Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, automatic emergency braking, and backup camera. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023One recall on this model year told owners to park outside until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2023 Dodge Hornet: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Dodge Hornet. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD | 24 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Dodge Hornet, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Door latches fail, so doors either won't open from inside or outside or won't latch and lock. Some cars have had several latches replaced. The battery drains when the car isn't driven daily, and total power loss with no restart also appears. After a jump start, the center screen can stay dark, taking the camera, radio, and heat controls with it. Adaptive cruise and highway assist shut off with service-required or camera-blocked messages. Owners say dealers can't find a fix, and some wait on back-ordered recall parts.
Driver-assist sensors malfunction in ways that create real safety risk, including a crash. In that report, adaptive cruise switched off while lane assist steered the car off the road and locked the wheel, and the car struck a sign. Other complaints describe hard braking on an open highway with nothing ahead, plus random warning lights and radar-blocked messages that disable forward collision warning. Repeat shop visits haven't solved it, and owners say they were told no fix exists yet and to wait for a software update.
These complaints are about a recall repair, not a new failure pattern. Owners say the replacement part was unavailable and the wait went on too long. In one case, the dealer said the repair was done while the federal site still listed the VIN as open. Symptoms described include a blue "Camera System Unavailable" screen in place of the rear camera image and a mileage display that keeps blinking on the instrument panel.
Excerpts from complaints Hornet owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle loses all power and will not restart Displays driver mode not available Displays numerous systems not working and drains battery. This has happens two times The first was June 14th mileage 13080, second July 17th mileage 14300 (Estimate). On June 22nd thru 24th after starting vehicle parking brake was on without being activated. Vehicle is a safety issue
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
The electrical system drains the battery if not driven on a daily basis. Now that it had to be jump started the information screen is not working. With that being said, I have no camera, radio, heat and other displays. There have been many people with the same problem with this model vehicle but nothing is being done.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
While driving in left lane of one way road at 46 mph with adaptive cruise and lane sense active, the cruise control switched off and lane assist veered left off the road, locking the steering wheel to the left. I was unable to correct steering until after the car had come to a complete stop. I hit a sign in the median due to the lane departure.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the fewest owner complaints of the 2 Hornet years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the first model year of the Hornet's first generation (2023 on). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Dodge fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Dodge updated the Hornet for 2025, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2025 (not on a 2023)
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recall repairs are free at any Dodge dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale and 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The 12-volt battery positive cable and/or high voltage connector cable may not be tightened properly, which can overheat the electrical connections and result in a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and tighten the cable connections as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 98A.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale and Dodge Hornet vehicles. The display module may not show the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software or replace the display as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 13, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are 13C and 38C.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will add an overlay label to the tire placard information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 28B.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The pedestrian alert siren may be missing or disconnected and fail to alert pedestrians when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: Failure to alert pedestrians when backing up increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear pedestrian siren connection and, if necessary, secure and/or replace the connector or siren, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is B5A.
Cars shoppers compare with the Dodge Hornet, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
