The 2024 Dodge Hornet electrical complaints span a wide range of critical failures. Battery and hybrid system malfunctions are the most common: owners report batteries dying repeatedly (some requiring four replacements within a month), loss of power and acceleration on highways, grinding noises from the motor generator unit, and regenerative braking system failures. One owner's vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment at 1,600 miles with no warning lights illuminated beforehand.
Dashboard and infotainment failures are frequent: center screens go blank while driving, navigation gives wrong directions, and multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously. Rearview camera function is compromised—either freezing while reversing or activating unexpectedly during highway driving. Brake issues include loud squealing/squeaking on reverse with steering input, soft pedals, and one owner reporting the vehicle accelerates instead of brakes.
Safety system malfunctions include headlight shutdowns at night, adaptive cruise control disengaging with false radar warnings, power steering lockup, and lane departure/blind spot monitoring failures. One owner experienced dashboard flickering followed by hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control. Dealerships frequently report they cannot duplicate issues or claim noises are normal, despite independent shops confirming electrical problems. Multiple owners report vehicles sitting in dealerships for weeks to months with no resolution.
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of acceleration and power on highway
Vehicle drops speed or will not accelerate while driving at highway speeds, sometimes with grinding noise from engine. Requires shutdown and restart to regain function or towing.
When: At various mileages including highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of acceleration; Vehicle loses speed while driving; Grinding noise from engine; Requires pull-over and vehicle shutdown to restore acceleration
Codes mentioned: P0A92 (hybrid generator performance code)
Repairs/costs cited: Motor generator unit (MGU) replacement documented in narrative #2
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple PCM, hybrid control processor, and transmission control module software flashes and reprogramming attempted
Battery and hybrid system electrical failures
Repeated battery drain, inability to start vehicle, abnormal battery percentage drops, and hybrid system malfunctions requiring multiple replacements and reprogramming.
When: Within first month of ownership to several months; one owner reports battery dead twice in first month
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dies even after 3 days of non-use; Vehicle will not start or turns on inconsistently; Abnormal battery percentage drops; Vehicle enters low power mode; Regenerative braking system fails to charge properly
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements (up to 4 replacements documented), parasitic draw suspected per narrative #10
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple software flashes and reprogramming of PCM and hybrid control modules
Dashboard warning lights and system malfunctions
Illumination of multiple warning lights (check engine, ABS, hybrid system), loss of functionality, and system failures while driving creating safety hazards.
When: Various occurrences while driving and at rest
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Dashboard goes blank or dims while driving; Dashboard lights flicker and black out randomly; Lane sensor disabled warning; Forward collision warning messages; Drive mode unavailable message; Navigation system provides wrong directions; Check engine light and low power mode come on constantly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple control module flashing and updates attempted
Rearview camera failures and backup camera freezing
Rearview camera screen freezes or goes blank while reversing, loss of camera function due to infotainment display failure, and unexpected activation while driving.
When: Intermittent, occurs while driving and reversing
Symptoms owners cite: Camera screen freezes while reversing; Rearview camera activates unexpectedly while driving; Complete loss of rearview camera function when center screen goes blank; Camera activation causes panic while driving on highway
Repairs/costs cited: Display module replaced/updated under NHTSA Recall 25V246000 (Rear Visibility System) per narrative #5
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 25V246000 remedy applied with display module replacement/update, but failures continued post-recall
Center infotainment screen failure
Total failure of center display screen going blank while driving, rendering navigation and rearview camera inoperable and violating safety requirements.
When: January 17, 2026 while driving at slow speeds per narrative #5; also intermittently for other owners
Symptoms owners cite: Screen goes completely blank while driving; Loss of all primary safety and vehicle interfaces; Immediate loss of rearview camera; Navigation screen shuts off while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Display module was previously replaced under Recall 25V246000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 25V246000 applied with display module replacement; dealership could not replicate issue or provide remedy after failure
Brake system noise and performance issues
Loud squeaking and squealing from brakes on reverse/neutral with steering input; brake pedal soft or unresponsive; vehicle accelerates instead of braking.
