2024 Dodge Hornet Phev Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2024 Dodge Hornet PHEV most often describe electrical problems, including battery drain, dashboard warning lights, and displays that go dark. Brake pedal and back-over prevention recall repairs are also frequently described, with owners saying repair parts were not yet available when they went to the dealer. Mileage is stated in only some reports; where it is given, the electrical reports are under about 5,000 miles, while the brake reports range up to about 40,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults, battery drain and warning lights

   • 19 complaints (37%)
   • median 1,600 mi at 0.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe dashboards lighting up with engine or hybrid warnings, displays going blank or dark, and batteries that die or fail to charge. Some say the vehicle shut off when parked, would not start, or lost power steering assist while driving. According to complaints, the dealer replaced batteries and reprogrammed the computer, but owners say the problems continued. Some complaints also describe smoke or fire from the engine area. Where mileage is stated, these reports are all under about 5,000 miles, and some describe problems that continue after repeated visits to the dealer.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether any stored fault codes or battery work appear in the repair orders, and whether the power inverter module software update in the service bulletin was applied. During a test drive, check that the warning lights, displays, and power steering assist operate normally, including after a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While commuting to work, my vehicle’s dashboard illuminated with the indicators for both the engine and hybrid electric systems. Subsequently, the vehicle began to hydroplane across lanes into the median, rendering it impossible to regain control. prior to the incident, my electrical system on my dash been flickering and blacking out Random occasions for the past weeks”

   NHTSA complaint #11720974, filed 2026-02

   “Battery died twice on 2 separate occasions since the day car was received on 1/17. Car was ‘serviced’ after the first time battery died, but this morning I could not get it to turn on again. This car has been giving me nothing but issues and I haven’t had it for a month yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #11569610, filed 2024-02
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal recall and brake failure reports

   • 16 complaints (31%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe waiting for the brake pedal recall repair, with the dealer saying parts were not yet available and some repairs left incomplete. Complaints also describe a recall warning appearing at startup. Others describe brake failure, brakes catching fire after highway braking, or a crash they attribute to brake failure. Complaints also say a second recall step was never completed. Where mileage is stated, reports range from under 500 miles to about 40,000 miles, and many describe repair parts that were not yet available.

   Recall 25V846000

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the brake pedal recall repair has been completed, and request the repair order showing the work. During a test drive, check that the brake pedal feels firm and that no recall warning appears at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on the highway at 75 mph, slowing down to 55mph exiting the highway by braking manually, gently. The car started juddering slightly, we assumed it was the road and carried on, then the car following us started to flash for us to stop, we did, got out and all 4 wheels / brakes were on fire, we put them out and carried on driving assuming the brakes would be ok, but we had not put any other kind of brake on except the brake pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11701518, filed 2025-11

   “I contacted my dealer to have the brake recall corrected as the Mopar site indicated the repair parts were available. I scheduled an appointment and the vehicle was taken into the shop this morning. However, the dealer advised that the repair couldn”t be completed as the parts wouldn’t be available from Mopar until January 2025. I’m concerned about the safety of this vehicle if the brake mechanism should fail while driving, especially at highway speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11620829, filed 2024-10
3. 3
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Back-over recall waits and rear-view display faults

   • 11 complaints (22%)
   • median 5,100 mi at 1.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the back-over prevention recall repair as waiting for parts, and say the dealer confirmed the parts were not yet available. Complaints also describe the rear-view image going black or blank while reversing, and a minor crash is reported after that. Owners say the time to complete the repair has been long. The rear camera view is also described as turning on unexpectedly while driving. Mileage is rarely stated in these reports; where it is, the figure is about 5,100 miles, and the display problems are described while reversing or driving.

   What to check: Ask whether the back-over prevention recall repair has been completed, and request the service record. With the vehicle parked, shift into reverse and confirm that the rear view image appears clearly and the back-over warning works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Center Display Screen on about 18,800 of the above vehicles may have been built with a defect, which may result in the rearview image not displaying in a backing event. A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle. A blank screen will appear in place of the rearview image. If the driver does not heed the blank screen warning and fails to otherwise make sure it is safe to operate the vehicle in reverse, a vehicle crash can occur.”

   NHTSA complaint #11712838, filed 2026-01

   “The contact owns a 2024 Dodge Hornet. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention display failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the back-over display screen displayed a black screen. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that it was a minor crash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for damage repairs. The dealer was made aware of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11683516, filed 2025-08, 5,100 miles
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Adaptive cruise and collision alerts cutting out

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe adaptive cruise control switching to an 'unavailable' or service-required message, sometimes with no prior warning and often in stop-and-go traffic. Complaints also describe radar obstruction warnings that turn off forward safety features, and forward collision avoidance showing as disabled at startup. A report also describes the SOS call failing. Complaints also say the dealer could not reproduce the fault. Where mileage is stated, reports are at about 8,000 miles or less, and some describe the warnings appearing at startup or on the highway.

   What to check: During a test drive, check that adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning turn on and stay available, including in stop-and-go traffic. Ask the dealer whether there are records for radar or sensor faults, and whether any software update for those systems was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The automatic cruise control will suddenly stop working and I’m not sure why. At first I thought it was only because of glare into the radar camera, but I’ve noticed even when conditions are cloudy it still happens. The dash lights up and claims the radar is obstructed and will disengage all of the forward safety features instantly… this doesn’t seem good and it can be very alarming at times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11682290, filed 2025-08

   “The vehicle was leased as a new vehicle with 665 miles on the odometer. Immediately upon driving home, I tried activating the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) feature on the highway and received a Highway Assist Unavailable Service Required error message. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership to be looked at and repaired. Waited for the vehicle for about 3 hours till they repaired and tested the vehicle. The vehicle passed the test and was repaired and delivered back to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11635714, filed 2025-01
5. 5
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power or unexpected drive behavior

   • 12 complaints (24%)
   • typically at 2.0 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe limp mode, with the accelerator no longer responding, and a sudden stop in an intersection. Others report loss of acceleration on the highway, unexpected acceleration while the brake was applied, or the vehicle switching between drive and reverse on its own. Complaints also describe rear-wheel regenerative braking with skids on snowy roads, and extended time at the dealer. Mileage is not stated in these reports, and the problems are described during driving, including on the highway, on snowy roads, and in heavy rain.

   What to check: Ask for service records on drivability or limp-mode complaints, and whether any relevant software update was applied. During a test drive, check that acceleration, gear selection, and regenerative braking behave normally at highway speeds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Just 5 minutes after starting the drive, the 'Limp Mode' warning light illuminated, and the accelerator pedal became completely unresponsive. The vehicle decelerated rapidly and came to a sudden stop in the middle of an intersection, putting me in a highly dangerous situation. Furthermore, I pressed the emergency SOS button, but it failed to function entirely.”

   NHTSA complaint #11748931, filed 2026-07

   “We had a sudden heavy wet snow that accumulated a couple inches on the roadway. This made the roadway very slippery. The vehicle could not be driven safely. Upon lifting my foot off the gas pedal, the rear wheels would enter regenerative braking and cause the rear wheels to skid (no matter the drive mode or speed down to less than 5 mph), leading to fishtailing and no ability to control the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11710460, filed 2026-01

Buying note. Ask the seller or the dealer for service records covering the brake pedal and back-over prevention recalls, and confirm whether those repairs are complete before buying. During a test drive, check the warning lights, displays, and driver-assist features, since electrical warnings and displays are the concerns most often described in these complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.