2023 Dodge Hornet Recalled Over Seat Belts
A seat belt that does not retract may fail to restrain properly an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Here’s the short version: the rear seat belts in nearly 49,000 Dodge Hornets and Alfa Romeo Tonales can twist up and stop retracting the way they should. Chrysler is calling them back to fix it. If you’ve got kids or anybody riding in the back seat of one of these, this is the belt that’s supposed to protect them in a crash — so it’s worth your attention.
What actually fails
The problem is with the rear outboard seat belt retractors. Those are the belts for the two back seats next to the doors, not the middle spot.
The retractor is the spring-loaded spool inside the pillar that pulls the belt back in and keeps the slack out of it. When it’s working right, you pull the belt across your lap and shoulder, it feeds out smooth, and any extra webbing gets reeled back in so the belt sits snug against you.
On these vehicles, the belt webbing can get twisted, and when that happens the retractor doesn’t pull the belt back in properly. A twisted, bunched-up belt doesn’t sit right on the occupant. And a belt that isn’t seated correctly can’t do its one job in a crash, which is holding the person in the seat where the airbags and the vehicle structure are designed to protect them.
Per the filing, a seat belt that doesn’t retract may fail to properly restrain an occupant, and that raises the risk of injury in a crash. Plain terms: the belt might not hold like it’s supposed to.
What the filing says
This is NHTSA campaign 26V510000. Chrysler — that’s FCA US, LLC — is recalling certain vehicles:
- 2023–2025 Dodge Hornet
- 2023–2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale
The count comes out to 48,777 vehicles. Chrysler received the recall on August 6, 2026. The VINs became searchable on NHTSA’s site on August 15, 2026. Chrysler’s internal number for this recall is 84D.
The fix is a full replacement. Dealers will swap out the retractors, and it’s free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to start going out September 24, 2026.
What this means if you own one
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Run your VIN. Don’t guess based on model year. The recall covers specific vehicles inside those year ranges, not every single one. Punch your 17-digit VIN into the NHTSA lookup at nhtsa.gov. Those VINs went live August 15, 2026, so the tool will tell you straight whether your vehicle is on the list. If you own a 2023 Dodge Hornet, 2024 Dodge Hornet, 2025 Dodge Hornet, 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale, 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale, or 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale, start there.
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Watch for the symptom yourself. You don’t need a scan tool for this one. Go pull each rear outboard belt out slowly and let it feed back in. If the webbing is twisted, or the belt hangs limp and won’t reel itself back into the pillar, that’s exactly what this recall is about. Check the belts your passengers actually use.
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Don’t wait for the letter to check. Notification letters aren’t expected to start mailing until September 24, 2026. That’s the mail date, not the day you’re allowed to act. If your VIN comes up in the lookup, call your dealer and get on the schedule for the repair.
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The fix costs you nothing. By law, a safety recall repair is free. Dealers will replace the retractors at no charge. If anyone tries to bill you for the recall work, that’s not how this works — push back.
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Have questions? Go to the source. Chrysler customer service is 800-853-1403, and the recall reference is 84D. Give them that number and your VIN and they can tell you where you stand.
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Document everything. Keep the recall notice, note the dates you called, and hang onto your repair paperwork after the retractors are replaced. If you ever have a belt problem down the road, a paper trail matters.
The honest take
This isn’t an engine that grenades or a fire risk, and I want to be fair about that. But it’s not nothing either. Rear seat belts are the restraints your kids and your back-seat passengers depend on, and a belt that won’t retract properly can leave them without the protection they’re counting on in a wreck.
The good news is the remedy is simple and free — new retractors, done at the dealer. The one thing I’d push on: the notification letters don’t start until late September 2026, but the VINs are already searchable. You don’t have to sit and wait. Check your VIN, look at your rear belts with your own eyes, and if something’s twisted or won’t reel in, get it handled. A ten-minute check now beats finding out the hard way.
Source: NHTSA recall campaign 26V510000.