2023 Dodge Hornet Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 26 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 5 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2023 Dodge Hornet receives a 5.8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 26 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 5 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
13 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
5 Active / Free Remedies
2023 Hornet Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (5)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“I have contacted mopar dodge customer care because i have tried 3 dealerships one including the one i bought my car from to get this recalled and go nowhere ! Dodge had a claim filed for my car and they have not called me in 3 weeks on how to get this issue fixed and when it w...”
“I am having continual failures of the electronic door lock/linkage that causes the door to no open from either the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The door latch has been replaced twice on the driver door, once on the rear driver side, the passenger rear is going to be re...”
“Discontinued vehicle model still under active bumper to bumper warranty (thru 10/26); has faulty rear defroster/heated side mirrors that the "remedy" handed down to me was to "drive more" in an effort to charge battery to a threshold that allows said necessary safety feature t...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Discontinued vehicle model still under active bumper to bumper warranty (thru 10/26); has faulty rear defroster/heated side mirrors that the "remedy" handed down to me was to "drive more" in an effort to charge battery to a threshold that allows said necessary safety feature t...”
“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 s...”
“Notified dealer roughly 9/27/23 of issues with dodge hornet . The car went into reverse instead of forward causing significant damage to another car we own . Dodge pulled the black box and gave findings that they weren’t liable however here we are in 2025 an issues we complain...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“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...”
“Steering wheel makes a loud cranking/screeching noise when driving for long periods. You can also hear a knocking sound coming from the steering wheel. Have found several complaints of this issue amongst several online groups and forums”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“I have been taking my car into the shop to get the lights checked. They’ve come to conclusion that the front crash sensors disable themselves and they have no fix for it. Chrysler engineers came back and said to close the case and give the car back until they find a fix. This ...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Hornet. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the passenger extended the rear passenger’s side seat belt and the seat belt failed to retract. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear driver’s side seat...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM: CABLES:FASTENER/CONNECTOR
Summary: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
Summary: 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."
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary: 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."
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: 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."
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Dodge Hornet and 2023-2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. The rear outboard seat belts may become twisted and fail to retract properly.
Tools for Diagnosing the 2023 Dodge Hornet
Reads & clears all DTC codes including ABS, SRS, TPMS. Live sensor data with freeze frames. Works on all 1996+ vehicles.
Charges and reconditions 6V/12V AGM, lead-acid, and lithium batteries. Prevents sulfation.
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Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2023 Dodge Hornet
Before purchasing a used 2023 Dodge Hornet, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2023 Dodge Hornet
Is the 2023 Dodge Hornet a reliable used car?
The 2023 Dodge Hornet earns a 5.8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 26 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2023 Dodge Hornet?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2023 Dodge Hornet?
Yes, the NHTSA records 5 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.