENGINEERS did that, because they wouldn't listen to us"

ITT: cars are just mass-produced buckets of **** sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder, and sometimes it shows.

You both are right... After 25 years in the car industry this has been my experience as well

[PsyberVW]

It's probably the models without the chrome gas cap

These are the doors, not the chrome ones. I'll go back for a pic after dinner, I've been at GMC and Ford all evening.

"serious design flaw" - I think it is.
It's not a fatal engineering flaw, or safety defect-- it's a poorly designed fuel door that causes damage to the body of the car. A stock component shouldn't do this- I should be able to fill the tank without permanently ruining the fender...

As for the bike, I wound up not checking into the details, but it wasn't stock- you could tell just by glancing at it.

Lol @ bike for the wife

It was just a thought.. I went in to check it out initially but I didn't make it in before dark. I just like the style of the bike - this and the Honda Shadow Phantom both. I haven't ridden either, and this would have been a good chance to check it out.

[randy]

DeJa Vu! - I gasped.

The strip club? - He was puzzled.

[PsyberVW]

The serious design flaw:

[PsyberVW]

Guess I can only do 4 pics from mobile..

Keep in mind I'm using the flash on an iPhone, so it washes out some of the shadow to make them not look so deep. These are 4 different cars on the lot- 3 silver ones and 1 black one.

[PsyberVW]

Oh the humanity!!!