Dodge launched the Hornet in 2023 as the brand’s smallest SUV to compete in the very popular crossover segment. This vehicle was launched alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which is an identical vehicle to the Hornet but with slightly different interior and exterior designs. But there is a serious safety-related issue with these cars.
But it seems disaster has hit this small vehicle, as a recall has been issued that affects a vital part of these cars. The brake pedals might suddenly fail while driving and you can imagine the outcome. But, there is a fix for this issue, and it has to be done immediately.
Stellantis Has Issued A Recall For Faulty Brake Pedals
Stellantis has issued a recall of all 2024–2025 models of the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Dodge Hornet. The reason for this recall has to do with the brake pedal assembly suddenly collapsing, which will result in a fatal accident if it isn’t dealt with. This recall currently impacts over 21,069 vehicles, 17,047 Dodge Hornets, and 4,022 Alfa Romeo Tonales. However, these are just vehicles in the U.S. as over 44,000 might be affected by this issue globally.
You need to visit a local dealer to have this issue fixed, which should take about 20 minutes since it’s fairly easy. A new nut and bolt will be added to the braking assembly, which will reinforce it and prevent future collapse. This is a mandatory fix, especially for cars still sitting on dealer lots. The dealers are advised to honor this recall for all affected vehicles on their lot. Failure to do so will result in a civil penalty of $27,168 per vehicle.
Stopping Your Car In Case Of A Failure
There have been 15 reported cases globally of brake pedal failure, with one accident and no injuries. Stellantis has a fail-safe just in case you find yourself in this situation. The company advises you to pull the Electronic Park Brake on the center console, this will slow down the vehicle and bring it to a complete stop. In circumstances where a collision is about to occur, the Automatic Emergency Braking system will automatically intervene to save the situation as long as it’s activated.
Stellantis has been investigating this issue since July 2023 and concluded in September 2024. So, all vehicles built after this period already have the new brake assembly, which means they’re not affected by this issue.
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