Dodge Hornet Lemon Law: Defects, Recalls & Your Rights

Name: Dodge Hornet
Brand: Dodge

Comprehensive guide to common Dodge Hornet defects, recalls, TSBs, and how to pursue a lemon law claim.

Model years covered: 2023-2025

About Dodge Hornet Lemon Law Claims

The Dodge Hornet arrived as Dodge's entry in the compact crossover segment, sharing architecture and powertrain elements with Stellantisʼ small-platform vehicles. Introduced to U.S. showrooms in the 2023 model year, the Hornet mixes turbocharged gasoline engines and electrified (PHEV) variants, advanced infotainment, and a host of driver-assistance electronics. Early owner reports and dealer service bulletins have highlighted several recurring technical problems that can affect reliability, drivability, and — in some cases — safety.

Owners most commonly report transmission juddering and hard shifts tied to transmission control calibration, intermittent infotainment and electrical failures, and turbocharger or engine stalling issues. PHEV owners have also experienced charging failures and battery/charging system warnings. Because many states' lemon laws focus on a vehicle's availability for repair and a reasonable number of repair attempts, Hornet owners experiencing repeated failures should document repairs, request loaner records, and track days out of service to preserve potential lemon claims.

Dodge Hornet Lemon Law Statistics

Estimated Annual Claims: 1,000
Success Rate: 65-85%
Average Settlement: $8,000 - $28,000
Most Common Outcome: Vehicle Repurchase (Buyback) or Cash Settlement / Replacement Vehicle

Known Dodge Hornet Defects

Transmission shudder / harsh shifting (high severity, 2023-2024): Multiple owners report harsh upshifts, delayed engagement and a noticeable shudder during light-throttle acceleration. Dealers often apply transmission control module (TCM) software updates or torque converter replacements; in many cases the issue returns until a reprogram or mechanical repair is completed. NHTSA Complaints: 520. Symptoms: Jerky or hesitant acceleration from a stop, Clunking or banging during downshifts, Transmission slip or check-engine light, Shudder between 20-40 mph.
Infotainment and electrical system failures (medium severity, 2023-2025): Owners report touchscreen freezing, Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto disconnects, intermittent instrument-cluster reboots, and accessory power resets. Many of these problems are traced to software issues in the Uconnect/infotainment stack or to poor grounding connections. NHTSA Complaints: 430. Symptoms: Frozen touchscreen or unresponsive controls, Random reboots of the cluster display, Phone pairing drops or audio silence, Loss of backup camera intermittently.
Turbocharged engine oil consumption / stalling (high severity, 2023-2024): Some owners of turbocharged Hornet engines have reported elevated oil consumption, occasional turbo noise and, in a subset of reports, engine hesitation or stalling at low RPM. Investigations often point to turbocharger oil seals, PCV system restrictions, or sensor miscalibration requiring parts replacement or ECU updates. NHTSA Complaints: 340. Symptoms: Blue exhaust smoke on cold start, Drop in boost pressure and loss of power, Oil level dropping between services, Engine stalls or fails to restart after idling.
PHEV charging failures and degraded EV range (high severity, 2024-2025): Plug-in Hornet owners report charging session failures, slower-than-expected charge rates, and reduced EV-only range. Dealers have issued firmware updates and inspected charging ports and battery management systems (BMS); persistent faults may indicate a defective charging module or BMS component. NHTSA Complaints: 160. Symptoms: Charging stops unexpectedly or shows error codes, Vehicle refuses to accept charge beyond a low percentage, EV range far below EPA estimate, BMS or charge port warning lights.

Dodge Hornet Recall History

Total recalls: 3

Since launch, the Hornet has been subject to a small number of targeted recalls and campaigns affecting safety-related and software items. Recalls reported by NHTSA have included corrective actions for restraint/seat-belt anchorage hardware in early production runs and a software/firmware update for powertrain control modules on affected production lots. Several recall campaigns were limited in scope (specific VIN ranges) and required dealer inspection and parts replacement or reprogramming.

View all Dodge recalls and NHTSA safety alerts

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for Dodge Hornet

Dealers have received several Technical Service Bulletins addressing recurring Hornet problems. Common TSBs include transmission TCM reprogramming procedures and updated shift maps, infotainment software image reloads for Uconnect-related freezes, and charging-system diagnostics and BMS reflash instructions for PHEV models. TSBs are useful because they document manufacturer knowledge of a problem and the recommended repair steps, but they do not carry the same consumer remedies as a recall.

Class Actions & Litigation: Dodge Hornet

Through mid-2024 and into 2025, individual lemon-law claims and small clusters of consumer lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer relating to persistent transmission and PHEV charging failures. As of this writing there was no widely publicized, nationwide class action fully adjudicated; most matters are being handled through state lemon-law filings, arbitration, or private settlement. Plaintiffs' counsel typically use dealer repair histories, TSBs and NHTSA complaint patterns to demonstrate a reasonable number of repair attempts and warrant a buyback or replacement.

State Lemon Law Notes for Dodge Hornet

California: Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, Hornet owners in California should track repair attempts closely. Typical thresholds that trigger presumptions of a lemon include four repair attempts for the same defect, two attempts for a problem that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, or 30 cumulative days out of service. California also offers a DMV arbitration program for faster resolution.
Texas: Texas Lemon Law generally covers new vehicle buyers and lessees during the first 24 months or 24,000 miles. If the Hornet has been subject to four or more repair attempts for the same substantial defect, or has been out of service for a cumulative 30 days, owners may be eligible to pursue a refund or replacement under Texas law.
New York: New York provides remedies for consumers with defective new vehicles under its Lemon Law and related consumer statutes. For Hornet owners, preserve repair orders, communications, and loaner records—these are critical evidence. New York dealers and manufacturers are often required to make a 'reasonable number' of attempts to fix a defect before repurchase is compelled; consult counsel or the NY Attorney General's consumer protection resources if repairs continue to fail.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dodge Hornet Lemon Law

How many repair attempts do I need to make before filing a lemon law claim for my Hornet?

Can software updates fix Hornet infotainment or transmission problems?

Yes, many Hornet issues are addressed initially with software/firmware reprograms (TCM updates, Uconnect reflashes, BMS updates). However, if the problem returns despite repeated reprogramming or requires repeated visits, you may have a warranty or lemon-law claim.

What should PHEV Hornet owners do if charging fails or EV range decreases quickly?

Document every failed charge session, save charging-station logs and dealer diagnostics, and request written dealer reports identifying the failed charging hardware or BMS codes. If the dealer cannot repair the issue after a reasonable number of attempts, preserve those service records for a potential lemon-law action.

Will a recall automatically get me a buyback for my Hornet?

No. A recall is a manufacturer-initiated safety remedy that requires a free repair, but it does not automatically entitle an owner to a buyback under lemon laws. If the recall repair does not fix the vehicle or creates new issues, a lemon-law claim based on repeated unsuccessful repairs may still be possible.

Do leased Hornet vehicles qualify for lemon law protection?

Yes. In most states leased vehicles are covered by state lemon laws for the original lease term or warranty period. Lessees should still document repairs and contact the manufacturer or a consumer attorney to preserve rights and examine remedies, which can include lease termination and refund adjustments.

References & Sources

NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls & Investigations - Dodge Hornet — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2023 Dodge Hornet First Drive Review — Car and Driver
Dodge Hornet Consumer Reviews and Reliability Notes — Edmunds
Lemon Law Basics for Consumers — Nolo