Dodge Challenger Rocker Panel Problems

[Hemi Orange]

I noticed an earlier post here that the cracks have appeared at the front and rear of the rocker panels. Can anyone clarify this. My understanding was they only crack at the rear.

[High Rise Torker]

I got front and rear drivers side. The passenger side looks ready to bust any day now.

[Glenn's HC]

Originally Posted by STONEWHITE R/T

I haven't had any yet. But MY suspicions are that water gets behind the plactic trim and freezes. Water expands and cracks them. I had noticed this concern has dropped off to almost nothing over the summer. Now with freezing temps and precipitation it is back. Maybe instead of plastic they need to make it from a more pliable vinyl material.
These aren't pick ups with frames so it is unlikley body twist. Hoisting problems, maybe. Anyone have an old one to see if there is a "water pocket" behind the trim for water to collect and freeze?

Bingo!!! Good Post! Now i will ask, how many here that have the cracked panels drive your cars all year long?? As upposed to the Garage Queens?

[MoparOhio]

My situation. SE 2009, built August 2008
Purchased Feb 5th 2009.
Live in Ohio
Daily driver except for extremely bad weather. Car is in snow, cold, ice, rain but has a garage.
Car has 12,600 miles on it.
Drivers side rear has crack.

The theory of freezing/thawing might not be valid. I saw on another thread two cars from California had cracks.

My thought is that the plastic may get brittle as it ages and cold/freezing and/or flex cracks them. I don't know. This car made it through last winter fine. When I got it it has 260 miles on it and was at a Dodge dealer in Northern Ohio before I got it. I too am concerned if this is a design issue what do we do when the three year warranty is up?

[Glenn's HC]

Originally Posted by High Rise Torker

Cracked at 25 thousand miles/ 13 months. Why, cause they suck.To short, to cheap, to crappy. Time for a new pair of crappy panels. Anyone remember the supplier changed the formula for the plastic? Did Dodge not have them fix that issue? Mine shrunk to the point that they were tighter than Wonderwomans bra.

Good God, i've forgot just how Hot she was, what a great behind, and urrr.. front end!

[agentorange]

Mine originally broke on both sides, front only on passenger's side and front & rear on the driver's side. However, this was about 5 or more months ago when it was still in the 90's in central California. Guess that blows the cold temps theory out of the water. My car has never been on a lift, except for a drive on, at the dealership for an oil change. I guess that blows the lift theory out of the water. I don't have a steep incline into my driveway so I guess that blows the steep incline theory out of the water. What does that leave??? How about the too short, cheap azzed plastic, theory....ya think??
agentorange

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by agentorange

Mine originally broke on both sides, front only on passenger's side and front & rear on the driver's side. However, this was about 5 or more months ago when it was still in the 90's in central California. Guess that blows the cold temps theory out of the water. My car has never been on a lift, except for a drive on, at the dealership for an oil change. I guess that blows the lift theory out of the water. I don't have a steep incline into my driveway so I guess that blows the steep incline theory out of the water. What does that leave??? How about the too short, cheap azzed plastic, theory....ya think??
agentorange

Great, that is the kind of input I was looking for!

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by MoparOhio

My situation. SE 2009, built August 2008
Purchased Feb 5th 2009.
Live in Ohio
Daily driver except for extremely bad weather. Car is in snow, cold, ice, rain but has a garage.
Car has 12,600 miles on it.
Drivers side rear has crack.

The theory of freezing/thawing might not be valid. I saw on another thread two cars from California had cracks.

My thought is that the plastic may get brittle as it ages and cold/freezing and/or flex cracks them. I don't know. This car made it through last winter fine. When I got it it has 260 miles on it and was at a Dodge dealer in Northern Ohio before I got it. I too am concerned if this is a design issue what do we do when the three year warranty is up?

Thank you for your input, this is the kind of stuff we need to consider.

[Blackout]

Originally Posted by Yellow Harley

I had the 2009 R/T for a year and the DY R/T for a couple months now. I put Mud Flaps on both cars right away. I wonder if that made any difference? The cracks may just be harder to see behind the mud flaps.

When I had my car out the other day, I ran into a guy in Lethbridge, here that has an SE with mud guards and the rockers were cracked. The fronts were hard to see due to the mud guards.

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by MoparOhio

My situation. SE 2009, built August 2008
.

The theory . .. California had cracks.

My thought is that the plastic may get brittle as it ages and cold/freezing and/or flex cracks them. I don't know.... if this is a design issue what do we do when the three year warranty is up?

Yeah, plastic may get brittle in 20 years perhaps, but certainly [shouldn't] not in weeks/ months : which is just what's happening within these timeframes !!!

Originally Posted by agentorange

Mine originally broke on both sides, front only on passenger's side and front & rear on the driver's side. However, this was about 5 or more months ago when it was still in the 90's in central California. so I guess that blows the steep incline theory out of the water. What does that leave??? How about the too short, cheap azzed plastic, theory....ya think??
agentorange

Well, yes, like you've said before and a few others, seems to be exactly what the problem is !! What I may suggest is that Us Challengertalkers go scavenge all the semi retreads on interstates, slice them in half and Superglue each half unto each rocker panel : until Ralph Gilles and his design team can figure it out : he is VP of Design and President of Dodge ...let's step it up !!