Newer Dodge Challenger - Puppy Killing Fuel Tank Doors

[Geesixty]

Perhaps the fuel filler door does not open far enough and customers are bumping the fuel doors with the fuel pump handles.

[AZGolf]

that sort of damage on both the fender AND the cap (as is evidenced by that last pic) shows a lot of force being put on it.

Actually the picture only shows the damage. You assumed it would take a lot of force because you assumed that they aren't using metal that is so thin and weak that it easily bends. Knowing Chrysler's financial history that may not be a safe assumption. I too am curious how this is the first we're hearing of the alleged problem however. Maybe only the puppies were witnesses and now they can't speak?

[R3Drew]

Pretty awful

A single Indian tear for all challenger owners

[BRealistic]

Actually the picture only shows the damage. You assumed it would take a lot of force because you assumed that they aren't using metal that is so thin and weak that it easily bends. Knowing Chrysler's financial history that may not be a safe assumption. I too am curious how this is the first we're hearing of the alleged problem however. Maybe only the puppies were witnesses and now they can't speak?

I'm not sure if a company's financial situation is relevant when talking about the sheet metal thickness on their halo car.
Assumptions all around.

[Chris_V]

Actually the picture only shows the damage. You assumed it would take a lot of force because you assumed that they aren't using metal that is so thin and weak that it easily bends. Knowing Chrysler's financial history that may not be a safe assumption. I too am curious how this is the first we're hearing of the alleged problem however. Maybe only the puppies were witnesses and now they can't speak?

I've spent a lot of time bending metals of various thicknesses and compositions as a custom bodyshop owner, and ahve seen dents liek these in a lot of differnt material. And the cap itself is dented. That cap is curved and has a folded lip. Even on thin sheetmetal, that folded lip gives a LOT of strenght, and it's bent, too. I've dented (and undented) the thin Japanese sheetmetal on cars like the FD RX7, that dented when you LOOKED at it wrong... If those cars dented with no force, then all of them would be covered in dents everywhere from even the slightest brushing, and door dings (which I've seen) would be huge and much longer than the spot where it was actually touched.

That's why I want to go see one in person. My knowledge of how dents occur and metal bends is telling me there's WAY more to this story than a paper thin body side (especially right next to where the metal is folded to go into the gas filler opening). It may actually BE that, but my gut instinct is no.

[SSLByron]

You know, doing bodywork for years, that sort of damage on both the fender AND the cap (as is evidenced by that last pic) shows a lot of force being put on it. I can't imagine that happening from simply oening the door, or even a careless minor push. Makes me want to go check out the local dealerships to see if it's common here, too. And to see just what kind of force it takes to open that door too far.

I can't even find a complaint on the Challenger forums. That should tell you something.

[BRealistic]

I can't even find a complaint on the Challenger forums. That should tell you something.

That Challenger owners can't read or write?

[Roketdriver]

That Challenger owners can't read or write?

[Cousin Eddie]

That Challenger owners can't read or write?

"I let my Hemi do the talkin'. Vroom!"

[Chris_V]

That Challenger owners can't read or write?

lol!

[carfanguy]

Why wouldnt they all just come with the retro cap instead of the other crappy one?

[Subwoofers]

Why wouldnt they all just come with the retro cap instead of the other crappy one?

Because dealers like to make money.

[SSLByron]

That Challenger owners can't read or write?

Heroic.

[KrautFed]

Not sure if this has been mentioned... but what if it's design flaw AND vandalism? Are the doors locked down? This photo doesn't look like there's any type of locking mechanism unless its on the arm somewhere.



If the doors can be easy to open by a passer-by, I wonder if there is a Callenger Fuel Door Fender Denter loose on the streets.

[GolfTango]

Probably all previous rentals. Scores of Alamo and Avis employees filling them up daily. I'm sure they lean hard on them causing the damage because, well, they don't give a ****

I'm sure renters contribute to this too. Rent a car = let's do all the crap i'd never do to my own car.

[BRealistic]

I just checked one out while on my walk- unfortunately it had the shiny metal gas cap without the door.
But the metal in the area being dented is quite stiff.
I pushed in with my finger and it did not budge.
But that could be part of the issue- maybe the metal is too stiff and doesn't give when hit?

[PsyberVW]

I just checked one out while on my walk- unfortunately it had the shiny metal gas cap without the door.
But the metal in the area being dented is quite stiff.
I pushed in with my finger and it did not budge.
But that could be part of the issue- maybe the metal is too stiff and doesn't give when hit?

I wonder if the hinge works like a lever to put more force into it?

[PsyberVW]

Not sure if this has been mentioned... but what if it's design flaw AND vandalism? Are the doors locked down? This photo doesn't look like there's any type of locking mechanism unless its on the arm somewhere.



If the doors can be easy to open by a passer-by, I wonder if there is a Callenger Fuel Door Fender Denter loose on the streets.

Yeah, there's no locking mechanism (I'm really suprised by how many cars don't have that!)

Freaking niche vandal right there. Bonus points if he's barefoot!

[Sporin]

Have we seen any evidence of this outside your area?

[PsyberVW]

Have we seen any evidence of this outside your area?

No, that's the next test. I'll be in Northern Cali on Monday, and back to SoCal in another couple of weeks. But so far TCL tests are inconclusive, as the cars with these style fuel doors are not so common.

[Duderino]

No, that's the next test. I'll be in Northern Cali on Monday, and back to SoCal in another couple of weeks. But so far TCL tests are inconclusive, as the cars with these style fuel doors are not so common.

OT, but...where in norcal?

[EdRacer71]

Yeah, there's no locking mechanism (I'm really suprised by how many cars don't have that!)

Freaking niche vandal right there. Bonus points if he's barefoot!

extra bonus points if he's barefoot, shirtless and carrying a stolen trumpet

because no one else can ever be that hip...

[PsyberVW]

OT, but...where in norcal?

SFO Bay Area- South Bay and the City.

InB4 "that's central cal"

[A.Wilder]

I'll be on the look out here now that i've read this thread. It seems most of the challengers i see have the retro cap.

[Brickx3]

also happens to mini coopers, took this pic today of an 04 trade in...

[2.0_Mazda]

wow, that’s inacceptable

bigger dent then I thought it would be

[PsyberVW]

Wow- that mini is a surprise, as with the Challenger- I hadn't seen any complaints online about it!

Has anyone else been able to confirm or deny these rumors?