When: Within months of ownership; noise intermittent and recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking and squealing from brakes; Brake noise on reverse or neutral when steering; Vibration from brakes; Soft brake pedal with loss of normal feel; Vehicle accelerates instead of slowing when braking; Requires sport mode activation to slow vehicle safely
Repairs/costs cited: Rotor resurfacing attempted but owners report rotors returned rusty; dealership applied desqueak but did not perform or issue not resolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships claim normal sound or cannot duplicate issue; regenerative braking system found not functioning properly
Headlight failure while driving
Headlights go out while driving at night, creating loss of visibility and collision hazard. Issue occurs at least twice for one owner.
When: While driving at night on at least two separate occasions
Symptoms owners cite: Complete headlight failure while driving; Loss of road visibility; Near-collision due to inability to see road
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated they could not find issues on first occurrence
Engine compartment fire
Vehicle caught fire in engine compartment with brown smoke visible in cabin first, progressing to flames originating from engine. Vehicle deemed total loss.
When: At 1,600 miles while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brown smoke emanating from interior vent; Smoke visible from engine compartment; Vehicle engulfed in flames from engine compartment; No warning lights illuminated prior to fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed and deemed total loss
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner related failure to NHTSA Campaign 23V623000 (Electrical System), manufacturer not formally notified
Electrical short in dash harness and USB failures
Electrical short in dash harness causing USB port failures. USB replacement immediately failed due to underlying short; multiple owners report similar harness issues and parasitic draw.
When: During ownership
Symptoms owners cite: USB port will not power on; USB immediately fails after replacement due to short; Parasitic draw reported by owners
Repairs/costs cited: Dash harness replacement required; USB replaced but failed immediately post-repair
Adaptive cruise control and radar sensor malfunctions
Automatic cruise control disengages unexpectedly with false radar obstruction warnings, disabling forward safety features during normal driving conditions.
When: Intermittently during highway and local driving
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control stops working suddenly; Dashboard indicates radar is obstructed when it is not; All forward safety features disengage instantly; Occurs in clear and cloudy conditions
Power steering control lockup
Power steering suddenly locks up making vehicle difficult to steer while driving, triggering multiple warning lights.
When: While driving
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering control locks up; Difficulty steering vehicle; All warning lights illuminate (check engine, ABS, etc.)
Fuel gauge and fuel system anomalies
Fuel gauge jumps erratically and vehicle burns fuel faster than normal; fuel door opens randomly on its own.
When: After dealership service in narrative #1; intermittently in narrative #6
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge jumps up and down; Vehicle burns fuel faster than normal; Fuel door opens randomly while driving
Vehicle randomly shuts off when parked
Vehicle unexpectedly shuts down while parked, creating safety hazard especially when owner is picking up child from school.
When: While parked
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle randomly shuts off when parked; Unpredictable shutdown when stationary
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No resolution provided after 2 months of pending service appointment
EV charging system failures
Consistent problems with vehicle charging with error messages at charging points and inability to charge properly.
When: When attempting to charge vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Error messages when connecting to charging points; Consistent charging problems; Battery drains even when not in use
Lane departure and blind spot monitoring system failures
Safety systems malfunction including blind spot monitoring and lane sensor failures creating loss of safety features.
When: Within months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot monitoring system malfunction; Lane sensor disabled warning; Forward collision warning issues
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced along with auxiliary coolant pump in narrative #3
Engine failure and replacement
Complete engine failure requiring full engine replacement at very low mileage.
When: At 1,800 miles after auxiliary coolant pump replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Entire engine failed; Vehicle required complete engine replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required; vehicle in shop for over 1 month
Auxiliary coolant pump failure
Auxiliary coolant pump in hybrid cooling system failed requiring replacement at very low mileage, along with several other components within the cooling system.
When: At 1,800 miles, shortly after purchase on September 26, 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Auxiliary coolant pump failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement required along with several other cooling system components; vehicle in shop for 2 months
Rough engine running and shifting issues
Vehicle sounds rough while driving and feels like transmission is shifting incorrectly or erratically.
When: While driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sounds rough; Feels like improper or rough shifting; Rough transmission behavior
Hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control
Vehicle hydroplanes across lanes into median with loss of steering control while dashboard warning lights illuminate and electrical system is flickering.
When: While commuting to work after weeks of electrical flickering
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hydroplanes across lanes; Loss of vehicle control; Vehicle moves into median; Cannot regain steering control
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine and hybrid system warning lights illuminated at time of incident
Synthesized from 5 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.