Driver assistance
Filed Jul 7, 2026
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 ID
- 11748931
- Incident
- May 24, 2026
The contact rented a 2024 Dodge Hornet from Avis Car Rental. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message "URGENT SAFETY RECALL - Your vehicle has an urgent safety recall: NHTSA Recall Number 24V752000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), Collapsed Brake Pedal - Call Customer Care or the Dealer to Schedule Repair" was displayed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact emailed Avis Car Rental about the recall and the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11746183
- Incident
- Jun 20, 2026
- Mileage
- 40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 17, 2026
Tail light bar fractured spontaneously without any external physical impact due to structural over-tightening at the factory, creating a risk of water intrusion that can short out required FMVSS rear lighting. What the data shows is that this isn't a random occurrence — it's a known manufacturing and installation defect. If you look at the accounts from dozens of owners on places like Reddit and Hornet forums, they describe identical failures across the board. Here is the breakdown of why so many people are running into this exact problem: 1. The Real Cause: "Over-Torque" From the Factory The most eye-opening discovery from owners who have dealt with this multiple times is that the cracks are usually mechanical, not environmental. When the "racetrack" light bar is installed at the factory, the securing bolts are often tightened too far down. This leaves virtually zero gap between the plastic light assembly and the metal car body. As you drive, hit bumps, or slam the rear liftgate, the light bar literally smashes against the vehicle's body panels, causing the plastic to buckle and fracture under the stress. 2. Spontaneous Hairline Fractures Many owners report walking out to their driveway to find massive spiderweb cracks along the top edge of the light bar, despite swearing they never backed into anything. The tension on the plastic is so high that temperature changes (like going through a cold car wash on a hot day) are enough to spontaneously trigger the fracture. 3. The Secondary Nightmare: Water Traps Once the plastic casing gets that hairline crack along the top edge, rain and car wash water seep right into the lens. Because the assembly is sealed tightly, the water gets trapped inside, causing: Condensation that can short out the racetrack LED segments. Delamination, where the water forces the internal tint film to separate from the plastic, making the crack look much wider and worse over time.
- NHTSA ID
- 11744798
- Incident
- Jun 17, 2026
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 2026
On [XXX] the electrical system on the 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T malfunctioned and all warning lights were simultaneously flashing on the screen and all driver safety warnings malfunctioned. There was loss of Power Steering Assist while driving the car as well as an Electronic Parking Brake malfunction.. It is unknown what other specific electronic safety functions failed as well but the complete system was severely malfunctioning and all warning lights displayed simultaneously. The car was brought in for service May 30, 2026, at Westbury Chrysler Jeep Dodge Service Center located at 111 Bond Street, Westbury, NY 11590 to repair the electrical system. On June 10, 2026, the car was ready for us to pick up. It was driven back to our house (a 30 minute drive) with no incident and was used by my wife this morning, on. June 11, for her short commute to work. [XXX], my wife started the Hornet and the same electrical problem occurred with the same safety issues. This electrical failure occured within 24 hours of receiving the car back from the service center. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11743599
- Incident
- Jun 11, 2026
Fuel system
Filed May 9, 2026
At approximately 11:00PM on April 24, 2026 I received a phone call from a neighbor telling me that my car was on fire. I went outside and the car, which was parked in the driveway, was pouring out smoke and making popping noises. We called the fire department and watch from a safe distance. The smoke and popping got worse another were large flares or jets of flame visible. The fire department attempted to contain the fire but the priority was our house. After multiple attempts to put out the fire the fire fighters used a specially manufactured blanket to aid in keeping the fire from spreading. The fire burned for roughly 3-4 hours before burning itself out.
- NHTSA ID
- 11736790
- Incident
- Apr 24, 2026
Steering
Filed Apr 27, 2026
This involves a rental from AVIS at Orlando International Airport that I picked up on the 24th of March. I drove up to Palm Coast, as that journey progressed I began to notice that turning the steering wheel, either right or left the beginning of that motion had no effect on the direction of the car, which meant you had to turn the wheel further than you would normally that gave the driver a lack of confidence in the steering. This got progressively worse over the next couple of days, so I investigated to see what was wrong. It took me a little over one minute to find the pinch bolt in the knuckle joint, where the steering column joins to the steering rack, was completely missing. Realising how dangerous this was, I contacted AVIS, who asked me to drive the car some 30 miles to their nearest depot/office, which I declined to do, telling the vehicle was dangerous in it's current condition. They brought a replacement car on a recovery lorry and took the first car away. I told the driver that the car he was taking should not be put on rental until the issue was sorted.
- NHTSA ID
- 11734020
- Incident
- Mar 27, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 23, 2026
Have been, unsuccessfully, attempting to get my vehicle repaired under Safety Recall Notice 25V-246 for almost 1 year. Today was my fourth attempt. I do not believe the manufacturer is making a good faith attempt to rectify a built in defect with my car.
- NHTSA ID
- 11726448
- Incident
- Mar 23, 2026
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2026
The contact rented a 2024 Dodge Hornet. While driving 50-75 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the steering wheel was not turning as intended. Additionally, the steering wheel and the front axle were not responding as intended, and constant adjustments were needed; the contact had to grip the steering wheel tightly. The contact stated that the failure increased while turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was driven back to the rental agency. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 48,025.
- NHTSA ID
- 11724928
- Incident
- Mar 3, 2026
- Mileage
- 48,025 mi